7th Sunday in Ordinary Time  - Year C

Gospel for the day - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 6:27-38 ‘Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you; and from one who takes away your goods, do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.


‘If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.


‘Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.’


This is the gospel of the Lord.

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)


The gospel today gives us a huge challenge. It tells us that we follow a Christian faith of non- violence and yet this is not the way our world is ordered. If followed, our faith will challenge us personally to forgive those who hurt us and also more publicly if we choose to question our society's priorities.


  1. Have you ever gone along with the crowd despite knowing that was not the direction in which to go?
  2. What has allowed you to overcome obstacles and forgive someone who has hurt you?*



 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center


Prayers of Intercession


For Pope Francis amid his present health concerns. May he receive the care and peace he needs to help him in his recovery to healing.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For leaders of our global nations who have the power to influence policies. May they be guided by the Spirit, and our continuous prayers, to put their differences aside, cease taking resources from those unable to defend themselves, and seek truth and discernment to secure a fairer future for all, especially those made vulnerable by war and climate disruption.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For all in the world who see themselves as enemies with their neighbours and are in conflict. In particular for the peoples of the Holy land, Ukraine and Russia at this time of negotiation. When the terror of war is lessened, may the barriers of history and fear be broken and may they be guided to understand, that all are children of God, and the things that unite them are greater than anything that can divide them.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For our beautiful earth, that we may protect her and sow beauty not pollution and destruction, in order to make a difference, not for ourselves, but for future generations across the world.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For ourselves, that we seek wisdom and justice in all that we do. May we be more compassionate and understanding when dealing with others, ready to forgive when wronged, willing to love when hurt, as we strive for harmony and peace.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For all who are troubled in any way. May they be comforted in their pain. We remember all on the prayer foundation list and those held in our hearts.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For all who have died and all whose anniversaries fall at this time. May they rest in the eternal peace of the Lord.

In particular Leonardo Rodriguez, Andrew Muldoon and Thomas Fallon.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer



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 -  8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 6:39-45 ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.’


At that time: Jesus told his disciples a parable: ‘Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye”, when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.


‘For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.’


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


Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)


The danger for us Christians is that our behaviour does not always match our inner desires and values and so we can fall prey to hypocrisy – having two faces. Jesus accused the Pharisees of this very thing but today he is warning his own disciples. Seeing things clearly and acting with conviction comes from integrity: a coherence between what we think and how we act.

Although Macbeth’s intentions are bloodthirsty and ruthless, his advice is appropriate within the context of today's gospel: “From this moment, the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand.” (Act 4, Scene 1)

  1. Who/what provides you with a model of integrity that you can follow?
  2. When have you most felt like a hypocrite? How did you overcome this feeling?*

 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center