Greetings
To us is proclaimed in this assembly the mystery of God. That mystery is Christ among us. He speaks his word of wisdom to us. May we listen to his words and may Christ our Lord be with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. Jesus, Our Host And Guest: How
hospitable to people are we in reality? How many people are there about whom we
say: I will never allow this person to set foot in my home? And when people are
my guests, do I just fuss about them, stuffing them with all sorts of good
things but having no time to listen to them? Let's look at our host Jesus in
this Eucharist and listen to what he says about hospitality.
B. Feel At Home: A hearty welcome to all of you on
this Sunday of hospitality. It is surprising how poor people can often be
hospitable to others. They offer their guests food and drink that they cannot
afford for themselves. How hospitable are we to the guest, to the stranger? Let
us open our doors and our hearts. It is perhaps Jesus himself who comes to your
house. Be attentive to him. And remember how hospitable he is to us here in the
Eucharist.
Penitential Act
Jesus, Our Host and Guest We have failed to recognize the
Lord when he came to us in people as our guest: Let us ask him to forgive us. (pause)
Lord Jesus, do not allow us to forget you in all the bustle: Lord, have
mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy. Jesus Christ, make us see it is you whom
we welcome when we receive guests: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have
mercy. Lord Jesus, make us listen to you when you speak to us through
people: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy. Touch us with your
healing hand, Lord, and forgive us all our sins. Be our guest and companion and
lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that we may be hospitable to God and to people (pause)
Our loving God and Father, you have invited us to stay with you, to listen to
the message of Jesus your Son and to accept from him your peace and love. May
we welcome him wholeheartedly and learn from him to welcome him too in people
who appeal to us for forgiveness and a bit of warmth, for patience and hope and
joy. Let them not pass your servants by. We ask you this through Christ our
Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: Lord, Do Not Pass Your
Servant By
Abraham welcomes a stranger with the greatest hospitality,
not knowing at first that he is receiving God. God gives Abraham more than
Abraham could give God: the son of the promise.
Second Reading Introduction: Become Perfect In
Christ
Paul is glad to suffer for Christ, to make him known to all.
He wants the Lord to dwell in all, that all may become perfect in Christ.
Gospel Introduction: Mary Has Chosen The Better Part
Martha and Mary welcome Jesus in their home as a guest.
While Martha is concerned about giving her guest all he needs, Mary is
attentive to him as a person; she gives him her attention and receives his
Word.
General Intercessions
Abraham welcomed three strangers and Martha and Mary were
hospitable to the Lord. All of them were changed by their visitors. Let us pray
that we too may be hospitable, and let us say: R/ Lord, make your home
with us.
• That the Church may be a hospitable home for all peoples
and cultures and be enriched by them, let us pray: R/ Lord, make your
home with us.
• That we may learn to recognize the Lord in the features of
a stranger and welcome him as we would receive the Lord himself, let us
pray: R/ Lord, make your home with us.
• That like Mary we may welcome eagerly the Word the Lord
speaks to us and pass on his Good News to others, let us pray: R/ Lord,
make your home with us.
• That we may welcome the best of what our brothers and
sisters give us, even before we share the best of ourselves with them, let us
pray: R/ Lord, make your home with us.
• That in this and in all Christian communities people may
feel at home with one another and serve each other, let us pray: R/
Lord, make your home with us.
Lord our God, give each of us a heart attentive to you and a
heart that hears what people try to say even when they do not speak. We ask
this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Father, may we welcome Jesus your Son in these offerings of
bread and wine. Open us to his Word and his mentality. Prepare us to welcome
him in people and to encounter him in their person, even when he comes at another
time and in another way than we expect him. Enrich us by giving to, and
receiving from one another your greatest gift to us, Jesus Christ our
Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
In the Eucharist Jesus is our host and he fills us as his
guests with his strength and love. Let us praise and thank the Father for it.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
With Jesus our Lord, let us pray to our Father in heaven that
we may be open to his will and his kingdom: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us Lord, from every evil and grant us your peace in
our day. Keep us free from sin and help us to make time for people, to attend
to them and to listen to them. Protect us from all anxiety as we prepare in
joyful hope for the coming in glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/
For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is the Lord who says: here I stand, knocking at the
door. If anyone of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will enter his
house and have supper with him and he with me. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, you have come among us in your Son to be our
guest. In our everyday life, may we always be open to anyone in need; help us
to recognize and welcome you in everyone who comes to us. In every human
encounter offer us your grace and love, through Jesus Christ your Son, who
lives with you and stays with us now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
In this Eucharist we have been the Lord's own guests. He has been very hospitable to us, listening to us, speaking to us his warm words of friendship. He sends us out now to be both each other's guests and hosts. Welcome now the blessing of Almighty God: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen. Let us go in the peace of the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God.