Spiritual Communion for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Loving God, I have come to worship you.
Help me to remember that you are here with me.
May I pray to you in faith,
praise you with gratitude,
and read your word with eagerness;
in Jesus’ name. Amen
✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Saint Paul proclaims: “There is nothing I cannot master with the help of the One who gives me strength.”
When we have been half-hearted in our efforts, and have failed to rely upon the Lord for help in our daily living, let us confess our sins in penitence and faith:
I confess to almighty God that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
May almighty God have mercy on us, ✠ forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
THE KYRIES
Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison; Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison.
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.
THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY
May your grace, O Lord, we pray,
at all times go before us and follow after
and make us always determined to carry out good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READING - Isaiah 25:6-10
On this mountain,
the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples
a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines,
of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines.
On this mountain he will remove
the mourning veil covering all peoples,
and the shroud enwrapping all nations,
he will destroy Death for ever.
The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek;
he will take away his people’s shame
everywhere on earth, for the Lord has said so.
That day, it will be said: See, this is our God
in whom we hoped for salvation;
the Lord is the one in whom we hoped.
We exult and we rejoice that he has saved us;
for the hand of the Lord rests on this mountain.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 22(23)
I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff that give me courage.
I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come.
I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life
SECOND READING - Philippians 4:12-14,19-20
I know how to be poor and I know how to be rich too.
I have been through my initiation and now I am ready for anything anywhere:
full stomach or empty stomach, poverty or plenty.
There is nothing I cannot master with the help of the One
who gives me strength.
All the same, it was good of you to share with me in my hardships.
In return my God will fulfil all your needs, in Christ Jesus,
as lavishly as only God can. Glory to God, our Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION cf. Ephesians1:17,18
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our mind,
so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL - Matthew 22:1-14
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
✠ Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding.
He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them.
The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike;
and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” and the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’
HOMILY – “THE WEDDING INVITATION”
“He sent his servants to call those who had been invited,
but they would not come….”
It would appear that Jesus was “up” for any meal invitation.
How many times did He hear the backchat and the “tuts”
as He accepted invitations to eat with tax-collectors and the notorious?
…..He showed no favouritism,
…..He was there for all who invited Him;
…..He welcomed the initiative for hospitality to come from others,
apart from inviting Himself to tea with Zacchaeus – but that was different,
Zacchaeus would never have presumed to have asked Jesus
to come to his house. There would have been (and was) a lot of “tutting”
over Jesus associating with the likes of Zacchaeus!
At the time of Jesus, in Jewish culture,
it was customary to send two invitations,
one announcing the occasion ahead of time,
the other to remind people nearer the time
of the appointed hour for the start of the occasion.
It would have been insulting to the host
for people to have accepted the first invitation, only to cry-off the second.
In a none-too-subtle way, in this parable of refused second invitations,
Jesus is “having a go” at those who acknowledged God’s first invitation
through the prophets, but had refused to hear God’s more specific invitation
to come to the Messianic Feast of Jesus Christ
and to sit at Table with the Lord at His feast in the Kingdom.
We are invited today and every day to sit with Christ.
We are welcomed at this banquet, whether we are important or not
(in the eyes of the world),
whether we are rich or poor
(in the estimate of the world)
whether we are clever or not-so-clever
(in the appraisal of the world).
All that is expected of us is “to wear the right clothing”
St Paul in Colossians 3 (verses 12-14) tells us what that clothing is:
“ Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience,
forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another,
forgiving each other…... And above all these put on love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
When we have put on this “correct clothing”
we will fit-in with the other guests at the Kingdom Banquet.
If we are not “correctly dressed”,
if we have made no effort to fit-in with the uniform of The Kingdom,
we will stand-out like a sore thumb.
Who would want to be at The Banquet if it was full of people who were NOT
compassionate, kind, patient, forgiving, loving……
WE are the invitation that others receive from Christ,
inviting them to the King’s Wedding Feast.
Let’s make sure that we are not the reason they might give
as a refusal to attend.
NICENE CREED
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.
