Gospel for the day - 25th Sunday B

Mark 9:30-37 'The Son of Man will be delivered. If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself servant of all.'

Jesus and his disciples left that place and went on through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was, because he was teaching his disciples: "The Son of Man will be handed over to men who will kill him. Three days later, however, he will rise to life."


But they did not understand what this teaching meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

They came to Capernaum, and after going indoors Jesus asked his disciples,
"What were you arguing about on the road?"


But they would not answer him, because on the road they had been arguing among themselves about who was the greatest. Jesus sat down, called the twelve disciples, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must place himself last of all and be the servant of all." Then he took a child and made him stand in front of them. He put his arms round him and said to them, "Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not only me but also the one who sent me."

This is the gospel of the Lord. 
Commentary on the readings.

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)

Having been told that Jesus must suffer, die and rise again, this week the disciples begin arguing about who is the greatest! It's so frighteningly up to date.
We Christians, entangled in a materialist culture, are no better than them at times. We are torn between the challenging gospel message and the constant lure to be richer, prettier, stronger...


  1. How do you stay faithful to Jesus in a culture that is so alien to his message?
  2. What evidence do you see in the world around you that many do not accept Jesus' teaching on power and ambition?


 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center


Prayers of Intercession


In today’s readings we are reminded “Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”


For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and for all in positions of leadership in the church, that they give us all an example of serving the poor.

Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer


We pray for world leaders that God may grant them the wisdom to make just decisions which respect the earth and all who live in it, especially the poorest and most in vulnerable.

Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer


We pray for all children in our parish communities and throughout the world that they know their value, experience love, and have their need for food, clothing shelter and have the chance to build a brighter future.

Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer


We pray for our parish and the local community that through the grace of God we may hear the urgent cry of the earth and all the poor and be inspired to respond at times when the need is great.

Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer


We pray for all those on the prayer foundation list, for all our housebound, for those in our care homes and hospital and all who care for them.

Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer


For all those who have died we remember especially Mary Dias, Cath Porteous, Aneta Macauley, Oscar, Ethan & Andrew Bell.
And for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time. Remembering
Canon Nicholson who served our communities faithfully with care and love and for all those who mourn their loved ones..

Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer. 




We will now say the Prayer to become missionary disciples.

Cluster prayer

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 -  26th Sunday B

Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48  'Anyone who is not against us is for us. If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off.'

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man who was driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop, because he doesn't belong to our group.


"Do not try to stop him," Jesus told them, "because no one who performs a miracle in my name will be able soon afterwards to say evil things about me.


For whoever is not against us is for us. I assure you that anyone who gives you a drink of water because you belong to me will certainly receive his reward.
"If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied round his neck and be thrown into the sea. So if your hand makes you lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a hand than to keep both hands and go off to hell, to the fire that never goes out.


And if your foot makes you lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a foot than to keep both feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye makes you lose your faith, take it out! It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into hell. There the worms that eat them never die, and the fire that burns them is never put out.'


This is the gospel of the Lord.  Commentary on the readings.

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)


"Anyone who is not against us is for us." Many of us grew up believing that only Catholics were saved. Then came Christian Unity and now there is Interfaith dialogue between all kinds of believers. We are slowly coming to see all people the way God sees everyone - all of us as children of the one God.


  1. Share an experience (positive if possible) of your appreciation of other people's faith and traditions.
  2. What are the three most important values motivating your daily decisions?*


 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center