Sunday August 18, 2024
TWENTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
Office: Psalter Week 4, Te Deum
Mass Prop. Gloria. Creed. Preface of Sunday
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
Vespers II of the 20th Sunday of the Year
NATIONAL FAMILY WEEK ENDS
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
ABAKALIKI: Tomorrow is the 3rd anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd Peter Chukwu, 19th August 2021
Theme of the Sunday: TAKE AND EAT, THIS IS MY BODY.
The readings of today are on the theme of food that gives us life. The first is a beautiful “parable” of a lady who offers food to the “inexperienced.” This wisdom is the word of God that, all of us are invited to make our own and to translate into our lives. The gospel tells us about the wisdom that comes from God and nourishes us with the body and blood of Christ. By listening to him we can understand what God wants to tell us. By eating him, that is by identifying with his person, we achieve eternal life. The second reading completes our catechesis for this Sunday. It invites us to live in accordance with the wisdom of God in whatever difficult situations we may find ourselves.
THE GLORIA (When indicated this hymn is either sung or said)
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 King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten 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
FIRST READING
“Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.”
A reading from the Book of Proverbs (Proverbs 9: 1-6)
Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids to call from the highest places in the town, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” to him who is without sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm 34: 1-2.9-10.11- 12.13- 14 (R. 1)
R/. Taste and see that the Lord is good!
I will bless the Lord at all times,
praise of him is always in my mouth.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast;
the humble shall hear and be glad. R/.
Fear the Lord, you his holy ones.
They lack nothing, those who fear him.
The rich suffer want and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing. R/.
R/. Taste and see that the Lord is good!
Come, children, and hear me,
that I may teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is it that desires life
and longs to see prosperous days? R/.
Guard your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn aside from evil and do good.
Seek after peace, and pursue it. R/.
SECOND READING
“Understand what the will of the Lord is.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 5:15-20)
Look carefully, brethren, how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA John 6:56
Alleluia. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him, says the Lord. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“My flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 6:5 1-58)
At that time: Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Creed (I Believe)
I believe in one God, the Father 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 before 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, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered 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 glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic 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
Celebrant:
In Love, Christ the true bread from heaven gives us himself as food for our earthly journey. Let us now ask God for a greater appreciation of this love.
FOR THE CHURCH: that she may eagerly nourish her children with the body and blood of Christ, so that they may have life in abundance. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR CIVIL LEADERS: that they may work for the equitable distribution of their country’s goods for the benefit of their people. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING: that they may go beyond the provision of intellectual formation and guide the students on the path of understanding the command of the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OUR WORSHIPPING COMMUNITY: that we may hunger and thirst not merely for material food and drink but, most of all, for the spiritual food and drink that leads to eternal life. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
God our heavenly father, you never fail to provide our material and spiritual needs. Graciously look upon your children who call upon you and, in your kindness, hear and answer them. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
For a couple of weeks now, our readings, especially the Gospels, continue to tell us that Jesus is the bread of life. This is simply to remind us of the importance of the Holy Eucharist in our Christian life. Eucharist means thanksgiving. So, filled with the Holy Spirit, we give thanks to God for inviting us to share in His wisdom, and in the body and blood of Christ. In our First Reading today, God Himself who is wisdom invites us to His banquet. However, only those who are humble duly take advantage of this invitation. In their pride the Jews in today’s Gospel refused to be fools in order to be made wise in the ways of God. By this, they shut themselves out of the banquet of the body and blood of Christ. At times some of us behave like the Jews. This is by assuming that we can analyse and understand the mystery of the body and blood of Christ with our limited human insight and, the wisdom of this world. Hence, Paul warns us today: “Be careful about the sort of lives you live, like intelligent and not senseless people…”
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
Time of Grace Day 3: (Break your Fast after today’s Mass. PLEASE ENDEVOUR TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION)
During this age of grace, we have to acknowledge our sinfulness to God and put our faith in Jesus Christ, who has already taken the complete penalty on Himself. But if we die without receiving Christ as Savior, or if He returns and we’ve rejected Him, the “grace period” will be over and we will be judged for our sin.
Ephesians 2:8-9: -For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
-Father please make a way in my wilderness and provide water in my desert.
-Lord please do the impossibility in my life.
-Father please bring out the best of my life and use it for your glory.
-Father please plant my feet on higher ground.
-Father please do new things in my life
-Thank the Lord for the grace to complete this three days program.
Let Us Pray,
O Lord I beseech you, to grant me the grace needed never to be comfortable with sin and everything that appeals to carnality in the name of Jesus the Lord.
O Lord God of mercy, extend your mercy and compassion on all abuses of your grace. Make them to understand what grace actually means in Jesus name
