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Our Lord, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Please join us in this prayer service patterned after the rhythm of the Mass. It is another way to unite us to Christ and to each other at Saint Hubert.
Opening Our Heart to God
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord, I know you are with me, always. As I begin this time of spiritual communion, I acknowledge my sins and seek your pardon and peace.
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth, peace to people of good will!
Opening Prayer
Almighty and merciful God,
you break the power of evil
and make all things new in your Son,
Jesus Christ, the King of the universe.
May all in heaven and earth
proclaim your glory
and never cease to praise you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
The Word of God: The Words of Life
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112220.cfm
First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
The Lord told the leaders that he, himself, will be the shepherd who looks after his sheep.
Responsorial: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Paul proclaims that, in Christ, all things will be brought to life and completion.
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus reveals that we’re able to recognize Christ in the face of those he loves, which includes those in need of the basic things in life.
A Reflection by Fr. Mike
What’s so interesting about this very important message from Jesus, is that both those who went to the right and to the left were surprised they found themselves where they were. What separated them was how they naturally responded to someone in need—it revealed more than their gut instinct, but what’s within.
When the people on the right saw someone hungry or thirsty, without adequate clothes, a stranger among others, or sick or imprisoned, they responded by helping them. The ones on the left went about their own business.
There’s a great saying about someone who helps others—we call them “our right hand” or our “right arm”. Those are the kind of people who make life easier for others. They see a need, and they’re willing to help. It’s an outlook on life; a Christian response.
But it all stems from knowing that there’s someone out there who is the King. Someone we follow because we know he’s a leader who shows us what true happiness really is. In God’s Kingdom, good leaders aren’t interested in hoarding power for themselves. They’re like shepherds—they’re caretakers. They use their power to meet the needs of others. The focus is outward, not inward. In other words, they’re a lot like Jesus. And so they love who Christ loves within our everyday world.
But as we know all too well, the world is different than it was 9 months ago; things have been particularly difficult in a lot of ways. But hopefully it has awakened within us a desire to help those in need. And maybe what we’re finding is that we don’t have to go into the inner city of Chicago, or to work with Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, to tend to the needs of the poorest of the poor to live this gospel. Maybe the poor are simply living among us…even within our most immediate circles.
Mother Teresa put it this way: “The poor call to us. We have to be aware of them in order to love them. Do we know the poor in our own homes? ...Sometimes people can hunger for more than bread. It’s possible that our children, our husband, our wife, do not hunger for bread, do not need clothes, do not lack a house. But are we equally sure that none of them feels alone, isolated, neglected, needing some affection? That too is poverty.”
If this hits the heart, then it’s a good sign that we do have the eyes to see and the heart to respond. And when the need arises, we rise to the occasion and we help. It’s absolutely a hallmark of our parish. We’re a parish that looks out for those in need. It hasn’t deterred our parish from helping to feed struggling families through our Food Drives. In fact, the generosity grows stronger each month.
Where this will certainly be felt, perhaps in a very personal way and very soon, is on Thursday, the day when we long to celebrate the Thanksgiving traditions that have been part of our lives for as long as we can remember. For a lot of families, the dinner table will have a lot less plates this year—maybe just one.
But that doesn’t mean that we can’t embrace our families and our friends. Maybe this is the opportunity to organize a Zoom call with people we normally don’t get to see. We can be the catalyst to bring people together. On the flip side, maybe this is the exact moment to reach out to someone in the family who has been at home since this whole thing started and to spend some quality time talking—just one to one. They may need the warmth of a personal conversation.
Maybe this Thanksgiving the most powerful thing we can tell someone is how much we love them and appreciate them. To someone who feels isolated—which can feel like being imprisoned or like being a stranger in their own home—it can satisfy the hunger they have for knowing that they’re loved.
In these challenging times, when we have the desire to help, we find a way—even a creative way—to keep the human spirit fed and alive. I’ll close with something else Mother Teresa also said that’s worth mentioning. “The important thing is that we don’t have to do a lot or do everything. The important thing is to be ready for anything at all times; to be convinced that when serving those in need, we really serve God.” May this Thanksgiving give you the very thing you need through the generosity of someone who notices and cares.
Consider sharing some of your own perspectives or spend some time in personal reflection. How can meet the needs of someone in your own inner circle this Thanksgiving?
All I Believe
As an alternative to the Nicene Creed, the Church also encourages Catholics around the world to profess the most ancient creed of our faith, The Apostle’s Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son Our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting.
Amen.
The Prayers of the Faithful
Good and gracious God, in union with my brothers and sisters at St. Hubert, we bring our prayers to you.- For the Church, that we heed God’s call not to stray from Him, but to follow Jesus who leads us to help one another, we pray to the Lord.
