Opening Prayer Series: Collect for 18th Sunday of Yr B

The Collect for the 18th Sunday of Year B reads as follows:

Let us pray,

Draw near to Your servants Lord,

and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness,

that, for those who glory in You as their Creator and guide.

You may restore what you have created

and keep safe what you have restored.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever.

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. Reflect on the value/purpose of prayer.  How do I pray?
2. How does God answer my prayers?
3. How do I feel when I think God is not answering or ignoring my prayers?
4. Am I the creator in my attitude or am I the created knowing God the Father as my Creator and guide?
5. What does it mean to me to be restored by the Creator?
6. What areas in my life do I need to hand over to the Creator for restoration?
7. What area in my life will I ask God the creator to restore and keep safe this coming week?

May the Creator answer your prayers and restore you this coming week.

In today's Gospel from St John, Jesus explains to his disciples and to us the value of the real presence in the Eucharist.  He explains that when we come to Him, we will not hunger and when we believe we will never thirst.  In other words, Jesus will satisfy us completely when we believe in Him.

We too may ask, like the disciples " what must we do if we are do the works that God wants"?

However, the answer Jesus will give us is the same- belief in the One whom He has sent.  In other words, if we truly believe in Jesus, then we will want to do the works that God wants.  Jesus will provide Himself in the Eucharist to nourish and nurture us, so that our tiny seed of faith may be increased, and that we will never be hunry or thirsty. Jesus will sustain us for our pilgrim journey, but we need to take the leap, or even a tiny step toward Him and believe in the One whom He has sent.  Then, regardless, of how small our faith may be, we will do the works that God wants if we believe in Him and be nourished by Jesus in the Eucharist.

Jesus provides us with the opportunity to receive Him every day. Somewhere in the world a  Mass is being offered whether it be day or night and at that Mass, Jesus gives Himself to those who attend.  We may wish to consider the magnitude of such a priviledge to receive Him and review our personal attitude to receiving Him at Mass. We may wish to look at our busy schedules and find time to attend a weekday Mass or as many as we can.  Jesus provides us with the opportunity to receive Him and be nourished so that we do not hunger or thirst.  

Will we accept His invitation this coming week?