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Monday February 29

Salvation for Pagans  
_{2 K 5:1-15; Lk 4:24-30}

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Wednesday March 1

1. “I Will Serve”
2. Away with All Masks
3. Here is Lent, Our Favorable Time

Greeting

The peace and reconciliation
of the merciful Father
be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant
Today we begin our forty days of Lent, forty days of preparation for Easter. Why these forty days of penance? To return to our roots — to God, to our better selves — and consequently also to our neighbor. In many ways we have tried to be our own gods, to decide for ourselves what is right or wrong, and we have ended up by making ourselves the center of the world at the expense of ourselves, of God, of our neighbor. Now is the right time to return to God and to turn to the people around us. We express our brokenness and our readiness to change when, after the gospel, we receive the ashes.

Note. The penitential rite is omitted, since the rite of the ashes is a rite of penance and conversion.

2. Away with All Masks

Introduction by the Celebrant
In many regions of the world people celebrate carnival in the days before Lent with much noise and merrymaking. Often they wear masks for the occasion. But today Lent begins, the time to put off our masks and to turn our face and heart to God and to people. In this holy season we reflect on the true meaning of our lives. Who am I and what am I living for? Am I living for God and the community? We shall be invited to receive ashes on our foreheads with the invitation, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.” Away, then, with all masks and return to God, to your true self and to one another as God’s people.

3. Here is Lent, Our Favorable Time

Introduction by the Celebrant
Lent begins today. It is a “favorable time,” a season of grace. We are called to go up with Christ to Jerusalem, the place where he will suffer and die before he will rise in glory. This means that we are called with him to suffer and die to ourselves, to sin and to give up the evil in and around us, so that we can rise, individually and as a community, to a deeper Christian life, become more available to God and to people, and capable of rendering service with love. The way is conversion, repentance, summed up in today’s gospel as almsgiving, that is, caring for people; as praying, that is, listening to God’s word and giving it a response of love and commitment; and as fasting, that is, giving up our selfishness. We express our willingness to be converted when, after the gospel, we receive the ashes.

Opening Prayer
Let us pray that this Lent
we may turn to God and to one another
(PAUSE)
God our Father,
you know how often we try to go
our own selfish ways.
Do not allow us to live and die
for ourselves alone
or to close our hearts to others.
Help us to see ourselves and life
as gifts from you.
Make us receptive to your word and your life
and make us grow in the mentality
of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Reading 1 Jl 2:12-18
Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?'"

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.

Responsorial Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 12-13, 14 and 17
R. (see 3a)Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Reading 2 2 Cor 5:20—6:2
Brothers and sisters:
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.

Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

Alleluia Ps 95:8
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.

Gospel Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."

Introduction by the Celebrant

Blessing of Ashes
These palm leaves have turned from green branches into gray ashes. This is the way it goes with us. We do not remain the same. We grow older, we make life gray and dusty for ourselves and for others. These ashes remind us of the brittleness of life, of our guilt and the penance we need. We will humbly receive these ashes as we are marked with the sign of the cross, for our hearts are willing to follow Jesus on the way of self-denial and love.

Prayer of Blessing
Bless these ashes, Lord,
as the sign of conversion and penance,
as the token that we want
to discover your Son today
in the silence of our prayer
and in our neighbor,
whom we encounter in his needs.
Let the sign of the cross,
given in the name of the Father,
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
encourage and heal us,
so that we may serve you and our neighbor
by the strength of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

The priest sprinkles the ashes in silence. Then follows the imposition of ashes:
Turn away from sin
and be faithful to the gospel.

