Greeting (see Second Reading)

You are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood,
a consecrated nation,
a people set apart to praise God.
May Jesus, our Lord and Savior,
be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

A. Jesus Is the Way

"Where are you going in life, or what are you living for?" is the most important question to ask ourselves, one another, the Church, our people. Many do not know what answer to give to this. Even, we, Christians at times feel lost. Yet we shouldn't, for we have Jesus who shows us the way, who is our way, to God, to ourselves, to people. Jesus is not only our way but he is our companion on the road. Let him show us his way here in this eucharist.

B. The Way to God, to People, to Ourselves

How sad when we have lost the way, looking for a person or address we can't find. Sadder even, we feel totally "lost" when we do not know where we stand in life, when all looks confusing and senseless. Today Someone speaks to us, who says not only "I will show you the way, but: "I AM THE WAY." Go with me, follow me, I will lead you to your goal in life. I will bring you safely to the Father and to people, even to your own true self. Live as I have lived, for I am the way and the truth and the life.

Penitential Act

When we knew the way to God and to people,
we chose to go our own selfish ways.
We now ask the Lord to forgive and to correct us.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, our way,
you were always on the way to people.
Take us along with you on that road:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, our way,
you went your painful way of the cross.
Give us the courage to follow you there.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, our way,
you are first of all our way to the Father:
Take us along with you on that road:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
forgive us and keep us from devious roads.
Go with us the way to everlasting life . R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to our living God
that in Jesus he may show us the road of life
(PAUSE)
Lord, our living God,
you are a God on the way with your people;
you led them through the desert to freedom,
you sent us Jesus to be our way to you.
Let Jesus walk with us the road to you,
to our deepest selves, to people.
Quench your people's thirst with the water of life,
keep giving us the food we need for the journey,
the bread of life of Jesus himself,
until we reach your eternal home.
We ask this through Christ our Lord . R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: A Ministry of Service
      When the Christian community grew, it solved difficulties of organization by creating new ministries of service to assist the apostles and elders.

First Reading: Acts 6:1-7

In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the so-called Hellenists complained against the so-called Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve summoned the whole body of disciples together and said, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God to serve at tables. So, friends, choose from among yourselves seven respected men full of Spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them to this task. As for us, we shall give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word."
The whole community agreed and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and Holy Spirit; Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenus and Nicolaus of Antioch who was a proselyte. They presented these men to the apostles who first prayed over them and then laid hands upon them.

The Word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly and even many priests accepted the faith.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33:1-2,4-5,18-19

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. 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.

Second Reading Introduction: A Priestly People
       Christ our high priest has made us a holy people of priests; our task is to continue the mission of Christ by making God known to people and giving praise to God in the name of all.

Second Reading: 1 Pt 2:4-9

Dear sisters and brothers, Jesus is the living stone rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to him. On drawing close to him, you also became living stones built into a spiritual temple, a holy community of priests offering spiritual sacrifices which please God through Jesus Christ. Scripture says: See, I lay in Zion a chosen and precious cornerstone; whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.

This means honor for you who believed, but for unbelievers also the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone and it is a stone to stumble over, a rock which lays people low. They stumble over it in rejecting the Word, but the plan of God is fulfilled in this.

You are a chosen race, a community of priest-kings, a consecrated nation, a people God has made his own to proclaim his wonders. For he called you from your darkness to his own wonderful light.

Gospel Introduction: Christ, Our Way, Truth and Life
      Those who believe in Christ can do what Christ did and go where he leads them, for Christ is the way, the truth and the life for us.

Gospel Reading: Jn 14:1-12

Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be troubled; trust in God and trust in me. In my Father's house there are many rooms. Otherwise I would not have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. After I have gone and prepared a place for you, I shall come again and take you to me, so that where I am, you also may be. Yet you know the way where I am going."

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. If you know me, you will know the Father also; indeed you know him and you have seen him."

Philip asked him, "Lord, show us the Father and that is enough." Jesus said to him, "What! I have been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever sees me sees the Father; how can you say: 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

"All that I say to you, I do not say of myself. The Father who dwells in me is doing his own work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; at least believe it on the evidence of these works that I do.

"Truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will do the same works that I do; and he will even do greater than these, for I am going to the Father."

Commentary

Fearfulness has no place in the life of a follower of Jesus. In Him we have our security, for He is the sure foundation upon which we can live our lives. We need not fear that we are going in the wrong direction, for He is the Way. We need not worry whether we have an adequate understanding of the meaning of life, for He is the Truth. We need not be troubled about what will happen to our souls after death, for He is the Life.
Confidence in the Lord Jesus gives us the ability to move forward in faith and to make progress on the way that leads to the Father.

General Intercessions

Through Jesus, our way to the Father, let us bring before God the needs of the Church and of the world, and let us pray: R/ Lord, show us the way.

- For the Church; (pause)
that all Catholics may be inspired by our new Pope Benedict XVI,
to live a truly eucharistic life, a life of intimate union with Christ and of loving humble service to one another. Let us pray: R/ Lord, show us the way.

- Jesus, teach us and all your people your way, that we may be sure where we are going and that we live your way, doing what is right and good, we pray : R/ Lord, show us the way.

- Jesus, make our road through life smooth, filled with justice, mercy and goodness, that it may be a way of peace for all, we pray: R/ Lord, show us the way.

- Jesus, make all your people find the way to one another's life and heart,
that we may no longer remain strangers, we pray: R/ Lord, show us the way.

- Jesus, make us also discover the road to ourselves, that we may know who we really are and what we want in life; let what we want be what you want for us, we pray: R/ Lord, show us the way.

- Jesus, make us build roads that are safe and that lead people to one another rather than away from one another, we pray: R/ Lord, show us the way.

- Jesus, inspire each of us and our communities to become with you a way of light and love that leads people to God, we pray: R/ Lord, show us the way.

Lord Jesus, we entrust ourselves to you. for we are sure that you will lead us safely home to the house of the Father, for you are our brother and friend now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, our God and Father,
your Son Jesus Christ showed us what it means
to be for us the way, the truth and the life
by giving himself for us on the cross
and here in the eucharist to us.
May we learn from him
to give to one another
our time, our compassion, our service
and above all to give ourselves,
as Jesus did, your Son and our Lord,
who lives with you and also with us
now, and we hope and pray, for ever . R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

Through Christ we go to the Father and with him we offer his sacrifice of praise. He has made us a chosen people to give thanks to the Father in the name of all the world.

Invitation to the Lord's Prayer

"No one can go to the Father
except through me," said Jesus.
Let us go, then, with our prayer to the Father
in the words of Jesus himself : R/ Our Father...

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus our Lord,
who said of himself:
I am the Way and the Truth and the Life;
no one can come to the Father except through me.
Happy are we to receive him
as our food on the road to the Father. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
you Son Jesus Christ said:
he who sees me, sees my Father.
May the people around us
see your Son and you, Father in heaven,
when we become to one another
the way to hope, justice and love,
the truth that uplifts and reassures,
the life that is given freely
even when the cost is high.
May Christ thus become to all
the way, the truth and the life for ever . R/ Amen.

Blessing

In this eucharist we have been
the holy, priestly people of God.
In union with the whole Church
and in the name of all people,
we have offered to our Father in heaven
the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ.
We will go back to our homes,
but the Mass is not really ended.
It has to continue to be offered,
in every day life.
For it is there that we become with Christ
the way to God and one another,
the credible, reliable truth,
and the life of the people around us.
May you do so wholeheartedly,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit . R/ Amen.

Let us go and take Christ to people. R/ Thanks be to God.