Greetings
Those are sons and daughters of God who are led by the Spirit of God. We have received a Spirit who makes us God's children and who make us cry out: Father! May this Spirit be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the CelebrantA. Speaking To Our Father
The first lengthy prayer we learned as children, and the prayer we still pray most often, is probably the "Our Father." Is it more than a formula to us? Is it to us, as it was for Jesus, a word of warmth and tenderness, and a cry of trust and close relationship? With Jesus we stand here before our Father and with the Spirit in our hearts we call out: "Father, our Father!"
B. Put Your Life In Your Prayer
It would perhaps be much easier for us to pray if prayer
would not be just a compartment in life, some moments we reserve for certain
places and occasions and times of special needs. Prayer is less a way of
obtaining favors from God than a way of expressing to our Father in heaven, to
Jesus or to the Spirit our trust in God, speaking about our life, our difficulties
and our joys, entrusting to God those who are dear to us in life or in death
and even recommending to him those who cause us trouble. And remember, in
praying we do not try to bend God to our will but we ask that we may do his
will. How long ago have we prayed this way?
Penitential Act
"Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one
who is in debt to us" is our prayer today in the Eucharist. (pause) Lord
Jesus, you taught us that God is our loving and forgiving Father and that we
can speak to him with all trust: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you have brought us together to give with you all thanks and
praise to our Father in heaven: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have
mercy. Lord Jesus, you brought us pardon and you announce to us that the
time has come for peace and reconciliation with one another: Lord, have
mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy. Have mercy on us, Lord, and take all
our sins away. Make us messengers of your pardon and peace and lead us to
everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray in all simplicity to our heavenly Father the way
Jesus taught us (pause) God our Father, we too are asking your Son to teach us
how to pray and he has told us to speak to you with all trust. Make us bold
enough to pray insistently to you and to keep asking for what we need until in
your kindness you give it, to keep seeking until we find. Do not allow us to
forget to pray also for the needs of others and first of all for the things
that matter: you and your will and your kingdom. We ask you this in the name of
Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: Insistent And Trusting
Prayer At Abraham's insistent prayer,
the just God is willing to spare cities of sin for the sake of a handful of
good people.
Second Reading Introduction: Christ, Our Mediator We
have been saved by the prayer in action of the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ. We have become one with him in baptism.
Gospel Introduction: Children Speaking To Their
Father Before Jesus told his disciples
how to pray and what to pray for, he revealed himself to them as a man of
prayer.
General Intercessions
Let us pray to our Father in heaven with the complete trust
that Jesus taught us and let us say: R/ Lord, hear our prayer.
• Let us pray for the pope, for bishops, priests, religious,
and all committed men and women, that they may pray for the People of God in
spirit and in truth, and prove the sincerity of their prayer by what they say
to the people and do for them, as we say: R/ Lord, hear our prayer.
• Let us pray that we may learn to be constant in prayer, so
that the source of our strength may never run dry and that we may live and work
in the presence of God, as we say: R/ Lord, hear our prayer.
• Let us pray for all Christians and all people, that prayer
may not become to them a flight from life or from involvement with people in
need, as we say: R/ Lord, hear our prayer.
• Let us pray for all of us that we may not seek false
security in piling up resounding words and that we may have the courage to face
ourselves in all sincerity before God, as we pray: R/ Lord, hear our
prayer.
• And may we also learn from Christ to place first things
first when we pray, to give priority to the things that really matter: the
coming of God's kingdom and the good of the People of God, as we say: R/
Lord, hear our prayer. Father in heaven, open our eyes and ears to you, to
ourselves and to people, that we may know what to pray for and that we may be
open to your answer to our prayer, even when it is different from what we
expect. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Our Father in heaven, you are always approachable and
available, and so we bring this bread and wine before you. May this Eucharist
and every prayer be an occasion for us to deepen our relationship with you, to
understand you better and to love you more, to understand ourselves better and to
love people more, through the prayers of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/
Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
We often forget one form of prayer, perhaps the most
important of all: namely, praise and thanks to God. In the Eucharistic Prayer
we join Christ himself in praise of our Father.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
With our Lord Jesus Christ let us call God our Father and
ask from him all we need. R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our
day. Keep us free from sin and protect us from fear, from routine and
discouragement when we pray to you. Help us to work in joy and hope for your
kingdom and for the coming among us of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/
For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is the Lord who says to us: Ask and you will receive; seek,
and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. Happy are we to
be invited to the table of the Lord and to receive him as our bread of
life. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Our Father in heaven, we thank you for giving us your Son in
this Eucharistic celebration. May we learn from him not only to pray to you but
also to let our deeds match our words. May our prayers prompt us to commit
ourselves more deeply to bring forgiveness, justice, and love to all, that
people may praise your name now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
The Lord has spoken to us his reassuring word: Ask and you will receive. The Father will give you what you need. May Almighty God be always with you and bless you with all good gifts: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen. Let us go in all trust in the peace and joy of the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God.