November
25 - Monday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Theme:
GENEROSITY OF THE POOR
Readings:
Rev 14:1-3, 4b-5; Lk 21:1-4
Opening Prayer
Lord our God, generous Father,
simple people put us often to shame
by their total generosity
and straightforward loyalty.
Make us realize, Lord,
that, like your Son, the real poor of heart
often make us understand who you are:
a God who gives himself.
Grant us too this kind
of generous love and loyalty
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Scripture Readings
First
Reading Introduction
Those who have not given in to the
attraction and even persecution by paganism and the power of the world
(Roman Empire) are the remnant of Christ marked with the sign of Christ
and of the Father. They have been loyal to him, as they have preferred
the poverty of Christ above power, prestige and personal safety. They
did not belie their integrity as Christians. Our reading presents them
to us as praising God in a heavenly liturgy.
First Reading: Rev 14:1-3, 4b-5
I was given another vision: The Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, surrounded by one hundred and forty-four thousand people who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. A sound reverberated in heaven like the sound of the roaring of waves or deafening thunder; it was like a chorus of singers, accompanied by their harps.
They sing a new song before the throne, in the presence of the four living creatures and the elders, a song which no one can learn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who have been taken from the earth. They are those who were not defiled with women but were chaste; these are given to follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They are the first taken from humankind who are already of God and the Lamb. No deceit has been found in them; they are faultless.
Responsorial
Psalm: Psalms 24:1-6
The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
They will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Gospel
Introduction
The widow goes beyond the law. In
her generosity she does not only give all she has, she has only what she
has given. People who are poor often know well how to give because they
know what it means to be poor and dependent; they know how to live in
the hands of God.
Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasure box; he also saw a poor widow dropping in two small coins. And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them. For all gave an offering from their plenty, but she, out of her poverty, gave all she had to live on."
General Intercessions
– Lord, we pray you for widows and orphans. Keep them from despair and make us attentive to their need of love and compassion, we pray:
– Lord, we pray you for all the poor who are insecure about the next day. May we bring them security and love, we pray:
– Lord, we pray for this community. Make us learn from the poor to be generous enough to share not only from our abundance but also, when needed, from our own poverty, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God, if you want someone
to suffer or die for sin
that we may live,you take your own Son and he agrees loyally.
God, who give yourself,
accept these gifts, poor as they are,
because in them we place our own generosity
in the hope that you will make it grow
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, generous Father,
in your Son Jesus Christ you come to us
not the way a rich person would visit
an underdeveloped humanity
but the way a poor one shares
with those who are also poor like him or her.
Accept our thanks for giving yourself
and revealing in Jesus
all the abundance of your love
with an infinite respect for our human poverty.
Accept our thanks through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Christ gave his own self to bring others reconciliation and happiness. Christians should learn from him to give themselves without counting the cost, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
It is not difficult to picture this scene. Maybe because nowadays we have too many poor people with us. It is not a matter of increasing their virtue. The poor as well as the rich have many defects. But we must recognize that they tend to be very generous with the little they have. Their capacity to share is very great. It is not a theory. There are many who can testify to this generosity, this attitude of hospitality. We can give many psychological explanations. But, could it not be that the poor, by being poor, are simply freer? Let us remember that when we follow Jesus our baggage better be light.
November 26 - Tuesday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Theme:
TAKE CARE NOT TO BE MISLED
Readings:
Rev 14:14-19; Lk 21:5-11
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
our faith is not a quiet possession
of the truth and of rites
that may give us security.
Make us realize that it is tested
and that you call us
to be credible witnesses
in our time and our situation
of the passion and resurrection of your Son.
Give us your Holy Spirit
to guide us and to keep our hope alive
that Jesus is our Lord
and you our God for ever.
Scripture Readings
First
Reading Introduction
Judgment is presented in the reading from
Revelation as the reaping of the harvest.
Then I had this vision. I saw a white cloud and the one sitting on it like a son of man, wearing a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. An angel came out of the sanctuary, calling loudly to the one sitting on the cloud, "Put in your sickle and reap, for harvest time has come and the harvest of the earth is ripe." He who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle at the earth and reaped the harvest.
Then another angel, who also had a sharp sickle, came out of the heavenly sanctuary. Still another angel, the one who has charge of the altar fire, emerged and shouted to the first who held the sharp sickle, "Swing your sharp sickle and reap the bunches of the vine of the earth for they are fully ripe." So the angel swung his sickle and gathered in the vintage, throwing all the grapes into the great winepress of the anger of God.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96:10-13
Say among the nations, "The LORD is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity."
