18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Liturgy Preparation
Opening Comment
Great wonders are proclaimed in today’s Liturgy. God’s love and God’s care for humanity are made manifest, examples of generosity worth imitating.
Penitential rite: As we accept God’s invitation to a feast, we remember the sins he promises to take away: (pause) Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life…
Introduction to the Scripture Readings
Isaiah 55:1-3 — Contains the Lord’s invitation to those in need to have their thirst satisfied.
Romans 8:35, 37-39 — Paul beautifully describes the boundless love of Christ.
Matthew 14:13-21 — Jesus sees to it that the hungry are fed, despite his own grief at the death of John the Baptist.
The General Intercessions
Introduction (by the Presider) The Lord is kind and full of compassion, so we bring our prayers to God in confidence:
- For all the members of the Church, that we may grow in appreciation of God’s generous kindness, and may reflect it in their daily lives. (Pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
- For the people of Norway in their pain and loss, that their example of fortitude and endurance may inspire all who suffer unjustly. (Pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
- For those who hunger and thirst in a world of plenty, particularly people living in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, that Christians may reflect God’s kindness by giving generously to help the hungry. (Pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
- For victims of abuse, particularly those who have suffered because of priests and bishops, they they may find justice — and healing. (Pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
- For those who have died (especially N and N) and all who have been lost in road accidents, that the grieving may realise that nothing can separate us from God’s love. (Pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
- For the members of this community who are in any kind of need, and our own needs, which we remember now. (Long pause for silent prayer) Lord, hear us.
Conclusion (by the Presider) God our creator, you are close to all who call on you from their hearts: Continue to show us your compassion and love, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Other Liturgical Suggestions Penitential Rite c-vi). Preface of Sundays 7. Eucharistic Prayer 2. Communion under both species would reflect the divine generosity in today’s Gospel. A parish fundraising event after Mass would continue the theme. Solemn Blessing 10 (Ordinary Time 1).
Songs ‘The King of Love my Shepherd is’; ‘Take and Eat’; ‘Colours of Day’
In the light of the readings wouldn’it be very timely and appropriate to have special prayers/actions for our brothers and sisters suffering from the famine in Somalia: How are we channels today of that “divine generosity? They may be far from us geographically but surely their terrible suffering is very close to God’s heart.
Thanks for your comment, Soline. I have just now updated the prayers in the light of your reflection. In future I will try to modify the standard prayers towards the end of each week, in the lights of what’s in the news. Comments like yours are most welcome.
I have enjoyed reflecting, and getting ideas, from your homilies. However, the last homily I was able to print out was July 10th. Have you discontinued the homilies online.
Thank you and peace,
Deacon Mike Moody
Deacon Mike,
You’ll find homilies on the ACP website for every Sunday until 2 October (except 31 July) and for every weekday till the end of August — all expertly prepared by my colleague Fr Patrick Rogers. Each can be printed out as well. Simply go to the section headed ‘Liturgy’ on the home page, and go from there to the ‘Weekday Homily Resources’ or ‘Sunday Homily resources’ section.
I am sure you will find them helpful! All comments gratefully received.
for Deacon Mike..
Sorry, I seem to have omitted to upload my homily selections for July 31 — and it’s too late for me to cobble something together today (30th)! However, before setting off to Austria for my annual summer supply (I care for the village parish of Eugendorf for the month of August every year) I uploaded Sunday homilies for the next two months. Also, I plan to keep going with the weekday biblical reflections, from Sept. 1st onwards.
Many thanks for your words of appreciation. Both Bernard and I would like our liturgical input to be useful to as many as possible.
Pat R.
Thank you Bernard.
I have before me at home a copy of a very beautiful painting which is in the National Gallery in Dublin: “The multiplication of Loaves and Fishes”. It speaks to me so much of our hunger for God and above all of God’s hunger to feed us. I think of Jesus as God’s Bread hungry to be food for us. And as for ” Give them to eat yourselves…”: Surely if we allow God to be food for us we will be food for each other….
Talk of the Eucharistic congress don’t resonate to me if linked to our past (glorious or otherwise), but the Eucharist does resonate as a Love feast, celebrating the Blessed Trinity’s passionate hunger to love us….