Liturgy Alive, Models of Celebrations

Introduction

Faithfulness is not easy except if we are intensely committed to a person we love. If we are loyal, we share in the joys and trials of the other person and we never lose our serenity or basic happiness. This is also true in our relationship with God, which we live most intensely if we are strongly dedicated to Christ. We follow him in his passion to rise with him in joy. For if we are with him, even death brings life and happiness.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you love us and you invite us
to share in your own life and joy,
through a personal decision.
Help us to choose you and life
and to remain ever loyal
to this basic option
by the power of Jesus Christ, your Son,
who was loyal to you and to us,
now and for ever.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Dt 30:15-20

See, I set before you on this day life and good, evil and death. I command you to love Yahweh, your God and follow his ways. Observe his commandments, his norms and his laws, and you will live and increase, and Yahweh will give you his blessing in the land you are going to possess. But if your heart turns away and does not listen, if you are drawn away and bow before other gods to serve them, I declare on this day that you shall perish. You shall not last in the land you are going to occupy on the other side of the Jordan.

Let the heavens and the earth listen, that they may be witnesses against you. I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life that you and your descendants may live, loving Yahweh, listening to his voice, and being one with him. In this is life for you and length of days in the land which Yahweh swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the Lord
and meditates on his law day and night.
R/ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R/ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the Lord watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R/ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Gospel Reading: Lk 9:22-25

Jesus said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life.”

Jesus also said to all the people, “If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it, and if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world while you destroy or damage yourself?”

Commentary

JESUS summons those who would follow him, to begin to deny themselves (so that we won't deny him), to pick up our cross and come after him to death and resurrection. We are to risk losing it all, including our lives (but not likely) so that we can be saved. We are not here to make profit in this world (but to share the resources among all justly) or to damage our bodies and souls that are the children and temples of God and we are not to be ashamed before the Son of Man, the Lamb of God, the Crucified One. Who do we belong to? Who do we stand with? God, the poor, those treated unjustly, those who suffer in a world of sin and violence, evil and greed? It is time to choose who we walk with-do we walk in glory, home to the Father and belong to the kingdom of peace, without harm to others. Jesus, may we walk with you, picking up our cross, helping others with theirs and honored to belong to you alone. Amen.

General Intercession

–          That God may give us every day the courage to follow him, also when the choice between good and evil is difficult, we pray:

–          For the People of God, the Church, that we may have the insight and the bravery to accept the reform needed to be true to Christ, we pray:

–          For the good people who help others in their difficulties, that their good deeds may bring them closer to the Lord, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
Jesus went the way of the cross
because he was loyal to you
whatever the cost.
May we be loyal with him
and accept crosses that come our way in life
without rebellion or discouragement.
May Christ give us this strength now,
that we may live with him for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
by the strength of this eucharist
we return to our work and to people.
Help us to live our faith consistently,
as Christ wants us to live it,
without compromise or bargaining.
May Christ give us this strength
of being loyal to his person
now and for ever.

Blessing

Those who accept the difficulties of life to serve God and people, “who lose their life for my sake,” as Jesus says, are taking up their cross and following Christ. May almighty God bless them and us, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.