Year A
Discover the deeper meaning and connections found in this week's readings, through these great commentaries written by our priests.
Explore this week's readings and hear what God is saying to us through His Word.
Find out more about how we can mark this special day in our liturgy.
See our music recommendations for the liturgy.
How beautifully Saint Paul saw himself.
Like a mother feeding and looking after her own children,
we felt so devoted and protective towards you, and had come to love you so much,
that we were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News
but our whole lives as well.
Paul did not lord it over the people he brought to Christ.
But he was often strict with them;
like a mother who brings up her children
with both a firm hand and a heart full of love.
Jesus speaks the same language;
Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.
When we ‘big’ ourselves up, we make it harder to fit ourselves into God’s hand.
The truer we are to who we are, and to our dependence entirely on God,
the more easily we rest in God’s love.
A weaned child on its mother’s breast, even so is my soul.
Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.
Try this, this week:
check, come Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday,
and then every day of your life,
chats with friends,
the way we are at work, in class, in church, out and about,
the way we speak at that important meeting,
and the way, too, that we steer the trolley around the supermarket.
Check: is it all about me?
Or is God at the heart of my life?
Can we sing this with our Psalmist?
O Lord, my heart is not proud nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great nor marvels beyond me.
Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.
31st Sunday in OT
Catholicism of the Catholic Church References:
CCC 2044: moral life and Christian witness
CCC 876, 1550-1551: priesthood for service; human frailty of leaders
Both the Old Testament reading and Jesus’ words in the Gospel emphasise that we have only one Father in Heaven so might this be a day to debunk a distorted view of Clericalism? The ordained minister is one who does not ‘lord it’ over others but is one of service. Service to God and service to his people (not our people!). The word minister comes from the Latin word for ‘less’, and hence, we need to be of lowly service of others. The same principle applies to the Sacred Liturgy. The presider is called to be a minister of the Sacred Mysteries and of the People of God. The presider is not that master of the Sacred Mysteries or the People of God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “it is the whole community, the Body o Christ united with its Head, that celebrates. ‘Liturgical services are not private functions but are celebrations of the Church which is ‘the sacrament of unity’, namely, the holy people united and organised under the authority of the bishops.” (CCC 1140). We may ask ourselves how do we involve everyone in the celebration of the Liturgy? Do we ‘lord it’ over the mysteries or are we of service?
Notes These hymns have been picked and chosen from different sources.
A new commandment I give unto you CFE4, L920, LHON133)
Blest are the pure in heart (CFE88, L908, LHON174, TCH208)
Brother, sister, let me serve you (LHON186)
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind (CFE143, L934, LHON234, TCH212)
Whatsoever you do (CFE799, L926, LHON726)
Will you let me be your servant (The Servant Song) (CFE813, L924)
Key
CFE - Celebration Hymnal for Everyone
L – Laudate
LHON – Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Mayhew, 1999)
TCH – The Catholic Hymnbook(Gracewing)
Do you have questions about the liturgy and how we are called to participate in it? Explore how the Church councils, saints, and popes have answered this key question and many more.
Every movement of the Mass is rich in meaning but we can become over-familiar with it. Rediscover the Mass and explore how it relates to the Exodus story, where many of its rituals come from, and how it makes Jesus present to us today.
