Opening Prayer Series: 6th Sunday Year A

Opening Prayer Series:

The Mass: Opening Prayer Series Icon.

OPENING PRAYER 6th Sunday Year A

 

The Opening Prayer for the Sixth Sunday of Year A reads as follows:

Let us pray

(that everything we do will be guided by God's law of love)

God our Father,

You have promised to remain for ever 

with those who do what is just and right. 

Help us to live in Your presence. 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for this week, the following reflection questions emerged.

1.            What is God's law of love?

2.            What does God's law of love entail for me this week ( name specific
           areas)

3.            What would you say to someone who asked you 'Why do bad things
           seem to happen to good people' in the light of God's promise to remain
           with those who do what is just and right?

4.            How will I live in His presence this coming week?

5.            What challenges may divert my attention from living in His presence
           this week?

6.            What does living in His presence mean for me?

7.            How often am I aware of His presence in my life and how do I show
          God gratitude for it?

8.            How might I be aware of God's presence in my life this week?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

In today's Gospel Jesus teaches his disciples (and us) some of the sermon on the mount. In each of the teachings, Jesus compares the past and reminds them what they have heard from their ancestors first, and then gives them His teaching. In each of these teachings Jesus is really saying 'such was said to your ancestors, but I am speaking to you.' It is as though Jesus is trying to wake up the disciples by the contrast.

 

Yet when we look at what Jesus is really saying in today's Gospel, it seems to be a fuller aspect of some of the ten commandments. They are still obligatory not optional.  We, like the disciples need to have a jolt, a wakeup call to examine our behaviour.  We may be tempted to think that we do keep the commandments. For example, we usually do not go around killing someone.  However, can we say that we have not killed desiring revenge, being angry with another person and refusing to be reconciled with them? We are not only hurting the other person, but we are killing the life of grace in our souls and in the process committing serious sin. The same applies to the other teachings that Jesus has given us. They relate to the commandments and in not keeping them, we commit sin, losing favour with God.

 

During this week then, we may wish to reflect on this gospel and pull out the teachings from the text. Perhaps we may wish to write them down in a place where we can see (e.g., fridge, car) or carry it with us in our wallet. Then we do not need to remind ourselves what our ancestors said, but rather what Jesus is saying to each of us personally. You may find that in writing them down, one (or more) may be particularly relevant to you at this present time. You may decide on a corrective course of action to follow what Jesus is asking in your life.

 

May this week's gospel be a source of hope and spiritual growth for us all.