Opening Prayer Series: Feast of Christ the King

 OPENING PRAYER SERIES

THE MASS OPENING PRAYER SERIES ICON.

OPENING PRAYER

The Opening Prayer for the Feast of Christ the King reads as follows:

Let us pray

(that all men will acclaim Jesus as Lord)

Almighty and merciful God,

You break the power of evil 

and make all things new

in Your Son Jesus Christ, the King of the universe.

May all in Heaven and earth acclaim Your glory

and never cease to praise You.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

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

1.            Why is it important that all men acclaim Jesus as Lord?

2.            How will I acclaim Jesus as Lord in my life this coming week?

3.            How does God break the power of evil in my life?

4.            How does God make things new in my life?

5.            How do I praise God unceasingly in my life this coming week?

6.     =    In this last week of the liturgical year, will I commit to a review of my spiritual
         life?

          7.        What decision will I make towards increased spiritual growth for the new liturgical
                 year?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today's gospel is a timely reminder on this Feast of Christ the King as to what type of King Jesus is-King of sinners, and King of our salvation. Here we meet our Saviour, in His last agony, being stared at by the people before the Cross, being jeered at by the leaders, mocked at by the soldiers, (who even offered Him vinegar to drink), abused by the first criminal and petitioned by the good thief.  Notice how Jesus does not respond to His persecutors, but answers the good thief:  'Indeed I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise'.

At times in our lives we can behave like

·                    the people who stared, 

·                     the leaders who jeered,

·                     the soldiers who mocked 

·                    the other thief who abused Jesus. 

·                    the good thief who looked into the eyes of Jesus and asked for what we most 

            need.

Perhaps we have stared at the cross when we have prayed for something or someone and seemingly our prayer was not answered. Perhaps we may have jeered with 'God never answers my prayers' or 'God does what He likes anyway' or perhaps we have mocked our Saviour by our lack of commitment and luke-warm attitude to our faith or in some other form.  We can ask our Saviour to save us from these behaviours and repent of our ways. Perhaps though, we can also behave like the good thief who wanted Jesus to remember Him in His kingdom. Like the good thief, we too can be blown away by the response Jesus gives, since Jesus always gives more that what we ask.

During this last week of the liturgical year, let us try and spend some quality time with Jesus before the cross, sand contemplate our Saviour, our King.  Let us try to live by the gospel, so that Jesus will say to us, in our last agony, as He brings us to His Kingdom ' today you will be me in paradise'.

Opening Prayer Series: 33 Sunday of Year

OPENING PRAYER SERIES:

THE MASS: OPENING PRAYER SERIES.

OPENING PRAYER
 

The Opening Prayer of the 33rd Sunday of the Year reads as follows:

Let us pray

(that God will help us to be faithful)

Father of all that is good,

Keep us faithful in serving You,

for to serve You is our lasting joy.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

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

1.            What does being faithful to God mean in my life?

2.            What areas in my life hinder me from being faithful?

3.            How will endeavour to remedy these areas- what is my action plan?

4.            How do I serve God?

5.            Why do I serve God? (My compendium series no may assist you in developing your response to God)

6.            In what ways will I endeavour to be more faithful this coming week?

GOSPEL; REFLECTION

Today's Gospel might be considered an action-packed doom and gloom' gospel, but if we read until the end and last the distance, it is also with hope since Jesus tells us 'Your endurance will win you your lives'. Enduring the doom and gloom will win us our lives.  

We must also follow Him until the end, rather than being caught up with falsehood in whatever guise it may be dressed. We also need to be alert to the signs of the times with earthquakes and plagues and famines, but realize that human persecution will be the precursor. We will hated and persecuted on account of Christ.but ' 'not a hair on your head will be lost'.

Today's Gospel challenges us therefore to ask:

1.            Am I prepared to be persecuted because I am a follower of Christ?

2.            Will I endure to win my life and the lives of others knowing that God has promised it?

Let us pray for our Christian brothers and sisters who are persecuted for their faith, and pray that we all will endure and persevere in following Christ whatever the cost, since the prize worth fighting for- the reward of eternal life.  

alternative Opening Prayer 32 Sunday of Year C

OPENING PRAYER SERIES

THE MASS: OPENING PRAYER SERIES ICON.

ALTERNATIVE OPENING PRAYER

The alternative Opening Prayer for 32 Sunday of Year C reads as follows:

Let us pray

(that our prayer rise like incense in the presence of the Lord)

Almighty Father,

strong is Your justice and great is Your mercy,

Protect us in the burdens and challenges of life,

Shield our minds from the distraction of pride,

and enfold our desire with the beauty of truth,

Help us to become more aware of Your loving design 

so that we may more willingly give our lives in service to all.

I do not often include the alternative opening prayer in this series, but I was struck by this prayer this morning as I heard it read eloquently by the priest at Mass and thought how beautiful it is.  

My practical way of using it this week is to make it part of my morning and evening prayer. I will expand it by personalizing it (eg name the burdens and challenges that I am facing this coming week, the areas where pride operates in my day and reflect on what hinders me from giving more willing service).

Perhaps this alternative opening prayer will speak to your heart too this coming week.

Opening Prayer Series: 32nd Sunday of Year

OPENING PRAYER SERIES:

The Mass: Opening Prayer Series icon.

 

OPENING PRAYER 

The Opening Prayer for the 32nd Sunday of Year C reads as follows:

Let us pray

( for health of mind and body)

God of power and mercy,

protect us from all harm,

Give us freedom of spirit

and health in mind and body

to do Your work on earth.’’

