Twenty-Sixth
Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Celebrant: With sincere hearts,
we present our needs and the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ to our
heavenly Father.
Deacon/Lector:
That the prayer and worship of
the Church may inspire her members to live their faith more fully each day, we
pray to the Lord.
That the pope, bishops, priest
and religious may be encouraged by the Spirit as they teach all people around
the world the Good News, we pray to the Lord.
That Christians everywhere will
embrace their call to seek greater justice in our world, where the life, dignity
and rights of the born and unborn are respected and defended, we pray to the
Lord.
For attorneys, judges, and all
who work in our courts, that they may grow in wisdom and in their commitment to
justice tempered with mercy, we pray to the Lord…
That those who have died
believing in Christ may enjoy the glory of the heavenly kingdom, we pray to the
Lord.
Celebrant: God of mercy, you know
all our needs and you sustain us in your service. We thank you for your
faithfulness and love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bulletin Insert
Click here for the Spanish version of this bulletin insert
On Voting…
“In a democratic society citizens
choose whom they vest with authority for the common good. A choice for one
person over another for public office can significantly affect many lives,
especially the lives of the most vulnerable persons in society, such as children
in the womb and those who are terminally ill. Therefore, Catholic citizens have
a serious moral obligation to exercise their right to vote, whether on the
national, state or local level” (Bishops of Kansas, “Moral Principles for
Catholic Voters,” August 15, 2006).
Homily Suggestions on
Pro-life Themes
Nm 11:25-29
Jas 5:1-6
Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
The
Word of God calls us to have a “non-territorial” attitude. Today’s First Reading
and Gospel passage both illustrate that if the Lord has given us a mission, we
should rejoice when we find others doing the same mission, rather than having a
“turf war” with them. This applies to ministries throughout the Church, and in
reference to the pro-life mission, Pope John Paul II addressed this point in
“The Gospel of Life” when he declared, “No single person or group has a monopoly
on the defense and promotion of life. These are everyone's task and
responsibility. On the eve of the Third Millennium, the challenge facing us is
an arduous one: only the concerted efforts of all those who believe in the value
of life can prevent a setback of unforeseeable consequences for civilization”
(n. 91).
In
regard to that Pro-life mission, furthermore, the second part of today’s Gospel
passage represents one of the rationales by which we call people to great
sacrifice to protect and preserve life, whether of the unborn, the terminally
ill and disabled, or anyone else. To directly take the life of another innocent
person is to commit the kind of offense against God that the Lord commands us to
avoid at all costs. In the case of abortion, it may not be one’s hand or eye
that leads to sin, but rather one’s friends or other relationships. What young,
scared, pregnant mothers fear they will lose by choosing life is usually far
less than they imagine. But whatever the cost, when faced with making a
sacrifice or sacrificing another, the Lord clearly tells us the right road.
More Liturgical Resources
