Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

30 August 2020 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

The Cost of Discipleship

T he cross loomed large on the life of Christ. It was the cross of rejec-
tion, ingratitude, aggressiveness, cruelty and betrayal – the cross
imposed on him by human sinfulness in all its forms. Out of love
for Jesus, Peter and all the other disciples would have wanted him to be
spared so much undeserved suffering. But Jesus knew that accepting it with
love was the only way to bring about the salvation of mankind.To think and
act differently would have meant to be guided by a purely human perspec-
tive, which differed from God’s plan. This is why Jesus responded so sternly
to Peter’s intervention (and, possibly, ours).
From this, we must learn to carry our “crosses” in life the way Jesus carried the cross of our sinful-
ness. Salvation from sin passes through suffering endured with love and out of love by a “willing victim”
– Jesus, our Redeemer. This is also the essential condition to be numbered among Jesus’ disciples. Such is
the message he addresses to us today.

and heart, but we prefer to King, O God, almighty Father.

live in our old sinful ways. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Be-
Lord, have mercy! gotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of
All – Lord, have mercy! God, Son of the Father, you take
Entrance Antiphon away the sins of the world, have
(To be recited only when no P –Lord Jesus, you taught us
mercy on us; you take away the
Entrance Hymn is sung.) to judge events and people
sins of the world, receive our
Have mercy on me, O Lord, by God’s standards, but
prayer; you are seated at the right
for I cry to you all the day long. we continue to judge them
hand of the Father, have mercy
O Lord, you are good and for- by our earthly standards.
on us. For you alone are the Holy
giving, full of mercy to all who Christ, have mercy!
One, you alone are the Lord, you
call to you. All –Christ, have mercy!
alone are the Most High, Jesus
P –Lord Jesus, you challenge Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
Greeting us to take up our cross and in the glory of God the Father.
P –Blessed be the Lord Jesus follow in your footsteps, Amen!
who calls us to be his disciples but we often seek to have
and seek what is good and per- an easy life and to do things Collect (Opening Prayer)
fect. May his grace and peace be our way. Lord, have mercy!
All – Lord, have mercy! P –God of might, giver of every
with you all! good gift, put into our hearts the
All – And with your spirit! P –May almighty God have love of your name, so that, by
mercy on us, forgive us our sins, deepening our sense of rever-
Penitential Act and bring us to everlasting life. ence, you may nurture in us what
P –Today’s Gospel reminds All – Amen! is good and, by your watchful
us that only those who have the care, keep safe what you have
generosity to follow the teach- Gloria nurtured.
ing and example of Jesus may be All – Glory to God in the highest, Through our Lord Jesus
called his disciples. Let us ask and on earth peace to people of Christ, your Son, who lives and
ourselves if we deserve such an good will. We praise you, we bless reigns with you in the unity of
honor. (Pause) you, we adore you, we glorify the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
P –Lord Jesus, you call us to be you, we give you thanks for your and ever.
constantly renewed in mind great glory, Lord God, heavenly All – Amen!
 for your kindness is a greater P –The Lord be with you!
good than life; my lips shall All –And with your spirit!
glorify you. R. P –A proclamation from the
holy Gospel according to
* Thus will I bless you while
1st Reading Jer 20:7-9 Matthew
Faithfulness to God may I live; lifting up my hands, I All – Glory to you, O Lord!
arouse against us opposition and will call upon your name. As
with the riches of a banquet Jesus began to show his
even persecution. On the other disciples that he must go to
hand, unfaithfulness to Him un- shall my soul be satisfied, and
with exultant lips my mouth Jerusalem and suffer great-
leashes remorse and internal ly from the elders, the chief
torment. Such was also the di- shall praise you. R.
priests, and the scribes, and
lemma experienced by Jeremiah, be killed, and on the third day
* You are my help, and in the
as we learn from the prophet’s be raised. Then Peter took Je-
shadow of your wings I shout
reflection on his trying situation. sus aside and began to rebuke
for joy. My soul clings fast to
R – A proclamation from the you; your right hand upholds him, “God forbid, Lord! No
Book of the Prophet Jer- me. R. such thing shall ever happen
emiah to you.” He turned and said to
2nd Reading Rom 12:1-2 Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!
You duped me, O Lord, You are an obstacle to me. You
and I let myself be duped; you We should constantly seek
what is good and perfect. This are thinking not as God does,
were too strong for me, and you but as human beings do.”
triumphed. All the day I am an will transform our life into a
spiritual worship that pleases Then Jesus said to his
object of laughter; everyone disciples, “Whoever wishes
mocks me. the Lord. Such is the essence of
to come after me must deny
Whenever I speak, I must St. Paul’s message to the faithful
himself, take up his cross,
cry out. Violence and outrage of Rome and us today. and follow me. For whoever
is my message. The word of the R – A proclamation from the wishes to save his life will lose
Lord has brought me derision Letter of Paul to the Romans it, but whoever loses his life
and reproach all the day. for my sake will find it. What
I say to myself, I will not I urge you, brothers and
sisters, by the mercies of God, profit would there be for one
mention him, I will speak in to gain the whole world and
his name no more. But then it to offer your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to forfeit his life? Or what can
becomes like fire burning in one give in exchange for his
my heart, imprisoned in my God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to life? The Son of Man will come
bones; I grow weary holding it with his angels in his Father’s
in, I cannot endure it. this age but be transformed by
the renewal of your mind, that glory, and then he will re-
The Word of the Lord! you may discern what is the pay all according to his con-
All – Thanks be to God! will of God, what is good and duct.”
pleasing and perfect. The Gospel of the Lord!
Responsorial Psalm Ps 63 All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
The Word of the Lord! Christ!
R –My soul is thirsting for you, All – Thanks be to God!
O Lord my God! Homily
Gospel Acclamation Eph 1:17-18
Profession of Faith
All – Alleluia! Alleluia! (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed)
May the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ enlight- All –I believe in one God, the Fa-
en the eyes of our hearts, ther almighty, maker of heaven
that we may know what and earth, of all things visible
is the hope that belongs to and invisible.
our call. I believe in one Lord Jesus
Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ, the Only Begotten Son
of God, born of the Father be-
Gospel Mt 16:21-27 fore all ages. God from God,
* O God, you are my God Enduring bravely and pa- Light from Light, true God from
whom I seek; for you my flesh true God, begotten, not made,
tiently the difficulties of life is an consubstantial with the Father;
pines and my soul thirsts like integral part of being disciples of
the earth, parched, lifeless and through him all things were
Christ, and leads to life eternal. made. For us men and for our
without water. R. On the other hand, the pursuit salvation he came down from
* Thus have I gazed toward of a complacent life causes the heaven, (bow)* and by the Holy
you in the sanctuary to see ultimate loss. Such is Jesus’ stern Spirit was incarnate of the Vir-
your power and your glory, warning to all of us today. gin Mary, and became man.*