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
Gospel
Introduction
Jesus speaks of times of trials, directly
of the fall of Jerusalem, which is a symbol of the end time. We may not
forget that for us here and now the time of judgment is now: we prepare
it now, we undergo, or better, create it now, by the way we live individually
and as a community. “Do not be misled,” says Christ. In other words, his
message is meant to shake us, to wake us up to live the gospel now.
While some people were talking about the Temple, remarking that it was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, Jesus said to them, "The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down." And they asked him, "Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?"
Jesus then said, "Take care not to be deceived, for many will come claiming my title and saying: 'I am he, the Messiah; the time is at hand.' Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and troubled times, don't be frightened; for all this must happen first, even though the end is not so soon."
And Jesus said, "Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen."
(Commentary)
General Intercessions
– For the Church of Jesus Christ, that its faith, trust and love may not waver in the difficulties and storms of our time, we pray:
– For those who doubt their faith or are afraid of the future, that God may give them courage and that we may refresh one another’s hope, we pray:
– For a world in the grip of war and violence, of dishonesty and abuse of power, that people of integrity and vision may draw inspiration from the gospel to lead the world back on the road of peace and love, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
as you will sanctify this bread and this wine
and change them into Jesus, your Son,
let the power of your Holy Spirit
change us into people
imbued with the mentality of Jesus Christ.
Make us more like him,
that we may live for one another
and have nothing to fear
when you call us to you,
our God for ever and ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
in this eucharist you have given to us
the word and the body of your Son.
Do not allow us to be misled
by anyone who speaks an easy message.
Let our only sure guide be
he who is our way and truth and life,
our hope and our resurrection,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
We are people of hope. We shouldn’t bother about the question when the end of the world will come but live as people who know that they have to be responsible Christians every day. If we do this, there is no reason for fear. May almighty God keep you safe and bless you, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Temple for the Jews was the sign of national identity. Their nation was formed around the Temple and its worship. That is why when Jesus announces the Temple's destruction, it is as if he was talking about the disappearance of the people of Israel. In a way, that is what happened. Through Jesus the promise of salvation given to the Jewish people is now open to all. Through his death the New Covenant is offered to all men and women. That's why the Church always keeps its doors open. The Good News is not solely for us. It is God's gift for all humanity.
November 27 - Wednesday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Theme:
OPPORTUNITY
FOR WITNESSING
Readings:
Rev 15:1-4; Lk 21:12-19
Opening Prayer
God our Father,
we believe that your plans for us
are for peace and courage, and not for fear.
Keep us open-eyed to the signs
of the constant coming of Jesus your Son.
Help us to commit ourselves untiringly
to the growth of your kingdom among us
by carrying out your plans for peace and love
and for all that makes our world more
your world and the way to your home.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Scripture Readings
First
Reading Introduction
Today the book of Revelation describes the
last judgment as the final exodus. Plagues had struck the Egyptians; seven
plagues strike those who have rejected Christ. Those who have followed
Christ the Paschal Lamb and have crossed their Red Sea by being faithful
in passing the lake and the fire of trials, enter the promised land. There
they sing the song of Moses, the song of their liberation, to God, the
Lord of history. Let this eucharist be a song of praise to God for our
liberation in Christ.
Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in the heavens: seven angels brought seven plagues which are the last, for with these the wrath of God will end. There was a sea of crystal mingled with fire, and the conquerors of the beast, of its name and the mark of its name stood by it.
They had been given the celestial harps and they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
Great and marvelous are your works,
O Lord,
God and Master of the universe.
Justice and truth guide your steps,
O King of the nations.
Lord, who will not give honor and glory to your Name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come and bow before you,
for they have now seen your judgments.
Responsorial
Psalm: Psalms 98:1-3, 7-9
O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Gospel
Introduction
Our baptism has made us witnesses of Christ.
But it is not always an easy path, especially in times of great change,
and even more so for missionaries. Difficulties will come from those closest
to us. But we may rest assured that Christ is with us and that through
his Spirit he will make us eloquent and give us the wisdom what to say
and do. Do not be afraid! This may be easier said than done.
Jesus said to his disciples, "People will lay their hands on you and persecute you; you will be delivered to the Jewish courts and put in prison, and for my sake you will be brought before kings and governors. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
So keep this in mind: do not worry in advance about what to answer, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
(Commentary)
You will be betrayed even by parents, and brothers, by relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. But even though you are hated by all for my name's sake, not a hair of your head will perish. Through perseverance you will possess your own selves."
