Liturgy Alive, Models of Celebrations

Introduction

It is striking how the Bible insists, even in the Old Testament, that God is present where people love one another and do the works of mercy to one another. What we do to others is done to God. The Old Testament stressed love specially in regard to members of the chosen people, who were all to be considered as blood relatives, without excluding non-Jews. The New Testament extends this clearly not only to members of the people of God, but also to all people. The kingdom of God is present where people treat one another as brothers and sisters. Those belonging to the People of God have to bear witness to all that love exists and is alive, and therefore that God exists and is alive, by their love, particularly by their respect and concern for the weak and the fragile ones. It is by love of neighbor that we will be judged.

Opening Prayer

Lord, holy God, loving Father,
you give us the task to love one another
because you are holy
and you have loved us before we could love you.
Give us the ability to recognize your Son
in our brothers and sisters far and near.
Make us witnesses that love exists and is alive
and that you, the God of love,
exist and are alive now for ever.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Lev 19:1-2, 11-18

Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, "Speak to the entire assembly of the people of Israel and say to them: Be holy for I, Yahweh, your God, am holy.

If a man lies with his father's wife, he has dishonored his father, both of them shall be put to death. They themselves shall account for their blood. If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death for they have committed incest. They themselves shall account for their blood.

When a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both have committed a detestable act and they shall be put to death. They themselves shall account for their blood.

It is wicked for a man to marry both a woman and her mother. He and they must be burned in the fire so that there may be no wickedness among you.

A man who has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death and the animal killed. If a woman approaches an animal to mate with it, kill the woman and the animal. They shall be put to death. They themselves shall account for their blood.

If a man takes his sister, the daughter of his father or his mother and they have sexual relations, it is a shameful thing and they shall be cut off before the eyes of their people. He has dishonored his sister and carries his guilt.

A man who lies with a woman during her monthly period and has intercourse with her has exposed the source of her flow and she has uncovered it. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R (John 6:63b) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the Lord is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R/. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R/. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the Lord are true,
all of them just.
R/. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
R/. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Gospel Reading: Mt 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his Glory. All the nations will be brought before him, and as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“The King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to see me.’

“Then the good people will ask him: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food; thirsty and give you drink, or a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to see you?’ The King will answer, ‘Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to these little ones who are my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you did not give me anything to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

“They, too, will ask: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ The King will answer them: ‘Truly, I say to you: whatever you did not do for one of these little ones, you did not do for me.’

“And these will go into eternal punishment, but the just to eternal life.”

Commentary

IT is Lent and the readings of the Old Testament tell us where to start in our practice of obedience: Be holy like I, your God, am holy. Reach. Start with your neighbor. Don't lie, steal or deceive. No oppression, greed, injustice towards workers; no taking advantage of those in need, lacking what you have, no being a stumbling block by what we do for others. Honor the truth, treat all with the justice each deserves by right. No revenge, no nurturing grudges, no harm to others, no violence. Love your neighbor as you love yourself-why, because I, Yahweh am God and I say so. A good examination of conscience for these days for all of us publicly. And Jesus says-that was what you don't do. Now this is what you must do (rest evil, practice virtue of justice). It is right out of Isaiah-feed, clothe, give drink, heal, release the prisoner, shelter the homeless. It is not an option. This is what we will be judged on. Jesus, make us just. Make us aware of the injustice we are a part of that destroys so many others. Make us your sheep, your children. Make us holy. Amen.

General Intercessions

–   For the many hungry for food and human dignity, that those who have more may provide them with what they need, we pray:

–   For strangers and aliens, that we may accept them with all their differences, we pray:

–   For the sick and for prisoners, people who are rarely visited, that we may show them our compassion and concern, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God, loving Father,
you let your Son share himself with us
in these signs of bread and wine.
Like him, and with his strength,
may we share ourselves
with our brothers and sisters
and encounter your Son
especially in the lonely and the fragile
whom you place on our way.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Loving Father,
we have encountered your Son Jesus Christ
in this eucharistic celebration.
May he accompany us today,
on the crossroads of the human city
and help us to show
your authentic face of a God who cares
to those in search of life and love,
that people may recognize
that your kingdom has come among us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

“What you do to the least of my brothers, you have done to me,” the Lord said to us today. This is a beautiful task, but it is difficult. May God bless you for it, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.