General Intercessions
At the beginning of this season of conversion, we look forward to reconciliation with God and our neighbor. Let us bring before our Father our cares and the needs of all, and let us say: R/ Have mercy on your people, Lord.
– For the Church of Jesus Christ, that it may be freed from human shortcomings so that it can show to all the light and the power of the gospel, let us pray: R/ Have mercy on your people, Lord.
– For people far and near who are stuck in sin and discouragement, that they may find reconciliation with God, with themselves, and with the people around them, let us pray: R/ Have mercy on your people, Lord.
– For those hardened by riches or power and insensitive to the needs of others, that in these forty days of penance they may discover ways of true happiness through generosity to their neighbor, let us pray: R/ Have mercy on your people, Lord.
– For all those who bear a heavy load of suffering and cares, that they may go with courage the way of the Lord Jesus, let us pray: R/ Have mercy on your people, Lord.
– For one another, that each of us may be ready to go the way of peace and reconciliation, of service and commitment, let us pray: R/ Have mercy on your people, Lord.
Lord our God, every year you give us new opportunities to grow in love of you and our neighbor. Give us the strength to live these forty days in the spirit of Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
your Son Jesus gave up everything
to be free for you and for people.
We bring these gifts of bread and wine before you
as signs that we want to be free
to live for you and for those around us.
Accept these offerings, and make them
Bread of happiness and Wine of joy
for our world today.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray to our merciful Father
that we may forgive others
as he has forgiven our sins through Jesus. R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and grant us the peace of reconciliation
with you and with people far and near.
Help us to make up for the harm
we have done to others
and to live in hope and joy
for the future you have prepared for us
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus the Lord,
who went before us to show
the way of forgiveness and love.
Let us receive him with joy,
for he is our strength. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion
Our merciful God,
we are afraid of facing ourselves
and giving up our attachments
to our selfish ways.
We have heard Jesus’ words
and eaten his body.
May these help us rise from the ashes of sin
and renew our fervor and love,
that we may follow him
on the narrow road of life
to you and to others.
We ask this in this season of grace
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing
Only God can make us whole again
from our brokenness.
Only God can give us the insight
to discover how often we are alienated
from him, from others, even from our true selves.
Only God can give us the strength
to change our ways and to become all new.
May the living and loving God bless you:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in peace
and may Christ be your strength. R/ Thanks be to God.

Friday March 10

Introduction

Often we blame the community and “the system” for the evils of society and for the sins we commit. This shrugging off of responsibility is a timeless device of escape. Christ dealt with it and so did Ezekiel before him. Ezekiel tells us: you are personally responsible for your sins and you must repent; if so, God takes you back in his love. Jesus tells us: not the law but your personal attitude and intention counts. True worship does not consist in private, self-centered religious practice but in being committed to Christ’s task of reconciliation and service of people.

Opening Prayer
God of mercy and compassion,
you challenge us to be responsible
for the good and the evil we do
and you call us to conversion.
God, help us to face ourselves
that we may not use flimsy excuses
for covering up our wrongs.
Make us honest with ourselves,
and aware that we can always count on Jesus Christ
to be our guide and strength on the road to you,
now and for ever.

Reading 1 Ez 18:21-28
Thus says the Lord GOD:
If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed,
if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;
he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says the Lord GOD.
Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way
that he may live?

And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,
the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,
can he do this and still live?
None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,
because he has broken faith and committed sin;
because of this, he shall die.
You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!"
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,
does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Responsorial Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7A, 7BC-8
R. (3)If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Alleluia Ez 18:31
Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Gospel Mt 5:20-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you,
unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother,Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

Intentions
– For the Church, that it may be a merciful Church that takes its task of reconciliation seriously and keeps forgiving its erring members with patience, we pray:
– For all of us, that we dare to take the first step to forgive when others have hurt us, we pray:
– For our communities, that the eucharist may prompt us to forgive one another and to care for people who go astray, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Merciful Father,
your Son Jesus comes among us
to reconcile us with you.
May he stay with us
to carry out in the world
your mission of reconciling people
with you and with one another.
Give us the courage of the humility
to seek pardon and peace
from anyone we may have offended,
in the strength of Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord for ever.

Prayer after Communion
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
you ask us to be personally responsible
for our own deeds
and for our share in those of the community.
May this eucharistic celebration
be a source of insight and strength
to take up our tasks as followers of Jesus.
May our deeds match our words
and may we thus express
our thanks and love to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing
Resentment and grudge-bearing is not for us Christians, however much we may have been hurt. We are forgiven people, and therefore we should be forgiving people, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Saturday March 11

Introduction

The life of a pious Jew could be summed up as a response to God’s covenant of love with a covenant loyalty. This is also the life of a Christian, even more so: as God takes the initiative of offering his gratuitous love to his people and to each of us, so we try to give him a response of faithful love and offer to our neighbor a spontaneous, gratuitous love which comes from the depth of our being and commits us beyond the call of the law. Christian life is then communion with God, communion with people, even with enemies, for there should be no enemies for Christians.

