Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

30 August 2020 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

The Cost of Discipleship

T he cross loomed large on the life of Christ. It was the cross of rejec-
tion, ingratitude, aggressiveness, cruelty and betrayal – the cross
imposed on him by human sinfulness in all its forms. Out of love
for Jesus, Peter and all the other disciples would have wanted him to be
spared so much undeserved suffering. But Jesus knew that accepting it with
love was the only way to bring about the salvation of mankind.To think and
act differently would have meant to be guided by a purely human perspec-
tive, which differed from God’s plan. This is why Jesus responded so sternly
to Peter’s intervention (and, possibly, ours).
From this, we must learn to carry our “crosses” in life the way Jesus carried the cross of our sinful-
ness. Salvation from sin passes through suffering endured with love and out of love by a “willing victim”
– Jesus, our Redeemer. This is also the essential condition to be numbered among Jesus’ disciples. Such is
the message he addresses to us today.

and heart, but we prefer to King, O God, almighty Father.

Entrance Antiphon
(To be recited only when no
Entrance Hymn is sung.)
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I cry to you all the day long.
O Lord, you are good and for-
giving, full of mercy to all who
call to you.
Greeting
P –Blessed be the Lord Jesus
who calls us to be his disciples
and seek what is good and per-
fect. May his grace and peace be
with you all!
All – And with your spirit!
Penitential Act
P –Today’s Gospel reminds
us that only those who have the
generosity to follow the teach-
ing and example of Jesus may be
called his disciples. Let us ask
ourselves if we deserve such an
honor. (Pause)
P –Lord Jesus, you call us to be
constantly renewed in mind
live in our old sinful ways.
Lord, have mercy!
All – Lord, have mercy!
P –Lord Jesus, you taught us
to judge events and people
by God’s standards, but
we continue to judge them
by our earthly standards.
Christ, have mercy!
All –Christ, have mercy!
P –Lord Jesus, you challenge
us to take up our cross and
follow in your footsteps,
but we often seek to have
an easy life and to do things
our way. Lord, have mercy!
All – Lord, have mercy!
P –May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All – Amen!
Gloria
All – Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of
good will. We praise you, we bless
you, we adore you, we glorify
you, we give you thanks for your
great glory, Lord God, heavenly
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Be-
gotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of
God, Son of the Father, you take
away the sins of the world, have
mercy on us; you take away the
sins of the world, receive our
prayer; you are seated at the right
hand of the Father, have mercy
on us. For you alone are the Holy
One, you alone are the Lord, you
alone are the Most High, Jesus
Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen!
Collect (Opening Prayer)
P –God of might, giver of every
good gift, put into our hearts the
love of your name, so that, by
deepening our sense of rever-
ence, you may nurture in us what
is good and, by your watchful
care, keep safe what you have
nurtured.
Through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son, who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever.
All – Amen!

