Gospel for the day - 27th Sunday B

Mark 10:2-16 'What God has united, man must not divide.'

Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him. "Tell us," they asked, "does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife?"

Jesus answered with a question, "What law did Moses give you?"

Their answer was, "Moses gave permission for a man to write a divorce notice and send his wife away."


Jesus said to them, "Moses wrote this law for you because you are so hard to teach. But in the beginning, at the time of creation, 'God made them male and female,' as the scripture says. ‘And for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.' So they are no longer two, but one. Man must not separate, then, what God has joined together."

When they went back into the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter. He said to them, "A man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against his wife. In the same way, a woman who divorces her husband and marries another man commits adultery."

Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples scolded the people. When Jesus noticed this, he was angry and said to his discinles, "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." Then he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them, and blessed them.


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



Prayers of Intercession


In today’s Gospel we hear about human relationships we are called to honour these relationships with our spouse, our children and our friends, knowing that God is part of them.


For the church that through our words and actions we may all demonstrate the love God has for us.

Lord hear us.

 

For reconciliation and respect among nations so that resources may be spent on the needs of people rather than weapons of war.

Lord hear us.

 

For the work of Sciaf and other aid agencies for an end to poverty in the world and for fair distribution of the earth’s riches.

Lord hear us.

 

For those who are happily married, for those whose marriages are at risk and for those who have had to separate or divorce.

Lord hear us.

 

For those who are widowed and for all who find themselves alone that through the efforts of our faith community they may find support.

Lord hear us.

 

We pray that all children may know love, support and safety in their lives.

Lord hear us.


We pray for all those who are sick in mind, body or soul and for all those named of the prayer foundation list.

Lord hear us.

 

We pray for all our recently departed brothers and sisters Elizabeth Lovell, Dawn Adams & Edward Ward.

For those whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all those who mourn loved ones.

Lord hear us.

 

 

We will now say together the prayer to be 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 -  28th Sunday B

Mark 10:17-30  'Go and sell everything you own and follow me.'

As Jesus was starting on his way again, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?"


"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; do not cheat; respect your father and your mother.'"


"Teacher, the man said, "ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments."


Jesus looked straight at him with love and said, "You need only one thing. Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me." When the man heard this, gloom spread over his face, and he went away sad, because he was very rich.
Jesus looked round at his disciples and said to them, "How hard it will be for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God!"


The disciples were shocked at these. words, but Jesus went on to say, "My children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle."


At this the disciples were completely amazed and asked one another, "Who, then, can be saved?"
Jesus looked straight at them and answered, "This is impossible for man, but not for God; everything is possible for God."


Then Peter spoke up, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
"Yes," Jesus said to them, "and I tell you that anyone who leaves home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and for the gospel, will receive much more in this present age. He will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and persecutions as well; and in the age to come he will receive eternal life.

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

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)


Today's gospel is less about a life of poverty and more a question of personal commitment to Jesus. It is what is expected of all missionary disciples. Our lives are full of commitments, of course, but we still need to discern how all these many commitments can be made to serve the one that is the priority

  1. How can the pleasures and comforts of this world become barriers to your relationship with God?
  2. How would you describe what Jesus asks from all his disciples? How do you try to put it into practice? Share*




 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center