Gospel for the day - All Saints - Year C

Matthew 5:1-12a
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit.’


At that time: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.’

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 please email us: cluster.alpha@outlook.com




Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)


The gospel this week is a list of blessings - but what a list! Poverty, grief, persecution for righteousness, meekness. Jesus is saying those who possess such qualities are fortunate, and yet they don't seem to help us succeed in this world. Through reading the beatitudes, we see ourselves through the eyes of Jesus. These are the blessings that he chooses for us, however in our human terms such a list contains items that many of us actively seek to avoid.

Where do we see the meekness, the poverty of spirit, the grief and the endless pursuit of justice? Such blessings do not often appear in the politics or in the economic machinations of our time. They are more likely to be seen in the work of those whose aim is to serve - be it the poor, the refugee, the imprisoned or the bombed. The beatitudes are a rallying call to go against the popular myths that power brings peace, that violence must be answered by force. It is perhaps more than a rallying call; it is Jesus telling us what the kingdom of heaven values. 

Jesus exhorts us to pursue, or embrace, these beatitudes. They may not bring worldly success, but they reflect Christ himself. Living according to the beatitudes means building the Kingdom of God in this life and being richly rewarded in the coming life.



1. Which of the blessings do you believe you pursue, or are there some that make you uncomfortable?

2. How have those you have known who have died taught you how to live a holy life?*




 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center


Prayers of Intercession

For Pope Leo, that he lead us to be a truly living Church proclaiming the Word of God inspired by the Beatitudes and the lives of all the Saints.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


For the peacemakers and mediators engaged in securing agreements to end wars around the world. May their efforts lead to true and lasting harmony between peoples and nations.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


For Christians living in countries where persecution is widespread. May their faith be strengthened and grant them courage to stand in their belief. Inspire our own faith and love of God by their example.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


For the suffering people of Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas, dealing with the impact and devastation wreaked by Hurricane Melissa. May they experience God’s presence in the help and support they receive.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


With St Francis of Assisi and St Francis de Sales, let us pray for those who are gentle and poor in spirit, who care for the earth and all the creatures entrusted to us by God.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


For those who are meek and ill in body, mind or spirit, may they be cared for with gentleness, compassion and patience. We include all those on the prayer foundation list.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


With St Martha and St Mary of Bethany, let us pray for those who are mourning the loss of a loved one that they be comforted.

We remember especially those who have died: Fr Eugen, Dorothy Jackson, Philip Sheppard, May Murray, Maureen Boyle, Kevin Laporte, Patricia Simmons, Jeffrey Sogovia, James Alphonso D’Souza, Bridget Bonnar and Joe Callaghan.

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 -  Dedication of the Lateran Basilica - Year C

John 2:13-22
‘He was speaking about the temple of his body.’

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the Temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the Temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’

So the Jews said to him, ‘What sign do you show us for doing these things?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.


This is the gospel of the Lord.


Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)


It may seem strange to be celebrating the dedication of a building instead of a saint or a significant event today. However, the New Testament readings provide us with clear guidance about this. 

The words of Jesus in today's gospel have lost their ability to shock us, but he must have stunned his audience with the notion of rebuilding the Temple in just three days.

They understood him to be talking about their sacred building, which had already taken 46 years and was still not complete. Rather, he was speaking of his body as a temple - a place where God was truly present. Indeed, when God took human form in Jesus that Incarnation was the most shocking of all - that God, the almighty Other, had chosen to become our lowly Brother.

The veil of the Temple was ripped apart because God no longer chose to live hidden away in a specially consecrated building. Nor did God condone the blatant profiteering arising from religious Temple worship. Jesus makes his anger plain in today's reading.

However, it is St Paul in the second reading who takes Jesus' words to their logical conclusion. If Jesus is the new dynamic temple where God lives then through the Death/Resurrection/Pentecost events, God now lives and breathes in human temples of the Holy Spirit. We are the face of Jesus for today's world. Our bodies have become tabernacles... 

The basilica of St John Lateran in Rome is certainly a magnificent building. If you were to go there and step inside, you would be impressed, but know this: you would be standing inside a famous church and tourist attraction, but the living temple would be - you. Perhaps it is our turn to be shocked.


1. Being the face of Jesus in today's world... Heavy responsibility or amazing opportunity?

2. In what ways can you better honour and care for your body, God's holy temple? *


 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center