CAFOD PRAYERS: Tuesday 13th November 2018
Opening Invitation
Lord, today brings:
Paths to discover;
Possibilities to choose;
People to encounter;
Peace to possess;
Promises to fulfill;
Perplexities to ponder;
Power to strengthen;
Pointers to guide;
Pardon to accept;
Praises to sing; and a
Presence to proclaim.
from “Borderlands” by David Adams
Scripture Titus 2:1-14
2 But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. 2 Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.
3 Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behaviour, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.
6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.
9 Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to answer back, 10 not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Saviour.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Note: Nicholas King writes that Christianity has always had to walk uneasily between fidelity to its entirely radical message and making itself attractive to a majority at ease with something more comfortable. How should Christians strike the balance between being accommodating to the society we live in and being faithful to the demands of the Gospel?
Verses 11 to 14 are given as a reading on Christmas Day. God became human so that we can become divine. We must respond to this Appearing by preparing for his final Appearing.
Gospel: Luke 17:7-10
7 ‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? 8 Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”?
9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”’
Comment:
Henry Wansborough says that we have no right to expect our work to be rewarded. Only our admission of helplessness and our trust in God’s power can transform us. Remember the Last Supper. Who was the servant who washed their feet?
(N.B. Not all parables are allegories. The severe master isn’t God.)
Intercessions
Especially in November, we remember all our CAFOD friends and colleagues who have died.
Concluding Prayer
A blessing on you who are poor;
Yours is the Kingdom of God.
A blessing on you who mourn;
You shall be comforted.
A blessing on you who hunger for justice;
You shall be satisfied.
A blessing on you who make peace;
You shall be called children of God.
A blessing on you who are persecuted
for the cause of right;
Yours is the Kingdom of Heaven.
O God, lead us, that we may stand firm in faith for justice;
Teach us love, teach us compassion;
above all, out of love and compassion,
teach us to act.
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