13th Sunday C

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

  • The gospel for the day
    (a useful commentary on the reading         here
  • Some optional questions for reflection
  • Prayers of Intercession
  • Cluster Prayer
  • The gospel of the week ahead with questions

Luke 9: 51-62  Jesus sets out for Jerusalem


As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven,

Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem

and sent messengers ahead of him.

These set out,

and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him,

but the people would not receive him

because he was making for Jerusalem.

Seeing this, the disciples James and John said,

‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’

But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.


As they travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him,

‘I will follow you wherever you go.’

Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests,

but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied,

‘Let me go and bury my father first.’

But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead;

your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’

Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir,

but first let me go and say goodbye to my people at home.’

Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough,

no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

 
This is the gospel of the Lord


Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

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.

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)

Many saints of the church dropped everything and gave their lives over to God - no ifs or buts.

We simply can't drop everything, but, as we recognise our commitments in life - let us strive to make Jesus the compass of our journey; the lens through whom we see our common discipleship.

  1. Prayer prioritises Jesus in our lives: maybe it's time to start to pray the school run, the dishes, the shopping, the workplace - and the partying!
  2. When have you faltered or looked back during your journey of faith?

Prayers of Intercession


We have just celebrated the feast of the Sacred Heart on Friday, may our hearts be filled with the love of Christ as we make our prayers this day.


-        We pray for Pope Francis that he may be strengthened and sustained as he unremittingly leads us in the ways of the Gospel.

May we and all the people of Christ listen to his call to be missionary disciples – reaching out to all who are in need.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

-        We pray that all the young people in the world may be protected from all the disturbing and harmful things around them. May we continue to encourage and support them in whatever we can.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

-        May we not forget the people of Ukraine and all those who have lost everything, especially those who have lost their lives.

May the leaders of the world’s nations strive to find a peaceful solution to this war, and may God change the hearts of their aggressors.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


-        For the terrible suffering of those who have endured the horrific earthquake in Afghanistan. We remember all those who have been killed, the many injured, and those left homeless and without the essentials for life.

We pray that the world nations will reach out in generosity to help this suffering nation.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


-        This weekend we are happy to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the priesthood of Fr Alex. We give thanks for his faithful service over these 26 years and for his generous and compassionate ministry.

We ask the Lord to continue to be his guide and strength, and may we, the parishioners of the cluster parishes, continue to support and collaborate with him as we walk together on our faith journey.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


-        We remember all those who are ill and suffering in any way. May they feel and know the comforting strength and healing of the Holy Spirit at this difficult time. May we continue to hold them in our love and pray.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

-        We pray for those who have died and are now enjoying the eternal love of the Father, who has already loved them here on earth.

We remember in particular: Pat Mulvenna, (Gerry's mum), Ronnie Carruthers, Jean Lowe,

Elaine Hepburn, John Lynch, and Donald McAleavy.

We ask for God's healing love on those who mourn them.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Prayer to be Missionary Disciples

Picture of Jesus at door

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

Preparing for next week -  14th Sunday of the Year C

Luke 10: 1-12; 17-20  Your peace will rest on that person.


The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him,

in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit.

He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few,

so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.

Start off now, but remember,

I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.


‘Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him;

if not, it will come back to you.

Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer,

for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.


‘Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome,

eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say,

“The kingdom of God is very near to you.”

But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome,

go out into its streets and say,

“We wipe off the very dust of your town that clings to our feet,

and leave it with you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is very near.”

I tell you, on that day it will not go as hard with Sodom as with that town.’


The seventy-two came back rejoicing.

‘Lord,’ they said ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.’

He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions

and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you.

Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you;

rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.’

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

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

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

Jesus doesn't sugar-coat his message in order to gain more disciples. Rather he makes it plain that they are "lambs among wolves": the more they show love; the more will they face challenge...

The "pastures" may have changed, but, thankfully, we are guided by the very same Shepherd.

  1.  Who/what are the "wolves" in your life? How do you/could you be the face of Jesus for them?
  2. Where do you see the message of Christian faith being rejected in the world today?
    What is your response to that?