30 August 2020
For our sake he was crucified C –That all of us may learn to up Jesus from the dead, we hope
under Pontius Pilate, he suf- live with our hearts set on the for an everlasting share in the
fered death and was buried, and values of God’s Kingdom and not Paschal Mystery.
rose again on the third day in on those of the materialistic and And so, with all the Angels,
accordance with the Scriptures. hedonistic world, let us pray! R. we praise you, as in joyful cel-
He ascended into heaven and is C –Let us pray in silence for our ebration, we acclaim:
seated at the right hand of the personal intentions. (Pause) All –Holy, holy, holy . . .
Father. He will come again in Let us pray! R.
glory to judge the living and the Memorial Acclamation
P –Lord Jesus, grant that we
dead and his kingdom will have P –The mystery of faith!
may always imitate your ex-
no end. ample in doing the will of the All –Save us, Savior of the
I believe in the Holy Spirit, Father, even when this entails world, for by your Cross
the Lord, the giver of life, who suffering and self-denial. In the and Resurrection you
proceeds from the Father and midst of all difficulties, may we have set us free.
the Son, who with the Father never lose sight of the reward
and the Son is adored and glori- that awaits us in the Kingdom of
fied, who has spoken through peace where you live and reign
the prophets. for ever and ever.
I believe in one, holy, cath- All – Amen!
olic and apostolic Church. I All – Our Father . . .
confess one Baptism for the P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
forgiveness of sins and I look All –For the kingdom, the pow-
forward to the resurrection of er, and the glory are yours, now
and forever.
the dead and the life of the world Preparation of the Gifts
to come. Amen! P –Pray, brethren . . . Sign of Peace
Prayer of the Faithful All – May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands, for the Breaking of the Bread
P –Today the Lord Jesus has praise and glory of his name, All – Lamb of God . . .
reminded us about the impor- for our good and the good of all
tance of living a life of generous his holy Church. Communion
faithfulness to God’s plan for us.
Aware of the difficulties which a P –Behold the Lamb of God, be-
Prayer over the Offerings
life of discipleship entails, let us hold him who takes away the sins
P –May this sacred offering, of the world. Blessed are those
humbly plead: O Lord, confer on us always the called to the Supper of the Lamb.
All – Lord, help us follow you! blessing of salvation, that what All –Lord, I am not worthy
C –That the lifestyle of the it celebrates in mystery it may that you should enter under
Church as the “community of accomplish in power. my roof, but only say the word
Jesus’ disciples” may be charac- Through Christ our Lord. and my soul shall be healed.
terized by constant faithfulness All – Amen!
to the Gospel principles, let us Communion Antiphon
Preface VI (To be recited only when no
pray! R.
P –The Lord be with you! Communion Hymn is sung.)
C –That the Holy Father, All –And with your spirit! How great is the goodness,
our Bishop, priests, and all P –Lift up your hearts! Lord, that you keep for those
other spiritual leaders may be All – We lift them up to the Lord! who fear you.
strengthened by God’s grace as P –Let us give thanks to the
they bravely strive to follow the Lord our God! Prayer after Communion
example of Jesus in all they do,
All –It is right and just! P – Renewed by this bread from
let us pray! R.
P – It is truly right and just, the heavenly table, we beseech
C –That all those who suffer our duty and our salvation, al- you, Lord, that, being the food
physically or emotionally may ways and everywhere to give of charity, it may confirm our
learn to carry their crosses in you thanks, Lord, holy Father, hearts and stir us to serve you in
union with Jesus and thereby almighty and eternal God. our neighbor.
transform them into instruments For in you we live and move Through Christ our Lord.
of redemption, let us pray! R. and have our being, and while All – Amen!
C –That all those who have in this body we not only experi-
been victimized by the Corona- ence the daily effects of your
virus may endure their suffering care, but even now possess the
with patience and faith, thanks pledge of life eternal. For, hav-
also to the help of the generous ing received the first fruits of the P –The Lord be with you.
frontliners, let us pray! R. Spirit, through whom you raised All – And with your spirit!

