Collect for Fourth Sunday Year C Ordinary Time

 

COLLECT SERIES

 

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COLLECT

 

The Collect for Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C reads as follows:

Grant us, Lord our God, that we may honour you with all our mind,

and love everyone in truth of heart. 

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

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

God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What does it mean to me to honour God?

2. How do I currently honour God?

3. What changes do I need to make this coming week to honour God will all of my mind?

4. What does it mean to  me to love in truth of heart?

5. What changes in my life do I need to make this coming week to pursue holiness and spiritual growth?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today’s Gospel is from Lk 4:21-30. We may wonder why Jesus was rejected by his own townsfolk- the people who would have known Him the most.  In the time of Jesus, they were waiting for a political leader and so, they had their own image of what they wanted. The other reason was that matters of spirituality were at a low point and so, there was not an interest in spirituality.  A little like our own time perhaps.

So an essential consideration for our own meditation of this gospel needs to  be:

·         What is our own expectation of God in our own lives?

·         What is our own image of God and does that truly line up with the Gospel of God and His Son?

·         What is our own interest in spirituality?  How am I affected by the lack of interest in spirituality in the world? How do I counteract these negative influences?

 

The other key theme is one of rejection.  Time and again Jesus was rejected by the people and finally crucified- pushed out of the way for good so they thought.  In one of the Passion accounts it says ‘ it is better for one man to die for the people’.  Of course, Jesus was put to death out of of jealousy and the leaders felt threatened by Him.

As people do not like their power being taken away even if it is perceived that way, they usually find ways to silence and do away with the person.  It can happen in families, work, in parishes.  If someone is considered different or does not fit the community mould, they are often ostracised.  It can be very subtle and insidious in a culture of family, work environment or parishes.  It is of course not the Gospel way.

 

We may wish to consider how we have been rejected and the circumstances with which these incidents occurred.  Tap into those feelings of rejection and where there are unresolved pain, ask Jesus to heal you.  At the same time, consider the pain of rejection Jesus would have felt.  He came to save the world and yet, those who knew Him rejected Him.

May we this coming week learn again what it is to honour God with all of our mind and to learn to love everyone in truth of heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collect for Third Sunday Ordinary Time Year C

 

COLLECT SERIES

 

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COLLECT

 

The Collect for Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God,

direct our actions according to your good pleasure,

that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

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

God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What are the actions I need to take today/this week to direct my actions according to His Good pleasure?

2. Why should our good works be done in the name of Jesus?

3. What actions in my life either intermittently or ongoing are not according to God’s good pleasure?  What will I do to address this issue this coming week?

4. What are good works?  Why not examine the corporal and spiritual works of mercy that the church provides us as a guide.  

5.. What are my spiritual goals for 2022- for this month, this week, today?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today’s Gospel is from Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21.  Year C is the year of reading Luke’s Gospel but we have already had last week an interruption with a Gospel from St John.  Today’s Gospel starts at the beginning of Luke’s Gospel and then jumps to chapter 4.  The reason for this is that we have heard during Christmastide Chapters 1-3 as these are the infant narratives.

Luke’s Gospel has 3 features for us to keep in mind throughout the year:

1. It is an orderly account- chronological from the infancy narratives to the death and resurrection of Christ.

2. It is geographical account- moving from the countryside and finishing in Jerusalem with the death and resurrection of Christ.

3. It is a theological account: By this I mean that Luke is at pains to explain to us throughout his gospel account that Jesus was not only the promise but the fulfillment of the promise.  Today’s gospel account where Jesus is reading from the prophet of Isaiah exemplifies this as Jesus after He rolls up the scroll says’ This text is being fulfilled even as you listen’.

 

We may wish to ask ourselves how this text is being fulfilled as we listen today’.

The Lord sent me to bring good news to the poor: Who are the poor in my life that I can bring good news to this coming week? What is the good news I need to hear to nourish the poor in me?

