17th Sunday of Ordinary Time Please join us in this prayer, which unites 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 prepare my heart and soul for this time of prayer and spiritual communion, I acknowledge my sins and seek your forgiveness.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us into everlasting life.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to people of good will!
Opening Prayer God our Father and protector, without you nothing is holy, nothing has value. Guide us to everlasting life by helping us to use wisely the blessings you have given to the world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
First Reading: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 In a dream, the Lord appeared to Solomon and asked him what he could give him. Solomon asked for understanding in order to help others. It’s something God was eager to give.
Responsorial: Psalm 119 Lord, I love your commands.
Second Reading: Romans 8:28-30 Paul helps us see that all things work for the good for those who love God.
Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52; Jesus continues his teaching in what scholars call his “Day of Parables.” Today, we hear three more: the parable of the hidden treasure, the parable of the pearl of great price, and the parable of the net. It begs the question: what is the most valuable thing in our lives?
A Reflection by Fr. Mike I was waiting at the stop light on the corner of Higgins and Roselle and happened to see the message on the Jiffy Lube sign. It said, “Change your oil. Change your life.” I laughed to myself, and brushed it off at first, because how could changing your oil change your life? But then, I started to think about it and couldn’t stop thinking about it. We’ve been so involved in Jesus’ parables the past few weeks, I began to think that the simple message on the Jiffy Lube is kind of like a parable. After all, parables lay down something familiar to us with a deeper truth about something else—in Jesus’ case it was to reveal something about the kingdom of heaven. It’s not a political kingdom but a way to see the world.
Of course, the people at Jiffy Lube want to convince us to get our oil changed. They weren’t thinking about the kingdom of heaven. But we are. So, what if that message on that sign is like a parable about life and faith, like the parables about finding the hidden treasure, or searching for the best quality pearl we could ever find or separating the good fish from the bad fish.
Change your oil. Change your life.For a car, the oil is the driver of the engine. It keeps the motor moving and working. Good oil is needed to keep it performing well. Bad oil does the opposite. If we never changed the oil, it could damage the motor and stop the car from moving. If we want a dependable car, we need a dependable motor, which means we need good oil. So, the people at Jiffy Lube will tell us that changing the oil could actually change our life because it keeps our engines reliable and running and that makes our life easier and better.
So could this be like a parable about the kingdom of heaven, like the other parables we heard today?If the parables today do one thing, they help us see how valuable it is to have God in our life. God the most valuable thing we could ever possess. All of us are in a search for meaning and purpose; to find out what it is we’re meant to do or meant to be and how to live well; to experience the reality that our lives matter to God and hopefully to others as well as ourselves.
When we see God as a Person who we can have a relationship with, a Person who loves and cares for us, accompanying us in life, teaching us, guiding us and leading us (we sang about 12 times today “Lord, I love your commands” because they give us direction), it changes us forever.
Sometimes in life we stumble upon our relationship with God—like the farmer who stumbled upon the hidden treasure. One day we’re enlightened and everything makes sense.
Other times we may search for God our whole lives like the merchant who was searching for the finest pearl he could ever own—knowing it’s out there to find.
Sometimes we have to sort through our life, holding onto what’s good and life giving and discarding what isn’t. To do that, what’s valuable is having the kind of understanding Solomon asked God for in the first reading—the kind of wisdom to know good from evil in order to make good decisions and choices in life. Solomon was a new king so this gift didn’t just help himself but could help the nation he was leading. It’s about having an understanding heart.
But maybe that’s just where “Change your oil, change your life” fits into all this. Good oil keeps a motor in good shape. The motor is our life, the oil is what moves through our heart. When we value having God in our life—as the most important thing we’ll ever know and experience—we begin to value what God values: the love God has for humanity—for me and you and all of us gathered together in his name.
To love another is to want what’s best for them. And when that moves through the heart, we begin to understand that our choices matter, our attitudes matter, simple kindness and respect matter, helping people and being there for people matter, working for justice and for peace and reconciliation between people matter. When God is the One we treasure more than anything else, God leads us to treasure each other and to see our own life as a gift—despite our faults. Sins can be forgiven when we face into them. And so, we can always change the oil.
