Greeting (See Second Reading)
Let us
thank God for giving the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Risen
Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction
Why is it
that practically all of us notice the defects and failures of others, yet we
are blind to our own shortcomings? Often we blame in others what we overlook in
ourselves. Let us look today at Jesus here among us. Yes, he came to save
people from their sins, yet he did not judge and condemn people but attracted
them by his open attitude of friendship, appreciation of the good in them and
by giving them new chances in life. There is much to learn from him. Let us ask
him for his goodness of heart.
Penitential
Act Let us ask the Lord not to condemn us in the same way as we judge
others, but to forgive us and to give us goodness of heart. (PAUSE)
Lord
Jesus, you know where you lead us and we are ready to follow you on the road of
life and forgiveness. Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus
Christ, you accept people the way they are, so that you can convert and save
them: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord
Jesus, in the goodness of your heart you brought forgiveness where there was
hatred, joy where there was sadness: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have
mercy.
Lord, we
thank you for the healing you bring us by your forgiving love. Make us patient
like you and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening
Prayer
Let us
pray that Christ may always be our light and guide (PAUSE) Lord, loving Father,
you have given us no blind guide to lead us but our one Teacher Jesus Christ,
whose slow-learning disciples we are. He had not come to condemn us but to
forgive and save. Give us clear eyes to look into our own hearts and
consciences, but dim them with the shades of love when we see the faults of
those around us. And may we inspire others by our Christ-like living. We ask
this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Intercessions
By his
life and death and message Jesus taught us the forgiving mercy of God, which
seeks to save, not to condemn. May we follow his example and pray to him: R/
Lord, guide us on the road to life.
– That
Jesus may show the Church the road to follow in the often-difficult
circumstances of our day, a road to forgiveness and love, and of justice and
truth, let us pray: R/ Lord, guide us on the road to life.
– That
Jesus may show the road to follow to the honest seekers of truth and goodness,
that they may not be misled by false leaders, let us pray: R/ Lord,
guide us on the road to life.
– That
Jesus may show us the road to follow to those who in the goodness of their
heart are willing to serve the cause of peace and friendship, let us
pray: R/ Lord, guide us on the road to life.
– That
Jesus may show the road to follow to those who easily condemn and are reluctant
to forgive and accept people, let us pray: R/ Lord, guide us on the
road to life.
– That
Jesus may show us the road to follow, that we may learn to see the evil that is
in us and no longer condemn others for the wrongs we too are inclined to
commit, let us pray: R/ Lord, guide us on the road to life.
Lord Jesus
Christ, open the eyes of all the spiritually blind who have lost their way in
life. By your love and strength lead us all to the Father who loves everyone.
Be our teacher now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer
over the Gifts Lord
our God, your Son Jesus brought light in our darkness: he opened the eyes of
the blind. Give us your Son here in this eucharist that he may open our eyes to
your forgiving love and to your goodness present in people. Grant this in the
name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction
to the Eucharistic Prayer With
Jesus we thank the Father for his goodness: through Jesus, he has given us
light and life, a goal to work for, a road to follow. It is a joy for us to
express our gratitude.
Invitation
to the Lord’s Prayer Let
now well up from the goodness of our heart the prayer which Jesus himself
taught us: R/
Deliver
Us Set us
free Lord, from all evil, above all from the evil of sin. Help us to see the
beam in our own eyes and make us mild and understanding toward others. Lead us
forward together in joyful hope toward the coming in glory of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation
to Communion This
is Jesus, the Lamb of God who has taken away the death of sin and leads us to
the resurrection. Happy are we that he gives us the food and drink of
life. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer
after Communion God
our Father, you have let all of us here share, with our faults and irritating
habits, in the meal of friendship and unity of Jesus Christ your Son. Make us
accept one another also in everyday life and cover each other’s shortcomings
with the mantle of love. May we overcome evil with good and bring your peace to
this earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing St Paul has warned us today never to admit defeat in doing good, never to give up following Jesus. Would that not apply also to stop looking for faults in others, while forgetting gladly our own mistakes and failures? Yes, let us be mild to one another, as God has been good and mild to us, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen. Let us go with joy and thanks, for God has been good to all of us. R/ Thanks be to God.
***
Commentary
Triple
Filter Test
Read:
The book
of Sirach uses three analogies to draw our attention to the truth that our
speech reveals our character. Using the imagery of tree and its fruits, Jesus
confirms the wisdom of Sirach. Paul invites us to labor with Christ as Christ
works, so that we produce good fruit.
Reflect:
Once a
disciple came to Socrates ready to gossip about someone. Socrates stopped him
and gave him a “triple filter test” about what he was going to say. “Are
you sure that what you are going to tell me is true?” The disciple
wasn’t sure. ”Is it good?” No, it wasn’t. “Is it
useful?” He wasn’t sure. Socrates said: “If what you want to tell
me isn’t true, good or even useful, why should I hear it?”
When we
are tempted to speak ill of the other, it is good to apply this filter to our
thought: “Is what I am going to speak really true, good, and useful?” If any
one of the three conditions fails, we better keep our mouth shut, or still
better, say a silent prayer for the other.
Pray:
“Lord,
give me an appreciative heart so that I speak only words that build up the
other.”
Act:
Reach out
to a member of your family and say something authentically appreciative.