Opening Prayer
Lord God, from you comes the initiative of love.
You seek us out and you tell us:
“I am your God; you are my people.”
You love us in Jesus Christ, your Son.
God, may our response of love
go far beyond the demands of any law.
May we seek you and commune with you
in the deepest of our being
and may we express our gratitude to you
by going to our neighbor
with a love that is spontaneous like yours.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 Dt 26:16-19
Moses spoke to the people, saying:
"This day the LORD, your God,
commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.
Be careful, then,
to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
Today you are making this agreement with the LORD:
he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways
and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,
and to hearken to his voice.
And today the LORD is making this agreement with you:
you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you;
and provided you keep all his commandments,
he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory
above all other nations he has made,
and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,
as he promised."

Responsorial Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
R. (1b)Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R .Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
I will give you thanks with an upright heart,
when I have learned your just ordinances.
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Alleluia Ez 18:31
Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gospel Mt 5:43-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Intentions
– That our Church and our Christian communities may be places of forgiveness, where we let God’s sun shine on good and bad alike, we pray:
– That all of us may let our conscience guide us to choose good above evil, also when it is uncomfortable, we pray:
– That love may remain or become again the key to our understanding of all laws and commandments, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, loving Father,
in this eucharist
your Son gives himself to you and to us
with a free response of total commitment.
May he share this kind of love with us,
that we may become inventive and creative
in committing ourselves to the happiness
of all those far and near,
that together we may be your people
and you our God for ever
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
you have made us your priestly people
to proclaim to the whole world
that you are a saving and loving God.
Grateful for your spontaneous love,
may we be aware of our task,
and be your word that encourages and forgives,
your hands that bless,
your feet that seek out what is lost,
in the strength of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing
Love your enemies and pray even for those who hurt you. Not an easy task, but something that should be the mark of Christians. We have hurt God and he forgives. We should do the same for one another, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Sunday March 12

1. The Mountain Experience

2. A Face Transformed

Greeting (See Second Reading)

When our Savior Christ Jesus appeared,
he abolished death
and proclaimed the Good News
of life and immortality.
May his grace and light be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant
1. The Mountain Experience
There are moments in everyone’s life when we see difficulties ahead of us, especially when facing important decisions. Jesus saw ahead of him a growing opposition from the religious leaders of the people: they would kill him if he proceeded with his mission. Yet he would carry out that task, and so he went up the mountain to pray that the Father would give him courage. In the vision of the transfiguration he saw how he would rise from the dead and succeed. We pray with our Risen Lord among us that we too may see his light, and by his strength make the right decisions.

2. A Face Transformed
Lent is for us the privileged season of change, of transformation, transfiguration. Our complacent and guilty faces have to be changed into faces of joy and love and service. The face of our world is to be changed from injustice into integrity, from hatred into kindness and friendship. We are afraid of change, especially at the cost of ourselves. Today Jesus shows us the way. He saw suffering and death waiting for him and so his face and heart were sad. But then the Father made Jesus’ face radiant for he would find life and resurrection and his face became radiant with joy and glory. If we follow Jesus and let him transform us our face will become radiant too.

Penitential Act
1. The Mountain Experience
We have at times lacked the courage
to carry out our task as Christians
and we now beg the Lord to forgive us.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, radiant with the Father’s glory,
let your light shine on us:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, Beloved Son of the Father,
confirm us too in the Father’s love:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, the Father’s favor rests on you;
it is wonderful for us to be with you:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us our weaknesses and sins.
Unite us more deeply with you
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

