CTK – Celebration- Prayer Resources – W/C 21/07/2025

Hello everyone, and welcome back to CTKPray. The prayer theme for this week is Celebration.

Week 16 in the Season of Ordinary Time

Celebration is a time when we come together as a community to rejoice in the many good things in our lives. It is a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks to God for His countless blessings — the gift of life, the people around us, the opportunities we’ve been given, and the love that sustains us each day. As we reach the end of this school term, we are especially reminded of how much we have to be grateful for: the learning we have achieved, the friendships we have built, the challenges we have overcome, and the growth we have experienced both academically and spiritually.

In every celebration, we acknowledge God’s hand in our journey. He walks with us in our joys and in our struggles, and it is through His love that we find strength and purpose. When we celebrate, we not only give thanks, but we also recognise the presence of Christ in one another. Celebration becomes a way of sharing joy, hope, and love — values that lie at the heart of our Catholic faith.

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 Celebration.

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 Genesis 18:1-10

And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, “O Lord, if I have found favour in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

Gospel Reading Luke 10:38-42

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Hebrew Bible Psalm 150: 1-6

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
    praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
    praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
    praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
    praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

New Testament John 2: 1-12

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

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…

As we move through this final week, we are invited to take a moment to truly celebrate—not just the big achievements, but also the small blessings and daily victories that often go unnoticed. In the busyness of school life, it’s easy to focus on what still needs to be done, but let’s pause and give thanks for what already has been done.

This week, make it your mission to celebrate the good in your own life: a completed project, a helpful conversation, a moment of peace, or simply the gift of being part of a caring school community. Let joy be part of your daily rhythm.

But even more importantly, look around you and notice the achievements and efforts of others—your classmates, your teachers, your friends. Offer a word of praise, a note of encouragement, or a simple “well done.” Sometimes, a kind word can be exactly what someone needs to keep going.

Prayer:

Loving God,
As we reach the end of this term, we thank You for all we have learned, shared, and achieved.
For the challenges that have helped us to grow, and the joys that lifted our spirits—we are grateful.

Help us to celebrate not just our own progress, but also the efforts of those around us.
May we offer praise, speak kind words, and finish this term with hearts full of gratitude.

Keep us safe over the break, and bring us back refreshed and ready for the new term ahead.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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