EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 3, n. 37)
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
August 12-18, 2007
“Our Response to God”
(+) 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.
WORDS OF ST. GREGORY OF NYSSA
When the Lord says: Let your loins be girded and your lamps lit, he is warning us to stay awake; for a light shining in one’s eyes drives away sleep, and a tightly-fastened belt also makes sleep difficult, as the discomfort prevents relaxation. But the real meaning of the parable is perfectly clear: a person girded with temperance lives in the light of a clear conscience before God. And so, with the light of truth shining, the soul stays awake and is not deceived. It does not dally with illusive dreams. If following the guidance of the Word we attain this goal, our lives will in a way be like those of the angels, for we are compared with them in the divine command: You must be like people waiting for their master to return from a wedding, ready to open the door immediately when he comes and knocks … And so the Lord said our lives should be like theirs. Just as they, living lives far removed from sin and error, are ready to receive the Lord at his coming, so we also should keep watch at the entrance of our houses, and prepare ourselves to obey him when he comes to our door and knocks. Blessed, he says, are those servants whom the master finds so doing when he comes.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Lord,
care for your people and purify them.
Console them in this life
and bring them to the life to come.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
FIRST READING: Wis 18:6-9
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Lk 12:32-48
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. 37]: 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. Do we truly believe that God is the font of Christian vocation? Do we realize that the loving God, in his mercy and compassion to extend his saving plan to the whole world and entire creation, has called particular persons to the priestly ministry or to a life of religious consecration? Do we esteem the gift of religious consecration and the sacrament of priestly ordination in the Church? Do we believe that we are all vocational promoters in the Church? What do we do to help promote the vocation to priesthood and religious life?
B. Are we sensitive to the voice of God calling us to our true destiny? Are we receptive to his “summons” and loving plan for us? Do we contemplate the inspiring story of Abraham, our father in faith, and allow the wonderful events of his life to inspire us? Do we endeavor to make an obedient, faithful and total response to God? Do we pray that those called by God to the priestly ministry and a life of religious consecration may be total in their response and integral in their commitment?
C. How do we respond to the demands of Christian discipleship? Do we share with the needy? Are our lives coherent with the faith we profess? Do we carry out our daily tasks with personal dedication and in a spirit of loving service? Are we happy in our vocation? If not, how do we discern and live up to the challenge of our true vocation? Are we a leaven of transformation in today’s world?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(By Pope Benedict, March 4, 2006)
O Father, raise up among Christians
abundant and holy vocations to the priesthood,
who keep the faith alive
and guard the blessed memory of your Son Jesus
through the preaching of his word
and the administration of the Sacraments,
with which you continually renew your faithful.
Grant us holy ministers of your altar,
who are careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist,
the sacrament of the supreme gift of Christ
for the redemption of the world.
Call ministers of your mercy,
who, through the sacrament of Reconciliation,
spread the joy of your forgiveness.
Grant, O Father, that the Church may welcome with joy
the numerous inspirations of the Spirit of your Son
and, docile to His teachings,
may she care for vocations to the ministerial priesthood
and to the consecrated life.
Sustain the Bishops, priests and deacons,
consecrated men and women,
and all the baptized in Christ,
so that they may faithfully fulfill their mission
at the service of the Gospel.
This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
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: 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 August - THOSE SUFFERING INNER TURMOIL: That those who are suffering inner difficulties and trials may find in Christ the light and support that leads to authentic happiness. We pray: (R.)
2. For the Holy Father’s Mission Intention for this month of August - THE CHURCH IN CHINA: That the Church in China may grow in unity and in visible communion with the Pope. We pray: (R.)
3. That all Christians may realize the wonderful gift of our baptismal vocation and that the Church may rejoice in the flowering of vocations to priestly ministry and consecrated life. We pray: (R.)
4. That there may be an increase in the number of priests, religious and lay persons who, consecrated to the apostolate of social communication, will make resound throughout the world the message of salvation. We pray: (R.)
5. That all of us gathered around the Eucharistic Master may carry out diligently our tasks as vocational promoters in the Church and, as faithful servants, be ready to welcome the Master’s presence in the lives of the poor and at his definitive coming at end time. We pray: (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Lord,
grant that your faithful people
may continually desire to relive the mystery of the Eucharist
and so be reborn to lead a new life.
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