27th Sunday Ordinary

SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER 2009 Twenty-Seventh Sunday of the Year [CYCLE B] MAIN MESSAGE

[This is for reference only. Please do not read it at Mass] As this mass will probably be the last one this term, you might like to invite parents to attend the children's mass. This is in keeping with our aim of involving parents in Catechesis. Their influence on the child cannot be over-estimated! The liturgy is very appropriate for families and, in particular, for parents. This would be a good opportunity to encourage meaningful family prayer. In the Gospel today, Jesus says- 'What God has joined together, man must not divide.' Later He says' Let the children come to me.' It is an essential part of God's great plan that families live united- united to each other and to God. Such a family can withstand any attack of the Evil One. Such a family will bring God's kingdom into the world in a powerful way. This, then, is God's word to us today- 'Pray together if you want to stay together.'

(As people enter, give each one a blank 'house- shaped' slip or paper.)

INTRODUCTION: Celebrant: Dear friends, you may be wondering why you have received a ‘house-shaped’ paper. The house represents our homes, our families. God has a very special plan for families. He made us to be one, to be united. But this is not easy. Today we are going to listen to God’s word and discover how we can live as God wants us to. LITURGY OF THE WORD: Commentator: In the First Reading we will see how God started families. He knew that we could not live alone and that we needed each other. First Reading: Genesis 2:18-24. Commentator: The psalm we are going to read is about a happy family with a father, mother and children. Psalm: 128:1-2, 3, 4-5. Commentator: In this reading St. Paul gives some good advice about how we can live as a united family. Second Reading: Ephesians 6:1- 4, 10- 11, 18a (Reading has been changed) Commentator: Now we will hear what Jesus himself has to say about marriage. Gospel: Mark 10:6-9; 13-16.

Homily: • Dear friends, Jesus often taught using stories. Today I would like to tell you a story about three pigs and the houses they built. There is a very important message for us hidden in the story. See if you can figure it out! Once upon a time there were three pigs. They were brothers. When they grew up they left their parent’s home to live on their own. The eldest brother found some straw and he built himself a house of straw. It took him just a day to tie the straw into bundles and make a house. The second brother met a man selling sticks. He thought, “These sticks will make me a quick and easy house.” So he bought the sticks and built himself a house. It was ready in just two days. The youngest brother shook his head when he saw what his brothers had done. He said, “These houses are quick to make, but not at all strong. What if the big, bad wolf comes along? I’m going to build my house with bricks.” So he bought some bricks and began building. His house took him many weeks to build, but at last it was ready. He had just lived in his house for a few days, when the big, bad wolf came along. The wolf’s favourite food was a nice fat pig! He went to the eldest pig’s house and found the door locked. So he blew so hard that the straw walls went flying. He jumped inside and ate up the eldest pig. When he was hungry again, he went to the second brother’s house, which was built of sticks. Again he stood outside the house and huffed and puffed and blew the house down. He gobbled up that brother too! After a few days he came to the youngest brother’s house. He shouted, “Open the door and let me in!” The youngest pig said, “No way will I open the door! I know what you did to my elder brothers!” Then the wolf tried his old tricks. He huffed and he puffed and he huffed and puffed and huffed and puffed… but he could not budge the house of bricks. At last he went away and the little pig lived happily ever after. • Dear friends, let’s see if you have got this story’s message! All fathers and mothers build homes of different kinds. Some parents take a lot of trouble to build homes that are strong and safe. Some forget that there is an enemy. They don’t take too much trouble to build their homes. • A question for you: Is there an enemy who is trying to destroy us? And who is the enemy? [The enemy is the evil one, or the devil.] Just like the wolf in the story, he is out to destroy us and our families. He knows that families are most important to God, and so he is always trying to destroy them. How does he do this? He makes us angry with each other. He makes us hate each other. He tells us, “You don’t need God! You don’t need to pray. You don’t have to obey God!” • A very important question: How can we build strong homes, safe from the devil’s tricks? The second reading gives us the answers. It says, ‘Put on the armour that God gives you, so that you can stand up against the devil’s tricks.’ It also says, “Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads.” In the Gospel, Jesus says, “Let the children come to me!” • So now we know how we can be wise, and build strong families. Stay connected to God! Pray, pray, pray. Each one should be spending a little time in personal prayer. Daily family prayer is absolutely essential! • How can we conduct family prayer? Let me suggest a simple way, which will help us grow. 1. Sing a hymn of praise. 2. Thank and praise God. Each member can thank God for something. 3. Read God’s Word. Read a short passage. It could be one of the Mass readings of the day. 4. Break the Word. This means, share what God is saying to you through the reading. Say a short prayer as a response. 5. Pray for your needs. You could pray for each other, or for friends or others in need. You could say a decade of the rosary for all the intentions. Let prayer-time be something meaningful, not too boring and not too long and tiring, especially if your children are small. God wants us to bring our children to him.

