Suggestions
for next Sunday’s Liturgy
12 February 2012
These suggestions are intended mainly for those who prepare and lead
Sunday Liturgy in small communities in the absence of a priest. This situation
is occurring more often because of the decreasing number of priests.
If such small local communities have ready access to helpful and
relevant liturgical resources, so much the better. When such resources are not
available, or if they are not sufficient or too difficult to follow in a small
and perhaps remote community, then these suggestions might be particularly
helpful.
Before introducing a change in procedure in the
liturgical pattern followed by a community, before the liturgy starts, it is
advisable to offer some explanation. Explanations and directives given during
the liturgy can spoil the flow and prayerful mood of the liturgy.
Sometimes it is easier to see the gospel
truth in a reflection than in the gospel text itself. Sometimes it is easier to
hear it in something that is an echo of the gospel word than in the gospel text
itself. Having seen the message reflected in a life-situation that is familiar
to us, we can proceed to better appreciate the message in the gospel itself.
Facing a related reality, we can ask:
what is the inspiration of God saying to us through the scriptural word we have
just heard. In silent reflection, in sharing of thoughts we can ask: what might
God be revealing to us here and now, prompted by the proclaimed Word in the Liturgy.
That is one reason why it is good to use stories in drawing attention to the
message of the gospel. It is good to ask: where is the echo of the scriptural
Word we read today in the world around us now?
Because it is often easier, and more realistic, for us to enter into the
Word through its echo.
An appropriate story or recounted experience or observation, with the connected
emotions, not only catches people’s attention, it can also illustrate the
message in a relevant way and lead them to consider, with fresh minds, the
deeper wisdom of the scriptural message.
A Suggested Procedure in the Liturgy
1. Announce
the action, or event, or situation or question that will be the background
theme of the day’s Liturgy.
2. In the
reflection following the readings, begin with the announced action or event or
situation or question, discuss it briefly, then refer to sentences or themes or
thoughts in the readings which throw light on the action, event, or situation
or question. In particular, try to discern what might be in the mind and heart
of Jesus as the matter is discussed. Invite the Spirit of Jesus to help in this
endeavour. Perhaps have a brief period of silence in the course of the
reflection to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and inspire us.
3. At the
conclusion of the Liturgy, as a part of the Dismissal-“Missioning”
rite, refer again to the reality of the background theme in the day’s
Liturgy and call for suggestions indicating action on the issue that the
participants might undertake during the week.
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary
Time :: 12 February 2012
Gospel: Mark 1: 40 - 45
A Focus Point or theme in
today’s Liturgy:
Healing and welcoming social outcasts.
A phrase from today’s Liturgy for prayerful pondering:
Jesus, you can transform humanity.
Related Reality:
There are many social
outcasts in the world.
Headings
for the Sharing of Reflections. .
One
hundred years ago, in
What
does today’s gospel passage say about this issue?
What can we do in response to the
message in the Liturgy?
Following
Jesus, we can develop a sensitive social conscience.
Points in
the
As usual, the first reading today from the Hebrew
scriptures is connected to the gospel reading, and the connecting issue is the
community’s reaction to disfiguring disease – leprosy. (Read good
scripture commentaries for an explanation of “leprosy”, as it
occurs in the gospels).
The psalm strikes a positive note: God is ready to
forgive and heal us.
Paul modelled his approach to life on Jesus –
doing everything for the glory of God. Paul invites us to follow the same
approach to life.
Does Jesus want people to be healthy and happy? Of
course he does. He demonstrated his attitude in curing people.
Introduction
to the Liturgy
If you are
using a data projector to help with the Liturgy and with the reflection on the
proclaimed Word, you might consider using the following frames.
1. Before
the Liturgy begins
Key elements in the work of Jesus: healing,
teaching, prayer.
2. During
the sharing of Reflections or homily
The world can be a better
place.
People
can work to make the world a better place.
Examples
of people beginning new jobs which will help make the world a better place.
Jesus
began his public work with enthusiasm and initial success.
What can we do in response to the
message in the Liturgy?
Affirm
and encourage people who do good work in the community, helping to make a
better world.
After the proclamation of the
scriptures
Some more thoughts on the Gospel
The gospel text is from the first chapter of
Mark’s gospel and Jesus is presented as moving swiftly in the first
stages of his missionary activity.
Use the example of someone starting a new enterprise,
whether it be a new retail business or a new farm, or a new company, or a new
profession, or simply getting a job for the first time. Either draw on your own
experience or invite others to help build up a picture of what making a new
start is usually like.
In such a situation one has to learn quickly how to
do new things. There can be feelings of excitement, or apprehension, or
expectation, or fear. There is often a need for on-going planning and
reflection.
