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.
Introduction:
· In his Gospel Matthew sets out to connect Jesus with all the messianic prophecies. Without question Matthew points to Jesus as the Messiah. There is no other.
· The Christian life is essentially this: Confessing Jesus as the Messiah, living towards the eschaton – the promise of eternal life - with a concern for mission in this world (justice, peace and the integrity of creation) and letting go of both material possessions AND fear of what others might think about us or do to us. Discipleship is not for the faint-hearted!
· Some questions the Gospel – ALL the readings - poses for us today: Where is my heart? Can we / I truly say that loyalty to God in Christ comes first? Do I really trust in God and God’s future?
· All disciples are apostles; all participate in the apostolic mission; we all have something to contribute.
How can we as disciples of Jesus find the courage to live such a radical life?
· Keeping one’s faith private is ultimately futile. The Christian message in our time is to be publicly proclaimed and lived out concretely, not kept to ourselves as private religion;
· The coming judgement of God is to be feared more than the present judgement of human courts. Fear of God – awe and respect – helps us to overcome hesitancy thereby freeing us to become courageous witnesses.
· May we never forget that God is the faithful creator who cares for each and every creature. Confidence and trust in the one creator of all is called for.
Liturgical Situation:
Well into Summer Ordinary Time, with the Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul occurring this week, a reminder of the continuing role of the Apostles in the Church.
Liturgical Keynote: If we are faithful, He is faithful.
Today’s Collect speaks of us both ‘fearing’ (i.e. holding in great reverence) and loving the holy Name. The Latin says ‘pariter’ – ‘in equal measure.’ Love issues in reverence. God’s love for us founds and makes firm that reverence and love on our part.
The Prayer over the offerings situates the Eucharist in the light of Christ’s sacrifice. The ‘sacrifice of conciliation and praise’ is at one and the same time (a) the gift brought forward by the Church, her bread and wine and offerings for the poor and indeed her whole life, and (b) the supreme sacrifice of Christ himself. This is the sacrifice of christians, we being many are one body in Christ. This the Church celebrates in the sacrament of the altar ... (where) the Church is made to realise that she herself is offered in what is offered there (St. Augustine, City of God, X:6).
The Post communion prayer takes us from the Eucharist (‘what we celebrate with constant devotion’) outwards to our Christian life and ultimately to final redemption (‘our sure pledge of redemption’).
A good Preface choice for today would be that for Sundays, 1. ‘The Paschal Mystery and the People of God.’
These hymns have been picked and chosen from different sources.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord (On Eagles’ wings) (CFE832, L952, LHON759)
Do not be afraid (CFE147, L972, LHON240)
He who would valiant be (CFE248, L862, LHON331)
You shall cross the barren desert (CFE830, L964, LHON757)
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.
