Greeting (See Second Reading)
Peace and mercy to all who become new in Christ. The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
Disciples Must Be Missionaries
How many people belong to our Church? Catholics number less
than 18% of the world population. Yet Luke says that Jesus tells us today: “The
harvest is rich but there are few laborers. Pray to the Lord to send us
harvesters.” And then, whom does Jesus send? Not just the leaders, but the
disciples too. And where are they sent? To all nations and to all peoples, for
they are seventy-two, as many as there were peoples known in those days. And
how are they sent? In all humility receiving the people's hospitality and
kindness and proclaiming to them the Kingdom of God. Let us ask Jesus to make
us suitable messengers.
Without Means of Power
When Jesus sends out his disciples, they are not sent with
powerful means to impress people with or to buy their allegiance. No force, no
money, not even people who are influential, renowned and learned. Just simple
disciples, ordinary people. They have to go out with no other riches than the
Good News of Jesus, his message of joy to the poor. They also should not be
choosy to whom they go: in all simplicity they present themselves to anyone
willing to listen, depending on the good will of people and their hospitality.
Let us become missionaries of Jesus by the way we live.
Penitential Act We are messengers of Jesus. Does the
way we live make him known and loved? Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, you send us out to heal those sick in any way and
to announce the kingdom of God: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy. Jesus
Christ, you tell us to go to people very discreetly and to accept what they
offer us: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you assure us that
nothing will hurt us and that our names are written in heaven. Lord, have
mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy. Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us all our
sins. Give us the enthusiasm to make you known, and lead us to everlasting
life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer Let us pray that our life may proclaim
the gospel (pause)
Our God of peace and joy, you want all people to live in
your covenant of peace and mercy. Keep calling your whole Church and every one
of us to bring to the world a message of peace and of restored love and
justice. Disarm us of our fears, and send us by the power of your Spirit, so
that all may recognize and accept our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever.
R/ Amen.
First Reading (Is 66:10-14c):
A River of Peace In times of war and trials, a prophet says
boldly: God is our mother who will give us peace.
Second Reading (Gal 6:14-18):
We Must Become New in Christ Even when we have to suffer,
like the Lord, we can have peace, if we try to become new and better in Christ.
Gospel (Lk 10:1-12,17-20 or 10:1-9):
Jesus Sends Out His Disciples Jesus sends his disciples into
the world to bring to all those willing to listen to the message of God’s
peace. Those who welcome this message will have peace.
Intercessions
Since we are his disciples, Jesus sends us out to share his
message o peace and joy. Let us bring before him the desire of all people for
peace and hope and let us say:
R/ Lord, hear your people.
– That
the pastors and lay people in the Church may untiringly announce the Good News
as the source of happiness and peace for all, let us pray: R/
– That
the leaders of nations may give up the senseless race for arms, and set aside
pride and hunger for power to seek genuine and lasting peace, let us pray: R/
– That
we may find peace within ourselves, learn to accept ourselves and seek the
justice and peace of God’s kingdom, let us pray: R/
– That
peoples, races, and cultures may rejoice in one another’s riches and give, even
to the least, access to work, material and spiritual goods, and human dignity,
let us pray: R/
– That
in our homes and communities we may bring the peace of understanding and
compassion to the sick, the handicapped, and the neglected, and that we may do
so in a spirit of love and service, let us pray: R/
Lord Jesus Christ, make us lovers and sharers of your Good
News, for you are our peace and hope, now and forever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, let your Son break for us his bread of peace and
pour for us his wine of joy. Let him go with us to speak words that bring peace
and to have the courage to seek the peace of justice, forgiveness and hope, today
and every day, for ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
With Jesus we now praise and thank the Father for having
saved us by his Son's death and resurrection. As his disciples may we work
faithfully to bring all into God’s kingdom.
Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer
As disciples concerned about God’s kingdom, we pray to our
Father in heaven that this kingdom may come to all people. R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and
grant us your peace in our day. Free us from all self-complacency that encloses
us within ourselves. Help us to share the joy and hope of the good news of the
gospel with all people eager for it and also with those who are indifferent to
it because they do not know its riches. May we all work together for the coming
among us of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is the Lord who says: “Come to me, all you who are
weary and find life hard to bear, for I will refresh you.” Come, let us taste
and see the goodness of the Lord: R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Our God and Father, you have broken for us the one bread of
your Son and poured for us the wine of his one cup. May we all be and remain the
one body of Christ, in unity, love and peace, Send us to bring your peace to
all, as lovers and instruments of your peace. We ask you this through Christ
our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
The message of today should stir the People of God —all and
each of us— to become a missionary Church, open to all, reaching out to all, because
only Christ and his gospel can bring real joy and true peace. We are all part
of that Church and so our task is to make visible that Christ is alive among
us. May almighty God bless you for this mission: the Father, and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen. Go in the peace of Christ and share that peace
with all. R/ Thanks be to God.
Commentary
Reasons
to Rejoice: Isaiah paints the maternal heart of God: God
who nurses and comforts us, and whose hand accompanies us. Precisely because he
bears in his body the very marks of Christ, Paul is unable to discriminate
between people, for all are a new creation in Christ. Jesus sends the
seventy-two, to offer his peace, mercy, and healing to everyone willing to
receive. Reflect: The reaction of the disciples
returning from the fruitful mission is revealing as to their priorities: they
are overjoyed that even evil forces were obedient to them! Don’t
they sound a bit similar to today’s tele-evangelists and preachers of a
“prosperity gospel” who cannot proclaim enough of the miracles God is working
through them? Jesus, like a true master, does not invalidate their
experience, but gently reminds them that their authority comes from him.
And more importantly, he invites them to rejoice primarily not because the evil
forces obey them, but because they themselves have been recipients of God’s
grace and redemption. They – and by extension, we – are not primarily givers,
but recipients; and we can give only what we have received. Pray: Pray for a
heart that rejoices in God’s mercies, to us and to others. Act: Share with
another person about an occasion when you experienced unmerited grace from God.
