Vol. 38  No. 48             AUGUST  28, 2011              Cycle  A   XXII  SUNDAY  OF  THE  YEAR   Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it   ENTRANCE ANTIPHON   I call to you all day long, have mercy on me, O Lord. You are good and forgiving, full of love for all who call to you. (Ps 85:3,5) PENITENTIAL RITE The Apostle Peter gladly proclaimed Christ as the Messiah and Son of God. But he denied a suffering Messiah. In this he represents the typical Christian, caught between faith and doubt, for whom the Cross is a stumbling block. Not that God wanted the suffering of His Son, but that He wanted to show us the depth of His love for us, in and through the faithfulness and love of His Son—a faithfulness and love which cost him his life. Our happiness does not lie in doing what we like, but in doing what we have to do. Love enables us to turn the Cross from a stumbling block into a stepping stone. What Jesus did, was an expression of his love for us and for his heavenly Father. Let us now turn to God and ask pardon for our failures and sins. (Pause) I confess… Glory to God… OPENING PRAYER Almighty God, every good thing comes from you. Fill our hearts with love for you. Increase our faith, and by your constant care protect the good you have given us. We ask this… FIRST READING (Jeremiah proclaimed the word of God to his people, but he received only derision and insults in return. Hence he is torn between his desire to speak the word of God and his fear of facing mockery and insults from the people.) A reading from the Book of Jeremiah   (20:7-9) O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and thou hast prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; every one mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name”, there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones. and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. This is the Word of the Lord PSALM   (62) Response: For you my soul is thirsting, 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. 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. 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. 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. SECOND READING (St Paul tells us that we must live our lives as true Christians. Our daily lives must conform to the will of God and never be influenced by the world.) A reading from the Letter of St Paul to Romans   (12:1-2) I appeal to you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. This is the Word of the Lord ACCLAMATION Alleluia, alleluia! I am the living bread which came down from heaven, says the Lord; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever. Alleluia! (Jn 6:51) GOSPEL (Jesus foretells his suffering, death and resurrection, and then invites his disciples to be prepared to suffer, in order to follow him.) A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew (16:21-27) Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done.” This is the Gospel of the Lord I believe in God,/the Father Almighty,/ Creator of heaven and earth./ I believe in Jesus Christ,/his only Son, our Lord./ He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit/ and born of the Virgin Mary./He suffered under Pontius Pilate,/was crucified, died, and was buried./He descended to the dead./On the third day he rose again./He ascended into Heaven,/and is seated at the right hand of the Father./He will come again to judge the living and the dead./I believe in the Holy Spirit,/the Holy Catholic Church,/the communion of saints,/the forgiveness of sins,/the resurrection of the body,/and the life everlasting./ Amen. PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL Cel: Dear brothers and sisters, in the Gospel, Jesus asks for commitment from his followers. To follow Christ means to suffer. Let us place our trust in the Lord and ask for the grace to lead a heroic Christian life, saying: Response: Lord, graciously hear us. 1. For our Pope, bishops and clergy: that by word and example, they may encourage the faithful, to live the values of the Gospel. 2. For those who are suffering for their belief in Christ: that they may remain steadfast in faith and endure suffering patiently. 3. For all Christians: that they may accept hardships in their lives with faith, knowing that they are an integral part of discipleship. 4. For all teachers: that they may know how to communicate love of truth and inculcate authentic, moral and spiritual values in young people. 5. For all of us present here: that we may faithfully live out our discipleship and accept suffering, which comes into our lives. (Pray for local and personal needs) Cel: Almighty God, teach us to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for any reward, except that of knowing that we do your will. We ask this… PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS Lord, may this holy offering bring us your blessing and accomplish within us its promise of salvation. Grant this… PREFACE    (P 35) Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. So great was your love that you gave us your Son as our redeemer. You sent him as one like ourselves, though free from sin, that you might see and love in us what you see and love in Christ. Your gifts of grace, lost by disobedience, are now restored by the obedience of your Son. We praise you, Lord, with all the angels and saints in their song of joy: