Sunday October 20, 2024
TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B
MISSION SUNDAY
Office: Psalter week 1, Te Deum
Mass prop. Gloria. Creed.
Preface of the Sunday
Twenty-Ninth Sunday of the Year
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
MISSION SUNDAY: The Mass for the Evangelisation of People may be said as indicated in the Roman Missal. Special Prayers and Collection for the Missionary works of PMS (Roman Missal Chapter II)
Vespers II of the 29th Sunday of the Year
Theme of the Sunday: AN AUTHORITY TO COMMAND? NO, TO SERVE!
In the Church we should not have leaders who issue orders and subjects who obey; a class of people who are respected, honoured and full of privileges and a lower class with lower dignity. All are brothers and sisters, and all must see themselves as the servants of others. The various abilities and talents we are granted by God are not to cause division, to help us rule over, or to compete with others. All our gifts must be a source of communion and complementarity. To be great means to be the last and the servant of all, just as Christ was, this is the message of the gospel. The first reading shows us God preparing his people to adopt the mentality of service and of giving up one’s life that Jesus was to illustrate later. The second reading tells us that the Son of God was not afraid to come down to the level of the human being. He became one of us and shared our condition. Shouldn’t his disciples have the courage to lower themselves to the level of the least among us?
FIRST READING
“When he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days,. ”.
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 53: 10-11)
It was the will of the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief, when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand; he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 33:4-5.18-19.20 and 22 (R. 22)
R/. May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord
For the word of the Lord is faithful,
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right,
and his merciful love fills the earth. R/.
Yes, the Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him,
who hope in his merciful love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine. R/.
R/. May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord
Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
May your merciful love be upon us,
as we hope in you, O Lord. R/.
SECOND READING
“Let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace.”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Brethren: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Mark 10:45
Alleluia. The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“The Son of man came to give his life as a ransom for many.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 10:35-45)
At that time: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus, and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I drink, or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptised, you will be baptised; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Or shorter:
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 10:42-45)
At that time: Jesus called [the Twelve] to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
Jesus calls us to go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel. On this world Mission Sunday, we ask for God’s blessings that, through our self-giving, the Good News of Jesus may be proclaimed to all nations and peoples.
For our Holy Father, Pope N., and for all missionaries who give their lives to tell the glory of the Lord among the nations: that they may be loving, wise and holy witnesses of Christ, our savior. We pray O Lord.
FOR THE LEADERS OF NATIONS: that they may be committed to justice for all peoples and dedicated to building a world of peace. We pray O Lord.
FOR AN INCREASE IN OUR MISSIONARY SPIRIT: that as missionaries of the Eucharist, we may help the message and love of our Lord be made known to the ends of the earth. We pray O Lord.
FOR OUR COUNTRY, NIGERIA: that we may experience God’s divine intervention, and that unity, harmony and peace may return to our nation. We pray O Lord.
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THE MISSIONARIES THAT WORKED IN OUR COUNTRY, NIGERIA: that God may grant them eternal life. We pray O Lord.
Let us pray for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
God our father, you bless us with the gift of faith. Increase our faith as we answer the call to take part in the worldwide mission of Jesus. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Or
God our father, look upon the face of your Christ, who handed himself over as a ransom for all, so that through him, from the rising of the sun to its setting, your name may be exalted among all nations and in every place a single offering may be presented to your majesty. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Everyone likes to be in a place of honour. It is not sinful to desire an honourable position. But it is important to know what it means to be in such position. People see position of honor as opportunities to serve themselves and trample on other persons. This is because they seek their own gain and not the good of the people. Jesus uses the ambition of James and John to remind us that whatever position we occupy if for service. The Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Do I want to serve or do I want to be served? Do I want to cultivate the spirit of Christ or do I want to lord it over others?
TODAY’S SAINT AND QUOTE: St Paul of the Cross – October 20th
When you feel the assaults of passion and anger, then is the time to be silent as Jesus was silent in the midst of His ignominies and sufferings.
Personal Devotional
REFLECTION AND PRAYERS TO ST JOSEPH
And Joseph also went from Galilee out of the town of Nazareth into Judea to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem” (Luke 2:4). In response to the decree of Caesar Augustus, St. Joseph made the long journey across the hills from Galilee to Bethlehem with Mary, who bore beneath her heart the incarnate Son of God. What sweet conversations must Mary and Joseph have held on this journey on the mercy of God in sending his Son into the world to redeem the human race, and on the love of this Son in coming into this valley of tears in order to atone by his suffering and death for the sins of men!
Let Us Pray
St. Joseph, I wish to belong entirely to thee, so that through thee I may belong entirely to Jesus and Mary.
THE MIRACULOUS 54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA
LAST 27 DAYS IN THANKSGIVING
Day 16: THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
1. Sign of the Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen
THANKSGIVING: Heavenly Father on this Miraculous 54-Day Rosary Novena, we bow our hearts to you and pray, we give you thanks for all you’ve done especially for the gift of Your son Jesus and his Mother Mary. With thankful hearts, we praise You our God who like a loving parent never denies his children good things. Thank you for hearing all our petitions and granting them. May your name be praised for evermore. Amen.
2. Hail Mary:
Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with Thee; Blessed art thou among women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
3. Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, Dispenser of God’s graces and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.
4. Say:
The Apostles’ Creed,
Our Father,
3 Hail Mary,
Glory Be.
5. The Annunciation:-
Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
CONCLUDING PRAYER:
I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
6. The Visitation
Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
CONCLUDING PRAYER:
I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
7. The Nativity
Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
CONCLUDING PRAYER:
I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of detachment from the world and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
9. The Presentation
Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
CONCLUDING PRAYER:
I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of purity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
10. Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple
Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
CONCLUDING PRAYER:
I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of obedience to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
11. Say: The Hail Holy Queen.
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail Our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us. And after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement O loving O sweet Virgin Mary.
V/. Pray for us oh holy mother of God.
R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
12. Let us pray: O God whose only begotten son by his life death………..
13. Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (optional)
14. Let us pray: Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
15. HAIL MARY;
Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with Thee; Blessed art thou among women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
16. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit amen
