You
have created us, Lord our God,
for friendship and for durable love,
and you have shown us in Jesus your Son
how to live for one another and for you.
May we learn from him
to remain faithful to one another,
each one according to one's calling in life.
Let our love for one another be
the language in which you speak to us
and the sign that you are near to us
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Liturgy
of the Word
First
Reading Introduction
James
gives practical advice. We have to wait in patience for
the coming of the Lord, and also be patient with one another.
Then, we should be reliable people who stand by their given
Word.
First
Reading: Jas 5:9 –12
Do
not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,
that
you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing
before
the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience,
brothers
and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the
Lord.
Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered. You
have
heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen
the purpose
of the Lord, because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear,
either
by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let
your “Yes”
mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No,” that you may not
incur
condemnation.
Bless
the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits. R./ The Lord is kind and merciful.
He
pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion. R./ The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever. R./ The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear
him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us. R./ The Lord is kind and merciful.
Gospel
Reading Introduction
To
Christ, marriage is planned by God to be indissoluble.
Infidelity in marriage and divorce are against the will
of God, whose faithfulness is the model of fidelity in
marriage. In this Eucharist we pray for fidelity for our
Christian couples and for all of us in our commitments
for fidelity to God and our neighbor.
Gospel
Reading: Mk 10:1–12
Jesus
came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan.
Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom,
he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and
asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?”
They
were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did
Moses
command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted a husband
to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus
told
them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote
you
this commandment. But from the beginning of creation,
God
made them male and female. For this reason a man shall
leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and the
two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two
but one
flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human
being
must separate.” In the house the disciples again questioned
Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces
his wife and marries another commits adultery against
her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she
commits adultery.”
Commentary
Roman
and Mosaic law allowed a man to divorce his wife for any
reason, or for no reason at all. A wife was seen in many
instances as a man's property, and was subject to being
cast aside when no longer wanted.
Jesus condemns this affront to the dignity of women. He
does so clearly and distinctly. The teachings of the Church
sustain Jesus teaching in this matter. While cases of
abuse might lead to legitimate separation of the spouses,
the civil act of divorce cannot rend asunder the covenant
entered into before God.
This fundamental teaching safeguards family life, the
building block of Church and civilization.
General
Intercessions
- For
the homes built on unselfish love, that through them we
may understand better all the depth of God's love, we pray:
- For homes that are broken and for partners who have failed
each other, that people may show them understanding and
that God may give them mercy, we pray:
- For those who have renounced marriage for the sake of
serving God in others, that they may never become loners
but that their hearts may be spacious and warm, we pray:
Prayer
over the Gifts
Our
God and faithful Father,
we have brought bread and wine before you
and are gathered around the table of your Son
to celebrate that we are, and want to be ever more,
a covenant community with you and with one another.
Accept our thanks and praise
and let us experience here
that you are on the way with us
whenever we are united with one another
in serving and loving faithfulness,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer
after Communion
Our
God and Father,
you have entrusted love to us
not as a finished product
but as an assignment for life.
Let the love of your Son
which we have experienced here in this Eucharist
invest our love with indestructible faithfulness,
that it may weather all storms
and keep growing in depth,
until you crown it with your joy
that lasts for ever and ever.
Blessing
We
admire reliable, faithful love. We find a model for it in
God's love, as exemplified in Jesus. May our love also be
strong and faithful, especially in marriage. May God bless
you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Claretian Publications MACAU