To proclaim liberty to captives:  Who are the captives in my life that I have in my influence to provide liberty?  Freeing someone who is sad by a smile or a comforting word or helping parishioners, family members, work colleagues, neighbours.  For example, my neighbour has had her daughter stay with her.  The daughter has now gone home and my neighbour is very tired.  My way of giving her some liberty from this tiredness and her heaviness is to provide a few meals for her.  It is tricky because I don’t want this to be a burden for her thinking she has to reciprocate. There are so many ways we can proclaim liberty to captives with the people we meet, know, who cross our path. What will you do this week?

To the blind new sight: Donations either regularly or a one off payment to organisations which deal with the blind would be one way to give blind new sight.

I had major problems with my eyes last year so I have come to appreciate the value of my eyesight even more.  I guess up to then I took my eyes for granted.  Thanking God for our senses and acknowledging how much we appreciate these senses is in itself new sight, especially if you were like me and took them for granted and failed miserably to thank God for them.

We may also wish to ask God for new sight in the areas in our lives where we are spiritually blind or emotionally blind. We need to be honest and ask God to show us our blind spots and help us to overcome them with His guidance and love. What areas of blindness will I ask God to assist me this coming week?

To set the downtrodden free: Looking up a Thesaurus for the word downtrodden came up with the following options: oppressed, Subjugated, persecuted, subdued, repressed, tyrannized, ground down, crushed, enslaved, burdened, weighed down., exploited, disadvantaged, underprivileged, victimized, bullied, browbeaten, under the heel, powerless, helpless, prostrate, abused, misused, maltreated.

Who are the people in my life that I meet, know or may not know personally but can help through an appropriate organisation this coming week to help to set the downtrodden free.  It is worth considering how you might help children to do this as well.  Is a child being bullied in the classroom? How important is it to try to be friends with a child who does not make friends easily?  How can my children show good example and in their own way put this gospel ideal into practice.  We as adults need to help them think about it and maybe give them suggestions and help them to come up with their own ways to put this ideal into practice.

 

To proclaim a year The Lord’s year of favour:  There are certain years that are a jubilee year which in fact brings many blessings because it is a year of favour.  However, every moment of every day is a year of ‘favour from the Lord’. We need to be in that mindset to accept the blessing.   We are almost at the end of the first month of the year but we can thank God for the blessings He has already provided us so far this year. 

Suggested Activity: Get a piece of paper and jot down as many blessings you can remember.  Then each day at the end of the day, jot the blessings you have received throughout the day.  Imagine how many we will have over the whole year.  Hand over the year to the Lord and ask Him to proclaim a year of favour for you and you, in your turn will proclaim Him to others.

 

 

 

 

Collect for Second Sunday Ordinary Time Year C

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COLLECT

 

The Collect for Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God,

who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth,

mercifully hear the pleading of your people

and bestow your peace on our times.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

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

God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Will I allow God to govern heaven and earth including my life this coming week/year?

2. What do I ask for myself and for others in my prayer life?

3. How do I incorporate the intercessory prayers from Mass into my prayer during the week?

4. How will I cooperate with God by bestowing peace in my family, at work, with those whom I meet this coming week?

5. What does living with Covid 19 mean for my spiritual life this week? 

6. What are my spiritual goals for 2022- for this month, this week, today?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today’s Gospel is from Jn 2:1-11.  Despite being Year C in which the Gospel of Luke is read, which we started last Sunday, this week the Gospel we read from the Gospel of John.

Today’s Gospel however is the Wedding feast of Cana.  There are some key moments in this Gospel:

•        Woman why turn to me, my hour has not come yet.
•      Do whatever He tells you.       
•    The disciples believed in Him.

 

The wedding miracle at Cana is first sign that Jesus shows His disciples. It highlights his identity.  Jesus was aware of the embarrassment that the young couple would have felt by running out of wine. Jesus is aware of our embarrassment and shame when we fall short in some way. He is there for us when we put our trust in Him.

Mary tells the servants to 'Do whatever He tells you'.  Think about it for a moment. Mary was a guest at the wedding not the bridegroom or a member of the wedding party. A guest- yet the servants did what Mary told them to do. They did not abuse her or tell her to mind her own business. They did not ignore what she said or listen politely to her face and ignored it later. We may ask ourselves ‘do I do what Jesus asks of me”.

