Sign
of the Cross
Greeting
The
patience of the Father,
the love of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the strength of the Holy Spirit
be always with you.
Introduction
and Litany
of Praise
Option
A
The Lord is good and forgiving, slow to anger and rich in compassion.
Let us now ask the Lord to give us the strength that we need to renew
our lives. (pause)
You
sow the good seed of the kingdom
and patiently wait for it to bear fruit:
Lord, have mercy.
You do not 'pull up the weeds',
but give opportunities to people to repent and return to you:
Christ, have mercy.
You instruct the disciples to be patient with others
as you are patient with sinners:
Lord, have mercy.
Option
B
In today's Mass we learn that, through the parables of Jesus,
the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are revealed
to all those who are willing to listen. (pause)
Lord,
you are good and forgiving,
full of hope to all who call on you:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, you are merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in kindness:
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, you turn toward us
and have compassion on us:
Lord, have mercy.
Opening
Prayer
Option
A
O God, patient and forbearing,
you alone know fully the goodness of what you have made.
Strengthen our spirit when we are slow
and temper our zeal when we are rash,
that in your own good time
you may produce in us a rich harvest
from the seed you have sown and tended.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.
Option
B
[This Prayer is appropriate if the 3 parables (Matt.
13: 24-43) will be read]
With a love that is both powerful and patient, O God,
you sustain the growth of the good seed your Son has planted.
Let your word, like a mustard seed,
bear rich fruit within us,
and like a little yeast,
produce its effects throughout the whole church.
Thus may we dare to hope
that a new humanity will blossom and grow
to shine like the sun in your kingdom
when the Lord of the harvest returns
at the end of the age.
We ask this through out Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.
Liturgy
of the Word
N.B.
Since the three parables in today's Gospel are somewhat disconnected
the listener may find it difficult to focus. Suggestions:
1
Concentrate on the 3 Parables: v.24 - 35 only; (one shouldn't have
to explain a parable!)
2
Concentrate on one parable only: e.g. v.24-30; and perhaps its explanation
36-43?
Homily
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
P
We
do not know how to pray properly,
so
we ask the Spirit to intercede for us -
for the
good of the Church and of the world.
With
confidence we pray:
CM
Lord, keep us in
your love. (Please repeat)
- That
we Christians accept the truth that
the Church of Jesus Christ,
however holy, is also a community of sinners.
May we resist the temptation to sit in judgement
on one another. We pray:
- May
evil-doers, criminals, and those considered
"weeds" of society and church
realize that God continually gives them chances
to reform their lives. We pray:
- In
our parish community may we recognize,
affirm and rejoice in the goodness of one another.
We pray:
- For
ourselves:
that we will be patient with the slowness of our own growth,
and the apparent slowness of God's justice.
We pray:
[The
Presider may add a Petition that is local / relevant]
P God
our Father,
you are great and you perform
wonderful deeds.
Hear our prayers in the name
of the love
that you bear for your Son Jesus
Christ, our Lord. AMEN.
Prayer
over the Gifts
Merciful
God,
your Son Jesus invites to his table
the weak with the strong,
the proud with the humble,
the bad with the good.
Through our encounter with him
may we all become tolerant and forgiving with one another.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Invitation
to the Lord’s Prayer
Option
A
We do not know how to pray as we ought,
so the Holy Spirit helps us.
Let us now pray to our Father
in the words of Jesus:
Our Father ...
Option
B
Brothers and sisters:
with the Holy Spirit who cries in our hearts,
"Abba, Father",
let us pray with confidence:
Our Father ...
Deliver
us Lord
Deliver
us, Lord, from every evil,
especially from sin - the greatest of all evils.
Keep us free from judging and condemning.
Help us, rather, to accept and respect one another
as we prepare in patience and in hope
for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Prayer
for Peace
Lord
Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles:
"Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give you."
Look not on our sins of selfishness,
but on the faith of your Church,
and grant us through your Holy Spirit
the peace and unity of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever. AMEN
Exchange of Peace
We look forward in hope
to the reign of peace established by Jesus,
as we offer each other a sign of peace.
Optional
Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’
P
It takes many grains of wheat to make this
bread.
It is one though
many.
[To live as a community
we must be one though
many.]
And so in the breaking
and sharing
we recognize the
presence of the Lord Jesus
making us one.
A LAMB OF GOD.....
Invitation
to Communion
This
is Jesus the Lord,
who sows in our hearts
the good seed of God's word.
Blessed are we who receive him as the Bread of Life.
Lord,
I am not worthy…
Prayer
after Communion
God
of power and might,
you reveal your strength
by being lenient with the weak.
Fill us with the Spirit of Jesus,
that we may encourage rather than condemn,
and be constructive rather than criticize.
In this way may we become followers
of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Solemn
Blessing
God
the Father is abounding in kindness to all who call upon Him.
May he grant you forgiveness. AMEN.
Jesus
calls all people to his Father's kingdom.
May he give you the grace to trust in his promises. AMEN.
The
Holy Spirit comes to help us in our weakness.
May he strengthen you with the power of his presence. AMEN.
And
may our loving God bless you,
+ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN
Dismissal
As
disciples of Christ,
as good soil bearing fruit in abundance,
go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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