Tenth Sunday Year B
The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.
Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.
If you are interested in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us. cluster.alpha@outlook.com
Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)
Extraordinary that Jesus’ family think he’s a bit crazy and want him to “see sense".
Yet Jesus never waivers in his resolve to do God’s wiII and to those who do Iikewise he caIIs his sisters and brothers.
- What does “doing the wiII of God” mean in a practicaI sense in your everyday Iife?
- In what way could you widen the circle of your family to include someone in need? *
* All second questions
© The Pastoral Center
Prayers of Intercession
In today’s gospel we witness the close-mindedness of the Pharisees who recognise Jesus’ power but claim it comes from Satan. Let us therefore strive to be more open-minded to new ways of being a community of faith as the Holy Spirit continues to guide us.
For the Pope and the bishops around the world as they prepare to gather in Rome this October to discuss synodality. We pray that they may promote and demonstrate a Church which really listens to each other and acts for the benefit of all.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
Every day we hear news of wars and atrocities, and many become discouraged and despairing of any lasting peace in their lives. We ask the Prince of Peace to comfort them and to stir us into action - calling on our leaders for greater efforts towards reconciliation between warring factions.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
For all those receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion this weekend. May it help to deepen their relationship with Jesus, their true friend in their faith journey.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
We ask prayers for those going on the Divine Renovation conference this week: Fr Alex, Eileen Lewis, Libby Marshall, Gerry Mulvenna, Margareta Tan and John Whitlock. May they be encouraged and inspired by their experiences and return to us with fresh enthusiasm for the missionary work of the cluster.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
For ourselves in whatever challenges in life we are facing right now. May we remember that Jesus calls us sisters and brothers as we seek to do God’s will for us. Let us turn to our brother Jesus for guidance and healing.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
For all who suffer because of physical or mental illness, that they may find strength in their faith and in the kindness and compassion of friends and family. We include all those who have asked for prayers in the Prayer Foundation list.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
For all who have died and for those who mourn their loss. We remember especially.. Marion Arnott, Patricia Reilly and Callum Hart.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
Let us now say together our prayer to be missionary disciples.
Lord continue to bless our community
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN
Mark 3:20-35 A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
Jesus went home with his disciples, and such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal. When his relatives heard of this, they set out to take charge of him, convinced he was out of his mind.
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house.
‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’
His mother and brothers now arrived and, standing outside, sent in a message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, ‘Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you.’ He replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.’
This is the gospel of the Lord.
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Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved