*** *** *** *** *** ***

.

 

 

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR

26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

September 28, 2025

“JESUS SAVIOR: He Wants Us to Care for Lazarus”

 

 

(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(A moment of silence)

 

SONG: A Eucharistic hymn or any other appropriate song may be sung.

  

WORDS OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM 

It is worthwhile inquiring why the rich man saw Lazarus in Abraham’s arms, and not in the company of some other righteous person. The reason is that Abraham was hospitable, and so the sight of Lazarus with Abraham was meant to reproach the rich man for his inhospitality … Although he had within his grasp so great a treasure, such an opportunity to win salvation, he ignored the poor man day after day. He could have helped him but he failed to do so … And this is true of you also … We do something truly great and admirable when we give a most courteous welcome to all, even the outcasts of society or people of humble condition. Hence Christ himself praised those who so acted, declaring: Whatever you did for one of these very poor people you did to me.

 

SILENT ADORATION 

 

OPENING PRAYER

Leader: Lord,

hear the cry of the poor.

Bless the “legion of Lazarus” in this world,

who hope for your mercy.

Grant them their daily bread

and assist them in their needs.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Assembly: Amen.

  

Part I

JESUS MASTER TRUTH

Listening to the Word

 

FIRST READING: Am 6:1a, 4-7

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

GOSPEL READING: Lk 16:19-31

POINTS FOR REFLECTION

This Sunday’s proclamation of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is an indictment against the rich of today who do not care for the poor and whose callousness to the world’s afflictions is such that it cannot be penetrated even “if someone should rise from the dead” (Lk 16:31). Although this parable is a call to conversion, it also underlines the definitive character of divine judgment. The final destiny of the saved and the lost in the afterlife is unalterable. In the afterlife a reversal of fortune will take place. Those who were poor and destitute will be comforted. The chilling words of condemnation, however, will haunt the selfish and callous of heart – they who have been blind and deaf to the needs and agonizing cries of the poor: “My child, remember that you have received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here; whereas you are tormented” (Lk 16:31).

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is an urgent invitation to conversion now … lest it be too late! It is an appeal to relieve the plight of the poor now … lest we be condemned eternally for our apathy and indifference to their agony.

 

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

1. As we listen to Jesus’ Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, how does the story of reversal of fortunes and irrevocable destiny impact us? Do we see ourselves in the role of the Rich Man? In what ways are we the poor man Lazarus? How does the Gospel of this Sunday motivate us to action?

2. What do we resolve to do about the “legion of Lazarus” that appeal to us silently in anguish? Why is the world’s affliction today so great? How do we bring Christ’s redemption to a social situation marked with indifference to the plight of the poor? Do we turn to Christ for help? Do we beg him to give us the grace to embrace the “Lazarus” who comes into our daily life and to be responsible for him?

  

PRAYING WITH THE WORD

Leader: Loving Father,

hope of the poor and defender of the afflicted,

we are deeply sorry for our indifference to the world’s afflictions.

Forgive us for our lack of compassion

and for neglecting the “Lazarus” who sits by our door,

hungry and covered with sores.

Pardon us for our self-indulgence

for it makes us blind in our hearts.

It leads us to ignore the drama

of today’s hungry and defenseless poor.

Send your Holy Spirit upon us that we may learn to care.

Fill us with the love of Christ

that we may be able to embrace and assist the “Lazarus”

who yearns not only for material bread,

but for the bread of peace, justice and compassion.

By our love and fraternal service

to the “legion of Lazarus” still languishing on this earth,

may we too share in the eternal beatitude of the poor,

nestled in the bosom of Abraham.

We love you and thank you

for you are our merciful and compassionate 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

Leader: 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 our relationship with all of creation. Let us pray that, inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect. We pray: (R.)

2. For the “legion of Lazarus”, who hunger for material bread and the bread of justice, peace and love, we pray: (R.)

3. For the “legion of Lazarus”, who are victimized by the violence of hatred and war, we pray: (R.)

4. For the “legion of Lazarus”, who are despised and persecuted on account of their race, color and creed, we pray: (R.)

5. For the uncaring rich who choose to ignore the poor “Lazarus” groveling in misery by the doorstep, we pray: (R.)

6. For the “Lazarus” who comes to us in the form of migrants and refugees, we pray: (R.)

7. For the “Lazarus” who is now resting in heavenly beatitude and for the uncaring rich who suffers the eternal torment of selfishness, we pray: (R.) 

(Other prayers may be added.)

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Leader: Lord,

help your people to seek you with all their hearts

and to deserve what you promise.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Assembly: Amen.

  

FINAL SONG: Any Eucharistic hymn or song of praise may be sung.

 

 

 

 

 

*** *** *** *** *** ***

 

 

 

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR

27^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

October 5, 2025

“JESUS SAVIOR: He Leads Us into the Miracle of the Trees

in the Sea”

 

 

(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(A moment of silence)

 

SONG: A 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

POINTS FOR REFLECTION

Jesus expresses the extraordinary power of faith in evocative imagery. A mulberry tree is relatively large, with an extensive root system. It is extremely difficult to uproot this tree and let it grow in deep water. True faith, however, even if it is the size of the mustard seed, will bring about the miracle of “a mulberry tree uprooted and planted in the sea”. True faith increases, blooms and grows. What matter are not the small mustard seed beginning and the littleness of our inchoative faith, but our personal response to God’s saving love offered to us in his savior son, Jesus. Indeed, genuine faith in the person of Jesus Christ brings about true miracles for life, healing and salvation. The image of “a mulberry tree uprooted and planted in the sea” thus points to an astounding phenomenon: the marvelous spreading of the good news of salvation throughout the whole world, and the multitudes of races, peoples, and nations won over to faith by the preaching and witnessing of the Christian apostles and disciples. In every situation of trial, difficulty and hardship in today’s world, life-giving miracles can be accomplished by the power of faith in Jesus. 

            The next part of this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Lk 17:7-10) presents the parable of the dutiful servant who is expected to go about his ordinary tasks in a responsible, devoted and self-giving way. The parable of the dutiful servant underscores God’s unmerited graciousness to his disciples. It invites the worshipping community to become dutiful servants who serve the Divine Master faithfully in a totally disinterested manner, through love. As faith-filled servants of God, we should claim nothing for ourselves, not only because we have received all that we have from the Lord, but above all, in imitation of the Divine Master who came not to be served but to serve (Lk 22:27). In our own frailty and humble dedication as unprofitable servants is displayed the power of Christ.

 

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

1. 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”?

2. 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

Leader: 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: for collaboration between different religious traditions. Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice and human fraternity. We pray: (R.)

2. That Pope Leo XIV may be illumined and strengthened by the Holy Spirit for his pastoral ministry of gathering, reconciling, healing and unifying in today’s world. 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

3700 North Cornelia Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722 (USA)

Tel (559) 275-1656