EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 3, n. 38)
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
August 19-25, 2007
“Sign of Contradiction”
(+) 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. Joachim Jeremias, Meditations on the Sunday Gospels, Year C, ed. John Rotelle, New York: New City Press, 1998, p.112-113)
Let no one imagine that Jesus had come to bring peace – no, he brought a sword, fire on the earth, the cosmic baptism of suffering. Jesus was convinced that the suffering of his disciples was indissolubly linked with his own: he saw that his followers would be involved in collective suffering, introduced by his passion. He was certain that the kingdom of God comes through suffering and only through suffering … To agree to follow Jesus means to venture on a life that is hard as the last walk of a man condemned to death. For everyone, discipleship involves the readiness to tread the lonely road and to bear the people’s hatred … Jesus envisages martyrdom as the fate of his disciples. The law that the kingdom of God comes through suffering applies also to the disciples of Jesus. But suffering has the promise that the surrender of life is also the acceptance of life.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: God of glory and power,
those who have put all their trust in you are happy indeed.
Shine the brightness of your light on us,
that we may love you always with a pure heart.
Give us the strength to bear witness to Christ.
Help us to accept our vocation
to be courageous “signs of contradiction” in our world today.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
FIRST READING: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Lk 12:49-53
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. 38]: 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 are our various experiences of contradiction, alienation and opposition? How do we relate these painful and upsetting experiences with those of Jeremiah? Like Jeremiah, are we willing to be a “sign of contradiction” in order to uphold and proclaim the Word of God? Are we willing to trust in God and undergo painful sacrifices and opposition for the sake of the living Word and the divine saving plan?
B. What is the “fire” that Jesus desired to set ablaze upon earth? What was the baptism that he was yearning to undergo? Do we desire to be plunged with Jesus in his paschal “baptism”? Do we desire to be inflamed by the “fire” that Jesus enkindles in our heart? Do we contemplate the beauty of Jesus’ self-giving sacrifice and his gift of the Holy Spirit?
C. Why does the peace that Jesus bring lead to divisions? Do we welcome the peace of Christ and its commitment to Christ and the kingdom? Are we willing to embrace the detachment, renunciation and opposition that the peace of Christ may entail? Are we willing to be fully united with Christ and become, in him, a “sign of contradiction” in today’s world?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ,
you said to your apostles:
I leave you peace, my peace I give you.
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church,
and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom.
Assembly: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
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 the “prophets of contradiction” of today may give a limpid and courageous witness to truth, we pray: (R.)
4. That the modern means of social communication may be rightly used to proclaim the truth, and not to distort the truth, we pray: (R.)
5. That we may bring the peace of Christ to situations that need healing, we pray: (R.)
6. That all of us gathered here may fully accept our vocation and challenge to be “prophets of contradiction” in today’s world, we pray: (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Lord,
make the peace we pray for a reality.
May we live our days in quiet joy
even in the midst of difficulties
as “signs of contradiction” in the world today.
With the help of the Virgin Mary’s prayer,
may we safely reach 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