EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 3, n. 48)
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
October 28, 2007
“The Prayer of the Lowly”
(+) 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
This Sunday’s liturgy reminds us that our basic stance before God is humility – a true recognition of our poverty, our dire need for his forgiveness, and our dependence on him, who is the source of all justice and grace. Like the tax collector who prayed with a lowly and contrite heart: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner”, let us allow our prayer for his saving grace to pierce the clouds of heaven and touch his compassionate heart. To him who always treats us with love and justice, we address our prayers in the name of Jesus, who offered the ultimate “prayer of the lowly” in his self-emptying or kenosis on the cross. Indeed, God looks kindly upon the prayer of the lowly ones – the anawim – just as he responded lovingly to the prayer of intercession humbly offered by his Son Jesus Christ on the cross. In the sacrificial prayer of Jesus on the cross we are “justified” and experience forgiveness, salvation, wholeness and healing.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Lord,
hear the prayers of those who call on you
in humility and faith.
Forgive the sins of those who confess to you
and in your merciful love,
hear the cry of the poor.
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: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Lk 18:9-14
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. 48]: 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 is the image of God presented by Ben Sirach in the Old Testament reading? How does the affirmation, “The Lord God hears the cry of the oppressed” impact us? What is the connection between the life of humility and service of the believer and his prayer? Do we experience in our personal life Ben Sirach’s insight that “the prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds” and that God’s response to the prayer will be swift and sure?
2 What is our reaction to the prayer the Pharisee spoke to himself in the temple? How does the prayer offered by the tax collector inspire us? Is our prayer like that of the Pharisee or that of the tax collector, or both? Why was the Pharisee not justified, but the tax collector went home justified? Who is the source of our justification?
3 What are our experiences of prayer – our difficulties as well as our salutary and inspiring moments of prayer? Do we recognize that humility is a basic stance in our prayer and relationship with God? How do we allow this realization to shape and mould our life of prayer and service of God and others? Do we endeavor to offer to God daily “the prayer of the lowly”? Do we thank the Lord for the gift of salvation offered to us in Jesus Christ, in the ultimate “prayer of the lowly” that he offered on the cross?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Loving Father,
you are our Lord and the God of justice.
You hear the cry of the poor,
the wail of the orphan
and the weeping of the oppressed.
May we continually serve you with undivided heart
and trust your saving plan for us.
May the prayer that we offer for healing and salvation
pierce the clouds of heaven
and evoke your benevolence and compassion.
Like the tax collector in the temple,
we pray: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner”.
We believe that our salvation comes from you
through Jesus Christ your Son.
He offered the ultimate “prayer of the lowly” upon the sacrificial cross,
the font of reconciliation and healing.
Let the prayer of Jesus on the cross
be our salvation, justification and glorification.
We adore you, we thank you, we love you, 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 in our relationship with God, we may cultivate a loving attitude and assume a filial, humble stance, and be filled with a great willingness to serve his loving plan. We pray: (R.)
4. That we may strive to incarnate in our life the prayer of trust, adoration and intercession that we lift up to God. We pray: (R.)
5. That we may endeavor to give a living witness of the power of prayer in today’s world by our life of service to the poor and needy. We pray: (R.)
6. That the Pauline Family founded by Blessed James Alberione may be blessed in their effort to give Jesus the Divine Master, Way, Truth and Life to the world by their life of prayer, holiness and service to the Gospel. We pray: (R.)
7. That our faithful departed – especially Paul Okus - may experience the full “justification” and beatitude in heaven and that all the bereaved may experience the comfort and strength of God. We pray: (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: God and Father of all gifts, we praise you, the source of all we have and are. Teach us to acknowledge always the many good things your infinite love has given us. Help us to love you with all our heart and all our strength. 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