33rd 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 25:  25: 14-30  You have been faithful in small things;

come and join in your master's happiness.

Jesus  spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.
‘The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”
‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”
‘Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”
‘Last came forward the man who had the one talent. “Sir,” said he “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”’

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

Prayers of Intercession

In today's readings: The Lord says: my plans for you are peace and not disaster; when you call to me, I will listen to you, and I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.

Let us pray to the Lord for God's Holy church that she may always encourage the development of the talents of those who are amongst us.

Lord Hear us    Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for our parish community, that each of us will be open to the opportunities to put our talents at the service of God, enabling us to flourish as a witness to the love of Christ.

Lord Hear us  Lord graciously hear us.

Let us remember all those who have lost their lives through war, especially those who lost their lives during the two world wars, believing that it would bring peace and freedom to our world. As we think of them let us also pray for peace in our world.

Lord Hear us  Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for those who are being baptised in our cluster this weekend and their families. May they continue to journey with their communities in faith.

Lord Hear us  Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for the sick and all who care for them, that in their time of suffering they may be aware of God's mercy and compassion.

Lord Hear us  Lord graciously hear us.

During the month of November as Catholics we remember our dead we remembered all those especially family and friends of the cluster who have died in the last year at our special services. We especially remember those who have died recently: Thomas Graham, Bridget Barr.

We pray for all those who are grieving they may be comforted knowing their loved ones are at home in your loving arms Lord.

Lord Hear us  Lord graciously hear us.

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

Prayer to be Missionary Disciples