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

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

1.            Why is important to pray for health of mind and body?

2.            Do we appreciate the health of mind and body that we have and thank God for it?

3.            Why do people suffer when God can protect  humanity from all harm?

4.            What is the harm that God needs me to be protected from in my life?

5.            What is meant by freedom of spirit and how is that important for my life?

6.            What assistance am I able or willing to give to those who suffer dementia or mental illness?

7.            What is my attitude to those who suffer from physical illness?

8.            What is Your work on earth for me?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today's Gospel challenges us to think about the afterlife and our homeland in Heaven.  The doctrine of the resurrection is central to our catholic faith. It is not an optional extra, since scripture tells us quite clearly

'if Christ did not die or rise from the dead, our faith is in vain'

The doctrine of the Resurrection gives us hope. We do not understand the practicalities fully- let's leave that up to God.  We do know my faith that when we die, God judges us to be either worthy of everlasting happiness with Him, or we may need further purification in purgatory ( see post on All Souls Day).  God never wills anyone to be dammed to Hell, rather it is our own choice because we have rejected God.

The creed which we recite puts it plainly: 'we believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.'

During this coming week leading up to Advent and Christmas, we will be continued to be reminded of the last days. Let us attend to each day doing God's will on earth and pray that we have the freedom of spirit, and health in mind and body (as the opening prayer states) to do it.

Each day we wake because God is generous in allowing us another day.  We need to live each day fully and live it as if it is our last, since one day it will be our last on earth.  Let us be faithful to God by doing His will on earth, so that we may enjoy one day God saying to us :

'well done good and faithful servant, come and enjoy your master's happiness'

Opening Prayer Series: 31 Sunday of Year C

OPENING PRAYER SERIES

THE MASS: OPENING PRAYER SERIES ICON.

OPENING PRAYER

The Opening Prayer for the 31st Sunday of the Year reads as follows:

Let us pray
(that our lives will reflect our faith)
God of power and mercy,
only with Your help can we offer You fitting service and praise,
May we live the faith we profess 
and trust Your promise of eternal life. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

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

1.            What is faith and how might I ask God to increase it during this
          coming week? 

2.            Name the areas of my life that reflect my faith?

3.            Name the areas of my life that need adjustment to reflect my faith?

4.            How can God help me this coming week to offer Him fitting service
         and praise?

5.            What does it mean to me to live the faith I profess?

6.            Do I know my faith- how might I educate myself more in my faith
          this coming week/month?

7.            Why do I need to trust God's promise of eternal life?

GOSPEL REFLECTION.

 In today's Gospel, we meet the lovely Zacchaeus. I have to say that I have a soft spot for Zacchaeus because I can identify with his shortness of stature and appreciate the frustration of not being able to see clearly in a crowd and at times even at Mass. Anyway, I will get off my hobby horse before I go any further.

Still shortness of stature did not hinder Zacchaeus because we are told that he was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was.  He climbs the sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus.  Thankfully, Jesus notices him up the sycamore tree and invites himself to the house of Zacchaeus.  Then Zacchaeus is able to stand his ground after the crowd complain, and acknowledge his failures and wrongdoing.  Indeed, salvation came to his house that day.

What about us- are we anxious to see who Jesus is? Do our shortcomings hinder us, or are we prepared, like Zacchaeus, to think outside the square to catch a glimpse of Jesus?  Are we able to stand our ground when we are ridiculed in a crowd? Are we able to acknowledge our own shortcomings to Jesus and accept the salvation He offers us (through the sacrament of reconciliation)?

During this coming week let us catch a glimpse of Jesus by not allowing our weakness and shortcomings to hinder us from receiving the salvation Jesus wishes to offer us.

Opening Prayer Series: 30th Sunday of Year

OPENING PRAYER SERIES:
 

THE MASS: OPENING PRAYER SERIES ICON.

OPENING PRAYER

The Opening Prayer for the 30th Sunday of the Year reads as follows:

Let us pray

(for the strength to do God's will)

Almighty and ever-living God,

strengthen our faith, hope and love,

May we do with loving hearts what You ask of us 

and come share tho life You promise. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS.

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

1.            What is God's will for me?

2.            What is strength and why is it important for doing God's will?

3.            What do I understand about the virtues of faith, hope and love? (My
           virtue series may be a helpful resource)

4.            What hinders me from doing with a loving heart what God asks of me?

5.            What am I prepared to do to change these hindrances this week? How
            will I go about making these changes?

6.            How can I share in the life You promise this coming week?

7.            What is the life that God has promised me?

GOSPEL REFLECTION’

As we hear today's gospel of the publican and the pharisee, to whom do we identify? It seems to me that we are neither all publican nor all pharisee. Rather we are more likely to hold in our personalities both publican and pharisee. The message of the parable is quite clear from the outset when it says ' Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else'.

I do not wish to give the publican bad press.  From his own words to himself we are told that he was not grasping, adulterous, fast  twice a week, payed tithes on all he got. Some might consider that he had a very strong self-esteem and a good bloke. Unfortunately, he seems to suffer from the sin of pride and from a judgmental attitude towards humanity. In his eyes, he is the greatest. His sin of pride has blinded him to his own weakness and sinfulness.

The pharisee however prayed to God, not to himself, with a beautiful simple prayer 'Be merciful to me a sinner'.  Some might consider him to have low self-esteem since he was humble. Being humble in the presence of God is being realistic- God is the creator and we are the creatures that God lovingly made from nothing. Jesus too humbled himself to become man and die on the cross. We are not greater than our Master.

So during this coming week, let us find the balance between the publican and pharisee in us. It is fine to acknowledge our giftedness comes from God and be grateful for it.  We need to be realistic to know that we are not yet perfect, so we need to be humble enough to do this in God's presence and when we tend to be judgmental or prideful, we need to acknowledge our sinfulness. 

Do you not want to go home at rights with God?