2. A Face Transformed
As sinners, let us ask the Lord
to let the face of his forgiveness shine on us.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, on our sad faces,
on our faces without love,
on our indifferent and hard faces,
let the light of your face shine:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus Christ, on our tired faces,
on our faces of fear,
on our discouraged faces,
Let the light of your face shine:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
let the light of your face shine on ours
and we will reflect your love
on suffering faces, on lonely faces,
on despairing faces:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us our emptiness and cowardice.
Change us by your grace
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer
Let us pray
that the light of Christ may shine on us
(PAUSE)
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
it is wonderful for us to be here
in the presence of your beloved Son.
Let his radiant face give us light and peace.
Do not allow sin to disfigure us further
nor divide our communities.
May the light of his transfigured face
shine on all of us and give us courage,
that we too may become lights to one another,
until we may enter your everlasting light.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

First Reading (Gen 12:1-4a): Leave Your Security!
God demands a radical change from Abraham. He is called, when still a pagan, to leave his security on a pilgrimage of faith and hope to a promised land that will be given not to him but to the new people to be born from him.

Reading 1 Gn 12:1-4A
The LORD said to Abram:
"Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk
and from your father's house to a land that I will show you.

"I will make of you a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you
and curse those who curse you.
All the communities of the earth
shall find blessing in you."

Abram went as the LORD directed him.

Responsorial Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22.
R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Second Reading (2 Tim 1:8b-10): God Calls Us to the Life of the.
God calls us to accept and spread the gospel of Jesus and to suffer for it. If we suffer with Jesus, we shall live with him.

Reading 2 2 Tm 1:8B-10
Beloved:
Bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel.

Alleluia Mt 17:5
From the shining cloud the Father's voice is heard:
This is my beloved Son, hear him.

Gospel Mt 17:1-9
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him."
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
"Rise, and do not be afraid."
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
"Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Intentions
Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ that his light may shine on all God’s people and on the whole world. Let us say: R/ Lord, let your light shine on us. – Lord, light up the Church with your radiant presence in its love and acceptance of all peoples and cultures, of the poor and the rich, of the strong and the weak, we pray you, Lord: R/ Lord, let your light shine on us.

– Lord, inspire with your radiant light the leaders of nations, economists and politicians, that they may bring justice and peace to their people, we pray: R/ Lord, let your light shine on us.

– Lord, let you radiant face shine on all sinners, on all those who suffer, on those who cannot love, to give them hope and courage, we pray: R/ Lord, let your light shine on us.

– Lord, let your face radiate joy on those who are dying and on all the dead who were dear to us. Welcome them into the happiness of your home, we pray: R/ Lord, let your light shine on us

– Lord, light up with your presence our faces here in this community, that we may keep growing in your life and love and reflect your light on all who meet us, we pray: R/ Lord, let your light shine on us.

Lord Jesus, it is good that you are here with us. Stay with us always, now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, our Father,
your apostles discovered that Jesus,
so much like them,
was your own beloved Son.
May we too see beyond this bread
and recognize your Son here in our midst.
As this bread and wine are changed
to become Jesus, our food and drink of life,
let us become to those around us
bread of strength and a drink of joy
and reveal to them a bit of the face of Christ,
our Lord for ever and ever. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
In our gratitude to the Father, let us ask him also that the grace of this eucharist may shine on us in the days to come and help us to accept the change of conversion.

Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
In the name of Jesus the Lord
we pray to our Father in heaven
to give to us and to everyone
the food and the courage they need. R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and grant us peace in our day.
Open our eyes to our shortcomings
and wake us up from our self-complacency,
that we may follow your Son without fear
on the way to you and to all in need.
May we thus hasten the coming in glory
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus,
the beloved Son of the Father in heaven,
who had to suffer and die
before he could rise in glory.
Happy are we to be invited
to listen to him
and to eat his bread of life and strength.
R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion
God our Father
you have brightened our lives
with a glimpse of the light of Christ,
but we cannot cling to this vision.
In our darkness and trials,
may he give us the courage
to listen to his voice
and to carry out your plans.
Keep us firm in the hope
that everything has meaning
and that no pain is suffered in vain
when we become like Jesus,
your Son and our Lord for ever. R/ Amen.

Blessing
The transfiguration of Jesus
is to us a model and a sign of hope.
The man Jesus was really the Lord Jesus.
His true and deepest self showed for a brief moment.
What we are meant to be in our deepest selves
will become apparent
if we let Jesus change us and become with him
people who live for others.
May God give you this courage and bless you:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in peace
and become new in Christ. R/ Thanks be to God.

