\u2018Indeed, how good is the Lord; bless his holy name.\u2019 (Invitatory antiphon).<\/p>\n
These days of Covid-19 with restrictions placed on the activities people are accustomed to attending on a weekly and\/or a daily basis, cause a sense of anxiety to some. To others, it all feels like one long break. To those committed to going to the gym, the hairdresser, holidays and weekends away, sports training and matches, drama and music lessons, Mass, devotions and the sacraments,\u00a0 there is a big gap and a loss in their lives. What is really disconcerting is the fact that no one knows when they will return again to what they think is the familiar.\u00a0 We wait in hope.<\/p>\n
In the first reading today we read Elijah is waiting for God on the mountain. God wasn\u2019t in the wind, or the earthquake or the fire. He was in the gentle breeze. Elijah waited. God came in God\u2019s own time and way. God is the \u2018God of Surprises.\u2019<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s readings from the first Book of Kings (1 Kings 19:9, 11-16) and the Gospel (Mt 5:27-32) are proclaimed at Mass via the webcam or read from the Old and New Testament.<\/p>\n
The first reading, 1 Kings 19:9, 11-16 tells of God\u2019s encounter with Elijah. The path that Elijah took is similar to the one taken by Moses (Exodus). Elijah arrived at Horeb, another name for Sinai. Yahweh passed by Elijah.<\/p>\n
There was a mighty wind but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the wind there came an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze.<\/p>\n
When Elijah heard the gentle breeze, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice addressed him: \u2018What are you doing here, Elijah?\u2019 He answered, \u2018I am filled with jealous zeal for Yahweh Sabaoth\u2019 and he gave him three reasons why.<\/p>\n
Yahweh spoke to Elijah and told him to go back to the wilderness of Damascus. He instructed him to do three things; to anoint Hazael king of Aram, Jehu king of Israel, and Elisha to succeed himself, Elijah as prophet.<\/p>\n
I wonder what it might feel like to have a \u2018jealous zeal\u2019 for Yahweh.<\/p>\n
In the Gospel, Jesus continues to point out the way of love, while challenging certain behaviours. God is love. God calls each one to right relationship with God, self, neighbour and environment. We cannot be \u2018silent witnesses to injustices.\u2019 As the people are confronted by Jesus, Pope Francis confronts every person in the whole world in Laudato Si\u2019 about \u2018what is happening to our common home.\u2019\u00a0 (LS, pp. 17-36). Pope Francis offers the people an integral ecology.<\/p>\n
SEEK GOD\u2019S LOVE IN THE GROW IN LOVE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME<\/p>\n
There is opportunity here for children to revisit the story of Moses in the Book of Exodus to recall; God\u2019s encounter with Moses; how God appeared to Moses in the burning bush; how Moses covered his face at the encounter; how God gave The Ten Commandments to Moses on Mt Sinai as a means of keeping the covenant God made with them; the covenant, that God would be their God and they would be God\u2019s people. Also children recall how God appeared to Abraham, Mary and St Joseph. They recognise how God is present to each person today.<\/p>\n
As prayer is a communication with God, children can explore the encounter Elijah had with God and where and how God revealed Godself to Elijah. Children can take a moment in prayer and seek God\u2019s presence in the silence of their heart. Perhaps they may hear God ask them a questions as he asked Elijah? \u2018What are you doing here?\u2019 They can explore other places, events and people where they might meet God. God is present in the Word of God and in the Eucharist. They might engage in the Examen prayer during the day, accessible on the website.<\/p>\n
