Saturday August 12, 2017
Introduction
The beautiful first reading of today is the Shema Israel, “Hear, O Israel,” named after the opening words. It is a text recited three times a day, or at least once in the morning, by every pious Jew, even up to this day. It tells how God is a liberating God, who has gratuitously done much for his people. What else should the people, the object of God’s love, do than respond with their love and express this by faithfulness, loyalty, and obedience to his commandments? Though affection is not yet much a part of it, at least we cannot say that the OT is an age of only law and fear.
If we look back to the Bible and to history, even recent history about persons, we have known or who are perhaps still alive, even discreet, humble people, but people of faith who take the word of Jesus seriously, we see that with them God can do very great things, can do the impossible. But we must really believe. Even a grain of faith can work miracles. Let us ask for this grain of faith.
Opening Prayer
Faithful God,
we thank you for our faith,
which we have received from you
as a gift to be developed with your help
Make our faith grow day after day.
Let it give meaning to our life
and express itself in love and justice.
Let it bring us joy and understanding
and make us very close to you and to people.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Reading: DT 6:4-13
Moses said to the people:
"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.
Drill them into your children.
Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.
Bind them at your wrist as a sign
and let them be as a pendant on your forehead.
Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.
"When the LORD, your God, brings you into the land which he swore
to your fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
that he would give you,
a land with fine, large cities that you did not build,
with houses full of goods of all sorts that you did not garner,
with cisterns that you did not dig,
with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant;
and when, therefore, you eat your fill,
take care not to forget the LORD,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
The LORD, your God, shall you fear;
him shall you serve, and by his name shall you swear."
Responsorial Psalm 18:2-3A, 3BC-4, 47 AND 51
R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim!
And I am safe from my enemies.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The LORD live! And blessed be my Rock!
Extolled be God my savior!
You who gave great victories to your king,
and showed kindness to your anointed,
to David and his posterity forever.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
Alleluia 2 TM 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: MT 17:14-20
A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said,
"Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely;
often he falls into fire, and often into water.
I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him."
Jesus said in reply,
"O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you?
Bring the boy here to me."
Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him,
and from that hour the boy was cured.
Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said,
"Why could we not drive it out?"
He said to them, "Because of your little faith.
Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
'Move from here to there,' and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you."
Intercessions
– That the Church may bring the light of faith where there is darkness and indifference, hope where there is fatalism and despair, love where there is hatred and strife, we pray:
– That leaders, prophets, witnesses of faith and all others, who have the task of keeping alive our hope in a better world, may be guided by the Holy Spirit, we pray:
– That those who are discouraged by trials, by their doubts and fears, may keep believing and hoping in a God who brings everything to a good end, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
we firmly believe that Jesus, your Son,
will change into himself
these simple gifts of bread and wine,
so that he might be with us
with all his strength and love.
Help us to believe with all that is in us
that he is also with us in everyday life
as the Lord of our lives and our friend,
who gives meaning to all we do.
Let him make our faith a way of life
that gives you all honor and praise,
now and for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God.
accept our thanks for giving us Jesus
to revive and strengthen our faith.
Reassure us that he stays with us
in the cares and the heat of the day,
and that, with him walking by our side,
everything becomes possible.
Keep this faith and hope alive in us
and help us to bear witness to it
through him, who is with us always,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
“If you had faith the size of a tiny seed.” It is perhaps good that at times our faith is tried and tested through difficulties and questions, so as not to become complacent. Let us place our trust in the love and concern of God, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