Monday March 13

Introduction

Acknowledging sin, being sorry for it and seeking forgiveness is a reality that can only exist where there is genuine friendship and the awareness that this friendship has been hurt or even destroyed. Without friendship with God and with people, sin remains only a thing to be wiped off, sorrow is little more than a superficial regretting of something that should not have happened, and forgiveness is erasing the past. Sin, sorrow, pardon are to be seen in the light of the covenant relationship with a merciful God, who loved us first, and with our neighbor, with whom we are taken up in this union of life and love with God.

Opening Prayer
Just and holy God,
our loving Father,
you offered us your hand in friendship
and you sent us your Son Jesus
to go with us the road
of obedience and loyalty.
God, we often hurt this friendship,
we act as if we were not your sons and daughters.
See the look of shame on our faces.
Forgive us, for we count on you.
Accept our thanks
for continuing to take us as we are
and loving us notwithstanding our sins.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 Dn 9:4B-10
"Lord, great and awesome God,
you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you
and observe your commandments!
We have sinned, been wicked and done evil;
we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
We have not obeyed your servants the prophets,
who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes,
our fathers, and all the people of the land.
Justice, O Lord, is on your side;
we are shamefaced even to this day:
we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem,
and all Israel, near and far,
in all the countries to which you have scattered them
because of their treachery toward you.
O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers,
for having sinned against you.
But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!
Yet we rebelled against you
and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God,
to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets."

Responsorial Psalm 79:8, 9, 11 AND 13
R. (see 103:10a)Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name's sake.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Let the prisoners' sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Alleluia Jn 6:63C, 68C
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.

Gospel Lk 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

"Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you."

Intentions
– That each of us may have the courage to say, “Sorry, I am wrong, forgive me,” not only to God when we have sinned but also to people we have hurt, we pray:
– That we may never gloss over any evil but voice our disapproval without condemning the wrongdoer, we pray:
– That we may not pay back evil with evil but listen to the Spirit who wants us to pay back evil with good, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, in this eucharist
your Son Jesus comes among us
to bring us your pardon and peace.
Remind us of what he went through for us,
that we may be converted to you
and be your holy people,

Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
your forgiving love is without measure.
May our hearts become as large as yours,
that we too may learn to forgive one another,
and stop from judging and condemning.
May we too take people as they are
and continue offering our friendship
even when it is abused,
by the strength of him
who has given himself to us in this eucharist,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Words to remember and to practice, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the holy Spirit.

Tuesday March 14

Introduction

When we know our faith and practice our religious duties and observances – when we go to Mass and the sacraments and practice penance during Lent – are we good Christians? Only if our heart is in what we do. If we act as we believe and do what we say. If our faith affects our everyday living and our relations with our neighbor. If we build up the kingdom of God. Otherwise our faith is hypocritical.

Opening Prayer
Lord God,
you want us to live our faith
not so much as a set of rules and practices
but as a relationship from person to person
with you and with people.
God, keep our hearts turned to you,
that we may live what we believe
and that we may express our love for you
in terms of service to those around us,
as Jesus did, your Son,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit
for ever and ever.

Reading 1 Is 1:10, 16-20
Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

Responsorial Psalm 50:8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23
R. (23b)To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Alleluia Ez 18:31
Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Gospel Mt 23:1-12
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
"The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people's shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'
As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called 'Master';
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Intentions
– That we dare to see what is wrong in our Church and in society and voice our protest, we pray:
– That leaders in the Church and in politics may not let deeds of hunger for power or greed contradict their words and promises, we pray:
– That we may all care for widows and orphans and for those who have a hard time in life, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God,
we are gathered before you
with your Son in our midst.
May we learn from him
that to celebrate the eucharist
is no substitute for committing ourselves
to the work of justice and mercy
but its source of strength.
May we build up among us
your kingdom of peace.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, you send us
to be your community,
to be your sign to the world.
May we not draw attention
to ourselves or to our practices,
but go to you together as your people
and guide the world to you.
May service and love be our humble way,
and may Jesus lead us,
he who is your Son and our Lord for ever.

