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PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
A prayer for those who may wish to, but are unable to receive Communion, for whatever reason.
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen
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READINGS & QUESTIONS FOR THE 30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 25, 2020Find this week's readings here.
“If your neighbor cries out to me, I will hear him; for I am compassionate.”
When we hear words like these, we wonder why some people think of “the God of the Old Testament” as an angry and vengeful God. Do you think that God listens to the “little people” more than to rich and famous people? Is the God of the New Testament a different God? Do you think of God primarily as compassionate or angry?
“You shall not molest or oppress an alien for you were once aliens yourselves…”
Do we have responsibilities to people who are “aliens” in our midst? Think of a time when you were an “alien” – a stranger, a visitor, etc. What were the circumstances? How did you feel? How were you treated? We are all immigrants to the United States, or descended from immigrants. Do you know the stories of your ancestors who came here? What might have happened to them, to your family, if there had been no path to legal citizenship?
“All your heart, all your soul and all your mind.”
How many times have you said “I’ll never say or do” something, and then had to eat your words later? Can you think of a project that you “put your whole self into?” What made you put forth that kind of effort? Do you agree that there is a difference between believing something with our hearts and believing something with our minds? Can they ever be both?Thanks to Fr. John Ludwig for some of this material in these reflections
Children’s Questions:
Here is a link to the readings for this Sunday from the Lectionary for Masses with Children.
The Lectionary for Masses with Children is an approved liturgical book of the Sunday readings, simplified for the understanding of children.
Listen to today’s Gospel reading.
In today’s gospel, the Pharisees (religious leaders) are trying to trick Jesus again. One of them asks him which of God’s laws is most important. The Jews at that time had over 600 laws to keep! They wanted Jesus to pick one so they could argue that he picked the wrong one. But he surprised them by stating a new law, one that includes all of the others. He said, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
What does it mean to love God with all our mind? All our hearts? All our souls? Who is our neighbor? How do we love our neighbors as ourselves?