General Intercessions
– For the Church, that free from all paralyzing fears it may have the courage born of faith to bear witness to the demands of the gospel, we pray:
– For the leaders of the Church, that in our difficult times they may not be men and women of fear but of trust in God, we pray:
– For the prophets in our midst, sent by God to wake us up from our complacency, that we may not muzzle them but heed their call for conversion, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
accept this bread and this wine
as signs that we are committed
to build up your kingdom in our world.
May our attitudes and decisions in life
be those of Jesus, your Son:
to seek your dawn of love and service
rather than self-destructive selfishness,
to be constructive and creative
in giving shape to a new earth
rather than to be critical of the past.
May we thus fully encounter you one day
in the joys of a new heaven.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord God,
your Son Jesus destroyed our death by dying
and by rising he restored our life.
By the strength of this eucharistMay we and the whole of humanity
grow up in Christ day after day
through the pains and tensions of all growth.
But keep alive in us the joy of a firm hope
that your dawn of justice is coming
to make us and all things new
and that Jesus will return
to make us share in his glory
for good and for ever.
Blessing
Do not fear. We are in God’s hands. Trust in God. And let his Spirit live and speak and act in us, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The accounts of the last moments of many martyrs of our faith speak of a special presence of the Spirit, enlightening and strengthening those persons in extremely difficult situations. This is certain for martyrs of ancient times as well as for martyrs of the present time. Did you know that an average of two Christians (priests, religious, lay persons…) are murdered each month for their faith and for their struggles in favor of justice and of the oppressed? What's more important: it is a joy to ascertain the peace in which the immense majority of them live the final moments of their lives. Because of that, "do not worry in advance." Now, our daily task is to persevere in the faith.
November 28 - Thursday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Theme:
FAITH IN A SAVING GOD
Readings:
Rev 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a; Lk 21:20-28
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
we are your people on the march
who try to carry out the task
of giving shape to your kingdom of love and peace.
When we are discouraged and afraid,
keep us going forward in hope.
Make us vigilant in prayer,
that we may see the signs of your Son’s coming.
Let Jesus walk with us already now
on the road he has shown us,
that he may lead us to you,
our living God for ever and ever.
Scripture Readings
First
Reading Introduction
In 539 B. C. King Darius had taken
the great city of Babylon that had driven the Jews into exile. Likewise,
the new Babylon, the city of Rome that was persecuting the young Church,
will fall and Christians will openly sing the praise of God.
First Reading: Rev 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a
After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. So great was his authority that the whole earth was lit up with his glory. In a strong voice he cried out:
"Fallen is Babylon the great! Fallen!
She has become a haunt of demons,
a lodge for every unclean spirit,
a nest for any filthy and disgusting bird.
A powerful angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying:
"With such violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, never again to be seen.
Never again will tunes of harpists, minstrels, trumpeters and flutists be heard in you. Never again will an artisan of any trade be found in you. Never again will the noise of the mill be heard.
Never again will the light of a lamp shine in you. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never again be heard in you.
After this I heard what sounded like the loud singing of a great assembly in heaven:
Alleluia! Salvation, glory and might belong to our God,
for his judgments are true and just.
He has condemned the great harlot who corrupted the world with her adultery.
He has avenged his servants' blood shed by her hand in harlotry.
Once more they sang: Alleluia! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever!
Then the angel told me, "Write: Happy are those invited to the wedding of the Lamb." And he went on, "These are true words of God."
Responsorial
Psalm: Psalms 100:2-5
Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Gospel
Introduction
The
destruction of Jerusalem and the signs of disaster in nature are for us
signs of the trials of the Christian life and of the difficult coming
of God’s kingdom among people. But let us not forget that we ourselves
too delay this kingdom, by our selfishness, our hunger for power, all
the evil we cause one another. Yet our meager efforts will help to bring
salvation nearer. With the help of Christ present among us, we can grow
in love, forgiveness, compassion, and peace. We should keep our heads
raised in hope.
Jesus said to his disciples, "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you must know that the time has come when it will be reduced to a wasteland. Then, if you are in Judea, flee to the mountains; if you are in the city, leave it; and let those who are in the fields not return to the city.
For these will be the days of its punishment and all that was announced in the Scripture will be fulfilled. How hard will it be for pregnant women and for mothers with babies at the breast! For a great calamity will come upon the land, and divine justice upon this people. They will be put to death by the sword or taken as slaves to other nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled upon by the pagans until the time of the pagans is fulfilled.
Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of perplexed nations when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will faint with fear at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the forces of the universe will be shaken. And at this time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Now, when you see the first events, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near."
