One another, Sunday18B

August 04, 2024

Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15; Psalm 78 (77); Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35

To the Lord, who feeds us with the Bread of Heaven, let us pray:

For our Church and parish community, that we may do “the work of God” in every dimension of our life together: let us pray to the Lord.

For Pope N., Bishop N., Father N., and all who serve and minister to our Church, that they may teach “justice and holiness”… born of truth”: let us pray to the Lord.

For President N., Governor N., and all legislators, judges, and government officials, that they may lead and serve with courage and selflessness: let us pray to the Lord.

For those whose lives are in transition, for those who are coping with loss, illness, or hardship in their lives, that God will be with them on their journeys: let us pray to the lord.

For the poor, the hungry, and the homeless, that we may share with them the blessing God has rained down upon us: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have died in the peace of Christ [especially _________], that Christ will welcome them to the banquet of: let us pray to the Lord.

For the prayers we now offer in the silence of our hearts [Pause...]: let us pray to the Lord.

You have done great things for us, O Lord; rejoicing in the many blessings you have given us, we come to you with these prayers, confident, in faith, that you will hear them. In Jesus’ name, we pray.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024bh, August 4). Eighteenth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080424.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

The Word today, W18B

August 05 - August 10, 2024

Monday 05 August

Dedication of St Mary Major, Rome

Jeremiah 28:1-17 In critical times, there can be prophets who tell us what we want to hear. This was true in the past, as we hear in this gripping story of contrasting “words of the Lord.” Jeremiah is steadfast as usual.

Matthew 14:13-21 The multiplications in the desert has direct echoes of Moses and the manna. Our question might be “what happened?” “Matthew wants us to go a bit deeper: who is Jesus, our new Moses, who guides and nourishes us today?”

Tuesday 06 August

The Transfiguration of the Lord

Daniel 7:9-10,13-14 Our reading takes us to the heavenly court. It uses a key phrase: one like a son of man, used by J e s u s a b o u t himself. The ending of the reading is very like the ending of Matthew’s Gospel: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)

2 Peter 1:16-19 Is the Christian proclamation just stories or “clever myths”? Emphatically not, according to this reading. Jesus was a real historical person about whom believers hold well-grounded beliefs. The last sentence in the reading is very uplifting: take [prophecy] as a lamp for lighting a way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in your minds.

Mark 9:2-10 What kind of experience was the Transfiguration for Jesus and for those present? It Mark’s version it was a spiritual experience in which the true identity of Jesus was disclosed and the right responses to him indicated: Listen, to him. This echoes again our human condition: we are hearers of the Word, as Rahner put it.

Wednesday 07 August

Sts Sixtus II, bishop of Rome and his companions, martyrs

Jeremiah 30:1-2,12-15,18-22 A double message marks this passage from Jeremiah, weal and woe or rather the other way around, woe and weal! Yes, the disaster of the Exile brought about tremendous destruction. No, God’s love has never been taken away.

Matthew 14:22-36 The Gospels as a whole were written in the light of Easter and to proclaim the resurrection. This is true of the walking on the water. In this case, we are to understand that the risen, living Lord is with his church always, no matter what storms and tempests we face.

Thursday 08 August

St Dominic, priest and religious

Jeremiah 31:1-7 The second part of Jeremiah is full of surprising and abundant consolation. Nowhere is this more evident is these lines today, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in my affection for you.” It was good news for the exiles; it is good new for us today.

Matthew 15:21-28 The story of the Canaanite woman is remarkable on several counts. First of all, a woman teaches Jesus. Secondly, Matthew underlines that Jesus came “only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This exception anticipates the Gentile mission, found at the close of this Gospel.

Friday 09 August

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, (Edith Stein) virgin and martyr

Hosea 2:16, 17, 21-22 The lectionary offers a powerful reading for the feast of Edith Stein, underlining the loving intimacy of God’s call.

Matthew 25:1-13 Our reading—quite traditional for the feast of virgins—reminds us that there are some things others cannot do for us: making journey inward to the heart of God.

Saturday 10 August

St Laurence, deacon and martyr

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 Originally, this reading was about the collection for the Judean Christians, who were poor and under pressure. Paul’s reflection on generosity in giving in general, however, is always up to date.

John 12:24-26 This short reading, also special for the feast, takes up an image from the parables of Jesus and applies it directly to the cost of discipleship then and now.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024bh, August 4). Eighteenth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080424.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

SOCL, Sunday18B

Sunday August 04, 2024

This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.

See

Physical hunger is unmistakable and urgent. The deeper hungers of the heart are also urgent but can take a while to recognise. Deep down, for what do I really hunger and thirst?

Listen

Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15; Psalm 78 (77); Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35

Reflect

(John 6:24-35)

-Jesus distinguishes between food that gives quick satisfaction and food that gives lasting nourishment. It is a mark of wisdom to be able to say ‘no’ to enticing but delusory attractions in order to choose things of lasting value. From your life experience what advice would you give to another about where things of lasting value are to be found?

-Jesus reminds his listeners that God is the source of all good things. What difference does it make in your life when you are aware that life, the world, everything you have is gift, and you live in a spirit of gratitude?

-The work of God is that we believe in the one whom God has sent. In what ways has your faith in Jesus enriched and changed your life? How has Jesus satisfied your hungers or quenched your thirsts? Is it the idea that we are loved by God?

-As Jesus came down from heaven to give life to the world, so each one of us is here to be a source of life to others. Think of people who have been a source of life to you, and give thanks for them. For whom have you also been a source of life?

Pray

Lord, giver of lasting life, satisfy our hunger through Christ, the Bread of Life, and quench our thirst with your gift of belief that we may no longer work for food that perishes, but believe in the One whom you have sent. We make our prayer through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

References

The Lord Gave Them Bread From Heaven