All: Holy, holy, holy… COMMUNION ANTIPHON O Lord, how great is the depth of the kindness which you have shown to those who love you. (Ps 30:20) PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Lord, you renew us at your table with the bread of life. May this food strengthen us in love and help us to serve you in each other. We ask this…   LITURGY AND LIFE In his book ‘Mr Citizen’ (1960), Harry Truman speaks of the necessity of making irrevocable decisions. “Some men,” he says, “can make decisions and some cannot. Some men fret and delay under criticism.” We have all heard this famous saying: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Jesus never told us just how he arrived at his decision to die on the cross to redeem fallen humanity. We do know that he fully intended to die as a victim for us and that he knew that this would happen in Jerusalem. For him there was no question of changing his mind. His resolution was firm and it was simply a matter of time before he could carry it out. It was what he called his “Father’s will,” and it was a part of everything he thought of and did. When Peter therefore tried to convince him to take another route and not that of suffering and death, Jesus got angry with the fickle Apostle. Peter was acting more like an enemy—like the devil, who tempted him in the desert. Jesus summarized Peter’s whole problem in one sentence: ‘You are not judging by God’s standards, but by man’s’. Man’s standards say: ‘Be comfortable; seek security; take care of yourself; don’t overdo it.’ How different are God’s standards! God shows in Jesus that real happiness comes through suffering, true joy through sorrow, and everlasting life through death. Jesus said that he must suffer and die in order to be raised up. That was the will of his Father. So, after Jesus’ rebuke, Peter was in for more amazement and shock as Jesus went on to say: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” The plan of the Father applied not only to Jesus, but to his disciples as well, so we too are included. Why God permits suffering is a mystery, something that even Jesus did not explain. Perhaps we get closer to the truth, when we realize that suffering is the measure of a person. It shows how big he is. It can also be the test of love, because we are willing to suffer for another, if we love him enough. We simply must accept suffering, in trust and confidence, as Jesus did. That involves every form of suffering, not just the physical kind, but all the mental and emotional anguish, frustrations, loneliness and boredom of human existence. We often act as though the necessity or value of suffering is beyond understanding. Actually, a little reflection makes us see, that to suffer with Christ is both a necessity and a privilege. Today and always, we need, like Peter, to ponder the purpose and meaning of suffering. No human being can escape it. Christ simply calls us to bear necessary suffering willingly. The cross is a necessity with a purpose. We sin, either to avoid suffering or to enjoy illicit pleasure. To follow Christ, we must suffer rather than sin. Next comes, fidelity to Catholic doctrine. The teachings of Christ ask us to reject the worldly way of life, and live by God’s way. There is sacrifice involved in avoiding lies, cheating and immoral short cuts to pleasure. This is suffering with a meaning, even if the world mocks us. Then there is the cross of being faithful to the duties of marriage and parenting, or those of priesthood and religious life. The true Christian accepts every trial and works through every hardship, knowing God Himself wills it. Jeremiah went through torment to be faithful to God. He was mocked and punished and thrown into a well. So he resolved he would prophesy no more; but God’s word burned in him like a fire and he went back and spoke it out (First Reading). Whatever our chosen calling and state of life may be, all of us have the cross of sickness or disappointment or failure. All of us have the cross of our own sins and their consequences. We can turn bitter, resentful and hateful, or we can bear our cross with love, knowing that God can make it all work out for our good. All is in God’s hands, and if we trust in Divine Providence, no suffering will be wasted. We must remember, that Jesus not only said that he had to suffer and die, but also that he would be raised on the third day. If we share in the cross of Christ, we shall share in his resurrection as well. St Paul, therefore, reminds us today: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Second Reading). The Lord, in today’s Gospel, does not call us to carry our crosses simply for the sake of pain—but in order to fulfill our objectives, which often can be achieved only if we are willing to suffer. Suffering thus accepted is meritorious, because in God’s plan, it will lead to happiness. God’s ways are not our ways, but God’s ways are the best! —Fr Sebastian Kattackal, ssp       Aug/Sept 2011    READINGS OF THE WEEK    Psalter Week 2 29 Mon (R) Martyrdom of John the Baptist, Feast Jer 1:17-19,/ Ps 70:1-2,3-4a,5-6ab,15ab.17/ Mk 6:17-29 30 Tue (G) 1 Thes 5:1-6.9-11/ Ps 27:1.4.13-14/ Lk 4:31-37 31 Wed (G) Col 1:1-8/ Ps 52:10. 11/ Lk 4:38-44 01 Thu (G) Col 1:9-14/ Ps 98:2-3ab.3cd-4.5-6/ Lk 5:1-11 02 Fri (G) Col 1:15-20/ Ps 100:1b-2.3.4.5/ Lk 5:33-39 03 Sat (W) St Gregory the Great, Col 1:21-23/ Ps 54:3-4.6 and 8/ Lk 6:1-5