Sign of the Cross

Greeting 

Blessed are you, Lord,
who call to the banquet of your love
not the righteous, but us who are sinners.
May God's mercy be with you all.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A

Jesus calls us today to follow him.
So, let us leave our self-righteousness behind
and acknowledge before the Lord our need for forgiveness. (pause)

Lord Jesus, you have come to heal not the healthy, but the sick.
Lord, have mercy.

You have come into the world to call not the righteous, but sinners.
Christ, have mercy.

You desire not sacrifice, but mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

 

Option B

In today's Gospel we find Jesus eating and drinking with sinners.
We, too, are gathered around the Lord's table, not because we are better than others, but because we are sinners… sinners who need the Lord's forgiveness and healing. (pause)

Lord Jesus, you came to heal the broken-hearted.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, you came to call sinners to repentance.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord, you came to seek out and to save the lost.
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A

O God,
whose judgment shines like the light of day,
you invite sinners and outcasts to the banquet of salvation.

Heal our pride and self-righteousness
as you pour over us the gentle rain of your mercy.

We make this prayer 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.

Option B

You desire mercy not sacrifice,
O God of compassion,
and you welcome sinners
to a place at your table.

Let the power of your steadfast love
heal our hearts and transform our lives,
so that we may follow your Son
with complete dedication
and give of ourselves unselfishly
to the service of our brothers and sisters.

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

Credo

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

P        Opening our hearts to God who demands mercy, not ritual,
let our response be:

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Lord, teach us to be merciful. (Please repeat)

1 For the Church: (pause)
that it may show the compassionate face of Christ to sinners.
We pray:

2 For all those regarded as rejects and outcasts of society: (pause)
that the followers of Christ may show special care and concern for them.
We pray:

3 Like Abraham, our father in faith,
may we be filled with the gift of hope,
believing the promises of God who raised Jesus to life,
reconciling us to our God and to our world. We pray:

4 Like Mathew, may we follow Jesus,
alert to his call, eager to be his disciples,
and open to changes in how we live and what we consider to be important.
We pray:

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

P      God of our ancestors,
        direct the minds of those called
        to make crucial choices in their lives.
        Give them an understanding heart,
        sound judgment
        and a burning desire to do what pleases you.
        We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. AMEN

Prayer over the Gifts

God of mercy and compassion,
your Son Jesus did not condemn outcasts and sinners
but shared their table.
In his presence
they found the courage to change their lives.

Look upon these gifts which we bring before you;
may they may be pleasing to you
for you desire steadfast love and not sacrifice.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

With trust in God who nourishes us in the hour of need,
let us pray as Jesus taught us:
Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
especially from the tendency to exclude others
from what we consider to be ours by right and privilege.
Open our hearts to all peoples
so that they too can come to accept the Lordship
of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord, Jesus Christ,
you ate with outcasts and sinners
in order to let them know that they too were precious to God.
Help us, your followers,
to reach out to those who feel that they are rejected by society
so that we will all enjoy the peace and unity of your kingdom,
where you live for ever and ever.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

Exchange of Peace
In a spirit of humility,
and conscious of being equal in God's sight,
we offer each other a sign of Christ's peace.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      Our Father gives us the bread from heaven
        and the saving cup brimming with life.
        May this bread broken and cup poured
        link us together in charity and peace
        so that we may be living signs of the Lord's kingdom

A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

Option A

This is Jesus who ate with tax-collectors and sinners.
Blessed are we who are invited to sit down with him at this table.

Lord, I am not worthy…


Option B

Behold the gifts prepared by the Teacher who ate with sinners.
Draw near to the banquet of mercy,
partake of the feast of forgiveness.

Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion

God of love and mercy,
we have been refreshed at this altar-table.

Jesus, who was handed over to death for our trespasses,
and was raised for our justification,
has come to us like the spring rains that water the earth.

May we be willing to accept as friends
all those that the world judges to be outcasts and sinners.
All this we ask in the name of Jesus our Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

May God bless you from the rising of the sun to its setting. AMEN.

May you offer praise to God as your daily sacrifice. AMEN.

May you call upon God in time of distress and glorify his name. AMEN.

And may almighty God bless you,
+ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Dismissal      

Our celebration is ended.
Let us, like St. Matthew, follow the ways of the Lord.