Second Sunday of the Year A

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

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

John 1: 29-34   Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world,


Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said,

‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

This is the one I spoke of when I said:

A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me.

I did not know him myself,

and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.’

John also declared,

‘I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him.

I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me,

“The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest

is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.”

Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One 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)

Surprisingly perhaps, John twice tells us "I did not know him myself". Then he calls him "the lamb of God".

Later, in prison, he will send some followers to ask if Jesus is really the Chosen One...

Getting to know Jesus is a complicated and disconcerting experience at times!


  1. Describe a time when God's activity in your life surprised you in some way.
  2. We witness to Christ as John did, by living lives full of generosity, forgiveness, and mercy toward others. When do you find it most difficult to do this?*

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center

Prayers of Intercession

 

Today is a day of prayer and peace. May the dove that John saw coming down on Jesus, come down on us and turn away our hostility and hatred.

That our Church and its leaders, inspired by the Holy Spirit, may continue the Apostolic work of spreading the gospel begun by St Paul.

Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer


For world leaders that they commit themselves to collaboration with other nations to pursue the path of peace.

Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer


For innocent victims of war, especially those who are suffering in the world today in Ukraine, Russia, Yemen and the Middle East.

Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer


For our community that God will bless us with a generous outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer

 

For all those who serve God’s people in, any capacity that they may be renewed in their commitment to this labour of love.

Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer


We pray for all those who are sick in mind or body that the Holy Spirit will pour down on them the gifts of courage and strength, especially all those on our prayer foundation list.

Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer


We pray, also, for those who have died recently we remember especially Maggie & Sadie McCole, Jamie Stenhouse, Yolanda Volente & Hazel Martin

that they will now be with their Heavenly Father and for all those who mourn a loved one.

May the gifts of the Holy Spirit enable them to bear their burden of grief.

Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer


Let's continue with our cluster 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 -  Third Sunday of the Year A

Matthew 4:12-23
He went and settled in Capernaum: in this way the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled  


Hearing that John had been arrested, Jesus went back to Galilee,

and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum,

a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali.

In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:

‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!
Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,
Galilee of the nations!
The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light;
on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death
a light has dawned.’

From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message,

‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’


As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers,

Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew;

they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen.

And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’

And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers,

James son of Zebedee and his brother John;

they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets,

and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.


He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues,

proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom

and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.

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)

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand" -

exactly the same words from both John the Baptist (Matt 3,2) and Jesus (Matt 4,17).

But very different strategies: people going into the desert to hear "wilderness" John and being baptised;

Jesus speaking in the synagogues and people being healed in mind and body.

  1. How have you tried to tell others about God/Jesus/your Christian beliefs and with what results? (Share)
  2. To whom could you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ this week with actions rather than words?*

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center