Gospel for the day - The Most Holy Trinity

John 16:12-15 - ‘All that the Father has is mine; the Spirit will take what is mine and declare it to you.’’


At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.’



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 gospel today is part of a longer "farewell" speech by Jesus during the Last Supper. We hear Jesus saying to his disciples that there is more for him to tell, but that it is the Holy Spirit who will tell them and will guide them as they try to live out the gospel without Jesus being physically present. In this way he begins to talk of the Trinity. 


To understand the Trinity is not simple but it might be helpful to look at it in a modern way. The Trinity comprises three aspects - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One way of looking at it, is like the way our phone or laptop is kept up to date. The Son has shown us how to use it and the Holy Spirit provides the unseen updates we receive to keep it working as times change. 


Such a metaphor however frivolous can be the beginning of understanding that the spirit of truth is with us always and is intimately connected to the Son and the Father. The essential message is unchanging, no new information is given but the world changes. Currently we see much in our world which is different from the challenges faced by earlier generations but they are different manifestations of the same thing - the spirit of truth will help us to live out our Christian faith in a time of climate emergency, rising inequality and lack of respect for human rights. 


  1. How has your faith developed over the years - showing not that you have learnt more information, but have deepened your understanding?
  2. In what difficult situation has the Holy Spirit helped you see more clearly?*


 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center


Prayers of Intercession

For Pope Leo and all who serve in the church, that  they will be

wise,  courageous and eective leaders, fearlessly  preaching  the

gospel of  peace, justice  and reconciliation..to bring about an end

to war, violence and oppression.


Lord in your Mercy Hear our prayer

 

As the wheat is gathered from the fields to become bread… and

grapes from many vines are gathered to become wine; so we are

gathered here today.. from many lands and backgrounds, to be the

Body of Christ.

As we celebrate this Eucharist together, may we be a visible sign

of unity and hope in the way we support and encourage one

another.


Lord in your Mercy Hear our prayer


For those in poverty and for those weighed down by troubles and

anxieties. Grant that the  richer peoples and nations will share

their bread and wealth  and reach out to others with compassion,

love and care.


Lord in your Mercy Hear our prayer


We pray for ourselves that on this feast day of Corpus Christi we

will a deep understand that we are the Body of Christ, the hands

and feet of Jesus. Grant that we may be a light to those in darkness

and bring hope to the hopeless, and make  our world a place where

the poor are fed and all strangers are welcomed.


Lord in your Mercy Hear our prayer


Let us pray for all who are sick in body, mind or spirit,  at home, in

care homes or in hospital and those named on the prayer

foundation list. May they be strengthened and encouraged on their

journey by our  love, our prayers and  our support.


Lord in your Mercy Hear our prayer


We  remember those who have died recently  especially…

Bernadette Reid, Adamko Cech, Mary Smith, George Smith,

Ella Stoddart, John Lovell, and those whose anniversaries occur

at this time. Grant them eternal peace.


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 -  The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Luke 9:11b-17 - ‘All ate and were satisfied.’

At that time: Jesus spoke to the crowd of the kingdom of God and cured those who needed healing. Now the day began to wear away, and the Twelve came and said to him, ‘Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.’ But he said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish — unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ And they did so, and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.


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


Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)




In his ministry years, Jesus would go up to Jerusalem to celebrate the major Jewish feasts, taking the opportunity to speak with religious leaders and fellow Jews about his message of Good News. The rest of the time he was travelling round towns and villages – not just in his own country – preaching and healing and casting out demons. In this way, he respected but also challenged his own religious traditions while at the same time travelling far and wide to reveal his message to people of other faiths and to foreigners.

In today’s gospel, Jesus gives recognition to Peter as the spokesman and leader of the community of Jesus’ followers in and around Jerusalem. But we know from the Acts of the Apostles how it was Paul in his missionary journeys who spread the Good News far and wide from the Holy Land and established communities in various other countries.

It is fitting therefore that we celebrate these two men jointly as the two people who embodied the dual aspect of Jesus’ ministry.


Q1. If participating in church-based activities is "following Peter", how might you "follow Paul" in your daily life with others?

Q2. If you were asked, how would you explain Jesus to a person who had not heard of him?*


  1. Share about how you have experienced the "Body of Christ" in your life.
  2. Have you had an experience of not having enough of some gift or grace, then receiving more than enough? What happened?*


 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center