The phrase’ woman, why turn to me, my hour has not yet come’ may to our ears seem that Jesus is being rude to Mary.  However, the phrase woman was used in the garden of Eden and then again when Mary is standing at the Cross. Mary is the new Eve and the hour came when Jesus died for our sins and was raised to life. 

Finally, St John is at pains to tell us that the disciples believed in Him.  Remember this is the first sign yet the disciples believed.  In the account, it does not say that they were witnesses to the miracle- after all Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water. Yet it had turned into wine. 

So what about us in our lives?  Each week I compose a Gospel Reflection for my collection called Gospel Reflections in Song Year C. 

My refrain for this week’s Gospel reflection is:

‘Fill our empty jars Lord,

Fill them to the brim,

Help us to do what you ask of us

And leave the miracle to You’.

 

May you receive the miracle you need in your life this coming week.

Come to Me and Abide

REFLECTION AND PRAYER SERIES.

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

 

My Scripture reflection is 

 

'' The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms,”  
(Deuteronomy 33:27)

 

Christ The Redeemer.

 

 

My post is called:

 

Come To Me and Abide.

God call me away from the clamour and crowds,

Bids me to come to His side,

Implores me to cease from my worthless endeavours,

To flee to His arms, and abide.

 

 

 

  

Collect for Solemnity of Baptism of the Lord Year C

 

COLLECT SERIES

 

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COLLECT

 

The Collect for Solemnity of Baptism of the Lord reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God,

who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan

and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him,

solemnly declared him your beloved Son,

grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,

may always be well pleasing to you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

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

God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What does the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord mean to me?

2. What does being a child of God through adoption mean to me?

3.  Do I hear God say to me’ You are my Son/daughter the Beloved- My favour rests on You’?

4.What is my relationship with the Holy Spirit?  How might I deepen that relationship this year?

5.How will I be pleasing to God this coming week/this month/this year?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today we celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. This incident in the lift of Christ is the second epiphany, or manifestation, of the Lord. In other words, this Solemnity brings together the past, the present, and the future  and they are made manifest in this epiphany.

Jesus,The Son of God freely humbled Himself  by being baptised at the hand of the John the Baptist. By His baptism in the Jordan, Christ shows  His humility and dedicates Himself to the redemption of man. He takes upon Himself the sins of the whole world and buries them in the waters of the Jordan. The most holy one placed Himself among us, the unclean and sinners. He lines up with humanity to be baptised so that our sins may be washed away in His blood.

Liturgically Christmastide is completed on 2^nd February on the Feast of the Presentation.  However, within Christmastide, we begin Ordinary Time on the Solemnity of Baptism of the Lord. the mystery of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan by St John, the Precursor, proposes the contemplation of an already adult Jesus. This mystery is infinitely linked to the Solemnities of the Lord’s birth and the Epiphany that we have just celebrated, as in some ways it takes up and represents their significance to us.

‘At Christmas we have contemplated the human birth of the Word incarnate by the Virgin Mary. In the 4th century, the Fathers of the Church deepened the understanding of the faith with regard to the Christmas mystery in the light of Jesus’ Humanity. They spoke of the Incarnation of the Word already working like the ‘Christification’ of that humanity that he had assumed from His mother. Or put in simpler terms: Jesus is the Christ from the first instant of conception in Mary’s spotless womb because He Himself, with His Divine Power, consecrated, anointed and ‘Christified’ that human nature with which He became incarnate.

In the mystery of the Epiphany, we then meditated on Christ’s manifestation to all nations that was represented by the Magi, the wise men from the East, who came to adore the Child.

Baptism of the Lord

Now, in the mystery of Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan River, we again encounter and represent the truth of the Lord’s incarnation and His manifestation as the Christ. Jesus’ Baptism is in fact His definitive manifestation as the Messiah or Christ to Israel, and as the Son of the Father to the entire world. Here we find the dimension of the Epiphany which was His manifestation to all nations. The Father’s voice from heaven shows that Jesus of Nazareth is the eternal Son and the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove shows the Trinitarian nature of the Christian God. The true and unique God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, shows Himself in Christ, through Him, with Him and in Him.

