Saturday June 17, 2017
Introduction
In a very dense text, Paul speaks of the ministry of reconciliation, of himself and of the Church. God has reconciled us and the world to himself; he does not accept the world in as far as it is sinful but rather draws the world to himself and makes it – and us – a new creation. All this he does through Christ, who brought us reconciliation.
The same ministry of reconciliation between people and God, from person to person too, has been entrusted to the Church, to all of us. Are we agents of reconciliation?
Why do people require that at special occasions a statement be backed up by an oath? Is it because they doubt one another’s sincerity and truthfulness, particularly when it matters? And if God is invoked in witness of the truth, is it always the truth that is sworn to? In the mind of Jesus, Christians should always be so reliable that there is no need for swearing oaths. We should mean what we say at all occasions.
Opening Prayer
Reliable God,
your Son was born for this
and for this, he came into this world,
to bear witness to the truth.
Count us among those who listen to him
and who want to be honest seekers of the truth.
Help us to say a firm no to all that is evil
and make our yes a firm yes
to all that is good and worthy,
by the power of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Reading 1 2 COR 5:14-21
Brothers and sisters:
The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.
And all this is from God,
who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
and given us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting their trespasses against them
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So we are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Responsorial Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R.The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Alleluia 119:36A, 29B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
and favor me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 5:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God's throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'
Anything more is from the Evil One."
Intentions
– For Christians, that they may be so reliable that there is no need for swearing oaths, we pray:
– For friends, that they may always be trustworthy and faithful, we pray:
– For all of us, that we may be faithful to the task God has given us in life, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, almighty Father,
you spoke your creative word
and things and people existed;
you saw that your work was good.
Speak here in our midst your mighty word
and your Son will be present among us
as your faithful, reliable word.
Let him fill our hollow words to the brim
with goodness, honesty and peace,
that we may trust one another
and offer you all honor and praise
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Loyal and trustworthy God,
your Son has spoken to us
words that never pass away.
He filled his words with himself
and so he could be with us here.
Help us too, to fill again
our worn-out words with ourselves.
Let your own Son speak
in the words we say and the words we hear.
Let him become flesh again in our words,
that we may become free again
in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
A few days ago, Paul told us that Jesus was always “Yes,” yes to the Father’s will, yes and affirming to people, reliable. May we too, be trustworthy and reliable, in our faith, our friendship, our given word, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
