Opening Prayer: 24th Sunday of Year C

OPENING PRAYER SERIES.

The Mass: Opening Prayer series icon.

OPENING PRAYER

The Opening Prayer of 24th Sunday of the Year reads as follows:

Let us pray

(that God will keep us faithful in His service)

Almighty God,

Our creator and guide,

may we serve You with all our heart,

and know Your forgiveness in our lives.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for my life during this week, the following reflection questions emerged: 

1.            What does it mean to me this week to be in the service of God?

2.            How will I be faithful in God's service this week?

3.            In what way is God my creator and guide?

4.            What hinders me from serving God with all my heart? Name these areas.

5.            How have I experienced God's forgiveness in my life?

6.            Name one area of my life that I will ask God to assist me to change this week?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

In the first reading, Moses becomes the Intercessor for God's people who had turned away from Him and worshiped a calf of molten metal. Intercessory prayer on behalf of others in need is a worthwhile mission which we can all partake.  If you wish to understand more about Intercessory prayer and its 10 principles, you may wish to peruse my post on this topic in Practical Theology-Fruitful discipleship series.

The Gospel parables of the 'lost and found' are in a set of 3- the lost sheep, the lost drachma and then of course, the parable of the prodigal son.  In more recent years, the prodigal son is given less emphasis and the forgiving father is highlighted- forgiving of his both sons- the younger who had squandered his inheritance and the older son who had no intention of forgiving his younger brother.

Are we the lost sheep, the lost coin or the lost son?  The common theme with these three parables is that the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son/s are precious and unique.  Nothing replaces them and each are valuable to the shepherd, the woman and the father in each of the respective parables. Consequently, when they are found, the shepherd, the woman and the father rejoice.  

Let us be lost no longer, since there will joy in heaven over us who turn towards God and repent.

Let us not delay- He is waiting for us and will rejoice at our return.

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