Greeting (See Second Reading)
May the peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. May his peace be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. I Expected Sweet Grapes
Church, people of God of today, the Lord asks an answer from
us: look at all the good things he has given us: our faith, the people around
us, his own kingdom lovingly entrusted to us, and what have we done with all
this? Have we cared for his trusting love? Let us ask Jesus in this eucharist
that from now on we may give with Jesus an eager and generous answer to our
Father in heaven.
B. Our Care of God's Vineyard
A good farmer, even one who rents the land, takes care of
his fields and crops even more than a trader of his business. For he loves all
that grows and bears fruit; there is life in it, he can see it grow. God loves
his people, the vineyard he has planted and surrounded with loving care. His
Son died for us, his people, that it might live and grow. God has entrusted
this vineyard to us, leaders and people together, not as a privilege but as a
field to work in, so that it can bear rich fruits of justice and love. Where
are these fruits?
Penitential Act
Let us examine ourselves before the Lord whether we have been
responsible Christians. (PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you have entrusted to us this earth as a
beautiful vineyard. We have neglected it. Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord,
have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you have entrusted to us people to care for
with love. We have often remained indifferent to them. Christ, have
mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you have entrusted to us our faith as a plant to
grow. We have cared little for it. Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have
mercy.
Merciful and tender God, forgive us all our sins through the
sacrifice of your Son and lead us to everlasting life . R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray the Lord to keep surrounding us with his care,
till we bear rich fruit (PAUSE)
Lord God, our Father, you ask of us today: My people, answer
me: What more could I have done for you? Teach and help us to respond with our
whole being to your daily forgiveness and patience, to the riches of life
brought us by Jesus, to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, that we may be a
people that bears lasting fruits. May we bring to all a justice animated by
love, may we learn to share as you do with us. Show us your mercy through Jesus
Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: God's people is his
vineyard
God's people is like a vineyard which he planted and tended
with loving care. Yet his people do not respond to God's love.
Second Reading Introduction: Christian living opens
us to God's grace
Paul invites his Christians to live in union with God and to
integrate all human values. A good Christian is a good person and lives in
God's peace.
Gospel Introduction: Are we faithful
caretakers?
God has entrusted his kingdom to us. We are his caretakers
and must produce fruits of Christian living. Otherwise the kingdom will be
taken away from us.
General Intercessions
United with our Lord Jesus Christ as branches of the
life-giving vine, let us pray to the Father for everything that the Church and
the world need, and let us say: R/ Lord, hear the people you love.
- For the Church, which we are together, that it may always
remain young and faithful and inspire its members and the whole world with a
sense of hope and deep love, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the people you
love.
- For the whole Christian people, that we may show patience
and compassion to people who go astray, to those who disappoint us, and accept
them as the Lord accepts us, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the people you
love.
- For those who offend the rights of others, that they may
return to the Lord, and that all of us may be just and fair to all and even enrich
our justice with love, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the people you love.
- For all those, Christian and others, who in honesty and
with courage keep trying to bring happiness and goodness to the people around
them, especially the poor, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the people you
love.
- And for all of us in our Christian community here, that we
may be grateful that the Lord has made us the vineyard and the tenants from
whom he expects much, and that we may respond to his expectations, we
pray: R/ Lord, hear the people you love.
God our Father, may we really become what you have called us
to be: your vineyard, your holy people, who respond to your love in Christ
Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Faithful God, we bring these gifts before you to celebrate
how you have made with us, your chosen people, a new and everlasting covenant through
the death and rising of your Son. Do not allow us to become proud of being the
people you love, but help us to be worthy of your trust and to give you a
response of deep faith expressed in service. Grant this through Jesus Christ
our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer With our
praise and thanks, let us bring before our Father in heaven our willingness to
bear fruits of honesty, goodness and justice.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer (See Second
Reading) Let us pray in the words of
Jesus to our heavenly Father to present our needs to him in petitions full of
gratitude. : R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us (See Second Reading)
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, above all from the evil
of sin. Grant us peace in our day, peace among nations and in our homes, above
all your own peace which surpasses all understanding. Direct our thoughts to
all that is true, all that is honest, beautiful and good, as we prepare for the
full coming among us of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the
kingdom..
Invitation to Communion
Because there is one bread, we, though many, are one body, for
we all share in the one loaf and the one cup. This is Jesus our Lord; he is our
bread of unity. R/ Lord, I am not worthy... Prayer after Communion
Lord, mighty God, in this eucharist your Son has been your
encouraging word and our food of strength for building up your kingdom among
your people. Deepen our trust that Christ will stay with us and that he is the
foundation on which we build. Make us inventive and creative in sharing the
good news we have received with all who are willing to listen. We ask this in
the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
The message of today called attention to our great
responsibility as Christians. We are God's cherished people. We are answerable
to God and sent by him for making his good news known to all by our words and
our deeds, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Spirit. R/ Amen. Go in peace, and let your life be a song of
gratitude to the Lord . R/ Thanks be to God.