EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 3, n. 45)
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
October 7-13, 2007
“Lord, Increase Our Faith!”
(+) 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
Like the prophet Habakkuk, the apostles of Jesus needed to be strengthened in faith in order to embrace fully the radical demands of discipleship. Earlier the Divine Master had challenged them to be totally forgiving: “If your brother sins rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in one day, and each time he comes to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him” (Lk 17:3). Confronted with such a rigorous demand of charity, the apostles could only cry out, “Lord, increase our faith” (v. 5). Jesus Master assured the deeply challenged disciples that the “faith” founded on total adherence to his person is deeply efficacious and leads to personal dedication and selfless, generous service. Indeed, the faith that relies on the power of Jesus makes possible a full response to the task of discipleship and produces “wonders” and life-giving “miracles”.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: All-powerful Father,
God of mercy,
look kindly on us in our suffering.
Ease our burden and make our faith strong
that we may always have confidence and trust
in your fatherly care.
Grant 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: Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Lk 17:5-10
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. 45]: 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
What were the historical, social and moral situations that provoked the anguished cries of Habakkuk? How do we relate to the feelings voiced with vehemence by the prophet to Yahweh? Are there times when we complain to God: “I cry for help but you do not listen”? What is God’s response to Habakkuk? How does God respond to our cries of distress?
2 Do we ever turn to Jesus and cry out to him, “Lord, increase my faith”? Are we sometimes overwhelmed by the intense challenge of Christian discipleship? Do we endeavor to make our faith and adherence to the person of Jesus efficacious and “living and active”?
3 Am I capable of faithful and selfless service? Do I believe that my faith in Christ and total adherence to his person would make possible the miracle of “the trees in the sea”? Do we trust that our faith can work wonders? How do I allow myself to be shaped by this realization?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Loving Father, you are a faithful God and your eternal love for us is an undeserved gift. But at times, we are overwhelmed and bewildered by the violence and misery in today’s world. We are frightened by our lack of trust in your great love and our faith in your omnipotent power is enfeebled by specters of doom and wickedness. Almighty Father, fill us with the vision of hope that you have given to the prophet Habakkuk: the vision that presses on to fulfillment … the vision that will not disappoint. Renew our trust in your fidelity and integrity. Help us to believe: “The just one, because of his faith, shall live.”
Jesus, Divine Master, the challenge of discipleship is intense and the cost of following you is dear. Lord, increase our faith! Help us to adhere totally to your person. Make us serve you and our needy neighbors with love and devotion. Help us to believe that our faith in you, though tiny as a mustard seed, is efficacious and increasingly fruitful and powerful. Trusting in your power at work in us, may we be able to accomplish the miracle of “the trees in the sea”. You are our faithful Lord, now and forever.
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 October: MINORITY CHRISTIANS: That Christians who are in minority situations may have strength and courage to live their faith and persevere in bearing witness to it. We pray: (R.)
2. For the Holy Father’s Mission Intention for this month of October: WORLD MISSIONARY DAY: That World Missionary Day may kindle a greater missionary awareness in every baptized person. We pray: (R.)
3. That the images of misery, violence and destruction that confront us daily in today’s world may not lead us to despair, but to a greater trust that our faith in the Lord can produce the miracle of “the trees in the sea”. We pray: (R.)
4. That as disciples of the Lord intent on responding fully to the demands of love and service, we may turn to him in humility and say: “Lord, increase our faith”. We pray: (R.)
5. That our faith may create life-giving wonders in a world that seeks “signs” of love and yearns for visions of resurrection. We pray: (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Almighty and eternal God,
in Christ your Son
you have shown your glory to the world.
Guide the work of your Church:
help it to proclaim your name,
to persevere in faith
and to bring your salvation to people everywhere.
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.
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