Greeting (See Responsorial Psalm) I will listen to the voice of the Lord, for it speaks of peace. His help is near for those who fear him. May the Lord with his help be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant Is the Lord to be found also in the chaos of our doubts, our confusion, our hesitant faith? Can he still be found in the disorder of our time? He is there, in the storms and difficulties of the little world of our own heart and in the wide, divided and threatening world, but it is hard to recognize him there. If we really encounter the Lord in faith, friendship and deep love, then the Lord makes everything become quiet, even when the storm wind keeps blowing, for the Lord makes his presence felt. Keep trusting, keep believing, for the Lord is here with us.
Penitential Act When we sink into
sin, we cry out: Lord, save me, for I am perishing.
Let us ask the Lord to extend his saving hand. (PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you ask us: People of little faith, why do you
doubt? Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, when we are full of fear, you tell us:
courage! It is I! Do not be afraid. Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have
mercy.
Lord Jesus, we ask you: if it is you, tell us
to come to you across the water and to follow you all the
way: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, calm the storms caused in us by sin;
give us your peace and lead us
to the joys of everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray God for a firm faith that
cannot be shaken (PAUSE)
God our Father, we believe in you, in your love and your
care. But you know how our faith is often tried
by doubts, uncertainties and fears. Make our faith strong enough to
believe that your Son Jesus is with us to
revive our faith and to give us the courage to live with the
risks of doubts and ambiguities, and to confirm in their faith
our brothers and sisters in need. Keep us hoping, and let Jesus
take us by the hand and lead us to you, our God and Father
for ever. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word First Reading Introduction:
After the storm came a gentle breeze The fiery prophet
Elijah is discouraged when all his efforts do not lead to lasting results. He
marches to the desert, to the mountain of God. There God comes to him, not in
fire and storm but as a gentle breeze and gives him fresh courage.
Second Reading Introduction:
May my people accept Christ Paul is very sad that the Jews,
the people of the promise, have not accepted Christ. Yet, when the promised
Savior came, they did not recognize him.
Gospel Introduction:
Tell me to come to you across the water
Peter stands for the Church and also for each of us. If in the storms of our
times we rely only on ourselves, we are in danger. If we trust in Jesus Christ,
we are safe.
General Intercessions
Let us pray with great faith to our God who is ever-present
to people. He speaks to us with a voice of peace. Let us say: R/ Lord, let us
see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in lightning and thunder of anger and
revenge. Hear the cries of your Church wherever it is persecuted and deprived
of freedom, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in the tornado of those who inflict harm
on their opponents; be merciful on their victims and on those who hurt them, we
pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in the earthquake of those who sow fear
and cause wars. Give peace and justice to their victims and also to those who
hurt them, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in the fire of those who judge and
condemn other people. Show your gentleness to those who are their victims and
convert the hearts of those who hurt others, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your
kindness.
- Lord, you are in the gentle breeze of people who try to
serve you well and who bring joy to their families and communities. Stay close
to them and give them courage, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
Father, we hope in you, we trust in your word. Be near to
us, let your Son be our companion in life now and for ever. R/ Amen. Prayer over the Gifts
You wish to reassure us, Lord our God, how much you are with
us through him who is our food and drink, your Son Jesus Christ. May he give us
the courage to walk with him the stormy road of faith and to take the risk of
love. May we thus set our fears aside and make his reassuring word the
foundation of our life and work, until we reach the haven of peace in you, our
God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
With one heart and one voice, let us express our trust in
God, for he gave us his Son Jesus as our Savior and companion in life. Invitation
to the Lord's Prayer Let us pray with the Lord Jesus his prayer of trust in our
heavenly Father. R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us Deliver us, Lord, from sin and every evil and
grant us your peace in our day. Keep us free from discouragement and from all
paralyzing fears. Help us to discover behind obstacles the saving hand of your
Son, that we may march forward with joyful hopetoward the full comingof our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom..
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, the Son of God, who says to us today: "Take
courage, it is I; come to me and walk with me across dangers and
obstacles." Happy are we to receive the Lord and to have him renew our
faith and strength. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord God, Father of all, you invite us through Jesus, your
Son, to leave our timid security and to come across the water with him to
commit ourselves to you and to others. Even though we do not see his hand reaching
out to us and holding us, give us enough trusting faith to be certain that with
him we shall overcome. Build up your future among us, until Jesus leads us
across to you, our God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing This eucharist has been, I hope, a
heartening experience of faith. We have expressed our faith that Jesus our Lord
is with us, that he never abandons us, that he stays with us in the storms of
life, that he extends his helping hand to us and that with him we can overcome
all obstacles. May this hope and trust always grow in us, with the blessing of
almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in the peace of Christ. R/ Thanks be to
God.