General Intercessions
– Lord Jesus, when we are confused and discouraged, tell us: “Stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near,” we pray:
– Lord Jesus, make us people of hope, not of fear, we pray:
– Lord Jesus, we pray for people who despair of themselves and of the meaning of life; give them courage and hope, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
as a pledge of your promises
you give us your Son Jesus Christ
in these signs of bread and wine.
We do not ask you for a life
without problems and risks
but for your Son’s vision
of a world in which you are present
and for your Son’s courage
to answer with our own lives
your call to build up a new world
in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, merciful Father,
you have spoken to us your word of hope
and renewed our strength
with the bread of life of your Son.
Free our faith from banality and routine
and send us out with your Son
to restore integrity and love
and the trust that with him
we can give shape to a future
beyond all human expectations,
for the future belongs to you, our living God.Grant us this through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Keep your heads high in hope was the message of today. Keep hoping when there are wars and violence. Keep hoping when there is much injustice. Keep hoping when there is much hatred and discrimination. Keep hoping, for there is a future. Christ is with you, and with him we can do away with evil in us and in our world. Keep your heads high, and may God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
A cry of liberation and hope is heard in today's Gospel: "When you see the first events, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near." Neither destruction nor death can have the last word in our history, but liberation and life. The Risen Christ is the Lord of the cosmos and history. In this cry there is an answer to the expectations of men and women of all times. Such an answer can't be anyone else but Christ, the only one who does not disappoint and who gives us the authentic liberation, the true salvation. Because of this, even if we are surrounded by darkness, "lift up your heads" because God is with us.
November 29 - Friday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Theme:
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR
Readings:
Rev 20:1-4, 11-15; 21:1-2; Lk 21:29-33
Opening Prayer
God of the ages and of eternity,
you have entrusted to us, your people,
your project about people and the world.
Do not allow us to delay your plans
by our own limitations.
Make us aware that all we can do is
being a leaven, and a sign
that the seed you have sown will grow.
Keep us hoping in patience,
that integrity, love and justice
will come in your own good time
as a gift from you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Scripture Readings
First
Reading Introduction
The Book of Revelation gives us today a vision
of hope: God will ultimately be victorious; the forces of evil will be
chained for good, the just will reign with God, a new heaven and a new
earth will come, God’s people (the new Jerusalem) will be pure. We must
be aware that eternal life is already at work in the life of the baptized
and people themselves help in giving birth to a new world. We must, as
Jesus says, see these things happening now.
First Reading: Rev 20:1-4, 11-15; 21:1-2
Then an angel came down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the Abyss and a huge chain. He seized the monster, the ancient serpent, namely Satan or the devil, and chained him for a thousand years. He threw him into the abyss and closed its gate with the key, then secured it with locks, that he might not deceive the nations in the future until the thousand years have passed. Then he will be released for a little while.
There were thrones and seated on them were those with the power to judge. I then saw the spirits of those who had been beheaded for having held the teachings of Jesus and on account of the word of God. I saw all those who had refused to worship the beast or its image, or receive its mark on the forehead or on the hand. They returned to life and reigned with the Messiah for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection.
After that I saw a great and splendid throne and the one seated upon it. At once heaven and earth disappeared, leaving no trace. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before the throne while books were opened. Another book, the Book of Life, was also opened. Then the dead were judged according to the records of these books, that is, each one according to his works.
The sea gave up the dead it had kept, as did death and the netherworld, so that all might be judged according to their works. Then death and the netherworld were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. All who were not recorded in the Book of Life were thrown into the lake of fire.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had passed away and no longer was there any sea. I saw the new Jerusalem, the holy city coming down from God, out of heaven, adorned as a bride prepared for her husband.
Responsorial
Psalm: Psalms 84:3-6, 8
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah
Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
Gospel
Introduction
The faithful should keep hope in patience:
God’s kingdom is near. There are not only tensions and conflicts inside
God’s people and from outside: there are also signs of hope, and we should
see these signs.
Jesus told his disciples this comparison, "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. As soon as their buds sprout, you know that summer is already near. In the same way, as soon as you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all this has happened: heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
General Intercessions
– That we may always look for signs of hope when life is difficult and our faith is tested, we pray:
– That we may always keep trusting the Lord Jesus, that he is with us until the end of time, we pray:
– That we may accept that it is difficult for the kingdom of God to break through and to bring justice and love to all, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God of the promises,
to destroy the powers of evil
your Son came not as a triumphant king
but as the suffering Son of Man.
In this bread and this wine
we join our destiny to his.