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

P –Bow your heads and pray pursuing the values of the midst of great difficulties.
for God’s blessing. (Pause) Kingdom and always doing All – Amen!
– May God the Father em- the will of the Father.
power you to accept the dif- P – May almighty God bless
All – Amen! you: the Father, and the
ficulties of life in a spirit of
faith and endure them with Son, and the Holy Spirit.
P – May God the Holy Spirit
Christ-like courage. All – Amen!
grant you the wisdom to
All – Amen! make the right choices and P –Go in peace, glorifying the
P –May God the Son be your the strength you need to Lord by your life!
constant inspiration in pursue them even in the All – Thanks be to God!

AT THE SCHOOL OF A CRUCIFIED TEACHER

by Jess P. Balon

“We often forget that the Lord he spoke of crosses to be taken up and
has many types of “blessings.” Some carried patiently after him as a sign of
are obvious, like when things go our faithfulness to him. (See Mt 16:26.)
pretty well in life for quite a time, and We will gradually discover that there
even for a long time – smooth sailing are values in life which are appreciated
on a glorious day . . . . Then we con- only when we are brought low by suffer-
gratulate ourselves and, of course, we ing, or while groaning under the weight
thank God too, always hoping that He of our cross(es). But especially, we will
may continue to bless us . . . . realize that those “mishaps” and fail-
At other times God’s blessings may ures have drawn us closer to our Teach-
come to us very much “in disguise.” er. We will discover that, now, we have
For a time (or even for too long a come to resemble him much more than
time!) we may find it difficult to “rec- when things were “going well.”
ognize” them. So, a day may come In those days, suffering will be seen
when we will feel our shoulders bur- for what it was meant to be: a bless-
dened with a weight that seems to ing that tests, purifies, and strength-
ens. And the crucifixes in our houses
crush us – the weight of suffering in will no longer be pious decorations, but
any or all of its forms: physical, moral, our coat of arms, the real source of our
spiritual . . . . And we may be brought strength, of our dignity, and our hope.
to ask if the Lord still cares for us . . . . Hope, indeed! Because it is only in the
When this happens, we should re- cross of Christ that our crosses take on
member that there are “blessings in meaning, acquire supernatural value,
disguise” . . . . That will be “the mo- and open our hearts to the expectation
ment of truth” – the moment when of our “resurrection day.”
the real disciple comes alive, in all We may apply this reflection to the
humility and trust. And a wonderful many benefits that the devastating CO-
sunshine will then break through the VID-19 has brought about. Because of
dark clouds of sorrow and discour- the suffering it has caused, we have be-
agement that had preceded it . . . come more compassionate, more gener-
Then, with God’s grace, we will ous, closer to one another in our homes
come to understand many things: . . . Suffering has made us humbler and
the sighs of those who suffered be- more prayerful . . .
fore us or like us, or even more than While praying that the epidemic may
us . . . ; the frailty of our strength and leave us soon, never to return again, we
virtues. . . . We will understand the also pray that the virtues it has made us
meaning of the words of Jesus when to rediscover remain with us forever.

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