Greetings (see Second Reading)
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. Are We Blind?
Let all of us to whom God has given good eyes thank God wholeheartedly for the gift of sight. But today the Lord asks us: Do you see with the eyes of your heart what I am asking of you? Do you see the way I have shown you? Do you see the people I have placed on your way and are you aware of their needs and hungers? Do you see the beauty of the world I created and are you willing to keep it a marvel for you and your children? Let us ask the Lord in this eucharist to open our eyes to God and people.B. Get Up! Jesus Will Open Your EyesSometimes we feel like blind people groping in the dark or even dazed, sitting disheartened by the side of the road. We don't see where we stand or where we are going, we cannot discern what we have to believe or to do. If only we would turn to Jesus and ask him, "Lord, let me see again!" May he restore our eyesight so that we can follow him on the road he shows us. Let this be our prayer today in this eucharist.
Penitential Act
How blind we have often been to God near to us
in our world, in our task, in people.
We seek now the Lord's forgiveness.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, I failed to see
the needs of the people in my family:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord have mercy.Jesus Christ, the hunger for warmth,
the craving for justice and human dignity
of friends and neighbors I did not notice:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, the desire of people far and near
to know you and to follow you,
even when they were not aware of it,
I did not see and I did not lead them to you:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins.
Open our eyes to your love and to people
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that the Lord may hear us
and the cries of all who appeal to him
(PAUSE)
Our living God,
you are very near to us in our joys and pains.
Give us the eyes of faith and love to see
the mission you have given us in life
and the courage and grace to carry it out.
Make us also clear-sighted enough to see
the needs of people who cry out their misery
or suffer in silence,
that we may bring them your healing compassion
and lead them to you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
General Intercessions
Let us pray to Jesus, who restored the sight of the blind, that with him we may see the needs of our brothers and sisters everywhere. Let us say: R/ Lord, the eyes of all look to you in hope.
- Lord, see the eyes of the child that open to life; see the eyes full of hope of those who believe in your future and fill them with your light, we pray: R/ Lord, the eyes of all look to you in hope.
- Lord, see the joy in the eyes of those who know how to love; see the eyes full of hatred of those who are frustrated, we pray: R/ Lord, the eyes of all look to you in hope.
- Lord, see the sad eyes of those who suffer; see the lifeless eyes of those who are physically blind, we pray: R/ Lord, the eyes of all look to you in hope.
- Lord, see the discouraged eyes of those who give up on life; see the fire in the eyes of those who continue the fight, we pray: R/ Lord, the eyes of all look to you in hope.
- See the eyes of those who are shut to people; see the eyes full of tears of those who mourn for those they loved, we pray: R/ Lord, the eyes of all look to you in hope.
Lord Jesus, make us openour eyes, our hands, our heart and so we can look on this world and on people with the same gentle eyes as you, who are our Lord for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
the whole world is a sign of you:
Your beauty is reflected in every flower
and each ray of the sun shines with your light.
Give each of us a grateful heart
that rejoices in simple things.
Give us new eyes to discover
in these signs of bread and wine
the love and the life of Jesus your Son
and give us faith to see how good it is
to be your people in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
God called us out of the darkness of sin into the light of faith and his love. Led by Jesus, our light and life, we give our joyful thanks to the Father.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
God says to us today
that he is a Father to his people.
Let us pray to him in the words of Jesus: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Lord Jesus,
you give strength and joy and light
to those who want to follow you.
Make the lame jump for joy,
restore the sight of the blind,
set all the captives free
and bring to all who suffer
the hope and peace of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus the Lord,
who meets us on the road.
Happy are we that he comes
to heal us from our blindness
and to call us to follow him. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
God, our loving Father,
we have heard and seen your son
and recognized him
in the breaking of bread.
Help us to see in his light
what is right and what is wrong in us.
Make us understand the deeper meaning
of suffering and pain.
And one day show us yourself as you are,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
We have heard in this eucharist
how the Lord gives new light to dead eyes.
A blind man sees and follows the Lord.
May the Lord make us people
who see with eyes of faith.
May the Lord help us to see the road to follow
and to recognize the Lord in our life.
May he give us the joy to follow him.
And may almighty God bless all of you:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in peace
and let the Lord's light shine on you. R/ Thanks be to God.
