Greetings (see second reading)
We are gathered here together by the Holy Spirit as one body united in one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God, the Father of all. May the Lord Jesus, who has called us together, be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. God Provides Food
The traditional sign in the scriptures that God loves us and
cares for us is that he provides food for his people, usually bread, the staple
food in much of the world. Can we believe this when so many go hungry? Let us
first ask ourselves whether food is lacking or the distribution and sharing are
bad. The bread of the Bible stands not only for food for the body but also for
God's word, love, concern and presence. The most profound of these signs of
God's care is the Eucharist in which Jesus keeps giving himself as our food and
drink for the road of life. Let us give thanks to the Father with Jesus this
great gift.
B. The Meager Gifts of a Little Boy
Who are we in the eyes of God? What can God do with us?
After all, we are no more than little people in a vast world. Today's liturgy
shows us that God can do very much through us and with the little we have to
give. When we give to him our time, our life, our talents and the little we can
do, he turns them into blessings for many. He can do great things with us, but
we have to put them at his disposal. The gospel shows us what Jesus could do to
satisfy the needs of a large crowd with the meager gifts of a little boy. We
ask the Lord to make us generous with the little we have.
C. He Took Bread and Gave Thanks
Whenever Christians come to the Eucharist they hear what
Jesus did for people. He took bread, gave thanks, and gave the bread to those
present, saying, "Take this, all of you, and eat it. This is I myself
giving myself to you." We hear in today's gospel that one day Jesus gave
food to a hungry crowd. He is the one who can appease the hungers of all people
of our earth. He wants us to share him with all and, like our Lord, to share
ourselves too with one another. Ask him in this eucharist to teach us how.
Penitential Act
Are we hungry for God's word and care or have we been cold
to his love through sin? Let us examine ourselves before the Lord. (PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you took pity on the crowd and gave them to eat: Lord, have
mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you take pity on us and nourish us with your
body and blood: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you want us to take pity on people hungry for
food and love: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Take pity on us, merciful God, and still our hunger for
forgiveness. Nourish us with the body of Jesus and lead us to the feast meal of
everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that our heavenly Father may give us all we need
in Christ (PAUSE)
God our Father, you give your children everywhere all the
good gifts for a fully human life. Let your Son give us the bread of his word
that nourishes our faith, of his peace that brings us rest, of his consolation
that gives us hope and joy, and the nourishing bread that sustains us on the
way to you and to people. Make us share this bread with all as a token of the
feast meal which you have prepared for us in heaven. We ask this through Christ
our Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
Introduction to the First Reading: Bread for
the Poor
In a time of famine the prophet Elisha orders bread destined
for a religious offering to be given to the hungry poor. As there is not
enough, God sees to it that there is more than needed to satisfy all.
Introduction to the Second Reading: One
People, for God Is One
The apostle Paul exhorts the Christian community to be one.
Our unity bears witness to the Trinity, which is the source and model of all
unity.
Gospel Introduction: Bread for the Hungry
Jesus reveals himself in the multiplication as the giver of
bread to the hungry. He will use this sign later to reveal himself as the bread
of life in the eucharist.
General Intercessions (inspired by René
Mouret)
Let us pray to God, from whom all good things come, that all
may have in abundance what they need to live as his sons and daughters, and let
us say: R/ Lord, grant us all that is good.
- For the Church, that those who lead and preside may serve
and unite all in Christ; that they may constantly remind the people of God of
the true values of the gospel, let us pray: R/ Lord, grant us all that
is good.
- For both the leaders and the faithful in the Church, that
they may have the courage to stand up for human rights, for a just sharing in
the earth's goods, for justice and for responsible freedom everywhere, let us
pray: R/ Lord, grant us all that is good.
- For agencies of international aid, for the United Nations
and govern- ments, that they may use all human potentials and all the resources
of science and nature to feed the hungry and to develop the earth, let us
pray: R/ Lord, grant us all that is good. - For all Christian communities, that we may
not abandon anyone in need; that we may share joys and sorrows and all that is
true, beautiful and good, and that we may serve one another, let us pray: R/
Lord, grant us all that is good.
- For this community gathered here to break the Lord's
bread, that the Spirit of the Lord may make us the sign of the Lord's
generosity and love, let us pray: R/ Lord, grant us all that is good.
Indeed, Lord our God, make us open and receptive to all your
gifts and available to all needs and all people, through Christ our Lord. R/
Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Father, here is a little bread and here are we with
our empty lives. Multiply our poor offering and substitute for it the rich
bread and the tasty wine of Jesus. Let him become our daily bread, that from
him we may learn to share our food and ourselves with all who cry out their
need to us. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
In this eucharist, Jesus will say again: "This is my
body given up for you. This is I myself giving myself to you." Let us
thank the Father for this great gift of Jesus to us.
Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
United in one faith and one baptism, let us pray through the
Holy Spirit to God, the Father of all, in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: R/
Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and help us in our day to
bring food to a hungry world. In your mercy keep us free from greed and
self-sufficiency that close our hearts to your gifts and to one another. Give
us bread that does not perish, as we go forward in joyful hope toward the
coming in glory of our Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
At the Breaking of Bread
Jesus broke his life for us. He now breaks the bread of
himself to satisfy our deepest hungers. May we also learn from him to share our
food with one another, for it tastes better when it is shared
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus our Lord who multiplied bread for the hungry and
who gives himself to us, saying: This is my body for the life of the world. Happy
are we to be invited to eat this Bread of life. R/ Lord, I am not
worthy...
Prayer after Communion
We give you thanks, generous Father, for giving us Jesus,
your Son, as our food on the road to you and to one another. Give us the will
and the creativity to bring to a hungry world food and a fair share in the
riches of the earth. Help us also to break the bread of dignity and hope for
all. And be yourself the highest fulfillment of all our aspirations, through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
We have broken bread with the Lord. This commits us to call
on all human resources to share with those in need food, justice, culture and
freedom. He also invites us to break for all the higher bread of the gospel, which
satisfies the deepest hungers of every human heart. May God strengthen and
bless you for this task: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/
Amen.
Go, and share God's love and gifts with one another. R/ Thanks be to God.
