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.
Liturgy
of the Word
First
Reading Introduction
Today's
first reading from the Book of Kings gives us a good example
of the radical demands made on people God will send for
a radical mission. Elisha is up to the call.
First
Reading: 1 Kgs 19:19 – 21
Elijah
set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he
was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following
the
twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak
over him.
Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please,
let me
kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow
you.”
Elijah answered, “Go back! Have I done anything to you?”
Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered
them;
he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their
flesh, and
gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed
Elijah as
his attendant.
Keep
me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot. R./ You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I
bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. R./ You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. R./ You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Gospel
Reading Introduction
Why
do people require that at special occasions a statement
be backed up by an oath? Is it that they doubt one another's
sincerity and truthfulness, particularly when it matters?
And if God 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.
Gospel
Reading: 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.”
Commentary
When
one makes an oath he holds his soul in his hands. Oaths
are made only for the most important reasons, such as
testifying in a court of law. When we swear oaths in our
ordinary speech we cheapen the tradition of sacred promises,
and we reduce to a mascot the Lord in whose name we swear.
May we pray for the composure to use words wisely and
prudently, for our speech reveals so clearly who we really
are. As the psalmist would say, "Set, O Lord, a guard
at the gate of my mouth."
General
Intercessions
- 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.
Claretian Publications MACAU