EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 42)

A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

September 11-17, 2005

 

“The Duty of Christian Forgiveness”

 

 

(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

(A moment of silence)

 

SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or any appropriate song may be sung.

 

 

WORDS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING

 

During his ministry in the sunny villages of Galilee, Jesus talked passionately about forgiveness. This strange doctrine awakened the questioning mind of Peter. How oft, he asked, shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Peter wanted to be legal and statistical. But Jesus responded by affirming that there is no limit to forgiveness. I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven. In other words, forgiveness is not a matter of quantity, but of quality. A man cannot forgive up to four hundred and ninety times without forgiveness becoming a part of the habitual structure of his being. Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude … Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains a barrier to the relationship. Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning. It is a lifting of a burden or the canceling of debt … Forgiveness means reconciliation, a coming together again.

 

 

SILENT ADORATION

 

 

OPENING PRAYER

 

Leader: Lord Jesus, you opened the eyes of the blind, healed the sick, forgave the sinful woman, and after Peter’s denial confirmed him in your love. Listen to my prayer: forgive all my sins, renew your love in my heart, help me to live in perfect unity with my fellow Christians that I may proclaim your saving power to all the world. You live and reign forever and ever.

 

Assembly: Amen.

 

Part I

JESUS MASTER TRUTH

Listening to the Word

 

 

GOSPEL READING: Mt 18:21-35

 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD [# 42]: A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy. The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)

 

SONG: Any Eucharistic hymn or suitable song of praise may be sung.

 

 

 

Part II

JESUS MASTER WAY

Confrontation with the Word

 

 

POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART

 

Leader: We open our hearts to listen to the promptings of the living Word. Let us ask ourselves with limpid honesty:

 

1.      Do we ever forgive? Do we set limits and conditions on Christian forgiveness?

 

2.      Do we imitate God in his willingness to forgive? Do we respond positively and fully to God’s healing and forgiving love?

 

3.      In our daily life, do we act like the merciless and unforgiving steward? If so, what do we do about it?

 

 

PRAYER:

 

Leader: Almighty and most compassionate God,

when your chosen people were thirsty

you drew a stream of water from a rock.

From our stony hearts draw tears of sorrow,

giving us the grace to weep for our sins

and win your merciful forgiveness.

Grant that, in receiving your gentle forgiveness,

we may be able to share this merciful gift

with those who hurt and sin against us.

May we spread your healing power of reconciliation to all.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 

Assembly: Amen.

 

 

SONG: Any suitable song may be sung.

 

 

 

Part III

JESUS LIFE

Acting upon the Word

 

 

PERSONAL PRAYER

 

CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Mysteries of Light of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.

 

 

THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

 

Leader: Let us pray to God who cares for all, and with earnest humility say:

 

(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

 

1.       Forgive us, Lord, when we do not live in accordance with our baptismal consecration and when we stifle the voice of conscience calling us to conversion.

 

2.      Forgive us, when complacent and indifferent, we are not able to live the spirit of the Gospel and the duty of Christian correction and forgiveness.

 

3.      Forgive us when we are blinded and unable to see your image in our brothers and sisters.

 

4.      Forgive us for all the acts of violence and terrorism in this world and when we contribute to the world’s misery through passive acceptance.

 

5.      Forgive us when we do not allow your healing love to touch us and thus refuse to forgive those who have sinned against us.

 

(Other prayers may be added.)

 

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

 

CONCLUDING PRAYER

(By Michel Quoist)

 

Leader: Lord, to love is to meet oneself,

and to meet oneself one must be willing to leave oneself

and go towards another.

To love is to commune,

and to commune one must forget oneself for another.

One must die to self completely for another.

Loving hurts,

for since the fall

to love is to crucify self for another.

Teach me how to love.

 

Assembly: Amen.

 

 

FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or song of praise may be sung.

 

Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang  PDDM

 

 

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