21st Sunday In Ordinary Time

 

23rd August 2009

 

 

“Lord, who shall

we go to? 

You have

the message

of eternal life”

 

THE 7 STEPS

 

SILENCE

WORSHIP

SCRIPTURE READING

MEDITATION

BY HEART

INTERCESSION

COVENANT PRAYER

 


SCRIPTURE READING: JN. 6:60-69

 

After hearing his doctrine many of the followers of Jesus said, ‘This is intolerable language.  How could anyone accept it?’  Jesus was aware that his followers were complaining about it and said, ‘Does this upset you?... After this, many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him.  Then Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’  Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who shall we go to?  You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.

 

Questions for Meditation

1.      What did the followers of Jesus consider as ‘intolerable language’?  What did Jesus do before this?  How many miracles did he perform prior to this?  

2.      The followers of Jesus could not understand the teachings of Jesus because they did not know who Jesus truly is.  In the end, what did they do?    

3.      Jesus gave a choice to his disciples, ‘Do you want to go away too’?  Did any of the disciples leave Jesus?  Why?  If you were one of the disciples, would you leave Jesus?  Why?  What would you lose if you choose to leave him?        

4.      In your opinion, what is the basis of the relationship between Jesus and his disciples?  How well do the disciples know Jesus?  Who was Jesus to Simon Peter?  Who is Jesus to you?    

5.      What is the difference between being ‘a follower of Jesus’ and being ‘a disciple of Jesus’?        

 

By Heart: for Reflection – “To go or to stay”

“You are thinking about love and the choices it entails, and I imagine that you agree: what is really important in life is the choice of the person who will share it with you. But be careful! Every human person has inevitable limits: even in the most successful of marriages there is always a certain amount of disappointment. So then, dear friends, does not this confirm what we heard the Apostle Peter say? Every human being finds himself sooner or later saying what he said: “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”. Only Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and of Mary, the eternal Word of the Father born two thousand years ago at Bethlehem in Judaea, is capable of satisfying the deepest aspirations of the human heart...”  John Paul II

 

 
Intercessions:

1.      For the leaders of the Church, that they might be faithful in proclaiming the teaching of Christ even in the face of persecution and rejection.

2.      For the young people, that they might bring the message of eternal life to their world and live by it.

3.      For those who feel like giving up, that they might experience the love and forgiveness of God in their lives.

4.      For all of us, that we might follow in the footsteps of Peter who found in Jesus, the way, the truth and the life.

5.      For the soul of Fr. Anthony Wan, may he rest in peace in the embrace of Jesus, his Good Shepherd.

Covenant Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, by your suffering, death and resurrection, you give us new life:  a life filled with joy and purpose; a life only you can give it, for you are the source of life.  Guide us on our pilgrimage of life, that following you faithfully as your disciples, we may witness boldly to the world, your love and truth.  Enlighten our minds and hearts that your Word which we read and meditated may take roots in our lives.  Help us not to fall into sin and if we do fall due to our human weakness, bring us back to you for you are the way, the truth and the life. We also pray for all our brothers and sisters, wherever they are, who are committed to this prayer, that their faith may be strengthened, their hope assured and their love fulfilled.  In your name we humbly pray.  Amen