Greeting (See Second Reading)
To us is proclaimed in this assembly the mystery of God. That mystery is Christ among us.
He speaks his word of wisdom to us. May we listen to his words and may Christ our Lord be with you. R/ And also with you.Introduction by the Celebrant
Jesus Our Host and Guest
How hospitable to people are we in reality? How many people
are there about whom we say: I will never allow this person to set foot in my
home? And when people are my guests, do I just fuss about them, stuffing them
with all sorts of good things but having no time to listen to them? Let’s look
at our host Jesus in this Eucharist and listen to what he says about
hospitality.
Feel at Home
A hearty welcome to all of you on this Sunday of
hospitality. It is surprising how poor people can often be hospitable to
others. They offer their guests food and drink that they cannot afford for
themselves. How hospitable are we to the guest, to the stranger? Let us open
our doors and our hearts. It is perhaps Jesus himself who comes to your house.
Be attentive to him. And remember how hospitable he is to us here in the
Eucharist.
Penitential Act
Jesus, Our Host and Guest
We have failed to recognize the Lord when he came to us in
people as our guest: Let us ask him to forgive us. (pause)
Lord Jesus, do not allow us to forget you in all the bustle:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy. Jesus Christ, make us see it is you whom
we welcome when we receive guests: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, make us listen to you when you speak to us
through people: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Touch us with your healing hand, Lord, and forgive us all
our sins. Be our guest and companion and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that we may be hospitable to God and to people (pause)
Our loving God and Father, you have invited us to stay with you, to listen to the message of Jesus your Son and to accept from him your peace and love. May we welcome him wholeheartedly and learn from him to welcome him too in people who appeal to us for forgiveness and a bit of warmth, for patience and hope and joy. Let them not pass your servants by. We ask you this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading (Gen 18:1-10a): Lord, Do Not Pass Your
Servant By
Abraham welcomes a stranger with the greatest hospitality,
not knowing at first that he is receiving God. God gives Abraham more than
Abraham could give God: the son of the promise.
1 Reading: Gen 18:1-10a
Second Reading (Col 1:24-28): Become Perfect in Christ
Paul is glad to suffer for Christ, to make him known to all.
He wants the Lord to dwell in all, that all may become perfect in Christ.
2 Reading: Col 1:24-28
Gospel (Lk 10:38-42): Mary Has Chosen the Better Part
Martha and Mary welcome Jesus in their home as a guest.
While Martha is concerned about giving her guest all he needs, Mary is
attentive to him as a person; she gives him her attention and receives his
word.
Gospel: Lk 10:38-42
Intercessions
Abraham welcomed three strangers and Martha and Mary were
hospitable to the Lord. All of them were changed by their visitors. Let us pray
that we too may be hospitable, and let us say: R/ Lord, make your home with us.
– That
the Church may be a hospitable home for all peoples and cultures and be
enriched by them, let us pray: R/ Lord, make your home with us.
– That
we may learn to recognize the Lord in the features of a stranger and welcome
him as we would receive the Lord himself, let us pray: R/ Lord, make your home
with us.
– That
like Mary we may welcome eagerly the word the Lord speaks to us and pass on his
good news to others, let us pray: R/ Lord, make your home with us.
– That
we may welcome the best of what our brothers and sisters give us, even before
we share the best of ourselves with them, let us pray: R/ Lord, make your home
with us.
– That
in this and in all Christian communities people may feel at home with one
another and serve each other, let us pray: R/ Lord, make your home with us.
Lord our God, give each of us a heart attentive to you and a
heart that hears what people try to say even when they do not speak. We ask
this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Father, may we welcome Jesus your Son in these offerings of
bread and wine. Open us to his word and his mentality. Prepare us to welcome
him in people and to encounter him in their person, even when he comes at
another time and in another way than we expect him. Enrich us by giving to, and
receiving from one another your greatest gift to us, Jesus Christ our Lord. R/
Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
In the Eucharist Jesus is our host and he fills us as his
guests with his strength and love. Let us praise and thank the Father for it.
Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer
With Jesus our Lord, let us pray to our Father in heaven that we may be open to his will and his kingdom: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us your peace in
our day. Keep us free from sin and help us to make time for people, to attend
to them and to listen to them. Protect us from all anxiety as we prepare in
joyful hope for the coming in glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For
the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion (Rev 3:20)
This is the Lord who says: here I stand, knocking at the
door. If anyone of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will enter his
house and have supper with him and he with me. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, you have come among us in your Son to be our
guest. In our everyday life, may we always be open to anyone in need; help us
to recognize and welcome you in everyone who comes to us. In every human
encounter offer us your grace and love, through Jesus Christ your Son, who
lives with you and stays with us now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
In this Eucharist we have been
the Lord’s own guests. He has been very hospitable to us, listening
to us, speaking to us his warm words of friendship. He sends us out now to be
both each other’s guests and hosts. Welcome now the blessing of almighty God: the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in the peace of the Lord.
R/ Thanks be to God.
***
Commentary
Being at
the Feet
Read:
Abraham
plays host to the triune God. Paul speaks of the sufferings he has endured in
order to preach the mystery of Christ. Jesus declares that being at his feet,
listening to him is a higher vocation.
Reflect:
Bishop
Pedro Casaldà liga was a fiery Claretian missionary bishop who cared for the
indigenous people of Amazonian Brazil. When he died at the age of 92, the way
his body was laid out in the casket was revealing: with naked feet and an open
Bible kept just above them. They summed up his life: the feet that walked the
earth, fired by the Word of God. Those specialized in alternative medicine tell
us that every part of our body is represented on our feet. The feet carry the
footprint of one’s soul. The worship of the feet is a ritual in many cultures.
Mother Mary stood at the feet of the Crucified. Jesus washed the feet of the
disciples. What can be a greater vocation than sit at the feet of Christ, lean
on him, fix the gaze on his face, and listen to his word! Indeed, both Marys
chose the better part!
Pray:
Your prayer
today is the act below.
Act:
Sit at the foot of the Cross, fix your gaze on the Crucified, and listen to him.
