CTK – Gratitude- Prayer Resources – W/C 14/07/2025
Hello everyone, and welcome back to CTKPray. The prayer theme for this week is Gratitude.
Season of Ordinary Time
Gratitude means being truly thankful for the good things in our lives. As people of faith—or those exploring faith—it’s important to recognise that many of the blessings we experience each day are gifts from God. Taking time to pause and reflect on these blessings helps us stay grounded, thankful, and more connected to God and to others.
The Bible encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This doesn’t mean ignoring life’s difficulties, but rather choosing to see the good, even in hard times. When we practise gratitude, we shift our focus from what we lack to what we have. We begin to notice the people who care for us, the opportunities we’re given, and the beauty in everyday moments.
Gratitude is more than just good manners—it’s a way of life. It can bring peace, joy, and a deeper sense of purpose. People who practise gratitude often feel more positive, more resilient, and more able to support others.
As a school community, showing gratitude helps us grow in kindness, compassion, and unity. Taking time each day to thank God and to reflect can help build a habit of thankfulness that strengthens both our faith and our wellbeing. Gratitude connects us—to our faith, to our community, and to a more hopeful way of seeing the world.
Below you will find the weekly readings from Sunday’s mass and scriptures taken from the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament on the theme of Gratitude.
If you would like to explore your own scriptures, the link below will take you to open bible which allows you to explore scripture on any theme.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/joy
First reading Deuteronomy 30:10-14
…when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.
Gospel Reading Luke 10:25-37
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Hebrew Bible Psalms 118: 19-24
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
New Testament 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-22
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Visio Divina, meaning “Divine Seeing,” is a form of prayer in the Catholic Church that involves contemplating religious images or art to encounter God. It is similar to Lectio Divina (sacred reading), but instead of focusing on scripture, the participant meditates on visual representations, such as icons, paintings, or stained glass. The process usually involves several steps: gazing at the image, meditating on its meaning, praying in response to what is seen, and contemplating how the image speaks to one’s life. This practice deepens spiritual insight and fosters a connection with the divine through sacred imagery.
Here are some song suggestions that you could use in your Celebration of the word…
Your mission this week is to…
to live out the theme of gratitude in a special and intentional way. Take time to say thank you to the people in your life who show you love, support, and encouragement—whether it’s a parent or carer, teacher, friend, or someone in your community. A simple word of thanks, a handwritten note, or even a small act of kindness can make a big difference. Let your gratitude be more than just a feeling—let it be something you show through your words and actions.
Each day, take a quiet moment to thank God in prayer for someone who has been a blessing to you. As St. Paul reminds us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Let’s make this a week where we truly live out our thankfulness.
Prayer:
Loving God,
Thank You for the many people in our lives who care for us, support us, and help us grow.
Help us to recognise their kindness and never take them for granted.
Fill our hearts with gratitude and guide us to express it through our words and actions.
May we always remember to say thank You—not only to those around us, but also to You, the source of every good gift.
Amen.
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