Greeting (See Heb 3:14)
The Lord Jesus is here with us. We are all partners with him if we hold on to the trust we had in the beginning. May he always be with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
Stand Ready in Faith
It is surprising how many people live in fear: fear of
illness, fear of losing their beloved ones, fear of their own
death, fear of today, fear of tomorrow. Jesus assures us: “Do not fear! Do not
give up your hope! Have faith!” Even when we go through difficult days, we
should never give up our faith and hope; we should always stay alert to the
Lord and to his loving coming among us. In this eucharist we
ask the Lord to keep us always attentive to his presence.
God Is with Us
If we knew from the beginning the difficulties we would have
to cope with before we could bring something to a good end, would we have had
the courage to begin the work? And even then we fail at times. Yes, we would
have done it and do it again if we had faith and hope and strength of
character. That is what faith and hope are all about: to do what we have to do,
to go on even if we are working in the dark, for if we have faith we know we
are not alone. God is with us, there is a promise and a future, and the dawn
will come. In this Eucharist we ask the Lord to sit with us at table and to
give us strength.
Penitential Act
Let us acknowledge before the Lord that at times we have
failed to believe fully in his promises and in his future. (pause)
Lord Jesus, you tell us: Do not be afraid. Trust in me. Lord,
have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you ask of us to be always ready to open the
door for you. Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you expect us to serve you in people as your faithful
servants. Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, let your kind forgiveness strengthen our faith and
hope. Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray for trust in God’s promises (pause)
Lord God, unseen and yet the ground of all reality, of all
that counts, we seek security and certainty, something we can see and hold on
to. It is fearful for us to walk in the dark and confusing not to know where
the road leads. Be truly our God in whom we trust: Help us to serve you
faithfully in the present and to be ready to follow you in the future. Take us
by the hand and guide us through all obstacles to the land of your promise. We
ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading (Wis 18:6-9): Trust in God’s
Promises
When God’s people had to pass through trials, they recalled
the night of the first Passover, when God had saved them.
Second Reading (Heb 11:1-2,8-19 or 11:1-2,8-12):
Abraham, Father of the Faith
Abraham became a pilgrim of faith because he trusted in
God’s promises. He is our model, even if, like him, we don’t see where God will
lead us.
Gospel (Lk 12:32-48 or 12:35-40): Prepared for the
Lord’s Coming
Our faith should be so firm as to make us trust in the word
of Jesus and to be ready to meet him any time.
Intercessions
Let us pray, with the fullest trust, to our kind and
faithful God, and let us say: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That
the Church may bring the light of faith where there is darkness and
indifference, hope where there is fatalism and despair, and love where there is
hatred and strife, let us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That
leaders, prophets, witnesses of faith, and all those whose task it is to keep
hope alive toward a better world may be guided by the Holy Spirit, let us pray
to the Lord: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That
those who are discouraged by trials, by their troubles and fears, may keep
believing and hoping in a God who brings everything to a good end, let us pray:
R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That
all of us may grow in the certainty that our commitment to justice and love,
and our dedicated service in everyday life are needed to make God’s promises
come true, let us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That
we may learn in our communities to share with one another what we have and to
bear witness to our living hope, and thus prepare the return of the Lord, let
us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
Lord, we know that you love us and that you care for us. We
trust in you, our living God for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, here are bread and wine, the signs of faith
and hope in a world not sure of where it is going. Accept out thanks for
reassuring us that we need not be afraid. For you have set for us the table of
your Son Jesus Christ. Let him give us a firm and living faith that makes us
trust in your future as the fulfillment of all our hopes. We ask this through
Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Each Eucharist is an act of faith and hope, for it is God
present among us now as the pledge of our resurrection and the return of Christ
in glory. Let us give thanks to the Father for it.
Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer
With Jesus our Lord we entrust ourselves to our Father in heaven and we expect all good things from him, and so we pray: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and from all fear to
entrust ourselves to you, even when we are not sure where you lead us. Call us
away from our certainties, and lead us to the land of your promise, through our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the
world. Happy are those servants whom the Lord finds awake when he comes. He
will give them a place at his table and serve them. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, you have kept your promise: you have broken
for us the bread of your Son and poured for us his wine of joy. Jesus has
waited on us at his table. Help us to hold on to your dream of happiness and
justice for all. Help us to live in faith and to support one another, as you
lead us to the land of your promise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
We have watched and prayed with the Lord. Let us be people who wait for the return of the Lord, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. For the friend or the stranger who knocks is the Lord himself. May almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in peace, trusting in the Lord and serving one
another. R/ Thanks be to God.
