Liturgy Guide
2nd Sunday of EASTER

 

Greeting

The peace of the risen Lord be with you all.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A
In today's Gospel the disciples are filled with joy when they see the risen Lord.
Three times they hear his greeting, "Peace be with you."
That greeting is extended to all of us now gathered in faith.

Let us ask the Lord for the gift of his Easter peace
and joy so that our fears may be banished forever. (pause)

In your presence, Lord, we know peace.
Lord, have mercy.

In your forgiveness, Lord, we know compassion.
Christ, have mercy.

In your Lordship, Lord, we profess our faith.
Lord, have mercy.


Option B
Like Thomas, the apostle, we all have doubts from time to time.
We should not hide them but bring them to Jesus.
He, the risen Lord, will say to us also:
"Cease doubting and believe."

Lord Jesus, you help us to believe
that your love for us is unchanging and unfailing.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you help us to believe
that your forgiveness is all-embracing.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you help us to believe
in your promise of eternal life.
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A
One in mind and heart, O God of glory,
your people gather to proclaim your steadfast love.
By the grace of your Spirit,
help us to recognize the Lord
who comes into our assembly and stands among us,
so that as a community of believers,
our daily lives may give testimony
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever
. AMEN.

Option B

O God of Easter glory,
increase in us this Easter faith,
that, by believing in Jesus, whom we have never seen,
we may confess him as our Lord and our God.
Let the peace that he bestowed on the first disciples
reign now over this assembly.
Let the Spirit that was breathed on them
fill our hearts anew.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ
the resurrection and the life,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever
. AMEN.


PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

P        As members of a believing and caring community,
          let us now bring our needs before God whose love has no end.

           Our response is:

CM       Let our response be: Our Lord and our God, hear our prayer. (Please repeat)

    1. For peace in the world, especially in the Philippines, IRAQ, the Middle East
      and those parts of the world where violence and war have become a part of daily life.
      We pray in faith.


    2. For Church leaders; (pause)
      that experiencing the Divine Mercy,
      they may always witness to it and proclaim it to God's people.
      We pray in faith:

    3. That our Parish may become a community which witnesses
      to the resurrection of the Lord by being of one mind and heart,
      and by sharing with those in need.
      We pray in faith:
    4. That the homeless and the hungry may find among today's Christians
      the same generosity that marked the first Christian communities.
      We pray in faith:
    5. That we believers maybe a source of blessing
      and hope to all the caring people around us.
      We pray in faith
      :

[The Presider may add a Petition that is local / relevant]

P      God of love and Divine Mercy, you give strength to the weary,
        and new courage to those who have lost heart.
        Hear the prayers of all who call on you in need,
        so that they may be refreshed,
        knowing that you are with them through it all.
        We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Option A
Father,
in this Eucharistic celebration
we profess our faith in the presence of Your Son in our midst.
Our eyes are unable to see,
our hands are unable to touch
and yet our hearts will recognize him
in the sharing of the bread and the wine.
For Jesus is our Lord and our God for ever and ever. AMEN.

Option B
Provident Father,
we bring you these gifts of bread and wine and money
because everything we have comes from you.
May we who worship here today
be of one heart and soul,
committed to build communities
where no one will be in need.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Acclamation - (after the "Consecration")

We cannot see the Lord with our eyes
nor can we touch him with our hands.
But we know that he is alive
and we proclaim with the Apostle Thomas:
All My Lord and my God.

Invitation to the Lord's Prayer

Option A
We cannot see with our eyes or touch with our hands
but we believe that Christ is here with us as we pray:

Option B
As a community of faith and love -
one in heart and soul,
we pray the prayer of Jesus:

Deliver us Lord

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and grant to us in our day
the peace which your risen Son brought to his disciples
in their hour of need.
In your mercy help us overcome our doubts
and be faith-filled disciples
as we prepare for the coming
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Option A
Lord Jesus Christ,
in the evening of Easter you said to your apostles:
'I leave you peace, my peace I give you.'
Look not on our doubts and disbelief
but on the faith of your Church,
which proclaims that you are truly risen.
Stay with us always
and lead your Church to perfect unity,
now and forever. AMEN

May the peace which Christ brought to his apostles
be with you always.

Exchange of Peace

Jesus' first words to his disciples after his Resurrection were,
'Peace be with you.'
Let us now offer the Master's greeting to one another.


Option B
Lord Jesus Christ,
on the first Easter evening
you appeared to your frightened and disheartened disciples
and said to them:
'Peace be with you.'
Then you showed them your wounded hands and side,
and they were filled with joy.
Grant that we who have heard the message of Easter,
may enjoy the peace and unity of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever. AMEN.

May the peace which Christ brought to his disciples
be with you always.

Exchange of Peace

We try to be a community which is of one heart and one soul.
Let us express this in our greeting of peace.

[Optional Prayer to accompany the Breaking of Bread]

A prayer to accompany the 'Breaking of Bread'
"Those who believed
devoted themselves
to the apostles' teaching,
and fellowship,
and prayer,
and to the breaking of bread". (Acts 2:42)


Invitation to Communion

Option A
This is Jesus.
It is he we love without seeing.
Blessed are we who can recognize in this bread
the Risen Christ broken and shared for the life of the world.

Option B
This is Jesus, Crucified and Risen,
whom we, with Thomas, acclaim as our Lord and our God.
Blessed are we who receive him at this altar-table.

Prayer after Communion [based on 2nd Reading]

Option A
God our Father,
we thank you for Jesus, your Risen Son.
He who loves us is alive.
Give us eyes of faith to see
that all we are and do
has a meaning and a purpose,
and that your Son is present with us
in our moments of darkness.
We pray that he may enlighten us and stay with us,
for he is our Lord and our God for ever and ever
. AMEN.

Option B

God of Peace,
we thank you for Jesus, the Christ,
whom you raised from the dead.
Send your Spirit upon us
so that, like the early Christians,
we will be able to build a community
pledged to caring for the weak and the poor.
Grant this through Christ, your Son, our Lord
. AMEN.

Blessing

Through the resurrection of his Son,
God has saved you and made you his children.
May he bless you with joy. AMEN.

The Redeemer has given you lasting freedom.
May you inherit his everlasting life. AMEN.

By faith you rose with him in baptism.
May your lives be holy,
so that you will be united with him forever. AMEN.

May almighty God bless you,
+ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Dismissal

Option A
Our celebration is ended.
Go forth with confidence and joy,
in the love and service of the Risen Lord.

Option B
Our celebration is ended.
Go forth and bear witness to Christ,
who is gloriously risen from the dead.

 


 


 
 




Related Resources
 
Daily Scripture Readings
from the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops
   www.usccb.org
Liturgy Alive
Models of Liturgical Celebration                         
  www.bible.claret.org/liturgy/
 
About the Author
Fr. Kevin McHugh
is a Columban Missionary from Ireland
who has served in the Philippines for many years.
He has devoted much of his time and efforts to make the liturgical participation
come alive in our Christian communities.

CLARETIAN PUBLICATION MACAU
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