The Baptism in the Jordan returns to the great Christmas theme of ‘Christification,’ Jesus of Nazareth's spiritual anointing, His presentation as the Anointed One par excellence, the Messiah or the One sent by the Father for the salvation of mankind. The Spirit that descended on Jesus shows and seals in an incontrovertible way the ‘Christification’ of Jesus’ humanity that the Word had already fulfilled from the first moment of His miraculous conception by Mary. Jesus, from the very beginning, was always the Lord’s Christ, He was always God. Yet, His one, true humanity, that which is perfect in every way, as the Gospel records, constantly grew in natural and supernatural perfection. ‘And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with men’ (Lk2:52). In Israel at 30 years of age, one reached full maturity and therefore could become a master. Jesus came of age and the Spirit, descending and remaining on Him, definitively consecrated His whole being as the Christ.

The same Spirit, that descended on the water of the River Jordan wafted over the waters during the first creation (Gen 1:2). Therefore, the Baptism in the Jordan presents yet another truth: that Jesus has started a new creation. He is the second man (1 Cor 15:47) or the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), that comes to repair the first Adam’s guilt. He does this as the Lamb of God that takes away our sins. ‘Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners’ (Joseph Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p 18).

--Excerpted from the Congregation for the Clergy

 

 This Solemnity has a special spot in my life for many reasons but it especially reminds me of the pilgrimage I did back in 2000 to the Holy Land where we visited the Holy places including the River Jordan. We had the experience of going into the Jordan and being ;rebaptised',  Of course we can only be baptised once in our lives so it was a rebaptism in that sense- rather an experience.  Yes, it was an experience.  There were steps going down into the river- like going down into the tomb and we went as far as being knee high in the water.  The little fish were swimming and I felt their nibbling a few times as well.  However as the water was poured over and the words of baptism were said, and then, coming up the stairs out of the water, I remember having a whole different feeling-  yes it was definitely like going down into the tomb and then rising again.  I felt new life within me.  I cannot explain it properly but I remember it well.  

We can all make this day special in some way but especially by renewing our Baptismal vows . Yes we do this at the Easter Vigil, but it wont be long until Lent is upon us- why not start the First Sunday of Ordinary Time which is this Solemnity with the decision to turn towards God again and accept God's favour- and believe in our hearts' You are my son/daughter the beloved, my favour rests on you'.

 

Life's Journey In Your Love.

 

REFLECTION AND PRAYER SERIES.

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My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

 

My Scripture reflection is 

 

''I am the Lord Your God, who directs you in the way you should go”’   
(Isaiah 48:17)

 

 

 

My post is called:

 

Life’s Journey in Your Love.

Lord, light my every step upon life’s journey.

Whether I’m walking or standing still,

Changing courses or pressing straight ahead,

May I live every moment close to You, in Your love.

 

 

 

About the Mass Series Vol 2: Part 7 Eucharistic Prayer Second Invocation of the Spirit and Intercessions.

 

ABOUT THE MASS SERIES VOL 2.

 ‘Second Invocation of the Spirit and Intercessions’.

 About the Mass series Vol 2.

During the Eucharistic Prayers, there is a second invocation of the Spirit followed by the intercessions of all its members both living and dead.  The Jewish blessing prayer over the cup included various formulae requesting God to show mercy upon the people of Israel, to send Elijah and the Messiah, and to restore the house of David.  It is natural therefore that the Eucharistic prayer came to include intercessions for various classes of people. Yet these are not part of the earliest tradition of the prayer; they were added only once the main structural elements were in place, since they appear at different places in various liturgical traditions. 

 

At Antioch these occurred at the end of the prayer, while at Alexandria they were placed before the institution narrative.  In Eucharistic Prayer No 1 (the Roman Canon) there is a preliminary block of intercessions, which mention the Church, the pope, the local bishop, certain members of the living, and those assembled.  These are followed by a list of the apostles and martyrs especially venerated in Rome.  Toward the end of the prayer occurs a second set of intercessory prayers, which remember the dead and invoke the martyrs and saints. The structure of the intercessions in Eucharistic prayer No 1 remains unchanged, although the lists of the saints may be shortened.

