31st Sunday B

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy

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

Psalm 17  I love you lord, my strength


 Mark 12:28-34  'You are not far from the kingdom of God'


One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him,

‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’

Jesus replied, ‘This is the first:

Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord,

and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.

The second is this:

You must love your neighbour as yourself.

There is no commandment greater than these.’


The scribe said to him,

‘Well spoken, Master; what you have said is true:

that he is one and there is no other.

To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength,

and to love your neighbour as yourself,

this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.’

Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said,

‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’

And after that no one dared to question him any more.


This is is the gospel of the Lord. Thanks be to God.



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, and used by permission of the publishers. Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). Used with permission of A.P. Watt Ltd. All rights reserved.

Having read the gospel, you might want simply to reflect yourself on what you have read 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)

How near are we to the Kingdom of God?

The Pharisee is near - not because he is going to die soon! - but because his attitude and mindset is one of love: both for God and for neighbour.

The greater your love, the nearer you are to eternal life with God.


  1.  Recall a time when a partner/friend/colleague pointed out how your words or actions fell short of your belief in Christian love. (Share)
  2. Why is love of neighbour as important as love of God?

Prayers of Intercession

Let us pray today to the saints in heaven to whom we look for guidance and grace.

 

For the church throughout the world as we strive to live the Beatitudes and spread the Gospel.

Lord hear us, Lord graciously heard us

 

For the Cop26 conference in Glasgow where the nations of the world have to succeed in agreeing a plan to combat climate change.

Lord hear us, Lord graciously heard us

 

For people in public life who strive for righteousness and truth and for those who are oppressed and persecuted that they will know freedom and a life without fear.

Lord hear us, Lord graciously heard us

 

For all the saints in heaven who are in God’s presence, we ask they intercede for us before our Heavenly Father.

Lord hear us, Lord graciously heard us

 

For all the saints here today and all those we meet in our daily lives, who are our models, that our Father will show us how we like them may learn to be blessed too.

Lord hear us, Lord graciously heard us

 

For those who mourn the loss of a loved one that they will be comforted in their grief and all those who have gone before us that they are now in the presence of God, Our Father.

Lord hear us, Lord graciously heard us

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

Preparing for next week

Mark 12:38-44   This poor widow has put in more than all
In his teaching Jesus said,

‘Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes,

to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares,

to take the front seats in the synagogues

and the places of honour at banquets;

these are the men who swallow the property of widows,

while making a show of lengthy prayers.

The more severe will be the sentence they receive.’
He sat down opposite the treasury

and watched the people putting money into the treasury,

and many of the rich put in a great deal.

A poor widow came and put in two small coins,

the equivalent of a penny.

Then he called his disciples and said to them,

‘I tell you solemnly,

this poor widow has put more in

than all who have contributed to the treasury;

for they have all put in money they had over,

but she, from the little she had,

has put in everything she possessed,

all she had to live on.’
This is is the gospel of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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, and used by permission of the publishers. Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). Used with permission of A.P. Watt Ltd. All rights reserved.


People whose faith is strong are fearless in the face of authority of any kind. Last week, Jesus praised the scribe who placed love above religious practices; this week he praises the widow who contributed virtually nothing to the temple treasury and everything in her heart to God.


  1. How are you, personally, trying to live the gospel message of love in spite of the material world's hostility/indifference to it? (Share)
  2. What are you willing to give out of love for God that would be a hardship for you?