Sign of the Cross

Greeting  [1 Tim.2]

May grace, mercy and peace from God the Father
and from Christ Jesus our Lord
be with you all.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

In today's gospel, Jesus tells us to stay awake…
to be ready and waiting for his coming. [Pause]

To prepare ourselves to listen to his voice
and receive him in this Eucharist
let us ask pardon for our sins,
confident of his mercy and compassion.

Lord Jesus, you are the Bridegroom
who invites us to your wedding feast:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you urge us to be vigilant and to stay awake:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you will come at a time we least expect:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A
Brighten your Church, O God,
with the promise of your kingdom
and waken our hearts to its light.
Bid us hasten with faith undimmed
to greet the bridegroom's return
and to enter the wedding feast.
We ask this 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
Your Wisdom, O God,
comes in search of all who will listen to her voice.
Let us pay attention to the word that warns us
to increase the 'oil for our lamps,'
that they may not flicker and go out
while we await the Bridegroom's return.
May we be always ready to greet Christ when he comes
and enter with him into the wedding feast.
He is your Son, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.

Liturgy of the Word

Homily

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

P       We are not like those who have no hope,
         for we have a Savior who rose from the dead.
         We look forward to him in hope as we pray:

             With confidence we pray:

CM     We place our hope in you, O Lord. (Please repeat)

1. That we may value the kingdom of God as our greatest treasure,
   and think of heaven as our true home, for on this earth we do not have a lasting city.:
   We pray:
   
2. That we may always seek true wisdom for ourselves
   and be always ready to meet the Lord when he comes.
   We pray:
   
3. For all political leaders:
   that they may be watchful and responsible,
   so that they may provide a lamp of peace for a world darkened by war.
   We pray:
4. For those who have nothing to wait for… nothing to hope for.
   We pray:
5. That those who grieve for their departed ones may be strengthened by their trust in God who will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
   We pray:

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

P     Lord, you alone know the day and the hour.
       Do not let the cares of the day close our hearts to your coming.
       We ask this in the name of Christ the Lord. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Grant, O Lord,
that the gifts we present
may be pleasing in your eyes.
Make us watchful and keep us faithful
as we await the coming of your Son
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

Option A
We do not know the day or the hour of the coming of God's kingdom but, in the words of Jesus, we pray that it may come:
Our Father ...

Option B
Let us pray in the words of the One whose coming is certain
and whose day draws near:
Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us Lord, from all things that perish.
Help us to be dressed for action
and to have our lamps lit
as we await with joyful hope
for the arrival of our Master,
the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles:
"Watch and pray
for you do not know the day or the hour."
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church,
and grant us the peace of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever. AMEN.

Exchange of Peace
We must be ready to meet Christ when he comes.
Let us now greet him in our neighbor through the sign of peace.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      We break bread,
        so that by sharing this meal
        we meet Christ our Lord.
        In him peoples of all nations will sit down at table
        as sisters and brothers in the kingdom of God.
A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus.
Blessed are we to be invited to meet him at the wedding feast.

Prayer after Communion 

Faithful God,
you have kept your promise to us.
You have nourished us at the feast of light and joy.
Help us so that we will always have our lamps lit
and dressed for action,
ready to serve you and your people.
We ask all this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

May the Word of the Lord lead you to true wisdom. AMEN.

May the bread which you have shared make you grow in holiness. AMEN.

May you stay alert and be ready to meet the Lord when he comes. AMEN.

And may the blessing of our compassionate God,
+ Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
come down upon you
and remain with you forever. AMEN.

Dismissal     

Option A
The Mass is ended.
Go and share your light with others.
Thanks be to God.

Option B
Looking forward to that final Day when God will be all in all,
go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.