Blessing
May God give us a sense of honesty with ourselves and with God, that we may not pretend to be better than we are and do nothing just for the sake of being seen by people. God knows, and that is enough. May the holy, truthful God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Saturday March 11

Enemies are not to be hated, but to be understood. Once we strive to understand what makes them behave the way they do, we will become more compassionate to them. Then we can truly love them, pray for them, and care for them as God the Father does. Jesus demands it in the New Law.

Difficult? Maybe. Impossible? Not at all. Jesus lived it on a daily basis. Mohandas Gandhi showed it in his life, inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus. For Gandhi, no one was an enemy, but everyone was a brother or a sister who needed to be embraced with love. He once wrote: “The goal is not to bring your enemy to his knees but to his senses.” And when the enemy comes to his senses and we come to ours, both parties may recognize their shared humanity and brotherhood, and love may be born.

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The antithesis of the Sermon on the Mount specifies the Christian way by challenging the law of Moses with the message of Christ. The commandment of love also includes the enemy and the persecutor, even questioning the spontaneous act of self-defense. Christ proposes the radical path of forgiveness, non-violence, divine generosity, which overcome revenge and calculation. It is a high ideal to which every Christian must aim: it is an attempt to imitate God. It opens an infinite path before our eyes: the commitment to move relentlessly towards perfect love.

Sunday March 12

Read: Abraham placed his absolute trust in Yahweh. Paul exhorts us to be steadfast in the Lord so that one day we will share in Christ’s glory. Peter, John, and James are granted a glimpse of this glory of Christ, a glory that would be their heritage if they accept God’s Chosen one.
Reflect: Yahweh made His promises to Abraham and he believed Him. Peter, John, and James were granted a vision of the glory of Christ that touched them deeply and transformed them. God continues to reveal His promises and manifest His glory in many ways in our lives. How do we recognize such revelations and manifestations?
Pray: Let us pray for the inner sight to recognize God’s glory in ordinary people and events around us.
Listen: The words from the cloud: “This is my Son, my Chosen one, listen to him.” Listen to him today.
Act: Meditatively recite the fourth Luminous Mystery of the Rosary.

========================================================
In the Transfiguration of Matthew, we see Christ as the new Moses. In Mark, the divine secret behind the man Jesus is revealed. In Luke, this event shows Christ immersed in a deep experience of personal prayer. Through Moses and Elijah, Jesus reveals the 'exodus' towards heaven, which will be fulfilled by his death, resurrection and ascension. In the center of the earthly journey of Christ the veil is broken and anticipates his divine aspect, which Easter will show definitely. Let us contemplate in faith and prayer, the Son, the Chosen One.

Monday March 13

I have a friend who is a good human being and takes her faith very seriously. But there is a problem: she is constantly worried about the Last Judgment. One of her regular refrains is, “I just hope I go to heaven and do not end up in purgatory or hell.” And I sadly discern a genuine fear in her.
There is a simple means to avoid “ending up in purgatory or hell,” and today’s gospel offers it to us: Stop judging others, and there would not be a judgment for you either! How can God judge someone who refuses to judge others? And once we stop judging others, we can easily forgive their offenses and give of ourselves generously to them. God will then generously forgive our offenses and reward us with Himself.

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The Seat of Peter is the great symbol that dominates the apse of the Vatican Basilica. It is an artistic representation of the three images that Jesus evokes at Caesarea Philippi, by showing the mission of Peter and his successors. First, the foundation stone gives stability and safeguards the truth through time and history. Then the keys recall the mission of bringing Christians towards the gates of the kingdom of heaven. Finally, the power of binding and loosing, that is, the just judgment of what’s right and wrong and, above all, the great ministry of forgiveness.