1st Reading Jer 20:7-9
Faithfulness to God may
arouse against us opposition and
even persecution. On the other
hand, unfaithfulness to Him un-
leashes remorse and internal
torment. Such was also the di-
lemma experienced by Jeremiah,
as we learn from the prophet’s
reflection on his trying situation.
R – A proclamation from the
Book of the Prophet Jer-
emiah
You duped me, O Lord,
and I let myself be duped; you
were too strong for me, and you
triumphed. All the day I am an
object of laughter; everyone
mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I must
cry out. Violence and outrage
is my message. The word of the
Lord has brought me derision
and reproach all the day.
I say to myself, I will not
mention him, I will speak in
his name no more. But then it
becomes like fire burning in
my heart, imprisoned in my
bones; I grow weary holding it
in, I cannot endure it.
The Word of the Lord!
All – Thanks be to God!
Responsorial Psalm Ps 63
R –My soul is thirsting for you,
O Lord my God!
* O God, you are my God
whom I seek; for you my flesh
pines and my soul thirsts like
the earth, parched, lifeless and
without water. R.
* Thus have I gazed toward
you in the sanctuary to see
your power and your glory,
30 August 2020
for your kindness is a greater
good than life; my lips shall
glorify you. R.
* Thus will I bless you while
I live; lifting up my hands, I
will call upon your name. As
with the riches of a banquet
shall my soul be satisfied, and
with exultant lips my mouth
shall praise you. R.
* You are my help, and in the
shadow of your wings I shout
for joy. My soul clings fast to
you; your right hand upholds
me. R.
2nd Reading Rom 12:1-2
We should constantly seek
what is good and perfect. This
will transform our life into a
spiritual worship that pleases
the Lord. Such is the essence of
St. Paul’s message to the faithful
of Rome and us today.
R – A proclamation from the
Letter of Paul to the Romans
I urge you, brothers and
sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to
God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to
this age but be transformed by
the renewal of your mind, that
you may discern what is the
will of God, what is good and
pleasing and perfect.
The Word of the Lord!
All – Thanks be to God!
Gospel Acclamation Eph 1:17-18
All – Alleluia! Alleluia!
May the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ enlight-
en the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what
is the hope that belongs to
our call.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gospel Mt 16:21-27
Enduring bravely and pa-
tiently the difficulties of life is an
integral part of being disciples of
Christ, and leads to life eternal.
On the other hand, the pursuit
of a complacent life causes the
ultimate loss. Such is Jesus’ stern
warning to all of us today.
P –The Lord be with you!
All –And with your spirit!
P –A proclamation from the
holy Gospel according to
Matthew
All – Glory to you, O Lord!
Jesus began to show his
disciples that he must go to
Jerusalem and suffer great-
ly from the elders, the chief
priests, and the scribes, and
be killed, and on the third day
be raised. Then Peter took Je-
sus aside and began to rebuke
him, “God forbid, Lord! No
such thing shall ever happen
to you.” He turned and said to
Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!
You are an obstacle to me. You
are thinking not as God does,
but as human beings do.”
Then Jesus said to his
disciples, “Whoever wishes
to come after me must deny
himself, take up his cross,
and follow me. For whoever
wishes to save his life will lose
it, but whoever loses his life
for my sake will find it. What
profit would there be for one
to gain the whole world and
forfeit his life? Or what can
one give in exchange for his
life? The Son of Man will come
with his angels in his Father’s
glory, and then he will re-
pay all according to his con-
duct.”
The Gospel of the Lord!
All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ!
Homily
Profession of Faith
(Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed)
All –I believe in one God, the Fa-
ther almighty, maker of heaven
and earth, of all things visible
and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the Only Begotten Son
of God, born of the Father be-
fore all ages. God from God,
Light from Light, true God from
true God, begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were
made. For us men and for our
salvation he came down from
heaven, (bow)* and by the Holy
Spirit was incarnate of the Vir-
gin Mary, and became man.*
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate, he suf-
fered death and was buried, and
rose again on the third day in
accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is
seated at the right hand of the
Father. He will come again in
glory to judge the living and the
dead and his kingdom will have
no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life, who
proceeds from the Father and
the Son, who with the Father
and the Son is adored and glori-
fied, who has spoken through
the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, cath-
olic and apostolic Church. I
confess one Baptism for the
forgiveness of sins and I look
forward to the resurrection of
the dead and the life of the world
to come. Amen!
Prayer of the Faithful
P –Today the Lord Jesus has
reminded us about the impor-
tance of living a life of generous
faithfulness to God’s plan for us.
Aware of the difficulties which a
life of discipleship entails, let us
humbly plead:
All – Lord, help us follow you!
C –That the lifestyle of the
Church as the “community of
Jesus’ disciples” may be charac-
terized by constant faithfulness
to the Gospel principles, let us
pray! R.
C –That the Holy Father,
our Bishop, priests, and all
other spiritual leaders may be
strengthened by God’s grace as
they bravely strive to follow the
example of Jesus in all they do,
let us pray! R.
C –That all those who suffer
physically or emotionally may
learn to carry their crosses in
union with Jesus and thereby
transform them into instruments
of redemption, let us pray! R.
C –That all those who have
been victimized by the Corona-
virus may endure their suffering
with patience and faith, thanks
also to the help of the generous
frontliners, let us pray! R.
C –That all of us may learn to
live with our hearts set on the
values of God’s Kingdom and not
on those of the materialistic and
hedonistic world, let us pray! R.
C –Let us pray in silence for our
personal intentions. (Pause)
Let us pray! R.
P –Lord Jesus, grant that we
may always imitate your ex-
ample in doing the will of the
Father, even when this entails
suffering and self-denial. In the
midst of all difficulties, may we
never lose sight of the reward
that awaits us in the Kingdom of
peace where you live and reign
for ever and ever.
All – Amen!
Preparation of the Gifts
P –Pray, brethren . . .
All – May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands, for the
praise and glory of his name,
for our good and the good of all
his holy Church.
Prayer over the Offerings
P –May this sacred offering,
O Lord, confer on us always the
blessing of salvation, that what
it celebrates in mystery it may
accomplish in power.
Through Christ our Lord.
All – Amen!
Preface VI
P –The Lord be with you!
All –And with your spirit!
P –Lift up your hearts!
All – We lift them up to the Lord!
P –Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God!
All –It is right and just!
P – It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation, al-
ways and everywhere to give
you thanks, Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God.
For in you we live and move
and have our being, and while
in this body we not only experi-
ence the daily effects of your
care, but even now possess the
pledge of life eternal. For, hav-
ing received the first fruits of the
Spirit, through whom you raised
up Jesus from the dead, we hope
for an everlasting share in the
Paschal Mystery.
And so, with all the Angels,
we praise you, as in joyful cel-
ebration, we acclaim:
All –Holy, holy, holy . . .
Memorial Acclamation
P –The mystery of faith!
All –Save us, Savior of the
world, for by your Cross
and Resurrection you
have set us free.
All – Our Father . . .
P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
All –For the kingdom, the pow-
er, and the glory are yours, now
and forever.
Sign of Peace
Breaking of the Bread
All – Lamb of God . . .
Communion
P –Behold the Lamb of God, be-
hold him who takes away the sins
of the world. Blessed are those
called to the Supper of the Lamb.
All –Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under
my roof, but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
Communion Antiphon
(To be recited only when no
Communion Hymn is sung.)
How great is the goodness,
Lord, that you keep for those
who fear you.
Prayer after Communion
P – Renewed by this bread from
the heavenly table, we beseech
you, Lord, that, being the food
of charity, it may confirm our
hearts and stir us to serve you in
our neighbor.
Through Christ our Lord.
All – Amen!
P –The Lord be with you.
All – And with your spirit!
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
P –Bow your heads and pray pursuing the values of the midst of great difficulties.
for God’s blessing. (Pause) Kingdom and always doing All – Amen!
– May God the Father em- the will of the Father.
power you to accept the dif- P – May almighty God bless
All – Amen! you: the Father, and the
ficulties of life in a spirit of
faith and endure them with Son, and the Holy Spirit.
P – May God the Holy Spirit
Christ-like courage. All – Amen!
grant you the wisdom to
All – Amen! make the right choices and P –Go in peace, glorifying the
P –May God the Son be your the strength you need to Lord by your life!
constant inspiration in pursue them even in the All – Thanks be to God!

