June 27, 2003 - Friday, Sacred Heart of Jesus

Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE
MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Readings:
Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9; Is 12:2 - 3, 4, 5 - 6;Eph 3:8-12, 14-19; Jn 19:31-37

Entrance Antiphon

The thoughts of his heart last through every generation, that
he will rescue them from death and feed them in time of famine.
(Ps 32:11, 19)

Opening Prayer

Let us pray
[that we will respond to the love of Christ]
Pause for silent prayer
Father,
we rejoice in the gifts of love
we have received from the heart
of Jesus your Son.
Open our hearts to share his life
and continue to bless us with his love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Or:

Let us pray
[that the love of Christ's heart
may touch the world with healing peace]
Pause for silent prayer
Father,
we have wounded the heart of Jesus your Son,
but he brings us forgiveness and grace.
Help us to prove our grateful love
and make amends for our sins.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Alternative Opening Prayer

Let us pray
[that the love of Christ's heart
may touch the world with healing peace]
Pause for silent prayer
Father,
we honor the heart of your Son
broken by man's cruelty,
yet symbol of love's triumph,
pledge of all that man is called to be.
Teach us to see Christ in the lives we touch,
to offer him living worship
by love-filled service to our brothers and sisters.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word:

FIRST READING: Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9

My heart is overwhelmed.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Hosea

Thus says the LORD:
When Israel was a child I loved him,
out of Egypt I called my son.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
who took them in my arms;
I drew them with human cords,
with bands of love;
I fostered them like one
who raises an infant to his cheeks;
Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,
they did not know that I was their healer.

My heart is overwhelmed,
my pity is stirred.
I will not give vent to my blazing anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again;
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One present among you;
I will not let the flames consume you.
The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Is 12:2 - 3, 4, 5 - 6

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of
salvation.

God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of
salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of
salvation

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of
salvation.

SECOND READING: Eph 3:8-12, 14-19

To know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians

Brothers and sisters:

To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and
to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden
from ages past in God who created all things, so that the
manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through
the Church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.
This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished
in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech
and confidence of access through faith in him.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every
family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant
you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened
with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and
grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all
the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and
depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
The word of the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord;
And learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Mt 11:29ab

Or:

God first loved us
And sent his Son as expiation for our sins. 1 Jn 4:10b
Alleluia, alleluia

GOSPEL: Jn 19:31-37

As it was Preparation Day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross during the Sabbath, for this Sabbath was a very solemn day.
They asked Pilate to have the legs of the condemned men broken, so they might take away the bodies.

The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who had been crucified with Jesus. When they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead; so they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a lance and immediately there came out blood and water.

The one who has seen here gives his witness so that you may believe: his witness is true and He knows that he speaks the truth. All this happened to fulfill the words of Scripture, Not one of his bones shall be broken. Another text says: They shall look on him whom they have pierced.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentary

Like anything symbolic, baptism and the Eucharist risk being reduced to empty rituals. We believe somehow that they have a religious content, but fail to appreciate more fully their mystery. John takes pains to tell us that the waters of baptism and the blood of the Eucharist flow from the wounded side of the Crucified. He knows because he was there when the soldier pierced the dead body of Jesus; yes, dead. The soldiers did not even find it necessary to break his legs. It was his death, a loving sacrifice of self, that made the baptism and the Eucharist possible. Love moved Jesus to provide a way we can touch him even he is gone, for it is only in touching him that we are saved.

Prayer over the Gifts

Pray, brethren...
Lord,
look on the heart of Christ your Son
filled with love for us.
Because of his love
accept our eucharist and forgive our sins.
Grant this through Christ our Lord

Preface of the Sacred Heart

The boundless love of Christ

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lifted high on the cross,
Christ gave his life for us,
so much did he love us.
From his wounded side flowed blood and water,
the fountain of sacramental life in the Church.
To his open heart the Savior invites all men,
to draw water in joy from the springs of salvation.
Now, with all the saints and angels,
we praise you for ever:
Holy, holy, holy Lord…,

Communion Antiphon

The Lord says: If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me; whoever
believes in me, let him drink. Streams of living water shall
flow out from within him. (Jn 7:37- 38)

Or:

One of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a lance, and at
once there flowed out blood and water. (Jn 19:34)

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.
Pause for silent prayer, if this has not preceded.
Father,
may this sacrament fill us with love.
Draw us closer to Christ your Son
and help us to recognize him in others.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.