EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 3, n. 31)

13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

July 1-7, 2007

“Follow Me”

(+) 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 other appropriate song may be sung.

INTRODUCTION

(Cf. Hans Urs von Balthasar, Le Coeur du monde, Paris Desclee de Brouwer, 1956, 124-125 // Cited in The Days of the Lord, vol. 6. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1991, p.111)

God is dangerous. God is a devouring fire. God has cast his eyes on you. Heed the warning he himself has given you: “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” Whoever does not love me more than father and mother, more than beloved and homeland, more than himself, is not worthy of me. Take care, he is crafty, he begins with a little love, a small flame, and before you can realize it for what it is, he catches hold of you and you are taken. If you give over only your little finger, you are lost; there are no limits toward heaven. He is God and he is used to infinity. He whisks you toward the heights like a cyclone, he whirls you around like a typhoon. Take care: man is created for measure and limit, and finds a rest and happiness only in the finite; but God knows no measure. He is a seducer.

SILENT ADORATION

OPENING PRAYER

Leader: Father,

you call your children to walk in the light of Christ.

Free us from darkness

and keep us in the radiance of your truth.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.

Assembly: Amen.

Part I

JESUS MASTER TRUTH

Listening to the Word

FIRST READING: I Kgs 19:16b, 19-21

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

GOSPEL READING: Lk 9:51-62

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. 31]: 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 is the role of Elijah in the vocation story of Elisha? How receptive was Elisha to the divine call to prophetic ministry? What is the meaning of his leave-taking from his parents? What is the significance of the killing of the oxen, the burning of the farm implements, and the meal shared with his people? How does the statement, “Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant” impact you?

B.     What is the relationship between Jesus’ determination to go to Jerusalem and his destiny of “being taken up”? Why is his decision to journey to Jerusalem important? Are we willing to participate intimately in the Lord’s journey to Jerusalem and his paschal destiny to be accomplished there?

C.     Do we say to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go”? Are we willing to embrace the renunciation that the following of Jesus entails? Do we give absolute priority to our vocation of proclaiming the Kingdom of God? Do we endeavor to be faithful and persevering in our response?

PRAYING WITH THE WORD

Leader: Lord Jesus,

after your public ministry in Galilee

and when the time drew near for you to be taken up to heaven,

you resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.

Many would like to follow you on the road.

We too would like to journey with you to Jerusalem

and participate intimately in the paschal destiny of your death and rising.

Help us to recognize and accept the true cost of discipleship.

May we be able to follow you on the road

and experience deeply that we are vulnerable and insecure apart from you.

May we always choose you and give priority to you

for you are our absolute good and true treasure.

May we uphold you above all things.

May we never hear the dreadful reproach,

“No one who sets a hand to the plow

and looks to what was left behind

is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Help us to be faithful to you

and persevere on the road to Jerusalem.

Lord Jesus,

with the blessing of God the Father

and the grace of the Holy Spirit,

may we be able to say with loving determination:

“I will follow you wherever you go.”

We love you, we thank you, and we adore you.

You live and reign forever and ever.

Assembly: Amen.

Part III

JESUS LIFE

Acting upon the Word

PERSONAL PRAYER

CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Mysteries of Light of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.

THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

Priest: With trust and confidence, let us present our petitions to our loving God who gave us the gift of his Son, the Eucharistic Master. Let us say to him:

(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

1.      For the Holy Father’s General Intention for this month of July: FOR THE COMMON GOOD: That all citizens may participate actively in working to achieve and maintain the common good. We pray: (R.)

2.      For the Holy Father’s Mission Intention for this month of July: FOR HELP FOR MISSIONARIES: That all Christians, aware of their missionary duty, may actively help those engaged in the evangelization of peoples. We pray: (R.)

3.      For all Christian disciples: that they may realize more and more the implication and the challenge of their vocation to follow Christ all the way on the road to Jerusalem. We pray: (R.)

4.      For the increase and perseverance of priestly and religious vocations and that we may be docile to receive the many inspirations of the Holy Spirit, raising up various forms of vocations in the Church. We pray: (R.)

5.      For those who have left the priestly ministry and the religious life: That God be with them in the difficult moments of adjustment to new situations and may he help them live up to the challenges of Christian discipleship. We pray: (R.)

6.      For all of us gathered here: May we translate the precious gift of Christian vocation we have received from the Lord into a meaningful service to the community, especially the poor, the sick and the needy in today’s society. We pray: (R.)

(Other prayers may be added.)

THE LORD’S PRAYER

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Leader: Lord,

bless your people and fill them with zeal.

Strengthen them by your love to do your will.

Help them to be faithful and persevering

in responding to the divine call and the service of your Kingdom.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

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