Sunday July 28, 2024
17th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (B)
Office: Psalter Week 1, Te Deum
Mass Prop. Gloria. Creed. Preface of Sunday
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
Vespers II of the 17th Sunday of the Year
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Theme of the Sunday: SO THAT NOBODY MAY GO HUNGRY.
Those who announce the word today run the risk of insisting too much on the miraculous aspect of the episodes presented in the first reading and in the gospel, and losing the more important message: the bread belonging to one must become the food for all. We can have a new world only when people renounce their selfishness, and accept Jesus’ proposal of establishing the idea of sharing one’s goods. This is also the theme of the second reading which invites all Christians to unite as they form one body.
THE GLORIA
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
“They shall eat and have some left.”
A reading from the second Book of Kings (2 Kings 4:42-44)
In those days: A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” But his servant said, “How am I to set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.”’ So he set it before them. And they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm145:10- II.15- 16.17-18 (R. see 16)
R/. You open your hand, Lord, and you satisfy us.
All your works shall thank you, O Lord,
and all your faithful ones bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign,
and declare your mighty deeds. R/.
The eyes of all look to you;
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand and satisfy
the desire of every living thing. R/.
R/. You open your hand, Lord, and you satisfy us.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
and holy in all his deeds.
The Lord is close to all who call him,
who call on him in truth. R/.
SECOND READING
“One body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4:1-6)
Brethren: I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Luke 7: 16
Alleluia. A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“He distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 6: 1-15)
At that time: Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. Jesus went up into the hills, and there sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the hills by himself.
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:
Christ, the true Bread of Life, calls us to share in his life-giving body and blood. Let us pray for the grace to always receive these wondrous gifts with a deep sense of devotion.
FOR THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH: that, Christ who gave himself for us in the Eucharist as on the cross, they may be ever willing to spend themselves for the spiritual edification of those placed under their care. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR WORLD LEADERS:That they may strive to ensure an equitable distribution of food, so that in all places on the face of the earth, every human person may have enough to eat. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS: that the Lord may continue to provide them with the resources they need to carry on with their acts of kindness towards the less privileged among us. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OURSELVES: that, inspired by the kindness of the lad in the Gospel who shared his loaves of bread and fish with the multitude, we may always be sensitive to the needs of the poor in our midst and do all within our power to provide for them. 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:
Father, look favourably on your children whom you have summoned before you. May they, through your gracious assistance, come to share in your life in heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
The readings of today, especially the first and the gospel, point out the feeding of the people as a sign of God’s care for His people. In the first Reading. Elisha received the gift brought to him by someone who offers bread from the first products of his land in accordance with the law. The prophets uses the bread immediately to feed people in need, the numbers of whom were many, insisting that it would be enough in fulfilment of the word of God. This happened as the prophet had foretold. In the gospel, Jesus feeds a hungry crowd of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fish, after which there were leftovers as well. Jesus teaches us that with God all things are possible. God has provided in the world enough for all those he created but sometimes lack of charitable spirit militates against the realization of integral human welfare. While some people in some parts of the world live in affluence others suffer hunger and deprivation. And even when we try to put into practice the call for charity towards those in need, Jesus is saying that we should do that with humility and never fall into the temptation of pride.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
Lord God, my saviour I cry out all day, and at night I come before you. Hear my prayers; listen to my cry for help! Psalm 88:1
It is written, “He disappointed the devices of the wicked so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise” (Job 5:12). Everlasting Father, please frustrate all conspiracies and evil schemes directed against me in the name of Jesus.
Most High God, my life is in your hand, please be my defence (Psalm 7:10, job 22:25). Protect me when I go out, when I come in, and all the days of my life in the name of Jesus.
Pray with Psalm 91 (Meditatively)
