Sunday July 7, 2024
14th Sunday of the Year (B)
Office: Psalter Week 2, Te Deum
Mass Prop., Gloria, Creed, Preface of Sunday
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Vespers II of the 14th Sunday of the Year
Theme of the Sunday: THE POWER OF GOD IS MANIFESTED THROUGH THE WEAKNESS.
The first reading describes the vocation of the prophet Ezekiel. He was a simple man, like other men. What he accomplished was due to the power of the Word of God. The second reading is even clearer. Paul states that the power of God always manifests itself through weak instruments. The gospel shows the reaction of Jesus to the people of Nazareth because they failed to understand the true ways of God, and did not recognise him as the Messiah, and deprived themselves of salvation.
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
“They are a rebellious house, they will know that there has been a prophet among them.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:2-5)
In those days: The Spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the sons of Israel, to a nation of rebels, who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The people also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them; and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that there has been a prophet among them.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 123:1-2a.2bc.3-4 (R. 2ef)
R/. Our eyes are on the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.
To you have I lifted up my eyes,
you who dwell in the heavens.
Behold, like the eyes of slaves
on the hand of their lords. R/.
Like the eyes of a servant
on the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God,
till he show us his mercy. R/.
have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
We are filled with contempt.
Indeed, all too full is our soul
With the scorn of the arrogant,
The disdain of the proud. R/.
SECOND READING
“I will boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians12:7-10)
Brethren: To keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it should leave; but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am week, then I am strong.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Luke 4:18
ALLELUIA. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to preach good news to the poor. ALLELUIA
GOSPEL
“A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark. (Mark 6:1-6)
Jesus came to his own country, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.
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.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
Christ our Lord experienced rejection as a prophet when he preached in the town where he was brought up. Let us ask him to give us the grace to remain steadfast in our faith, even in difficult moments.
FOR THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH: that they may always be zealous in fulfilling the mission of bringing the Good News to the poor and proclaiming liberty to captives. We pray O Lord.
FOR THOSE IN GOVERNMENT: that they may work towards the eradication of poverty in the country, especially through the spreading of the nation’s wealth to rural communities. We pray O Lord.
FOR THOSE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH IN GOD: that they may be consoled by the voice of Christ saying, “my grace is enough for you.” We pray O Lord.
FOR THIS COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS: that our Christian faith may not be shaken in the face of the challenges of life that come our way. We pray O Lord.
For other intentions: (the sick, church project or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find a place of perpetual rest with God. We pray O Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
Eternal Father, grant us the grace to recognize you in your prophets and to persevere in good works, despite the challenges that may come our way. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
In the gospel of today, Jesus Christ is rejected by his own relations because they could not understand why someone from such a familiar, poor and illiterate background would display the kind of wisdom he did. They claim to know everything about Jesus especially his family background hence their outright rejection of Jesus and his message. As a result, Jesus didn’t work any miracle among his own people as in the other places he visited. In fact, he was surprised by their lack of faith. This kind of obstinacy and rejection of God’s message is also what prophet Ezekiel in the First Reading encountered. However, God insisted that His message be delivered irrespective of whether the people listen or not. In our time today, how many people disregard or reject the message of the gospel because of their feeling concerning the person who brought the word of God to them. We look down on God’s messengers to our own detriment because rejection of His message is rejection of His blessing. God tests our humility in order to pour upon us His blessing through the grace of Jesus Christ.
NINE DAYS MID-YEAR PRAYERS “Divine Restoration” (1st – 9th July 2024)
DAY 7: PRAYER FOR DIVINE REVELATION AND THANKSGIVING
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. You have revealed to us what will happen before it happens so that we will believe. May I be guided by the Holy Spirit of truth. But above all, as I read your word, I pray that Jesus would be revealed to me, more and more, and I would know Him more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly, all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.
OPENING
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
INVOCATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray:
O God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation, Through Christ Lord. Amen.
Father, we thank you for this opportunity to renew our strength in you and to rededicate our life to your service, look kindly on use and grant us your mercies, that we may enjoy the remaining part of the year and beyond in peace in the name of Jesus.
May the gains of this program be our portion in the name of Jesus.
PRAYER POINT
1.Father!!! By your divine revelation let me see the end of Goliath of my destiny
2. Holy Spirit! Cause my hears to hear you speak loud and clear into me for direction throughout year.
3. My Father! My Father!! Cause me to hear new things that majority do not hear that will advertise destiny.
4. Father! As I call upon you every day in this year, answer me by fire in Jesus name.
5. Almighty God! Order my eyes to see visions and my ears to hear the inaudible in Jesus name.
6. Oh God my father! You are the master strategist; give me a greater vision of your purpose for my life in the remaining part of this year.
7. Father! Awaken my heart and establish your reign in my life.
8. Any enemy of my good dreams shall receive your arrow in Jesus name.
9. Every power that hate to see my dream manifest, be destroy by fire in Jesus name. By divine revelation oh lord enlarge my mouth over my enemy
REFLECTION
Joel 2: 28-32, Prov. 20:12; Isaiah 6:1- 8, Ps. 51:15; II Kings 6:16-17. Thank God for this year’s prophesies.
CLOSING
PRAYER OF CONFIRMATION AND TRUST IN GOD
Lord, God Almighty, I thank you for protecting me from every form of evil and bringing me the gift of your divine health.
I thank you for breaking the chains of oppression and delivering me from every form of sin, sickness, disease and lie of the enemy.
I thank you for the powerful name of Jesus to which every knee shall bow.
Thank you for giving me your authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall harm me.
Thank you for your full armour, your name, your most precious Blood and your Holy Spirit. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
Thank you heavenly father for all your protection and provisions, for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, now and forevermore. Amen
