31st 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 19:1-10  The Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.


Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town

when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance:

he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man.

He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was,

but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd.

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree

to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way.

When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him:

‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’

And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully.


They all complained when they saw what was happening.

‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said.

But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord,

‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor,

and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’

And Jesus said to him,

‘Today salvation has come to this house,

because this man too is a son of Abraham;

for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’


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)

"Zacchaeus!" - often used as a curse by many a Jericho Jew but now springing from the lips

of the friendly face of Jesus as he looks up at this little man perched in a tree.

If we looked with the eyes of Jesus, what a different world we would experience.

  1. Talk about a time when you accepted someone - warts and all - and thereby brought about a change.
    Or vice versa
  2. During the next week, what could you do to welcome someone who usually feels excluded?

Prayers of Intercession

 

Although despised by others Zacchaeus was desperate to see Jesus.

May we too, seek to see and be with Jesus in all that we do and say.


For Pope Francis as he perseveres in leading us in the way of the Gospel that his faith may encourage and inspire us. May our hearts be open to his call to follow Christ, seeking to reach out to the poor, the marginalised, and those in any kind of need.


Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


We ask for wisdom, integrity, and justice for our government, may they put personal gain and ambition to one side and seek to work together for the good of the country, especially those in most need.


Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


For all those who are suffering because of war, natural disasters, and violent attacks, may they be strengthened, comforted and healed in their loses. May we reach out to them and help them in any way that we can.


Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


For our young people that they may take initiatives in service and caring for the well-being of others; that their contributions to the common good will inspire us to follow their example.


Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


For those who are ill in mind or body and all those named in our Prayer foundation. May the power of the Holy Spirit heal and comfort them in their suffering, May the Spirit fill them with peace and consolation at this difficult time.


Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.


For those who have died:  Mary Gilhooley, Anne Doig, Christopher Mackinnon, Alonso Llano Tobón,

Patrick Devine (Pat)

As they enjoy their eternal rest in the presence of God, may those who mourn them be consoled and blessed as they remember them.


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 -  32nd Sunday of the Year C

Luke 20: 27-38    He is God, not of the dead, but of the living.


Some Sadducees – those who say that there is no resurrection –

approached Jesus and they put this question to him,

‘Master, we have it from Moses in writing, that if a man’s married brother dies childless,

the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother.

Well then, there were seven brothers. The first, having married a wife, died childless.

The second and then the third married the widow.

And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children.

Finally the woman herself died.

Now, at the resurrection,

to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven?’
   

Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands,

but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world

and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die,

for they are the same as the angels,

and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God.

And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush

where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.’

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)

"The resurrection is not just about life after death but life before death too: full, abundant life.

Can we move from being "children of the world" to "children of the resurrection" in the here and now?"

Delve Deeper by Triona Docherty & Jane Mellett 23rd Publications

  1. What image does this conjure up for you? 
  2. How does your belief in the resurrection of the dead affect the way you live?