EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 3, n. 12)
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
February 18-24, 2007
“Be Merciful …”
(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(A moment of silence)
SONG: Any Eucharistic hymn or any appropriate song may be sung.
WORDS OF ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
All the ways of the Lord are mercy and faithfulness, for those who keep his commandment and will. We have here a tremendous statement on the subject of faithfulness and mercy. Mercy is mentioned because it is not our deserts but his own goodness that God regards. He forgives us all our sins and promises us eternal life. But it also speaks of faithfulness, because God never fails to honor his promises. Acknowledging this to be so, let us practice these virtues ourselves in our present circumstances. Just as God has shown us his mercy and faithfulness – his mercy by forgiving our sins and his faithfulness by keeping his promises - so we too should practice mercy and faithfulness in our own lives.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Father, guide us, as you guide creation according to your law of love. May we love one another and come to perfection in the eternal life prepared for us. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
FIRST READING: I Sam 26:2, 7-9, 22-23
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Lk 6:27-38
PERSONAL REFLECTION
(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD [Series 5, n. 12]: A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy. The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)
SONG: Any Eucharistic hymn or song of praise may be sung.
Part II
JESUS MASTER WAY
Confrontation with the Word
POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
A. What can we learn from the tragic figure of Saul, full of jealousy and vengeance? What does the action of the forgiving and benevolent David in sparing the life of Saul say to us? How do we react to unjust persecution and those who treat us with hatred and evil? Do we see in merciful David a figure of the redeeming and forgiving Christ? Do we have the grace, strength and courage to be peaceful, respecting God’s benevolent plan as it affects every created person and his beloved creation?
B. Are we capable of “loving our enemies” and do we strive to do good to those who hate us? Are we tempted to set limits on the love that God asks us to show to them? Do we seek to be merciful as the Father is merciful? Do we strive to embrace God’s forgiveness and open ourselves to extend God’s forgiveness to others?
C. Are we ready to embrace the cross of Christ as a means for bridging the infinite gap between “loving our neighbors” and “loving our enemies”? Is our love pro-active, deliberate, willful, and animated by the love of Christ?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Cf. Girolamo Savonarola in Meditations on the Sunday Gospels, Year B, ed. John Rotele, New York: New City Press, 1998, p. 86-87)
Leader: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy. Not according to the world’s mercy. So pitifully small, but according to your own great, immense, incomprehensible mercy, far exceeding all sins put together – according to that mercy whereby you so loved the world as to give your only Son. What greater mercy could be imagined, what greater love?
Assembly: Your mercy, Lord, is that abundance of pity that has always made you look on the needy with tenderness. Mary Magdalene comes to your feet, good Jesus, washes them with her tears, dries them with her hair; you pardon her and send her away in peace – that, dear Lord, is one of your mercies. Peter denies you, protesting with an oath that he does not know you; one look from you and he weeps bitterly. You pardon him, confirming him as prince of apostles – another example, Lord, of your great mercy. The thief on the cross is saved by a single word. Paul, at the time a rabid persecutor, is filled with the Holy Spirit as soon as you call him. Such, Lord, are your mercies.
Leader: Time would fail if I tried to count them all. The number of your mercies equals the number of men, women, and children justified by your grace. No one can boast of his own achievement. Let all the just appear together, both those on earth and those in heaven, and let us ask them in your presence if it was by their own power they were saved.
Assembly: With one heart and one voice all will answer: Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory, because of your mercy and faithfulness.
Part III
JESUS LIFE
Acting upon the Word
PERSONAL PRAYER
CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.
THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Priest: Let us present our petitions to our loving God with trust and confidence and say to him:
(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.
1. For the Holy Father’s General Intention for this month of February: That the goods of the earth, given by God to all people, may be used wisely and according to the criteria of justice and solidarity. We pray: (R.)
2. For the Holy Father’s Mission Intention for this month of February: That the fight against diseases and great epidemics in the Third World may find, in the spirit of solidarity, ever more generous collaboration on the part of the governments of all nations. We pray: (R.)
3. For Christian believers that they may emulate the all-inclusive and unlimited love of God for all, even the enemies and those undeserving. We pray: (R.)
4. For those who are deeply burdened with hurt and righteous anger, and are not able to forgive: that the grace of God may make Christian forgiveness possible. We pray: (R.)
5. For those who are called to be the instruments of God’s mercy and compassion in today’s troubled world: that their love and service may be deliberate, generous and purposeful. We pray: (R.)
6. For those who work in detention and rehabilitation ministry: that their faith in the all-inclusive love of God may be the foundation of their loving concern for others. We pray: (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Father, your love never fails. Hear our call. Keep us from danger and provide for all our needs. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any Eucharistic hymn or song of praise may be sung.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US