Similar things can be found in today’s gospel.
Talk about them from the perspective of something new happening in the life of
Jesus and in the world.
Raise questions like the following: Has the gospel
lost its freshness and its excitement? Do we, as followers of Jesus, still have
a sense of purpose and urgency? Do we feel the need to withdraw at times from
activity and to spend time in reflection and prayer?
Hopefully, many good observations and suggestions
will emerge in response to the questions.
For good, well-informed, easy-to-read, briefly-stated
information about the scripture texts
go to the Center for Liturgy: http://liturgy.slu.edu/
choose the Sunday date
and click on Information about the
Other very useful background scriptural resources can be found
at:
http://catholic-resources.org/
If you decide to follow the pattern of
the Prayer of the Faithful suggested in these notes, it is important to explain
the change to the congregation beforehand. The reader of the petitions needs to
be especially careful to allow, what might seem like a very extended time (10
full seconds) to him/her, for silent prayer before declaring “Lord, hear
us” to conclude the petition.
In
explaining the change it is appropriate not only to describe the changed procedure:
a reason for the change can also be given, such as the following.
A good
model of petitionary prayer is the example of Mary as indicated in the story of
the wedding feast at
Mary simply
stated the problem to Jesus: “They have no wine”. She did not point
out what Jesus might or should do; she did not ask for a particular favour. But
she did say to the waiters: “Do whatever he tells you”.
Like
Mary, in our prayer of petition we can simply state the problem, or the issue
that is of concern to us, and leave time for silent prayer. The prayer happens
in the silence. The prayer of all those present is then gathered together in
the community response to the invocation: “Lord, hear us” …
“Lord, hear our prayer”. Hopefully, as a result of our prayer we
might be inspired to discern what Jesus is calling us to do in the situation.
For further information on the Prayer of the Faithful see
articles in the Index.
General Intercessions
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time :: 12
February 2012
Leader: We turn to God
in times of trouble.
In prayer
we turn to God with our concerns and needs.
Reader: Aware of the deaths and devastation
associated with political uprisings and natural disasters.
We pray:
(10 second pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
(R: Lord, hear our prayer.)
Realising
the need for peace and reconciliation
and proper
economic management in the world.
We pray:
(10 second pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
(R: Lord, hear our prayer.)
Many
people continue to suffer the effects
of
the shortage of water and the danger of bushfire.
We
pray:
(10 second pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
(R: Lord, hear our prayer.)
Ways to include all people
as respected members of society
need to be found.
We pray:
(10 second pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
(R: Lord, hear our prayer.)
For
our Church community.
We pray:
(10 second pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
(R: Lord, hear our prayer.)
Local or personal issues.
Leader: Life-giving God,
your
creative work continues in our world.
May
we accept the inspiration
coming
from the teaching and example of Jesus
as
we hope to enter more fully into your realm,
through
the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Thanksgiving Intentions
The Prayer of the Faithful is a prayer of
intercession or petition – a time to consider our needs and the needs of
others, and pray. It is inappropriate to include reasons for thanksgiving into
the Intercessory Prayers – the Prayer of the Faithful. To do so is to
confuse the rite (and the people present at the Liturgy).
Especially when we gather as a community on Sunday,
prayer of thanksgiving should be a feature of our community prayer.
This is the case when the Eucharist is celebrated:
Eucharist means Thanksgiving. In the Mass the
Eucharistic Prayer is basically prayer of thanks and praise.
In the absence of a priest a community can’t
celebrate the Mass: there is no Eucharistic Prayer. Nevertheless, in the
prayers provided for lay led Liturgy, there is often a Prayer of Thanksgiving
before the Lord’s Prayer (and Communion).
To make this Prayer of Thanksgiving (and even the
Eucharistic Prayer at Mass) more precise and relevant, particular reasons for
thanksgiving could be mentioned in introducing the prayer. It would be simple
and easy to do. Thanksgiving intentions probably fit in best at the end of the
introductory dialogue just before the beginning of the “Preface” or
its equivalent prayer of thanks and praise.
A thanksgiving intention: We give thanks,
for the hope that comes to us
from the teaching and example of Jesus Christ.
After the announcements,
arrangements and general business
Introducing the
Concluding Rite
or
“Dismissal”
with
a “missioning” statement
May we be ready to reach
out to the “lepers” in our society,
trying to find ways for
them
to become respected and
happy citizens.
Free Clipart for each Sunday
available at: http://www.servicioskoinonia.org/cerezo/indexBgraf.html
Other
material for liturgy, including more clipart: www.textweek.com