When indifference settles into the heart, or selfishness, or mean spiritedness or bitterness or hate begins to filter in (the things that aren’t of God), it’s time to change the oil—especially if what’s running through our heart is effecting our attitudes, our values, or our priorities. When we change those things for the better, when we change our oil, it can change our life.
What Jesus helps us see is that the kingdom of heaven is found whenever and wherever he is found. We don’t have to wait for it. It’s here. That’s why we value the Church and our parish so much. We have a place to belong, a place where we find God in the midst of our everyday lives in our everyday world.Regardless of how we come across it—whether we stumble upon the treasure one day, or search for it knowing we can possess it—once we know about the treasure (the relationship Jesus seeks with us, a relationship that’s never meant to end) we hold onto it because it can and does change our lives. We hold onto what’s good and nourishing.
The kingdom of heaven is a way to be. It’s where we find ourselves because it’s where we find God. It has the power to give our lives meaning and satisfaction and wholeness. It’s the most valuable thing we’ll ever have because it isn’t fleeting or temporary. It’s eternal.
Consider sharing some of your own perspectives or spend some time in personal reflection. When did you realize that a relationship with God is the most important relationship in your life?
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 see an increase in faith in our youth and an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, we pray to the Lord.
For an end to the war in Ukraine and senseless acts of violence and terror, and for the protection of human life in all its stages, we pray to the Lord.
For those who have fallen away from the Church, that they return home to live out their faith, we pray to the Lord.
For those battling addiction, that the Lord may provide the strength to overcome and become the best version of themselves, we pray to the Lord.
For the sick and injured, that they find meaning through their suffering and comfort in their day to day lives, including: Julie Dumler, Kenneth Villamar, Rosemarie Jatis, Jean Horisberger, Dan Owens, Ed Cahill, Stanly Tragus, Cheryl Gosiewski, and for your intentions, we pray to the Lord.
For those who have died that they receive eternal peace and joy, including Joan Jarzemsky, Kathy AmRhein, Emma Marie Nuñez, Mary Clancy, Maria Seweryn, for victims of war, acts of violence and injustice, and for all those you would like to remember, we pray to the Lord.
For the needs of those listed in our Book of Prayer Intentions, for your needs, for those who have no one to pray for them, and for those for whom we are praying for this weekend: Mary Pat McMahon, Joseph McCormack, Joseph Brinkerhoff, Adriene Kosin, Bonnie Hindenburg, Patrick Collins, Chris Miller, Paul Bald, Helen Borawski, Rick Markowski, Theresa Freisleben, Joe Gavilan, Cirilo Dayao, Rosie Cortez and for our SS. Matthew and Hubert Parishioners, we pray to the Lord.
May these prayers be answered according to your will, O God. We ask them all through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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.
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God through Christ our Lord.
For in you we live and move and have our being, and while in this body we not only experience the daily effects of your care, we even now possess the pledge of eternal life.
For having received the first fruits of the Spirit, through whom you have raised up Jesus from the dead, we hope for an everlasting share in the Paschal Mystery.
And so, with all the Angels we praise you,
as in joyful celebration 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 for Peace O Lord our God, in your mercy and kindness, no thought of ours is left unnoticed, no desire or concern ignored.
You have proven that blessings abound when we fall on our knees in prayer, and so we turn to you in our hour of need.
Surrounded by violence and cries for justice, we hear your voice telling us what is required . . .
“Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mi 6:8). Fill us with your mercy so that we, in turn, may be merciful to others.
Flood our path with your light as we walk humbly toward the future.
Be with us, O Lord, in our efforts, for only by the prompting of your grace can we make progress. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 God's presence.
A Closing Prayer Lord, As we seek this spiritual communion and desire Your presence, we pray that You will continue to protect us in uncertain times. Please give us the hope we need day by day, strengthen our desire to help one another, and keep the SS. Matthew and Hubert Parish community of faith close to You. We long to worship You at your altar of praise. 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 to glorify You by my life.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.