Suggestions for next Sunday’s Liturgy

12 September 2010

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.

 

 

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time  ::  12 September 2010

 

Gospel: Luke 15: 1 – 32

 

A Focus Point or theme in today’s Liturgy:  

 

A forgiving God.

 

A phrase from today’s Liturgy for prayerful pondering:

 

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

 

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

 

Related Reality:  

 

It is possible to forgive, and forgiveness opens the way to new life.

 

For example:   Nelson Mandela – forgiving those who had brought so much suffering to himself and to other blacks and coloured people in South Africa.

 

Ramos Horta – who intervened to save the lives of people who had participated in the nearly-successful action to assassinate him.

 

 

Headings for the Sharing of Reflections. .

 

Today’s gospel parables illustrate that God  is a God of forgiveness, to an infinite dimension.

 

What can we do in response to the message in the Liturgy?

 

Be prepared to accept forgiveness and to grant forgiveness.

 

 

Points  in  the  Readings

 

We have a very Jewish story in the first reading from the book of Exodus. It is about a forgiving God.

 

Psalm 50 is a repentance psalm and the antiphon refers to today’s gospel: I will rise and go to my father.

 

The mercy of God is a theme in the second reading, which, this Sunday, can connect it with the first reading, the psalm, and the longest of the three parables in the gospel.

 

Rejoicing does not seem to be a characteristic of the Scribes and Pharisees to whom the gospel parables are addressed. Yet rejoicing features strongly in each of the parables. Rejoicing seems to be a characteristic of God, as presented by Jesus – a rejoicing which is extended to those in the realm of God.

 

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.

 

Before the Liturgy begins

 

A forgiving God.

 

Related Reality:  

 

It is possible to forgive, and forgiveness opens the way to new life.

 

For example:   Nelson Mandela – forgiving those who had brought so much suffering to himself and to other blacks and coloured people in South Africa.

 

Ramos Horta – who intervened to save the lives of people who had participated in the nearly-successful action to assassinate him.

 

During the sharing of Reflections or homily

 

Today’s gospel parables illustrate that God  is a God of forgiveness, to an infinite dimension.

 

What can we do in response to the message in the Liturgy?

 

Be prepared to accept forgiveness and to grant forgiveness.

 

After the proclamation of the scriptures

 

Some more thoughts on the Gospel

 

What is our attitude to “the lost ones”? “Serves them right,” “Let them stay lost”? What about people in prisons or detention centres – out of sight, out of mind?

 

Using questions like these, society’s attitude to those in prison or detention centres could be discussed to develop a context in which to reflect on the parables in today’s gospel. Are prisons and detention centres mainly for punishment and deterrence, or should there be more focus on rehabilitation, education, and propter integration as good citizens?

 

That approach to day’s gospel would be based on our attitude to “the lost ones”.

 

Another way to approach today’s shared reflection would simply be to look directly at the parables. The three parable stories in the gospel for this Sunday are so good and clear that they can be taken straight as they are.

 

The first two parables describe the experience of losing something, searching for it, eventually finding it, the sense of relief, rejoicing. Probably all people have experienced the emotions associated with such events. Invite members of the congregation to share the memory of such emotions. In a reflection, recall these emotions, perhaps from your own experience, and then bring in the point that Jesus is making: those in the realm of God are similarly relieved and rejoice when someone who is lost is found again – accepting the mercy and forgiveness of God.

 

All the characters in the third, long, well-known parable can teach us something. There will not be time to talk about each of the characters in one Sunday Liturgy; perhaps the one that is key to the teaching of Jesus is the father, who represents God. The God Jesus reveals is one who is welcoming to all, who is delighted when the lost ones are found, who is ready to forgive all, who rejoices when people share the heavenly banquet.

 

It should not to too difficult for members of the congregation to share reflections on these parables, and to share how they feel about them.

 

If you choose the first approach, the discussion might turn out to be more animated and more effective! In either case we can ask at the end of the reflection time: what is Jesus trying to teach us today?

 

A reflection on each Sunday’s gospel by Judith Lynch can be found at:

http://www.tarellaspirituality.com/

 

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 Readings.

 

Other very useful background scriptural resources can be found at:

http://catholic-resources.org/

 

Prayer  of  the  Faithful

or

General Intercessions

 

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 Cana, as described in the gospel according to John: 2: 1 – 10. 

 

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.

 

 

 Suggested  Text  for  a  Prayer  of  the  Faithful

 

General Intercessions

 

 

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time  ::  12 September 2010

 

Leader:            Jesus presents us with an extraordinary God:

                        one who looks for and is ready to welcome back everyone,

                        one who offers a celebration and wishes that all participate in it and enjoy it.

                        To this God we bring our prayer.

 

Reader:          Many people seem to be lost

in a world of superficial distractions and entertainments.

                         We pray.  (10 second pause for silent prayer)                 Lord, hear us.

 

Some people are led astray by glamour,

wasteful living, and selfish consumption.

We pray.  (10 second pause for silent prayer)                    Lord, hear us.

 

Some people are abandoned or rejected

because nobody wants them.

We pray.  (10 second pause for silent prayer)                    Lord, hear us.

 

                        The challenge of extreme climatic conditions

                        is putting pressure on many people.

                        We pray.  (10 second pause for silent prayer)                    Lord, hear us.

 

 

Add alternative or other intentions.

 

 

 

Leader:            Dear God,

you are like the Father in today’s gospel story.

You continually reach out to all who need your help and support.

May we accept your largesse with gratitude

and seek to manifest your attitudes in our own behaviour,

inspired by your Spirit,

coming to us through 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 rejoice and give thanks,

                                                when, through God’s goodness,

                                                people find their way

                                                into the realm of God.

 

After the announcements, arrangements and general business

 

Introducing  the  Concluding  Rite

or “Dismissal”

with a “missioning” statement

 

Our church community needs always to be ready

to welcome back

those who have been lost from our gatherings.

What do we need to be like and to do

in order to be attractive and welcoming?

 

Free Clipart for each Sunday available at: http://www.servicioskoinonia.org/cerezo/indexBgraf.html

Other material for liturgy, including more clipart: www.textweek.com

Back to HomePage