Tuesday March 14

For good reason, these have been hard times for people in authority. Many events in the recent past have revealed the painful shortcomings and sinfulness of our leaders, political as well as spiritual. There has been a crisis of credibility within the Church. However, the solution is not to bitterly attack the Church or walk away. Our leaders may not always live up to their billing, but the Gospel they preach, the Truth they teach, and the sacraments they administer are foolproof and do not fail. Hence Jesus exhorts us to do and observe whatever they teach, even when their lives are not always worth imitating. It helps to keep in mind that all of us are wounded by sin and stand in need of forgiveness from God and one another. God alone is the only perfect Master, Father, and Leader in whom the word is the same as the deed. The Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic; and sinful. For we, sinful human beings, make up the Church. We do not redeem ourselves; we are redeemed by a Love greater than our sins. Such understanding may heal many wounds and mend many lives.

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Once again Jesus clearly speaks out against hypocrisy and external formalism, which are a true leprosy for religion. The scribes and Pharisees are wrapped in an aura of verbal compliance, solemn rituals and sumptuous ornamentations (wearing phylacteries on the forehead and arm, and ribbons on their prayer shawls). The disciple of Christ must shun the pompous titles, positions and distinguished degrees (including to be called teacher and father). He should choose to be humble so as not to be humiliated before the judgment of God.

Wednesday March 15

Introduction

A prophet is always an annoying person. His mission is to call attention to the signs of the times – to denounce what no one dares denounce, to prod into action when all stand still and like to take it easy. His task is unpleasant and he carries it out reluctantly. For he is a scared man. He pleads to be excused. For he always gets into trouble. He may even be killed. That was the lot of the prophets before him and then Jesus’ lot – but through his death he won glory and brought life. Those who follow him, however timid they may be as prophets, have to share in this suffering-toward-life. They must at least learn to serve; even dedicated service brings often suffering.

Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
your prophets remind us
in season and out of season
of our responsibilities toward you
and toward the world of people.
When they disturb and upset us,
let it be a holy disturbance
that makes us restless, eager to do your will
and to bring justice and love around us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 Jer18:18-20
The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said,
"Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah.
It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests,
nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets.
And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue;
let us carefully note his every word."
Heed me, O LORD,
and listen to what my adversaries say.
Must good be repaid with evil
that they should dig a pit to take my life?
Remember that I stood before you
to speak in their behalf,
to turn away your wrath from them.

Responsorial Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16
R. (17b)Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
You will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
I hear the whispers of the crowd, that frighten me from every side,
as they consult together against me, plotting to take my life.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
But my trust is in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
In your hands is my destiny; rescue me
from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

Alleluia Ez 18:31
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Gospel Mt 20:17-28
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day."

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, "What do you wish?"
She answered him,
"Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom."
Jesus said in reply,
"You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"
They said to him, "We can."
He replied,
"My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Intentions
– For the Church, that it may imitate the Lord Jesus and be a serving Church, we pray:
– For prophets who remind us that we have to live up to our faith, that we may listen to them, we pray:
– For all of us, that as followers of a suffering Lord, we may grow as Christians and as human beings by the way we carry our crosses, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God,
your Son comes among us and asks us:
“Can you drink my cup with me?”
Give us the strength
to accept any suffering with him
for the sake of your kingdom,
for we know it is the signature
on the life of the true disciple.
May it be a suffering that brings life
to us and to our brothers and sisters.
This is the offering we make to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son went his journey to the cross
knowing what awaited him,
but also knowing that his suffering and death
would mean life and joy for many.
Give us a bit of his courage, Lord,
that we may not be escapists in life,
but that we may speak out and act
when your kingdom is at stake
or when we are asked to serve.
Let your Son be with us,
now and for ever.

Blessing
“The Son of man came not to be served but to serve.” How do we follow our Lord as people who know how to serve? May almighty God give you insight and strength, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Wednesday March 15

There is a certain sadness to today’s gospel, for the disciples seem to be totally out of sync with Jesus and Jesus appears to be lonely though surrounded by the disciples. All along the way, Jesus is patiently explaining to them his impending humiliation, passion, and death.
These are themes that should make a disciple’s heart skip a beat and be worried for Jesus. Perhaps Jesus would have liked a word of consolation or concern, a gentle hand on his shoulders. Instead, the disciples are caught up in a fight over who will claim the best of positions when Jesus comes in glory. A failure of empathy. The disciples seem to have lost sensitivity to the person as well as his message.
Are there moments in our lives when we turn insensitive to the sufferings of Christ in the people around us (“Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?” [Acts 9:4]), but are caught up in our petty, ego-centric projects?