THE PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL (Bidding Prayers)
God our Father, in whose eyes all life is precious,
help us to value the worth of every individual,
whom you have created in your image.
We pray for victims of violence or hatred,
especially people who have suffered innocently.
May they find the healing of body, mind or spirit which they need.
We ask that the causes of division and hatred may be brought down.
Where there is prejudice because of colour, language, religion or culture,
help us to see things through Your eyes and the eyes of others,
and act towards them as we would like to be treated ourselves.
We also pray for people who have been the cause of hurt to others.
Enable them not only to admit their mistakes,
but also to use their time and energy for others’ benefit
and the welfare of society.
We pray for family relationships in our society.
Thank you for those who are our own families,
or who have been like family to us.
Bless them with the love in return which they themselves have shown.
We ask for your healing and reconciling love
in family disputes or misunderstandings.
We especially pray for children and young people
caught up in problems not of their making,
and for the anxiety and tensions this may cause.
Give them good friends and wise counsellors,
and support from their peer group and schools.
We place before you the disease present in our world,
and turn to you in our time of need.
Bring wisdom to doctors; understanding to scientists;
endow caregivers with compassion and generosity.
Bring healing to those who are ill; protect those most at risk.
Give comfort to those who have lost loved ones,
and welcome into your kingdom those who have died.
Stabilize our communities.
Unite us in our compassion.
Remove all fear from our hearts.
Fill us with confidence in your care.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Father, I trust in you. Amen.
Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.
Spirit, I trust in you; Amen.
Lord Jesus, you come to us in unexpected places,
In isolation, behind closed doors,
On roads as we go from place to place,
In chats with friends and telephone conversations with loved ones.
You come bringing us peace, where there is no peace
You come bringing us hope when everything seems hopeless
You come bringing us courage when we are afraid.
Come and be here and in every place
where my family, friends and my Church gather.
Open our eyes to see you, and our hearts to know you.
“In God alone my soul in stillness waits;
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold, so that I shall never be shaken.” Psalm 61 (62)
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is truly right and just that we should always give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
for you do not cease to spur us on to possess a more abundant life,
and have bound the human family to yourself through Jesus your Son,
our Redeemer, with a bond of love so tight that it can never be undone.
You grant us hope in Christ Jesus and a desire to be of service to all;
help us to entrust ourselves more fully to the Holy Spirit,
that, filled with wonder, we may by our lives extol the power of your love,
and, proclaim our joy at the salvation that comes from you.
So we join in the heavenly hymn of countless hosts,
and without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
✠ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
At the Saviour’s command
and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
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.
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.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
In union, Lord, with the faithful at every altar of your Church
where Mass is being offered this day,
(and remembering the community of Holy Trinity, Winchester);
I long to give you praise and thanksgiving for creation
and all the blessings of this life.
Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
I pray that you will come spiritually into my heart.
I unite myself to you,
and embrace you with all the strength of my soul
and the life you have given me.
Let nothing ever separate me from you.
May I live and die in your love. Amen.
ASKING GOD'S BLESSING
May God, who has begun a good work within us,
continue that work until the day when Christ Jesus returns.
May our love overflow more and more;
may we continue to grow in knowledge and understanding,
so that we can clearly discern what really matters,
and stand pure and blameless before God
on the day of Christ’s return.
and may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, ✠
and the Holy Spirit, come down upon us,
and remain with us for ever. Amen.
THE ANGELUS
The angel of the Lord brought tidings unto Mary. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word. Hail Mary. Holy Mary.
And the Word was made flesh. And dwelt amongst us. Hail Mary. Holy Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts,
that as we have known the Incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ
by the message of an angel, so by his Cross and Passion
we may be brought unto the glory of his Resurrection;
through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
BEING THE INVITATION
Go out and imitate God, living in love.
Put your hope in God’s Word
and let your own words be truthful and constructive.
May sin rouse your anger,
but never let anger cause you to sin.
Don’t allow any room for evil.
And may God always hear your voice.
Be the invitation that Christ gives to others,
that you may attract those whom Christ calls
to the Banquet of the Kingdom.
Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
