O look at me and be merciful, for I am wretched and alone. See my hardship and
my poverty, and pardon all my sins. (Ps 24:16,18)
PENITENTIAL RITE
The one who listens
to Jesus’ words and acts according to them is compared to a person who builds
his house on a rock. Jesus himself built his Church on the strong foundation of
the rock of Peter’s faith. In the midst of trials and persecutions, the Church
stood unshaken on this firm foundation. One can build one’s life on the word of
God provided one does the will of God. For all our failures in living God’s will
in our life, let us ask His mercy and forgiveness. (Pause)
I confess...
Glory to God...
OPENING PRAYER
Father, your love
never fails. Hear our call. Keep us from danger and provide for all our needs.
Grant this…
.FIRST READING
(In this passage
Moses promises the Israelites a life full of blessings if they obey the word of
God in their lives. He also cautions them about the consequences of not obeying
it.)
A reading from the
Book of Deuteronomy (11:18,26-28)
Moses said to the
people: “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in
your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be
as frontlets between your eyes.
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you
obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, and
the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn
aside from the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods which
you have not known.”
This is the Word of the Lord
PSALM (30)
Response: Be a
rock of refuge for me, O Lord.
In you, O Lord, I
take refuge. Let me never be put to shame. In your justice, set me free, hear me
and speedily rescue me. R./
Be a rock of refuge for me, a mighty stronghold to save me, for you are my rock,
my stronghold. For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me. R./
Let your face shine on your servant. Save me in your love. Be strong, let your
heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord. R./
SECOND READING
(St Paul emphatically
proclaims that everyone is justified and sanctified by God’s grace as a gift,
through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.)
A reading from the
Letter of St Paul to the Romans (3:21-25,28)
Now the righteousness
of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets
bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for
all who believe. For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through
the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by
his blood, to be received by faith. For we hold that a man is justified by faith
apart from works of law.
This is the Word of the Lord
ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. Alleluia!
If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we
will come to him. Alleluia! (Jn 14:23)
GOSPEL
(In this Gospel
parable Jesus teaches us the importance of basing our lives on the solid rock of
God’s word and not on the shifting sands of worldly values.)
A reading from the
Holy Gospel according to St Matthew (7:21-27)
Jesus said to his
disciples, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day
many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out
demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I
declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’
“Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise
man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came,
and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had
been founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does
not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and
the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that
house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord
I believe in
God,/the Father Almighty,/ Creator of heaven and earth./ I believe in Jesus
Christ,/his only Son, our Lord./ He was conceived by the power of the Holy
Spirit/ and born of the Virgin Mary./He suffered under Pontius Pilate,/was
crucified, died, and was buried./He descended to the dead./On the third day he
rose again./He ascended into Heaven,/and is seated at the right hand of the
Father./He will come again to judge the living and the dead./I believe in the
Holy Spirit,/the Holy Catholic Church,/the communion of saints,/the forgiveness
of sins,/the resurrection of the body,/and the life everlasting./ Amen.
PRAYER OF THE
FAITHFUL
Cel: Dear brothers
and sisters, Jesus considered doing the will of his heavenly Father as his food
and drink. Let us ask the Lord to give us a heart that desires to do always his
will, saying:
Response: Lord,
graciously hear our prayer.
1. For our Holy
Father, bishops, priests and religious: that they may set the example of seeking
and doing God’s will in their words, works and life. Let us pray to the Lord.
R./
2. For peace and harmony in countries where the population is made up of
different religious and ethnic groups. R./
3. For all Christians: that they may live their lives according to the values of
the Gospel and do the will of God. R./
4. For world leaders: that they may seek the help and guidance of God almighty
in all their plans and undertakings, and govern their people in righteousness.
R./
5. For all missionaries: that they may continue to bring the message of Christ
to the world. May they be protected from evil forces and worldly distractions.
R./ (Pray for local and personal needs)
Cel: Merciful God,
fill our hearts with your love. Give us the grace to rise above our human
weaknesses, and to do your will with love and obedience to your Son, Jesus. We
ask this...
PRAYER OVER THE
GIFTS
Lord, as we gather to
offer our gifts confident in your love, make us holy by sharing your life with
us and by this Eucharist forgive our sins. We ask this…
PREFACE (P 36)
Father, all-powerful
and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.
When your children sinned and wandered far from your friendship, you reunited
them with yourself through the blood of your Son and the power of the Holy
Spirit.
You gather them into your Church, to be one as you, Father , are one with your
Son and the Holy Spirit. You call them to be your people to praise your wisdom
in all your works. You make them the body of Christ and the dwelling-place of
the Holy Spirit.
In our joy we sing to your glory with all the choirs of angels:
All: Holy, holy,
holy…
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
I tell you solemnly,
whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will
be yours, says the Lord. (Mk 11:23-24)
PRAYER AFTER
COMMUNION
Lord, as you give us
the body and blood of your Son, guide us with your Spirit that we may honour you
not only with our lips, but also with the lives we lead, and so enter your
Kingdom. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