Yahweh tells Elijah to go back and anoint Hazael, Jehu and Elisha. Children identify anointing as belonging to God\u2019s family firstly, in Baptism. The young people are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation. In the Old Testament they will recall how David was anointed at leader. Children will explore the ritual of anointing in the sacraments.<\/p>\n
The Gospel will prompt the children to recall promises they make in life, the Lenten promise and the promises they make to God and each other. Once again they recall Jesus teaching on love. God gave the commandments to Moses and the people so they could love God and one another. They might if in Sixth class read the lesson entitled \u2018Christian Marriage\u2019 and read \u2018Marriage in the Catholic Church\u2019 in their Grow in Love e-book.<\/p>\n
Resources on the VERITAS website are available to support the story of Moses, prayer, Eucharist, Sacrament of Confirmation, the Ten Commandments.<\/p>\n
Logon: www.veritas.ie<\/p>\n
Email: trial@growinlove.ie<\/p>\n
Password: growinlove<\/p>\n
INVITATION TO:<\/p>\n
READ from Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/p>\n
\u2018God Calls Moses\u2019 (Ex 3:1-16), \u2018The Covenant at Sinai\u2019 (Ex 19:3-8), \u2018The Ten Commandments\u2019 (Exodus 20:1-17), \u2018The Story of Ruth\u2019 (Ruth 1:1-17).<\/p>\n
SING from Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9:<\/p>\n
\u2018The Salvation Song\u2019, \u2018Take Off Your Shoes\u2019, \u2018The Great Commandment\u2019, \u2018All Things Bright and Beautiful\u2019, \u2018C\u00e9ad M\u00edle F\u00e1ilte Romhat\u2019, \u2018Wherever You Go\u2019.<\/p>\n
PRAY with Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/p>\n
SIGN OF THE CROSS<\/p>\n
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<\/p>\n
COMHARTHA NA CROISE<\/p>\n
In ainm an Athar, agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh. \u00c1im\u00e9an.<\/p>\n
ST PATRICK\u2019S BREASTPLATE<\/p>\n
Christ be with me,<\/p>\n
Christ be beside me,<\/p>\n
Christ be before me,<\/p>\n
Christ be behind me,<\/p>\n
Christ be at my right hand,<\/p>\n
Christ be at my left hand,<\/p>\n
Christ be with me, wherever I go,<\/p>\n
Christ be my friend forever and ever.<\/p>\n
Amen.<\/p>\n
L\u00daIREACH PH\u00c1DRAIG<\/p>\n
Cr\u00edost liom.<\/p>\n
Cr\u00edost romham.<\/p>\n
Cr\u00edost I mo dhiaidh.<\/p>\n
Cr\u00edost ionam.<\/p>\n
Cr\u00edost ar mo l\u00e1mh dheas.<\/p>\n
Cr\u00edost ar mo l\u00e1mh chl\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Cr\u00edost I mo chuideachta is cuma c\u00e1 dt\u00e9im.<\/p>\n
Cr\u00edost mar chara agam, anois go buan. \u00c1im\u00e9an.<\/p>\n
KYRIE ELEISON<\/p>\n
Celebrant: Kyrie, Eleison<\/p>\n
All: Kyrie, Eleison.<\/p>\n
Celebrant: Christe, Eleison<\/p>\n
All: Christe, Eleison.<\/p>\n
\u2018Through the loving mercy of our God, the Rising Sun has come to visit us.\u2019 (Benedictus antiphon).<\/p>\n
\u2018Remember your mercy, O Lord; according to the promise you made to our fathers.\u2019 (Magnificat antiphon).<\/p>\n
\u2018Hear my voice when I call, O lord have mercy on me, and answer. My heart says to you, I seek your face, O Lord.\u2019 (Psalm 26:8).<\/p>\n
\u2018We can be silent witnesses to terrible injustices if we think we can obtain significant benefits by making the rest of humanity, present and future, pay the extremely high costs of environmental deterioration. \u2018. (Laudato Si\u2019, no.36).<\/p>\n
‘O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.’<\/p>\n
Sr Anne Neylon<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Indeed, how good is the Lord; bless his holy name.\u2019 (Invitatory antiphon). These days of Covid-19 with restrictions placed on the activities people are accustomed to attending on a weekly and\/or a daily basis, cause a sense of anxiety to some. To others, it all feels like one long break. To those committed to going […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5242"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5242\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}