About the Mass Series: Concluding Rite no 1- Announcements

The giving of announcements has occurred at various locations within the Mass.  In the late 7^th century papal liturgy, it was immediately after the communion of the pope, and before the communion of the clergy and congregation, that the archdeacon announced the time and place of the next papal Mass, because non-communicants were accustomed to leave the church at this time.  

Another place, which was considered appropriate for announcements, was after the homily. For example, Pope Leo the Great (440-461) at the conclusion of his sermons reminded the faithful of the fast days during the week ahead, and invited them to attend the vigil on the eve of the next Sunday.

Nowadays, the announcements are made immediately after the prayer after communion, so that they are kept completely separate from the homily. These announcements are meant to be short, necessary and generally of concern to the whole community.  Longer and more particular information is considered better communicated in other ways, such as, through the parish bulletin and/ notice board.

Since the lectern is reserved for the proclamation of God’s word, it is preferable that the announcements are given elsewhere, although for practical reasons, this may not always be possible.  

Apart from the practical issues related to announcements, they are important also because it helps to build a sense of community and highlight the unity of purpose, which is crucial for the vitality of parish life.  Announcements are not a ‘switch out’ time, rather a ‘switch in’ time to see how YOU can make a difference.  

     

Opening Prayer Series: Twenty Seventh Sunday of Year A

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

Let us pray

(that God will forgive our failings and bring us peace)

Father,

Your love for us surpasses all our hopes and desires.

Forgive our failings,

keep us in Your peace 

and lead us in the way of salvation. 

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

1. What does the gift of God's forgiveness mean to me?
2. What are the failings that I wish God to forgive in my life?
3. What difference would God's gift of peace make in my life?
4. How does God's love surpass your hopes and desires?
5. What value do I place on the sacrament of Reconciliation in my life?
6. What commitment am I prepared to make this coming week to ask God's forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation?
7. What is the way of salvation and how do I walk in this way during this coming week?

Today's Gospel may not speak to us immediately especially if we have no connection to wine growing. The closest we may become to it may be the produce as we share a drink with friends and family.
However, let us not wipe this gospel as one that does not concern us since  the words of Jesus at the end of the gospel are most telling 

' I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you 

and given to a people who will produce its fruit'. 

Our lives are busy and we are governed by the world's demands on us  Providing for our families is getting more difficult in this global financial crisis. Finding time to place our focus on God when we are worried about our daily lives is a challenge.


So the questions we need to ask ourselves are 

• What is the fruit of the kingdom?
• How do I produce the fruit of the kingdom in my daily life?
• How would I feel if the kingdom of God was taken away from me?

 
Even though my life is in such a muddle at the moment,  I still want to live for God and eventually get to Heaven.

What about you? What is your priority?

Reflection and Prayer Series: God's Gift.

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 post is called:

GOD'S GIFT

Today look upon something beautiful

for beauty is a gfit of God,

a touch of wonder,

 a glimpse of glory,

a hint of great and splendid things,

eternal things to be.

Let us develop the habit to gaze on beauty of the Lord 

since this is what we will do for eternity as we live in house of the Lord.

Compendium Series: Fundamental quality of humanity

68. Why does the human race form a unity? (CCC360-361)

Compendium states:

All people form the unity of the human race by reason of the common origin which they have from God.  God has made ‘from one ancestor all the nations of men’ (Acts 27:26). All have but one Saviour and are called to share in the eternal happiness of God.

What does this mean for me?

1. All people especially those whose behaviours I detest have a common origin with me which they have from God.
2. All people especially those whose behaviours I detest are called to share in the eternal happiness of God.

Questions to consider:

1. When I see behaviours which are opposed to God’s plan, how do I be at peace with the fact that these people are also called to share the eternal happiness of God?
2. How might I evangelise those who do not yet believe in God and their Saviour?

About the Mass Series Communion Rite Part 23- Prayer after Communion

‘PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION’.

The desire to express verbally the effects of the Eucharist gave rise the presidential prayer after the communion. First appearing in the fifth century, and arranged in the manner of the opening prayer, it was called the “prayer at the conclusion” since it ended the Eucharistic celebration.  It was also known as the Prayer after Communion or the Post-Communion.

Just as the number of collects multiplied during the Middle Ages, so a corresponding series of post-communion commemorations were prayed at most celebrations. 

Today only one prayer, known as the prayer after communion serves to conclude the communion rite.

In this prayer, the priest petitions for the effects of the mystery just celebrated and by their acclamation, Amen, we, as the congregation, make the prayer our own.  Then standing at the altar or at the presidential chair and facing the congregation, the priest says with hand outstretched: ‘Let us pray’. There is then a brief silence then he recites the prayer.  

The prayer after communion is not a prayer of thanksgiving, since this is the nature of the Eucharistic prayer.  It is a prayer asking for the spiritual effects or fruits of the Eucharist.

There is no need for a verbal direction to stand up because it is inherent in the opening invitation to prayer. When the priest says: ‘Let us pray’ with the gesture of arms outstretched, it indicates that he is greeting us in the name of Christ.

When our lives are hectic or we are troubled or busy, we may find that the prayer after communion can be a good source of reflection. It may help us to live the life of faith we have professed at Mass the previous Sunday, since we have been strengthened by Christ himself

Opening Prayer Series: Twenty Fifth Sunday of Year A

The Opening Prayer for the 25th Sunday of the Year A reads as follows:

Let us pray

( that we will grow in the love of God and of one another)

Father,

Guide us, as You guide creation

according to Your law of love.

May we love one another, 

and come to perfection in the eternal life prepared for us.

1. What is the love of God like for me?
2. What hinders me from loving God with my whole heart, soul and mind?
3. What hinders me from loving God in one another?
4. How does God guide creation?
5. How does this prayer give me hope when I fail to love another?

Today's gospel would not be a blueprint for trade union leaders but perhaps it may be a hint of work place agreement. We might be tempted to feel sorry for those workers who worked hard in the day's heat. 
Those workers agreed to the terms and conditions, and after all they were unemployed at the beginning of the day.

However Jesus is telling us quite clearly is not be envious of others and beware of the sin of greed/avarice.
God is generous with everyone. God gives and gives and gives. We will receive when we are in need since God looks after our needs.  We must never become jealous or envious when God is generous with other people. Let us try to have a big heart like God and be generous in heart, mind and spirit this coming week.

Reflection and Prayer Series: My Shepherd

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 post is called:

MY SHEPHERD

My Shepherd carried me close to His heart
when I hurt...
In the warmth of His love,
I am healed and made whole.