EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 3, n. 42)
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
September 16-22, 2007
“Rejoice! The Lost Has Been Found!”
(+) 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. PETER CHRYSOLOGUS
Finding something we have lost gives us a fresh joy … Christ came in the body assumed at his human birth, and raising that body on the cross, he placed the lost sheep on his own shoulders by his passion. Then in the intense joy of the resurrection he brought it to his heavenly home … Brothers and sisters, Christ sought us on earth; let us seek him in heaven. He has borne us up to the glory of his divinity; let us bear him in our bodies by holiness. As the apostle says: Glorify and bear God in your bodies.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Lord Jesus,
you chose to be called the friend of sinners.
By your saving death and resurrection free us from our sins.
May your peace take root in our hearts
and bring forth a harvest of love, holiness and truth.
You live and reign forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
FIRST READING: Ex 32:7-11
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Lk 15:1-32
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. 42]: 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. How did the people Israel negate their love relationship with God who led them out of the slavery in Egypt? What did Moses do to promote healing and the restoration of the people’s covenantal relationship with God? What does the story of the people of Israel and the forgiveness extended to them by God, through the mediation of Moses, teach us?
B. How do the three parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son impact us? What do these parables tell us about the basic stance of God in relation to those who have alienated themselves from him and have negated his paternal love? Why is the conversion of a sinner a cause for rejoicing? Are we willing to celebrate with God the grace of reconciliation, or are we rather indifferent to it?
C. Do we thank the Lord God for his gift of forgiveness incarnated in the person of Jesus Christ, who fully identified himself with sinners by his passion and life-giving death on the cross? Do we try to imitate God in his basic stance of forgiving love? Do we try to imitate Jesus in his ministry of seeking the lost? Are we capable of joining in the feast of the Kingdom and in celebrating the return of a sinner to the bosom of God?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Almighty and merciful God,
how wonderfully you created man
and still more wonderfully remade him.
You do not abandon the sinner
but seek him out with a father’s love.
You sent your Son into the world
to destroy sin and death by his passion,
and to restore life and joy by his resurrection.
You sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts
to make us your children and heirs of your kingdom.
You constantly renew our spirit
in the sacraments of your redeeming love,
freeing us from the slavery to sin
and transforming us ever more closely
into the likeness of your beloved Son.
We thank you for the wonders of your mercy,
and with heart and hand and voice
we join with the whole Church
in a new song of praise:
Glory to you through Christ in the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.
Assembly: Amen.
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 September: FOR THE ROMANIAN ASSEMBLY: That the ecumenical assembly in Romania this month may contribute to the growth of unity among all Christians. We pray: (R.)
2. For the Holy Father’s Mission Intention for this month of September: FOR MISSIONARIES: That, following Christ joyfully, all missionaries may know how to overcome the difficulties they meet in everyday life. We pray: (R.)
3. That those who have strayed from the right path and negated the love of God may experience the gift of conversion and be fully reconciled with him. We pray: (R.)
4. That the victims of violence may be enveloped by the divine mantle of justice and be touched by God’s healing hand. We pray: (R.)
5. That we may incarnate in our life the forgiving mercy of God in the daily situations that confront us. We pray: (R.)
6. That by our works of justice and service to the poor and by our prophetic stance, we may alleviate the ill effects of structuralized sin and violence in modern society today. We pray: (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: All-holy Father,
you have shown us your mercy
and made us a new creation
in the likeness of your Son.
Make us living signs of your love
for the whole world to see.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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