OFFERTORY: Celebrant: • As I offer the bread and wine, which will become the body and blood of Jesus; it is good that each of us gives something of ourselves to God. We have come here not only to receive, but also to give. • On the little 'house' slips which you received as you entered, write down a small promise to God: something you feel He is asking you to do. Maybe it will be- 'I will make sure we pray regularly as a family.' Or I will read the Bible daily’ (As offertory continues, all write their promise. No hymn is sung, but music could be played]

APPROPRIATE HYMNS ENTRANCE: We are Happy Christians. COMMUNION: O How I Love Jesus RECESSIONAL: The Building Song [Sung to the tune of “The Wise Man Built’

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PREPARATION REQUIRED: Practice the readings. Make the poster in the shape of a house. On the reverse write the words of The Building Song. Flip the poster at the end of mass. Cut out small house-shaped papers and hand them to the parents and children as they enter. If you wish, you could mime the story, or make illustrations to show as the story is told. The story could be told by a teacher if the celebrant prefers.

FIRST READING: A reading from the book of Genesis:

The Lord God said, “It isn’t good for Adam to be alone! I need to make the right kind of partner for him.” The Lord then took some earth and made all the animals and birds. He brought them to Adam to see what names he would give to each of them. Adam named all the tame animals and all the birds and the wild animals. That’s how they got their names. Not one of the animals was the right kind of partner for Adam. So the Lord God made him fall into a deep sleep, and he took out one of Adam’s ribs. Then after closing Adam’s side, the Lord made a woman out of the rib. The Lord brought her to Adam, and Adam said, “Now here is someone like me! She is part of my body, my own flesh and bone! She came from me, a man. So I will name her ‘Woman’!” That’s why a man will leave his own father and mother. He marries a woman, PSALM: lives.

Response: May the Lord bless us all the days of our

The Lord will bless That is how the Lord will Your wife will be as you bless everyone who fruitful if you respect him respects him. as a grapevine, and obey his laws. and just as an olive tree I pray that the Lord Your fields will will bless you from Zion is rich with olives, produce, and let Jerusalem prosper your home will be rich and you will be happy as long as you live. with healthy children. and all will go well. SECOND READING: A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians:

Children, it is your duty as Christians to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do! God said, ''Respect your father and mother" and then he promised that if we did, we would be happy and live long. Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction. Finally, build up your strength by being united to the Lord and by means of his mighty power. Put on all the armour that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks. Alleluia, alleluia. If we love one another, God will live in us in perfect love. Alleluia. ALLELUIA: GOSPEL:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to St. Mark.

Jesus said, “From the beginning, God made people male and female. That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and two of them become one. So, since God has joined them together, people should not separate them.” Some people brought their children to Jesus so that he could bless them by placing his hands on them. But his disciples told the people to stop bothering him. When Jesus saw this, he became angry and said, “Let the children come to me! Don’t try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God. I promise you that you cannot get into God’s kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does.” NB. All Readings (except the second reading) are taken from the ‘Lectionary for Masses with Children’