27th Sunday A

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

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

Matthew 21: 33-43   This is the landlord's heir: come, let us kill him.


Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, ‘Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son” he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance.” So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They answered, ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:
It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone.
This was the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see?
‘I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.’

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)

Jesus is at his withering best but it only hurts because he is facing them with the truth.

His compassion wears thin with those who are self-righteous and think themselves morally superior.

Those who KNOW they are sinners find in Jesus a loving haven - and their true home.

  1. Recall a time when you "took the moral high ground" in judging someone, only to find you were wrong about them after all. (Share)
  2. How have you used your talents and abilities well for the Reign of God?  *

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center

Prayers of Intercession

 

In today’s gospel, the parable of the tenants who killed the servants and then the very son of the landowner can be seen as an example of a failure to listen to the wishes of the landowner who stands for God. 
We too need to listen carefully for what God wants from us in today’s world.


For Pope Francis and all those men and women gathered with him for the Synod in Rome. May they listen carefully to the Holy Spirit present in each one of them 
and may they weave the many different strands of viewpoints into a vision for a missionary church.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


On Oct 4th, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi and the first day of the Synod, Pope Francis published “Laudate Deum” in which he continues to call for an ecological conversion by each person. May we heed the words of the Pope, the cry of the earth and the will of the Creator that we will play our part in making our earthly home a place where all God’s creatures are cared for.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


For our three faith communities as they continue to walk their faith journey together. May they encourage and support each other on their path as missionary disciples.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


For those among us who are desperately seeking help and advice on a whole range of issues but are too self-conscious to ask anyone. May the Lord give them the courage and the opportunity provided by the many ministries in this cluster to ask for help which is their right as God’s beloved children.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


For those who are struggling with physical or mental or emotional problems. May they experience the Lord’s peace and unite their suffering with the One who died for them on the cross. We remember all those on the Prayer Foundation list who have asked for our prayers and we commend them to God’s loving care.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


For all who have died recently, those whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who mourn the loss of loved ones. 
We remember especially…    May they all rest in the peace of the Lord.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


We will now say together our prayer to be missionary disciples.

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 -  28th Sunday  A

      Matthew 22: 1 - 14   Invite everyone you can to the wedding.


Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them.

The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

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)

God does not exclude anyone from the banquet; it is people themselves who make excuses or are not properly prepared for it. In God's eyes everyone is unworthy  - yet everyone is welcome.

There is a message here for all of us who make judgements about who is "worthy" or "unworthy".

  1.  How do we reach out to those who feel excluded or unwanted at our Eucharist? Have you tried?
  2. How do you translate your faith into the work of the Reign of God? *

 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center