May we learn from him
whose apparent failure led to victory
to accept the tensions of our time
and the slow growth of your kingdom
in patience and hope.
For we know that you keep your promises
of unending life and love and happiness
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of hope,
you have given us a beautiful dream
of your unending reign of love and joy,
but we are torn between discouragement and hope
because it is beyond our powers.
Thank you for reviving our expectations
through the body and blood of your Son.
Help us to grow into new people
through our tensions and struggles
by the strength of him to whom you have given
sovereignty and glory and kingship,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
It is sometimes said by non-believers that Christians look up to heaven because they cannot deal with the world. Christ tells us that we have to deal with the world and to change it, to work towards “a new heaven and a new earth.” Let us try to do so with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
There are people who specialize in the prediction of weather, earthquakes or political happenings. Each one, in their own field, analyzes the minutest details to predict changes, which will take place within the next days or months. Christians should also be specialists in predicting the coming of the Kingdom. Like those persons, Christians ought to analyze the signs of the Kingdom that are already present in our world. They are signs motivating our hope, inviting us to remain in the breach, because God's Kingdom is near. God's Kingdom is already blooming!
November 30 - Saturday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Theme:
Feast
of St. Andrew, Apostle
Readings:
Rom 10:9-18; Mt 4:18-22
Introduction
Andrew must have been a seeker of God. He first followed John the Baptist, then, when John had pointed out Jesus he transferred to Jesus. He brought several to Jesus: his brother Simon Peter, some Greeks looking for Jesus; at the multiplication he noticed the boy with the loaves and the fish and brought him to Jesus. Tradition says that he was an apostle in the Balkans and Southern Russia; he is the patron of the Church of Constantinople. With Andrew, let us bring people to Jesus.
Opening
Prayer
Lord our God,
we honor today your great apostle Andrew.
With him make us restless seekers for you
and bring many to Jesus and to you.
Let Jesus be our life and trust
and when we have found Jesus,
do not let us keep him to ourselves
but share him with all around
with the riches of his love and forgiveness,
his mercy and compassion.
This we ask you through Christ our Lord.
Scripture Reading
You are saved if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart you believe that God raised him from the dead. By believing from the heart, you obtain true righteousness; by confessing the faith with your lips you are saved. For Scripture says: No one who believes in him will be ashamed. Here there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; all have the same Lord, who is very generous with whoever calls on him. Truly, all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
But how can they call upon the name of the Lord without having believed in him? And how can they believe in him without having first heard about him? And how will they hear about him if no one preaches about him? And how will they preach about him if no one sends them? As Scripture says: How beautiful are the feet of the messenger of good news. Although not everyone obeyed the good news, as Isaiah said: Lord, who has believed in our preaching? So, faith comes from preaching, and preaching is rooted in the word of Christ.
I ask: Have the Jews not heard? But of course they have. Because the voice of those preaching resounded all over the earth and their voice was heard to the ends of the world.
Responsorial
Psalm: Psalms 19:2-5
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people." At once they left their nets and followed him.
He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them. At once they left the boat and their father and followed him.
General
Intercessions
- That we may thank the Lord that we have found Jesus, the Messiah and our Savior, we pray:
- That many all over the world may recognize and welcome Jesus as the meaning of their lives, we pray:
- That by the way we live we make Jesus recognizable to others, we pray:
Prayer
over the Gifts
Lord our God,
let your Holy Spirit bring us to this table
and unite us with all your apostles and disciples
to celebrate the Last Supper of your Son.
Let this meal unite us closely to him
and make us also eager apostles
who want everyone to know and encounter
Jesus your Son as the center of their lives.
This we ask thorough Christ our Lord.
Prayer
after Communion
God our Father,
we have sat at the table of your Son;
we have listened to his challenging word
and eaten his bread of life and strength.
We pray you to hasten the day
when people from all nations and cultures
may sit with us at the same table,
be one with us in your Son
and sing to you with our many voices
one harmonious symphony of praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Let us attract people to Jesus by the way we live. For we too are part of the missionary Church. Do so with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
What memories of that morning by the lake! Those fishermen felt seduced by the presence of Jesus. What did they see in him so much so that they left everything: nets, family, town. Their lives changed radically. We could assume that after some years, maybe during a difficult moment, they would ask themselves why they were following the steps of Jesus. Then the remembrance of that first moment at the lake's shore would come back to them. It was then when they heard Jesus' words: "Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Even today Jesus is repeating these same words. Why don't we listen to him?
Taken
from Liturgy
Alive for Weekdays
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