February 7, 2010 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Call to prayer: In faith and love we ask you, all-powerful God, to watch over all
gathered here. In your mercy and loving kindness, no thought of ours is left unguarded,
no tear unheeded, no joy unnoticed. Through the prayer of Jesus may the blessings
promised to the poor in spirit lead us to the treasures of your heavenly kingdom. We ask
this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short
distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
The gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Focus: The apostles had been fishing and caught nothing. Jesus told them to lower their
nets and they caught so many fish. If only we could trust God and let things in his hands.

Questions for reflection and sharing:
1. What words or phrases stand out for you?
2. Imagine how the apostles felt when their nets were so full. Have you ever felt this
same awe and wonder that the apostles might have felt?
3. Jesus called the apostles to be “fishers of men.” How is God calling you this week
to be fishers of men, to carry out his mission?

Concluding prayer: Compassionate God, you have called us to serve you in love. Grant
us the faith to be faithful to our vocation, so that we may be happy with you in this life
and dwell with you in eternal joy in the next. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

January 31, 2010 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Call to prayer: All-powerful God, from the days of Abraham and Moses until this gathering of your people in prayer, you have formed us in the image of your Son. Bless us with the gift of your kingdom. May we serve you with our every desire and show love for one another. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke Lk 4:21-30

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying:
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,
‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say,
‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.
But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

Focus: A growing hostility toward Jesus gives evidence of his preferential option for the poor. After a violent attempt on his life, Jesus simply walks away.

Questions for reflection and sharing:
1. What words or phrases stand out for you in this gospel reading?
2. Jesus pursues the outcasts of society. Who are the outcasts for us? Do we find them easy to exclude?
3. Have you ever attempted to make Jesus and his values known to others and you were rejected? How did you feel?

Concluding prayer: Lord our God, help us to love you with all our hearts and to love all people as you love them, especially the outcast. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

January 24, 2010 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Call to prayer: God of heaven and earth, hear our prayers and show us the way to peace in this world. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events
that have been fulfilled among us,
just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning
and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew,
to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

Focus: Jesus introduces himself to the people of his hometown and presents his mission, namely to preach the Good News to the poor, the disadvantaged, the exploited.

Questions for reflection and sharing:
1. What words or phrases are important to you in the gospel reading?
2. In the gospel, Jesus announces his work to bring about God’s kingdom. What is your work?
3. How would you introduce Christ and his teachings to someone who does not know him?

Concluding prayer: Almighty and ever-present God, your watchful care reaches from end to end and orders all things in such power that even the tensions and the tragedies of sin cannot frustrate your loving plans. Help us embrace your will, give us strength to follow your call, so that your truth may live in our hearts and reflect peace to those who believe in your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

 

January 17, 2010 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Call to prayer: All loving God, you revealed your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Lead us to your glory in heaven by the light of faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told the them, “Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
-. although the servers who had drawn the water knew -.,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

Focus: At Mary’s request, Jesus changes water into wine, his first public miracle. Jesus revealed his glory and the disciples saw and began to believe in him.

Questions for reflection and sharing:
1. What words or phrases are important for you in this gospel reading?
2. Who helped bring your faith to life? How do you do it for others?
3. Can you think of ordinary events in your life that had extraordinary meaning for you?

Concluding prayer: God of light, today you reveal to your people of faith the resplendent fact of the Word made flesh. Your light is strong, your love is near; draw us beyond the limits which this world imposes, to the life where your Spirit makes all life complete. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

January 10, 2010 Baptism of Our Lord

Call to prayer: All loving God, you have redeemed your people through the waters of baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ. May we who have passed through these waters take up our cross and follow you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”

The gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Focus: When Jesus comes to John to be baptized, John is confused. Jesus reveals the Father to John and himself as the Son of God. Jesus is revealed here as the chosen one, the beloved.

Questions for sharing and reflection:

When Jesus came out of the water, the heavens opened up and the Spirit of God came upon him.
1. What does this say to us about our own Baptism?
2. What are we called to be and to do?
3. What prayer does this gospel call forth in us? What is our stewardship response?

