Glory to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus. May the Lord Jesus be with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
Too often we have been impatient with ourselves, with one another, with our world. May the Lord be patient with us and forgive us. (pause) Lord Jesus, you give each of us the time to become mature in our faith: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you give your Church the time to grow in unity and a spirit of service: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you give our world the time to grow in peace and justice: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that we may give the seed time to grow (pause) Curb our impatience, Lord, when we try to impose your truth and justice and peace on a Church and a world not yet disposed to welcome them. In our helplessness and discouragement may we learn to accept that all true growth comes from you. We can only plant the seed, and you make it bloom into a mighty tree that lets us give shelter to all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Scripture Readings
First Reading Introduction: A Small Shoot Is Enough for God From the small remnant of Israel, God will make himself a new people.
Gospel Introduction: A Tiny Seed Becomes A Big Shrub God is active, whatever the appearances. His word will bear fruit. Notwithstanding its humble beginnings, God's kingdom will surpass all expectations.
The tiny seed needs time to become a plant. It is the Lord who gives it the power to grow. Let us pray to God and say: R/ Lord, your Kingdom come.
• That the tiny spark of faith still alive in the hearts of many who abandon the Church may not be extinguished but grow again into a bright light to guide them to God and people, let us pray: R/ Lord, your Kingdom come.
• That the timid seed of peace may grow again into a flourishing effort of dialogue and understanding, that our world may see the end of wars and civil strife, let us pray: R/ Lord, your Kingdom come.
• That our schools may implant into the hearts of our youth the seeds of faith, of generous and serving love, and that the Lord may bless the educators who help in this tremendous task, let us pray: R/ Lord, your Kingdom come.
• That missionaries may keep sowing the seed of the joyful Good News of the Lord in our often indifferent and hostile world, let us pray: R/ Lord, your Kingdom come.
• That people inspired by the Spirit of God may not get discouraged in sowing the seed of justice in communities and among nations, let us pray: R/ Lord, your Kingdom come.
• That the seeds of sharing and unity may keep growing in our Christian communities, until they become one heart and one mind in the Lord who gathers them at his table, let us pray: R/ Lord, your Kingdom come. Lord, be patient with us, and give to the seeds which your Son has sown in our hearts the time to grow and to reach to heaven, through Christ Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.
Almighty and patient Father, we bring before you the fruits grown from tiny seeds of wheat and the small shoots of the vine. By the power of your Spirit they will become Jesus, your Son among us. Let the seed of his life and message bear fruit among us, your people, and make us the body of Christ to the world, that trust and hope may grow among us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Let us give thanks to the Father that he has made himself a partner in our human history through his Son Jesus Christ.
Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
Let us give thanks to the Father that he has made himself a partner in our human history through his Son Jesus Christ. R/ Our Father...
Deliver us indeed, Lord, from evil, particularly the evil of sin, which makes us less human and less Christian. Instead, make us your free people, free to serve and love you unconditionally, free to commit ourselves to people and to build up a better world. In this freedom may we prepare in hope and joy the coming in glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
Prayer after Communion
God our Father, with a generous hand you have sown among us here in this Eucharist the seed of all that is good and true, your Son Jesus Christ. However insignificant and disappointing our faith and love may seem now, give us the hope and the courage that he can unite us in a community where justice, truth, and freedom will prevail until the crop is ready for reaping. Grant us this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
Patience, together with a sense of humble modesty, is what we need in looking at our efforts and the work of God among us. Not that our efforts are useless, but when we try to do God's work to make our world more God's world or his Kingdom, as we call it, then we must always remember and respect that God is the first agent in all this: he plants, he gives growth, he will do the harvesting. But he expects us to cooperate with him. May God bless you for this task: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen. Let us go in the peace of the Lord, and may his hope sustain you. R/ Thanks be to God.