Jesus said: take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart,
Matthew 11:28
and you will find rest for your souls
Begin with a few moments of quiet.
The intention is to open yourself to the presence of God within you and among those gathered.
Alternatively use this method of entering quiet:
Invite all present to sit comfortably.
When sitting comfortably, take three deep breaths, as you breathe in feel your lungs filling all the way up, when they are full slowly release your breath and feel your lungs emptying out fully. Repeat this three times.
Now return to breathing normally and make the sign of the cross:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Invite each person present to take a few moments to reflect on:
Where in the past week did I encounter God in my life?
Where in the past week did I inhibit God in my life?
Allow time in quiet for this and then, after a few moments, invite those present to share on this, if they are comfortable to do so.
If you like to have some quiet music playing during this click below.
Introduce the Gospel
On this Sunday we celebrate the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Lord understands us and knows us better than we know ourselves.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
Psalm 139: 1-3
He knows of what we are made and so we can come confidently before him with our brokenness and need of his grace. It might be good during this time of reflection to become aware of whatever is a burden to me now in my life and ask the Lord for his love and healing touch.
Read the Gospel – Matthew 11:25-30
Read the Gospel aloud, even if you are on your own.
Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children.
Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
Reflect on the Gospel
Sit quietly now for a few moments and allow the images created by hearing the Gospel to emerge. Use the quietening music again if you wish
Using some or all of the following questions, today and or on different occasions over the coming week reflect on this Gospel passage.
- Human beings are always setting up barriers which divide people into those who are important and those who are not. It happens in every community and Jesus met it among the Jewish people of his time. God wants to break down these barriers so that those who are on the wrong side of them can experience that they too are his children and have a unique contribution to make to their community.
Perhaps you can recall someone whom you did not think of highly but who turned out to be very
good in some sphere. What good news that you were wrong! - Great intelligence is not sufficient to develop a relationship with God, unless combined with an open childlike capacity to wonder.
Does this resonate with your experience? - The ministry of Jesus was to introduce people to a relationship of intimacy with God.
How has Jesus given you that kind of relationship? - Another aspect of the ministry of Jesus was to free people from the burden of a legalistic understanding of religion, and to introduce them to a faith marked by freedom and love.
Perhaps you have made that journey also. Who has been a Jesus person for you and helped you to
find freedom, joy and rest in your faith?
Finish this part with a Prayer
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, by whose gracious will the mysteries of the kingdom are revealed to the childlike, make us learn from your Son humility of heart, that in shouldering his yoke we may find refreshment and rest.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful
In the Mass, the prayer of the faithful are the people’s response to their reflection on the Scripture readings and are spoken to God in the second person. The following have been prepared by Hugh Clifford, Kilquade Parish for our Masses on this weekend.
For the Church, the Children of God:
that we may let Jesus ease our burdens and journey side by side with him in every event in our lives. Lord hear us
For freedom from fear, including fear of Covid 19 as we move forward into a freer life:
that You will help us surrender our fear and anxiety into the hands of the One who loves us and strengthen our confidence that You will provide for us in every circumstance. Lord hear us
For a spirit of gratitude:
that we will be mindful of our blessings and feel gratitude and appreciation for the gift of our reopened churches, shops, restaurants and places of work. Lord hear us
For our new government:
that they will be inspired to lead our country in the right direction, making just and fair decisions to keep us all safe, healthy and economically stable. Lord hear us
For all who need healing, physical, mental and emotional, especially those like the parents of Noah Donoghue, who have lost children:
that Your healing Spirit will ease their suffering, restore them to health, and guide all who are caring for them. Lord hear us
For our own intentions: name those intentions you specifically want to mention
Lord hear us
For all who have died ………. name those people you specifically want to remember
Lord hear us
Gathering Prayer:
Lord, you bore the weight of our humanity to come as near to us as possible. Help us to realise you stand beside us and walk with us the journey of life. Amen.
Close the time of Prayer with the Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Take a moment now to bring to mind those you want to share peace with, family, friends, those where your relationship is broken.
Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
Additional Resources
Fr. Kieran O’Mahony offers a scriptural analysis on the Readings in Written or on Video
Breaking Open the Word in Prayer 