- For leaders of nations, may they lead with justice and integrity, empowering their people toward a culture of life, we pray to the Lord.
- For those affected by the coronavirus, for scientists looking for a solution to end this pandemic, and for those on the frontlines of the battle, may their efforts be successful, we pray to the Lord.
- For our community, that we be true witnesses of God’s love as we support those in search of employment and insurance, and those suffering from isolation, anxiety, or depression, we pray to the Lord.
- For those awaiting test results, for the elderly, those in nursing homes, the sick and those who care for them, that they turn to our Lord for strength and hope. We pray especially for: Sandy Heavey, Angelina Pindel, Diana Pfeifer, Teresa McCutchan, Theresa Starke, Mary Stump, Ray Garber, Audrey Palmer, Jim Zito, Patti Reuter, Diana Behm, Shah Bennett-Sicilia, Fernando Wolff, for all those suffering with the Coronavirus, and for your intentions (please add those for whom you would like to pray), we pray to the Lord.
- For those who have died from COVID-19, for victims of war, violence and terrorism, and for Jim Garvey, Pam Van Wagenen, Ramiro Ochoa, for all those listed in our Book of the Deceased and for all those you would now like to remember, that they be greeted by our Loving God, we pray to the Lord.
- For those for whom we are offering Masses this weekend: Anita Cabato, Jeannie Fred-lund Catalina & Mariano Cruz, Victoria Grzeskowiak, Andre Mowinski, Josie Boldin, Lily Amacio, Felix Tomenbang and Gary Wagner, Sr. We also pray for the needs of those listed in our Book of Prayer Intentions, and the silent prayers we keep in our hearts, we pray to the Lord.
A Spiritual Offering
During the Mass, we bring up gifts of bread and wine and thank God for them, because he gave them to us. Those gifts are then returned to us. God gives himself to us through Jesus Christ. What do you offer to God today of yourself, that can be returned as a gift to others? Who would you like to remember or offer this time of prayer for?
Longing for Communion
As we contemplate our desire to have Jesus Christ in our life, we prepare our hearts—knowing the angels and the saints are in communion with the One we long to be with. Let us lift up our hearts to the Lord.
For you anointed your Only Begotten Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, with the oil of gladness
as eternal Priest and King of all creation.
By offering himself on the altar of the Cross
as a spotless sacrifice to bring us peace,
he might accomplish the mysteries of human redemption.
And, making all created things subject to his rule,
he might present to the immensity of your majesty
an eternal and universal kingdom.
A kingdom of truth and life.
A kingdom of holiness and peace.
A kingdom of justice, love and peace.
And so, with Angels and Archangels,
with Thrones and Dominions,
and will all the hosts and Powers of heaven,
we sing the hymn of our glory,
as without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Prayer that Unites Us
United with my brothers and sisters at St. Hubert and with Catholics around the world, with one voice we pray the prayer Jesus teaches us to pray together.
Our Father, who art in heaven…
A Time for Peace
Lord, Jesus Christ,
You said to your apostles, “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you”.
Please graciously grant peace to all of us,
to those in our family
and to everyone in our parish.
Allow us to be of one mind and heart.
Allow us to be an instrument of your peace.
(If praying with others, offer a sign of peace to one another.)
A Time for Spiritual Communion
As we long for the Eucharist, we long to be with Christ and share in his life. Let us spend some moments now in prayer uniting our life to the life of Jesus Christ. (You may even want to look upon a crucifix or hold it, or look upon an image or statue of Jesus Christ.)
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there,
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
It's in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to Eternal Life
Amen
Pastoral Note:
For those who may want to experience a more contemplative form of prayer, allow the Holy Spirit to pray within you. One way is to center ourselves by being conscious of our own breathing. Slowly breathe in. As you hold your breath for a second or two, picture Jesus Christ or even his name in your mind. Then slowly breathe out. You can repeat this type of spiritual exercise until you are ready to close in prayer. This can be done as easily with children as with adults. It can be very comforting, peaceful and a way to find communion with God by feeling His presence.
A Closing Prayer
Lord,
As we seek this spiritual communion
and desire Your presence,
we pray, that You will protect us in these uncertain times.
Please give us the hope we need day by day,
strengthen our desire to help one another,
and keep our St. Hubert Parish community close to You.
We long to gather together again
without fear and uncertainty;
one family of faith, united, and of one mind and heart,
worshipping You at your altar of praise.
In the meantime, please give us the strength
and connection we need
as we seek to be with you and one another.
We ask all our prayers, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Going Forth
Thank you, God, for this time we have shared.
I know you are with me.
Send me forward
to glorify You
by the way I live my life.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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