This Sunday is the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.
Please find attached a simple prayer service that you may like to share with your family or take a quiet moment for yourself.
The First Reading from Jeremiah really resonates with our current times where daily life can be hard. The Gospel reminds us that to follow Jesus can be a difficult, but the rewards are beyond measure.
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
All pause for silent prayer.
God, our Father
Jesus gave his life for us
and showed us the pathway to heaven.
Help us to give all we have
and, in the footsteps of the cross,
follow Jesus every day.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
First Reading (Jer 20:7-9)
A reading from the prophet Jeremiah
You have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced;
you have overpowered me: you were the stronger.
I am a daily laughing-stock, everybody’s butt.
Each time I speak the word, I have to howl
and proclaim: ‘Violence and ruin!’
The word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision, all day long.
I used to say, I will not think about him,
I will not speak in his name any more.
Then there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones.
The effort to restrain it wearied me, I could not bear it.
The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 62:2-6. 8-9. R. v.2)
(R.) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water. (R.)
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise. (R.)
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy. (R.)
For you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast. (R.)
Gospel Acclamation (Eph 1:17-18)
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our heart,
that we might see how great is the hope
to which we are called.
Alleluia!
Gospel (Mt 16:21-27)
The holy Gospel according to Matthew
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord,’ he said. ‘This must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’
Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Closing Prayer
Leader:
Lord Jesus,
help us to follow your call
and to be faithful disciples.
In your name we pray.
All: Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
CHILDREN’S DISCUSSION STARTERS
A beginning point for discussion of this week’s Gospel with children:
- What are some of your favourite games?
- In which of these games do people have to take turns?
- What happens if people do not take turns?
- Jesus tells us in today’s gospel that we must forget about ourselves and put others first. What does Jesus mean by this?
- How can we put others’ needs before our own?
- Why is it sometimes hard to do this?
- We pray that we will think about others before ourselves this week