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The naive claim of the mother of the sons of Zebedee, her desire to see them become ministers of the Messianic kingdom of Jesus, collides with the words of Christ himself forming the code of true Christian authority. It is a power very different from what is exercised by politicians and the powerful. It is choosing the humble service of love and commitment. It is the great who humbles himself, becoming a servant; the first is to be a slave and helps his brothers. Jesus is always the model who announces his mission for the third time: to give his life as a ransom for many.

Thursday March 16

Introduction

Those who place their faith in themselves and in the means they possess are not open to God or God’s kingdom. They make themselves their own gods and adore what they have made. They adore the golden calf. They fail to see the needs of others, especially of the poor. Those who have more are not condemned because they have more, but because they don’s see the needs of those who have less. We must learn to see also the unspoken needs of the poor, especially of the humble, of those who dare not voice their poverty and distress.

Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
many of us never had it so good
and so we have become smug and self-satisfied,
happy in our own little world.
God, may our ears remain open to your word
and our hearts to you
and to our brothers and sisters.
Do not allow us to forget you,
or to place our trust in ourselves.
Make us restless for you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 Jer 17:5-10
Thus says the LORD:
Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,
who seeks his strength in flesh,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a barren bush in the desert
that enjoys no change of season,
But stands in a lava waste,
a salt and empty earth.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.
More tortuous than all else is the human heart,
beyond remedy; who can understand it?
I, the LORD, alone probe the mind
and test the heart,
To reward everyone according to his ways,
according to the merit of his deeds.

Responsorial Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
R. (40:5a)Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so, the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Alleluia Lk 8:15
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.

Gospel Lk 16:19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied, 'My child,
remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father's house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said,
'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Intentions
– For the poor and the destitute, for those who live at the margin of society, we pray:
– For those whose hearts are hardened and who no longer see the needs and the cravings of the poor, we pray:
– For poor countries of the third or the fourth world, that they may have due access to the riches of the world, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, you know what is in us
and where our treasure is.
Give us faith not in ourselves
or in what our hands have made,
but in what we can build up
together with you and with your Son,
so that what we are and do
may be both a gift from your goodness
and the fruit of our work,
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Open our ears, Lord God,
to the words that Jesus speaks to us,
that we may believe in your future
and build up a better world.
Open our eyes to the needs of those who suffer,
that we may care for you in them;
Open our hearts to you,
that we may love and praise you
for ever and ever.

Blessing
Eyes to see the needs of people, ears to hear their cries for justice, mercy, a fair share in the goods of the earth, material and spiritual, that is what we all need very much. May almighty God be good to you and give you these. May he bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Thursday March 16

I like the rich man in today’s gospel, for he seems to have many admirable qualities. He is a generous person: How many rich people would allow a sore-covered, foul-smelling poor man, licked by dogs, to lie at the gate of their palatial houses? Moreover, after his death, when he sees Lazarus enjoying bliss while he suffers in hellfire, he does not get angry or jealous, but politely requests some help. He even knows Lazarus by name! How many rich people would know their poor neighbors by name? Further, even when burning in hellfire, he is thinking of saving his five living brothers from ending up where he is now! A truly remarkable man. Why did he then end up in hell?

Perhaps there is only one answer: When it comes to entry into the Kingdom, being simply good is not good enough. It is not enough that we avoid doing any harm; we must actively reach out and share our lives with the less fortunate. It is not enough to be concerned about the wellbeing of one’s own immediate family; any person in need must become like a member of our family, meriting our concern. In short, it is not enough to be posthumously good; we must be like Christ here on earth.

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The image of the rich feasting and enjoying despite the poor dying at his door is not just a story from a concrete and common case but is also a portrait of humanity yesterday and today. If we imagine the world as a banquet that the Creator has prepared for all, we see that some have a huge amount of goods while a large number are waiting outside the crumbs that fall from the table. The judgment of God changes positions. The Church must fight so that history will recognize all the children of God with the same dignity.