Greeting
We need not be afraid in God's presence,
and whatever we ask him
we shall receive
that is, if we keep his commandments,
that we believe in Christ and love each other.
May the love and peace of Jesus be with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. Branches On The Vine (Option 1)
Much more than a set of truths to believe in, our faith is a union with a living person, a unity of life with Jesus our Lord. His words and actions are our guide in life; our heart is attuned to his heart, and his serving love of God and people is our inspiration and model. We cannot think of him and pray to him all the time, but we can, with his help, try to live his life. That is how we can live in him, remain in him, be one with him as he is one with the Father. Let us be intensely one with him here in this eucharist and in everyday life.
B. Different but One in Christ (Option 2)In many ways we differ from one another. Thanks to God for the riches of this variety. How sad our world would be if we were all the same, for we would see only our own image. We differ in our faces, our characters, our personalities and occupations, our language and culture, in so many things. Yet there is one thing that brings us here together. We belong to Christ, we are united in him. He wants this bond to be a close union: like branches on a tree, on a life-giving vine. We are one in him with one another. We pray that this union may be close and effective.
Penitential Act
Are we really close to Jesus our Lord,
aware that he loves us deeply and is close to us?
Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, your life flows in us:
all praise to you!
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, your love overflows in us:
all praise to you!
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, your commitment to the Father
and to the good of people overflows in us:
all praise to you!
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Show us your mercy, Lord.
Keep us united in you
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that all may become one
in Jesus, our true vine
(PAUSE)
Our living and loving God,
you have made yourself very close and dear to us
in your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we can live your life,
rich and generous and reaching out to others,
for Christ lives in us and we can live in him.
Let your Son bring all together in him,
that all become branches on the same vine
and that the new wine of justice and love
fill all this earth with joy and peace.
We ask this through him whose sap of life flows in us,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
General Intercessions
If we remain in our Lord Jesus Christ as branches on the vine, we may ask what we will and he will give it to us. Let us say to him: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
- For the vine of the universal Church, that all its faithful may remain one in Christ, live by his love and disseminate his compassion and warmth, let us pray: Listen to your people, Lord. R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
- For Christians in the young Churches, that they may be fervent in their faith; for the faithful in the old Christianities, that they may not take their faith for granted; for believers in persecuted Churches, that they may stand firm and support one another, let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
- For wine growers and farmers, that their toil may produce enough food for all so that no one will go hungry or thirsty again, let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
- For those who have cut themselves off from the Church and from Christ, that the inspiring example of good Christians may put them back on the way to the Lord, let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
- For all Christian communities, ours and others, that they may be full of joy, for we know that Jesus loves us and shares in our cares and our happy moments, let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
Lord Jesus, vine in which we live, stay with us always, keep us one with you and each other and make us bear fruits that last, now and for ever.R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, loving Father,
you planted your Son among people
as the true vine of faithful love.
Let him give himself to us today
as our bread of strength
and pour for us the wine of fidelity,
that we may live in him and he in us,
and that we may bear fruits
of unity and love
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Let us raise our minds and hearts to the Father to thank him for having given us Jesus as our risen Lord and the true vine who unites us with himself and with one another.
Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
One with God's Son as branches with the vine,
let us pray to our Father
the prayer which Jesus taught us: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and grant us in our day
the peace of union with your Son, our true vine,
and with all your people.
Protect us from all anxiety,
keep us faithful to you
and make us bear fruits of love and peace,
as we wait in joyful hope
for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is the true vine, Jesus our Lord,
without whom we can do nothing.
Happy are we to be invited to his table,
that he may live in us and we in him. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Father, you are greater than our heart.
We thank you in this eucharistic celebration.
for giving us the true vine, your Son Jesus Christ.
May we go on living united with him
and with one another,
that in the uncertainties of life
we may go on believing, hoping and loving.
And when we grope in the dark in days of trial,
reassure us that you are only purifying our faith
and that your are always with us
in people and in your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
Our Lord told us today:
"Remain in me, as I remain in you."
Yes, let us stay in his love
and do the things of everyday life
in union with him and by his strength,
and let us take him to people
by our concern and love.
May almighty God bless you for this:
the Father who loves us,
the Son who lives in us,
and the Holy Spirit who guides us. R/ Amen.
Go in peace, stay united with Christ,
and love and serve him in people. R/ Thanks be to God.
