Sign of the Cross

Greeting  

The Lord Jesus does everything well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.
May his grace and mercy be with you all.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Christ is the great healer,
not just of our physical ailments but of the whole person.
We need God to touch us today that we may be made whole.
(pause)

Lord Jesus, open our ears in order to be able to hear your word:
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, touch our tongues so that we may sing the Father's praise::
Christ, have mercy.

Lord, touch our eyes so that we may see the needs
of the lonely and abandoned:
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A
God of power and compassion,
in Christ you reveal your will to heal and save.
Open our ears to your redeeming word
and move our hearts by the strength of your love,
so that our every word and work
may reveal Christ as Healer and Savior,
he who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.

Option B
O good and gracious God,
you have chosen the world's poor and lowly
to become rich in faith and to be heirs to your kingdom.
Help us to speak words of encouragement
to all whose hearts are fearful,
that the tongues of the speechless may be loosened
and all of our wounded humanity may join us
in singing the mighty wonders of your love.
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.

Liturgy of the Word

Homily

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

P       The Lord is generous and kind.
Let us bring before him the needs of the Church and of the world.
He will hear our prayer.

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Our response is: Listen to your people, Lord.
           (Please repeat)

1. That the church may be a beacon of light and a sign of hope in the world to all who are suffering.
   We pray:
   
2. For those whose hearing is impaired, and for those who find it difficult to express themselves.
   we pray:
   
3. For all those who are excluded from
   progress and prosperity; (pause)
   for the poor, the refugees, the disabled; (pause)
   that they be welcomed and loved
   like the poor in the Gospel.
   we pray:
4. For those who are deaf and blind to other people's needs; (pause)
   that their eyes and ears may be opened to the treasures of love and sharing.
   We pray:
   

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

P    Lord Jesus, you made the deaf hear, and the dumb speak.
      Touch our hearts to receive your word,
      and touch our mouths to proclaim our faith
      to the praise and glory of God the Father. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Provident Father,
we bring before you these gifts of bread and wine -
signs of your kindness,
fruits of our toil.
May they remind us that at the banquet of your Son
there are always special places reserved
for the blind, the deaf
and all those who feel excluded from God's care.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

Thankful for all that God has done for us,
we cannot remain deaf or silent,
so we let our tongues pray to our Father in the word of Jesus:
Our Father ..

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us, Lord, from all our infirmities;
from being deaf to your word
and blind to the needs of our sisters and brothers.
Help us to bring your healing touch to those around us
as we wait for the coming in glory
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Isaiah has said:
"On this mountain the Lord will prepare for all peoples
a banquet of rich food,
a banquet of fine wines".
Grant that those who are poor in the eyes of the world
may be heirs of the kingdom
where you live for ever and ever. AMEN

Exchange of Peace
We have all experienced the healing touch of Christ's peace.
Let us share this with the persons beside us.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      Heavenly Father,
         your Son is the food that nourishes the whole world.
         May this bread,
         deepen our union with you and our neighbor,
         and be the sign of your continual blessing.

A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus who has done everything well.
He brings us healing and wholeness.
Blessed are we who now eat from his table.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion   [based on 2nd Reading]

Saving God,
in your Son Jesus
you have chosen the poor in this world
to be rich in faith
and to be heirs of the kingdom
promised to those who love him.
Grant us the grace to touch the lives of those around us
as we make this prayer through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

May the Lord who loves you look kindly upon you. AMEN.

May he grant you his peace all the days of your life. AMEN.

May the God of hope fill you with joy. AMEN.

And may the blessings of our loving God,
+ Father, Son and Spirit,
come down upon you and remain with you for ever. AMEN.

Dismissal     

The Lord has healed us.
Let us go and bring this healing to others.
Thanks be to God.