16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Español)
Our commentary this week is provided by Deacon Mark Silvia of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lakeside, CA (Diocese of San Diego)
Commentary
Opening prayer
O Lord, show mercy to your servants. Increase the gift of your grace in us, so that made fervent in hope, faith, and charity, we may be ever watchful in keeping your commands. Amen.
1st Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
God revealed to the Prophet Isaiah, “I am the Lord, there is no other. The creator of the heavens, who is God. The designer of the earth who established it. Not as an empty waste did I create it, but designing it to be lived in: I am the Lord, and there is no other.” It is God alone who created and watches over us. He guides us along the right paths and allows us to suffer the consequences of sin when we stray. But the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. He also gives us good ground for hope, for he also heals us from all our sins. The humble, contrite heart he will not spurn. He rejoices over the sinner who returns to him with all their heart. Receiving forgiveness of our sins is a great and wonderful gift that Jesus gives to us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Questions
• Where would we be without the Sacrament of Reconciliation? • How do you feel about celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Opening prayer
O Lord, show mercy to your servants. Increase the gift of your grace in us, so that made fervent in hope, faith, and charity, we may be ever watchful in keeping your commands. Amen.
1st Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
God revealed to the Prophet Isaiah, “I am the Lord, there is no other. The creator of the heavens, who is God. The designer of the earth who established it. Not as an empty waste did I create it, but designing it to be lived in: I am the Lord, and there is no other.” It is God alone who created and watches over us. He guides us along the right paths and allows us to suffer the consequences of sin when we stray. But the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. He also gives us good ground for hope, for he also heals us from all our sins. The humble, contrite heart he will not spurn. He rejoices over the sinner who returns to him with all their heart. Receiving forgiveness of our sins is a great and wonderful gift that Jesus gives to us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Questions
• Where would we be without the Sacrament of Reconciliation? • How do you feel about celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
2nd Reading: Romans 8:26-27
“God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!”’ This knowledge of faith is possible only in the Holy Spirit. To be in touch with Christ, we must first have been touched by the Holy Spirit. He comes to meet us and kindles faith in us. By virtue of our Baptism, the first sacrament of the faith, the Holy Spirit in the Church communicates to us, intimately and personally, the life that originates in the Father and is offered to us in the Son. “Baptism gives us the grace of new birth in God the Father, through his Son, in the Holy Spirit. For those who bear God’s Spirit are led to the Word, that is, to the Son, and the Son presents them to the Father, and the Father confers incorruptibility on them. And it is impossible to see God’s Son without the Spirit, and no one can approach the Father without the Son, for the knowledge of the Father is the Son, and the knowledge of God’s Son is obtained through the Holy Spirit.” (CCC 683)
Questions
• What does St. Paul mean when he says the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with inexpressible groaning? • How does knowing that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us affect the way you pray?
“God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!”’ This knowledge of faith is possible only in the Holy Spirit. To be in touch with Christ, we must first have been touched by the Holy Spirit. He comes to meet us and kindles faith in us. By virtue of our Baptism, the first sacrament of the faith, the Holy Spirit in the Church communicates to us, intimately and personally, the life that originates in the Father and is offered to us in the Son. “Baptism gives us the grace of new birth in God the Father, through his Son, in the Holy Spirit. For those who bear God’s Spirit are led to the Word, that is, to the Son, and the Son presents them to the Father, and the Father confers incorruptibility on them. And it is impossible to see God’s Son without the Spirit, and no one can approach the Father without the Son, for the knowledge of the Father is the Son, and the knowledge of God’s Son is obtained through the Holy Spirit.” (CCC 683)
Questions
• What does St. Paul mean when he says the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with inexpressible groaning? • How does knowing that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us affect the way you pray?
Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43
God makes the sun to rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust, but it is the good seed that flourishes in the light of God. The good seed is the Children of God. Jesus says to his children, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Just as yeast gives rise to wheat; the Holy Spirit gives rise to peace, justice, and love in us for the building up of his Body the Church. God gives growth to the Church so that it may be a most sure seed of unity, hope, and salvation for the whole human race. A place where everyone can come and worship and glorify the name of God. There is always cause for hope in the fields of the Lord where, by mercy of God, the bad seed can become good. Jesus tells us “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
Questions
• How have you experienced the Holy Spirit giving life in you? • What can you do to be yeast in your parish, family, or community?
This Week's Task
• Decide upon on one intentional act you can do for the building up of your parish, family, or community, then make a plan to do it. This can be as an individual or as a group.
Group Prayer
God makes the sun to rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust, but it is the good seed that flourishes in the light of God. The good seed is the Children of God. Jesus says to his children, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Just as yeast gives rise to wheat; the Holy Spirit gives rise to peace, justice, and love in us for the building up of his Body the Church. God gives growth to the Church so that it may be a most sure seed of unity, hope, and salvation for the whole human race. A place where everyone can come and worship and glorify the name of God. There is always cause for hope in the fields of the Lord where, by mercy of God, the bad seed can become good. Jesus tells us “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
Questions
• How have you experienced the Holy Spirit giving life in you? • What can you do to be yeast in your parish, family, or community?
This Week's Task
• Decide upon on one intentional act you can do for the building up of your parish, family, or community, then make a plan to do it. This can be as an individual or as a group.
Group Prayer
The leader invites the group to pray the following words
together.
Lord Jesus, plant your Word in our hearts and make it fruitful in our lives. Keep us free from sin and make us a fertile place where your love can grow. Let the Word which you have planted in our hearts not return to you void, but may it provide a rich harvest, a hundred, or fifty, or thirty-fold. Amen The leader will guide the group in praying
Psalm 86 Psalm Response: Lord, you are good and forgiving.
You, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
All the nations you have made shall come and worship you, O LORD, and glorify your name. For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds; you alone are God.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity. Turn toward me, and have pity on me; give your strength to your servant.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
Conclude with an Our Father
Lord Jesus, plant your Word in our hearts and make it fruitful in our lives. Keep us free from sin and make us a fertile place where your love can grow. Let the Word which you have planted in our hearts not return to you void, but may it provide a rich harvest, a hundred, or fifty, or thirty-fold. Amen The leader will guide the group in praying
Psalm 86 Psalm Response: Lord, you are good and forgiving.
You, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
All the nations you have made shall come and worship you, O LORD, and glorify your name. For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds; you alone are God.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity. Turn toward me, and have pity on me; give your strength to your servant.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
Conclude with an Our Father
For PDF version, visit http://www.christ-ion.com
No comments:
Post a Comment