8th Sunday in Ordinary Time  - Year C

Gospel for the day - 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.

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 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


Prayers of Intercession


Today’s readings invite us to take an honest reflection on how we use the gift of speech, as it reveals the truth of our hearts and character. We are encouraged to cultivate authentic sources of wisdom, recognise our own ‘blind spots’, mend them before helping others grow in humility and love.

Lord in Your mercy. Hear our prayer


For Pope Francis in his critical condition in hospital, may the Holy Spirit be alongside him and those caring for him. May God’s grace sustain him, renew his strength towards healing and recovery.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For the Church, may this Jubilee Year of Hope be a time of healing and reconciliation where God will grace us with hearts that forgive.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For world leaders, particularly those brokering peace in the Holy land, Russia and Ukraine. May they be guided by the Holy Spirit in wisdom and humility. May they put reconciliation and justice first so that God’s peace can descend upon all our troubled world.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For our communities in which we live and work, for schools and other places of learning, that uncomfortable questions may be asked and truth sought and found there.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For ourselves, that we plant seeds of love in our hearts, that we are compassionate, slow to judge, generous in giving and quick to pardon.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer


For all who are unwell and troubled in any way. May they be blessed with a swift and successful recovery. 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 Esther Parker, Thomas Fallon, Blake Erickson, Leonardo Rodriguez, Andrew Muldoon, Peter O’Connor, Elizabeth Reynolds.

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 -  1st Sunday of Lent

Luke 4:1-13 ‘Jesus was led by the Spirit in the wilderness and tempted by the devil’


At that time: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were over, he was hungry.


The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” ’


And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, ‘To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.” ’

And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” ’ And Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’

And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.


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


Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)


It is interesting to note that, following his baptism, Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit yet does not begin his ministry immediately. Instead, he is first "led by the Spirit through the wilderness" and is faced with temptations. It certainly feels as if we are living through a wilderness moment ourselves, on the world stage, with the climate breakdown, as a Church, and perhaps also in our personal lives. The temptation is great to succumb to self-gratification, indifference or resignation.


Yet, the wilderness has its purpose and can be a place of transformation. As we enter Lent, let us look to Jesus who faces down temptation by holding fast to God's Word and precepts and staying true to the Father's will. Let us trust that, led by the Spirit, we too will emerge from this wilderness that we now do not understand and be ready for our mission.

  1. Share a time of "wilderness" that you have experienced in your life. Looking back, how were you changed by the experience?
  2. How willing are you to profess your faith in Jesus Christ openly to others?*

 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center