Concluding prayer: Almighty, eternal God, when the Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan, you revealed him as your own beloved Son. Keep us, your children born of water and the Spirit, faithful to our calling. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

January 3, 2009 Epiphany of the Lord Matt 2:1-12

Call to prayer: O Lord, our God, a star led the Magi to your Son. May the sound of your
Word and the light of your Spirit lead us today to worship before him in Spirit and in truth, bringing to him the gift of our lives, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew:

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

The gospel of the Lord.

Focus: Today we celebrate the revelation of Christ to the whole world. He came for everyone. God’s love is universal and ours should be the same.

Questions for reflection and sharing:
1. What words or phrases stand out for you in this reading?
2. If you were commissioned to be a modern day Magi, what gift could you or would you bring to Jesus?
3. Who or what event was the star that led you to a better understanding of Jesus?

Concluding prayer: All generous God, we come to you asking for your help as we attempt share our gifts with others. We pray that everyone in our parish will be open to sharing your gifts with others. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

 

December 27, 2009 Feast of the Holy Family

Call to prayer: All-loving God, as we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, let us reflect on our own family. Help us support to one another, care for one another and always be an example of love to others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 2:41-52

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him, they were astonished,
and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

Focus: As Jesus was called to be in his father’s house, so we must make our own homes our “Father’s house” by honoring one another. In Christ we see our true identity as God’s children.

Questions for reflection and sharing:
1. What words or phrases stand out for you in this reading?
2. What do you think were the feelings Jesus’ parents had during the three days they were searching for him?
3. Every family is a “holy family.” In your family situation, what can you do to better recognize the holiness in each member?

Concluding prayer: God our father, you sent you sent into this world to free us from the power of death. Help us to let Jesus into our lives and hearts as we reflect on his life. May all families be strengthened as we take time to reflect on the example of the holy family. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

December 20, 2009 Fourth Sunday of Advent

Call to prayer: Lord God, may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience that joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you
by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

Focus: This gospel is filled with humanness and emotion. Mary is a model disciple and her cousin, Elizabeth, recognizes that she is the mother of god.

Questions for reflection and sharing:
1. What words or phrases are important to you in this gospel?
2. Imagine and describe the emotions that Mary and Elizabeth felt.
3. What does this gospel call you to be, to do?

Concluding prayer: All-loving God, we contemplate the gift of Mary to be the mother of God, the love displayed between Elizabeth and Mary and the birth of your Son. May we experience the love of God in our hearts this Christmas season and move beyond ourselves to share it with others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

December 13, 2009 Third Sunday of Advent

Call to prayer: O God of all good, you sent your Son to bring sight to the sightless, healing to the hurt, cleansing to the unclean, hearing to the deaf, life to those condemned to death. Make your Church a living proclamation of you, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 3:10-18

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
“Teacher, what should we do?”
He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?”
He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages.”

Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

Focus: John the Baptist was very direct as he called people to prepare for the coming of Christ. Repent. Do not cheat. Share what you have.

Questions for reflection and sharing:
1. What words or phrases are important for you in the gospel?
2. If you were to ask John the Baptist this same question today, “What am I to do then?” how might he answer you?
3. How are you fostering in yourself and others a greater sense of anticipation for the celebration of Christ’s birth?

Concluding prayer: Lord God, may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

December 6, 2009 Second Sunday of Advent

Call to prayer: O God of glory, you sent your only Son into our midst to bear us in joy into your presence. Waken those whose faith slumbers; stir up those whose love has waned into indifference; rouse those to fullness of life who have abandoned their journey to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was
governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,
and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,
the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

Focus: Luke introduces Jesus with a list of all the political and religious leaders of the time. All these leaders hold power and will reject Jesus, but God’s call is greater than any opposition. Make straight the path. Change your life and your attitude. Repent. Make room.

Questions for Reflection and Sharing:
1. What words or phrases are important for you in this reading?
2. In what areas are you challenged to change in the midst of all the worldly attitudes around you?
3. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. How do you announce the coming of the Lord?

Concluding prayer: God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.