God
our Father,
you want your heart to be
the measure of our love,
but you are always greater than our heart.
In this Eucharist let your Son give us
a heart of flesh in which burns
a fire of love that cannot be extinguished,
and that prompts us to follow him all the way
to you and to all you have entrusted to us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Liturgy
of the Word
First
Reading Introduction
Our
text is a profession of faith and a liturgical hymn. The
profession of faith is made because Gnosticism was creeping
in.
First
Reading: 2 Tm 2:8 15
Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant
of
David: such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to
the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of
God is not
chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake
of those
who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation
that
is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This
saying is
trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.
Remind people of these things and charge them before
God to
stop disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose
since
it harms those who listen. Be eager to present yourself
as
acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace,
imparting
the word of truth without deviation.
Your
ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior. R./ Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good
and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way. R./ Teach me your ways, O Lord.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction. R./ Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Gospel
Reading Introduction
As
there were so many rules of the Law to observe, it is
easy to understand the desire of scribes to ask which
was the key commandment. Twice a day pious Jews professed
the "Hear, Israel," with the love of God unique
and very important. Jesus attaches to it love of neighbor
too as a total commitment that he will practice on the
cross.
Gospel
Reading: Mk 12:28 34
One
of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, Which is
the
first of all the commandments? Jesus replied, The
first is
this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all
your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength. The
second is
this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There
is no other
commandment greater than these. The scribe said to
him, Well
said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and
there is no
other than he. And to love him with all your heart,
with all your
understanding, with all your strength, and to love your
neighbor
as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and
sacrifices.
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he
said to him, You are not far from the Kingdom of God.
And
no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Commentary
All.
Not part, but all. This is how we are to love our God,
this is how we are to serve the Lord. Following Jesus
is nothing less than a full-time commitment. We cannot
dabble in discipleship. Holiness is not a hobby! The Lord
gives everything that He has to give so that we might
have life and have it in abundance. Our response to His
incredible love must be nothing less than total.
Sin is holding out on God, giving Him less than His due.
May we stay away from sin so that we might never be far
from the kingdom of God.
General
Intercessions
- That
the Church for which Christ died may grow into a universal
community of love, which makes God's unconditional love
visible to all people, we pray:
- That Christians everywhere may not be people of legalisms
and outward observances but people with a heart, who do
what they have to do and more because they are God's children,
we pray:
- That our anemic and dried-up love may become rich and
spontaneous, like a fresh breath of life and joy, brightening
the lives of those around us and a Wordless song of praise
to God, we pray:
Prayer
over the Gifts
Loving
God,
in this Eucharist we celebrate
the memory of the sacrifice
of Jesus who showed us
the full extent of his love.
Let him make our love
as deep and as wide as his,
even if it will upset our settled ways.
May this be the sacrifice we offer you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer
after Communion
God
our Father,
to be open to you and to your calls,
to enter into the world of people
who are wounded by life
by other persons and by us too,
to hear their cries and to welcome all,
where will all this lead us?
By the strength of this Eucharist
help us to encounter our neighbors,
to share their bread, their joys and miseries
and to kindle new hope in their hearts.
May this be our response to your love
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Indeed,
to love one's neighbor as oneself often demands sacrifices,
and is therefore worth more than ritual sacrifices. May
God inspire such a commitment and bless you, the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Claretian Publications MACAU