AT THE SCHOOL OF A CRUCIFIED TEACHER

by Jess P. Balon

“We often forget that the Lord
has many types of “blessings.” Some
are obvious, like when things go
pretty well in life for quite a time, and
even for a long time – smooth sailing
on a glorious day . . . . Then we con-
gratulate ourselves and, of course, we
thank God too, always hoping that He
may continue to bless us . . . .
At other times God’s blessings may
come to us very much “in disguise.”
For a time (or even for too long a
time!) we may find it difficult to “rec-
ognize” them. So, a day may come
when we will feel our shoulders bur-
dened with a weight that seems to
crush us – the weight of suffering in
any or all of its forms: physical, moral,
spiritual . . . . And we may be brought
to ask if the Lord still cares for us . . . .
When this happens, we should re-
member that there are “blessings in
disguise” . . . . That will be “the mo-
ment of truth” – the moment when
the real disciple comes alive, in all
humility and trust. And a wonderful
sunshine will then break through the
dark clouds of sorrow and discour-
agement that had preceded it . . .
Then, with God’s grace, we will
come to understand many things:
the sighs of those who suffered be-
fore us or like us, or even more than
us . . . ; the frailty of our strength and
virtues. . . . We will understand the
meaning of the words of Jesus when
he spoke of crosses to be taken up and
carried patiently after him as a sign of
our faithfulness to him. (See Mt 16:26.)
We will gradually discover that there
are values in life which are appreciated
only when we are brought low by suffer-
ing, or while groaning under the weight
of our cross(es). But especially, we will
realize that those “mishaps” and fail-
ures have drawn us closer to our Teach-
er. We will discover that, now, we have
come to resemble him much more than
when things were “going well.”
In those days, suffering will be seen
for what it was meant to be: a bless-
ing that tests, purifies, and strength-
ens. And the crucifixes in our houses
will no longer be pious decorations, but
our coat of arms, the real source of our
strength, of our dignity, and our hope.
Hope, indeed! Because it is only in the
cross of Christ that our crosses take on
meaning, acquire supernatural value,
and open our hearts to the expectation
of our “resurrection day.”
We may apply this reflection to the
many benefits that the devastating CO-
VID-19 has brought about. Because of
the suffering it has caused, we have be-
come more compassionate, more gener-
ous, closer to one another in our homes
. . . Suffering has made us humbler and
more prayerful . . .
While praying that the epidemic may
leave us soon, never to return again, we
also pray that the virtues it has made us
to rediscover remain with us forever.

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