TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Lectionary #147
We need to pray, but prayer is more than a matter of words. Like the Gospel, it should be on our lips, in our minds, and in our hearts. Like Moses, we may even need to embody prayer.
General Intercessions: A Reminder
Since this Sunday's readings underscore the importance of incessant and insistent prayer, today presents an opportunity to evaluate the way in which the general intercessions are prayed in our communities. The prayer of these intercessions is found not so much in the intentions that are announced by the deacon or reader but rather in the response that is made by the whole assembly. The litany form of the intercessions suggests strongly that this response should normally be sung, so that the assembly's prayer ("the prayer of the faithful") may have prominence.
Most of the major service books contain simple settings of the assembly's response. The response should not be varied too often, perhaps on a seasonal basis. The deacon or cantor may sing each intercession, or the deacon or reader may read each intention, while the cantor sings a brief invitation to the response.
In preparing the liturgy for this Sunday, ask whether the general intercessions in your parish form a strong litany and whether they express the community's incessant and incessant prayer to God.
Exodus 17:8-13. The ancient posture of prayer, assumed by Catholic priests for the Eucharistic Prayer, is standing before God with hands raised in petition. Moses assumes this position, but he needs help to maintain himself in prayer, just as we do.
Psalm of the Day: Ps (120) 121. A pilgrimage hymn, sung on the way up into the mountains toward Jerusalem. The psalmist knows that God does not dwell only in the high places or in the Temple, but God is the one who will come to help the faithful.
El Auxilio Me Viene del Señor (Contreraz) Cantos 77
El Auxilio Me Viene del Señor (Manzano) FYC 260
Our Help Comes from the Lord (Joncas) GC 119/RS 164
Our Help Is from the Lord (Alstott) BB
Our Help Is from the Lord (Cotter) PCY3 49
Our Help Is from the Lord (Guimont) GC2 992/LPMG 147
Our Help Is from the Lord (Janco) PMB 728/WS/PRM C99
Our Help Is from the Lord/El Auxilio Me Viene del Señor (Krisman) SS
Our Help Is from the Lord (Murray/Black) CBW 198
Our Help Is from the Lord (O=Brien) SS
Our Help Is from the Lord (Olawski) JS 100/GP 267/MI-BB/SP2 60
Our Help Is from the Lord (Schiavone) JS 1034/LP 179
Our Help Is from the Lord (Schiavone/Gelineau) WOR 951/LPGG 956
Our Help Shall Come from the Lord PSL C182/SS
Suggested Common Psalm
Ps (129) 130: With the Lord There Is Mercy
2 Timothy 3:4–4:2. Remain rooted in the Scripture. Proclaim the Gospel. If necessary, use words.
Luke 18:1-8. In this parable of contrast, Jesus tells about a judge who is finally worn down by persistent petition and, in the end, acts with justice. God, on the other hand, “will see to it that justice is done . . . speedily.”
Other Songs for the Liturgy
A Praying Spirit (1,G) LMGM 213
Ask and You Shall Receive (1,G) WC 821/PMB 432
Christian, Do You Hear the Lord? (1,G) WOR 594
*Do Not Be Afraid, v 3 (Ps) JS 731/GP 630
Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ (1,G) HG 23
Faith of Our Fathers (2) WOR 571/CBW 446/WC 805/MI‑BB/GC 600/GC2 579/JS 698/RS 726/GP 592/PMB 421/WS/SS
*God Feeds Us (C) PSL C183/SS
God Is My Great Desire (1,G) WOR 581
God's Holy Mountain (1,G) WC 871/PMB 467
Great God of Mercy (1,G) WOR 746/CBW 361
*Guard Me as the Apple of Your Eye (E) PSL C181/SS
Hold Me in Life (G) JS 702/GC 599/MI‑BB/GP 596
How Shall They Hear the Word of God (2) WOR 629
I Call on You, Lord (G) CBW 65
*I Call upon You, Lord (E) IH 67
*I Lift My Eyes to the Quiet Hills (Ps) CBW 484
*I Lift My Heart (Ps) WC 808/PMB 437
If You Believe and I Believe (1,G) GC 722/GC2 708/RS 825/JS 839/WS
Increase Our Faith (G) GC2 565
Lead Me, Guide Me (1,G) LMGM 168/GC 574/GC2 555/WC 777/RS 712/PMB 397/WS/MI-BB
Lord, You Give the Great Commission (2) WOR 470/WC 742/GC 456/GC2 466/CBW 691/JS 452/MI‑BB/RS 607/GP 401/PMB 382/WS/SS
O God, Our Help in Ages Past (1,G) WOR 579/CBW 644/WC 829/MI‑BB/GP 613/LMGM 230/GC 614/GC2 588/JS 705/RS 735/PMB 435/WS/SS
O Lord, Hear My Prayer (1,G) GC 586/GC2 566/LMGM 217/CBW 491/RS 718/WC 825/WS/SS
Ps 25: To You, O Lord (1,G)
*Ps 33: Let Your Mercy Be on Us (C)
Ps 91: Be with Me, Lord (1,G)
Ps 138: On the Day I Called for Help (1,G)
Remember Your Mercy, Lord (G) GC 885/GP 476
Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God (G) WOR 580/CBW 704/WC 822/MI‑BB/GC 615/GC2 600/JS 720/RS 728/GP 608/PMB 433/WS
Shelter Me, O God (E) MI‑BB/GC 636/GC2 634/JS 724/RS 765/CBW 372/GP 626
Song of Good News (2) CBW 561/WC 759/WS
Standin' in the Need of Prayer (1,G) LMGM 216/GC 579
Take Christ to the World (2) JS 836/MI-BB/GP 549
Take the Word of God with You (2) JS 838/MI-BB/GP 543
The Bearers of the Living Word (2) JS 679
The Church of Christ in Every Age (G) WOR 626/WC 930/JS 843/RS 803/GC2 665/SS
*The Lord Is Near -- Dameans, v 1 (1,Ps,G) GP 606/GC 609/GC2 599
There Is a Longing (1,G) JS 692/GP 620/MI‑BB
*We Lift Our Eyes unto the Hills (Ps) CBW 494
Word of God, Come Down on Earth (2) PMB 367/WC 704
World Peace Prayer (1,G) GC 732/GC2 718
You Are All We Have (1,G) RS 643/GC 505/GC2 508/SS
Your Word Went Forth (2) RS 655