 

In the other Eucharistic Prayers  they follow the Antiochene tradition and place all the intercessions toward the end of the prayer, and links them with the second invocation of the Spirit.  The congregation first requests the fruits of the Eucharist and then prays for more universal intentions.  Although each Eucharistic prayer varies, there is always the supplication for the Church and its pastors, for the immediate community and for the dead. 

 

The intercessions make it clear that the Eucharist is celebrated in communion with the entire Church of heaven and earth. The offering is made for the Church and all its members, living and dead, who are called to share in the salvation and redemption purchased by Christ’s body and blood. 

 

As we attend Mass, let us pray in earnest for these intentions of the universal church, both living and dead.

 

Collect for Solemnity of Epiphany of the Lord

 

COLLECT SERIES
 

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COLLECT

 

T

The Collect for Solemnity of Epiphany of The Lord reads as follows:

O God, who on this day

revealed Your Only Begotten Son to the nations by the guidance of a star,

Grant in Your mercy that we, who know You already by faith,

May be brought to behold the beauty of Your sublime glory.

Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,

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

God for ever and ever.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible the following reflection questions emerged:

 

1.              What does the Solemnity of the Epiphany mean to me?

How does God reveal Himself to me?

Do I long to behold God’s glory?

How will I increase my longing for God and the things of God through this week/year?

How will I adore the Lord this coming week/this year? ( Eg set aside a regular time each day/week at exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  If you are not able to do it in person use the one exposition of the Blessed Sacrament which is 24/7.

How will I keep the message of Christmas alive each day during this year?

 

 GOSPEL REFLECTION

The 3 Kings adoring the Incarnate Baby.

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany. "The Lord and ruler is coming; kingship is his, and government and power." With these words, the Church proclaims that today's feast brings to a perfect fulfillment all the purposes of Advent. Epiphany, therefore, marks the liturgical zenith of the Advent-Christmas season.

Epiphany means manifestation. What the Church celebrates today is the manifestation of our Lord to the whole world; after being made known to the shepherds of Bethlehem He is revealed to the Magi who have come from the East to adore Him. Christian tradition has ever seen in the Magi the first fruits of the Gentiles; they lead in their wake all the peoples of the earth, and thus the Epiphany is an affirmation of universal salvation. St. Leo brings out this point admirably in a sermon, read at Matins, in which he shows in the adoration of the Magi the beginnings of Christian faith, the time when the great mass of the heathen sets off to follow the star which summons it to seek its Saviour.

The gospel is from Matthew 2: 1-12.  We see the Magi arriving from the East to do homage to the Incarnate babe of Bethlehem.  They recognise Him because of the signs they were shown and they acted on the signs.  They did not just see the star and that’ that’s nice or that is unusual and then get on with their lives. No, they recognised it as something unusual and they came to do Jesus homage.  We might ask ourselves ‘are we like the Magi’ who recognize the signs of God and act upon them and them action or will we make the resolve for the to look out for the signs of God in our lives and go and do Him homage.

 

What about Herod in this Gospel account?  He probably did want to give God homage at some level but his obsession with his own power made him feel threatened when the Magi arrived asking ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews’?

He took action to protect his authority by summoning the Magi to a meeting to find out about his perceived enemy in his mind.  However, Herod had made up his mind that the newborn King was a threat to him.  He did not allow the information that the Magi gave him sway his made-up mind even though this information had the potential to change his heart and his perceived fear would have been dispersed.

 

We may wish to ask ourselves how we react when we have a perceived idea of something or more importantly someone?  Is our perceived idea of this person correct or if we were given different information, would it change our minds?  How do we feel when we feel threatened by position of power, of status?  Perhaps someone at work threatens our livelihood or our status in the office. Herod was not interested in changing his attitude but plotting and making his position more secure. What have we done in the past and what attitude will we change this year?

 

This Solemnity therefore challenges us to ask ourselves 

Will we be a Herod in our attitude or

will we seek out God in our lives and look for the signs and follow Him to adore Him?