14th Sunday A

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

  • The gospel for the day
  • Some optional questions for reflection
  • Prayers of Intercession
  • Cluster Prayer
  • The gospel of the week ahead with questions

Matthew 11:25-30
You have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to little children.


Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

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)

In the field, a pair of animals would be yoked together but one would be stronger than the other.

The stronger one would take the strain off the weaker one but it would not be obvious.

Accepting the yoke of Jesus is the hard part - we prefer to be in control (but we never are...)


  1. Recall a time in your life when you found peace by turning a certain "burden" over to Jesus. Share.
  2. When has Jesus refreshed you when you felt burdened by problems?*

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center

Prayers of Intercession

 

In the gospel, Jesus invites us to go to him with our cares and burdens; to learn from him, for he is gentle and humble in heart. We pray for Pope Francis - that he will be protected from the harm done when church leaders openly don't support him. May they see that his desire to be a true shepherd of Christ's flock is an example for them and us to follow.

Lord, in your mercy ……..Hear our Prayer


For peace in our beautiful world - that the spirit of peace will enter the hearts of those intent on war and conflict with total disregard for the lives of others. We pray for the victims, their families and the destruction caused to homes and livelihoods. May we all learn to live in peace and harmony with our neighbours.

Lord, in your mercy ……..Hear our Prayer


We pray at this time for St John Vianney's parishioners as they deal with their parish church's closure. We look forward to warmly welcoming them to St Gregory's and sharing life and ministry with them.

Lord, in your mercy ……..Hear our Prayer

 

For our young people – may they recognise their gifts and be encouraged to put them at the service of others. May we appreciate them and support them with our prayers.

Lord, in your mercy ……..Hear our Prayer


For all those who are sick, those on our prayer foundation list, and those who need healing. May the Lord pour out his healing love on them and all those who care for them at home, in hospitals, care homes and hospices.

Lord, in your mercy ……..Hear our Prayer


For those who have died and gone to their eternal home – may they rejoice and be at peace in God's everlasting love. May God's comfort enfold those who are mourning their loss. We remember especially: George Pringle, James O’Donnell, Mary (Molly) McIver, Peter Mullen, Veronica Lothian, Grace Kay and Carole Gilmour.

Lord, in your mercy ……..Hear our Prayer



We will now say the Missionary Prayer together.

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 -  15th Sunday  A

      Matthew 13:1 - 23     A Sower went out to sow.


That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the shore, and he told them many things in parables. He said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow.

As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away.

Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Anyone who has ears should listen!'

Then the disciples went up to him and asked, 'Why do you talk to them in parables?' In answer, he said, 'Because to you is granted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not granted. Anyone who has will be given more and will have more than enough; but anyone who has not will be deprived even of what he has. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah is being fulfilled: Listen and listen, but never understand! Look and look, but never perceive! This people's heart has grown coarse, their ears dulled, they have shut their eyes tight to avoid using their eyes to see, their ears to hear, their heart to understand, changing their ways and being healed by me.

'But blessed are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! In truth I tell you, many prophets and upright people longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it. 'So pay attention to the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the Evil One comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the seed sown on the edge of the path. The seed sown on patches of rock is someone who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But such a person has no root deep down and does not last; should some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, at once he falls away. The seed sown in thorns is someone who hears the word, but the worry of the world and the lure of riches choke the word and so it produces nothing. And the seed sown in rich soil is someone who hears the word and understands it; this is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.'

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)

For the seed to be fruitful it needs good, fertile soil (as well as light and water)...

We have experienced good and bad "harvests" over the years. In the good ones our faith grew; we used fresh opportunities to use our talents and we co-operated positively with others.

  1. Recall some experiences of "good harvests" and how they might be improved. Share.
  2. How do you provide “good soil” for the faith of others to grow?*

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center