Greeting (See Second Reading)
There is only Christ: he is everything and he is in
everything. He has brought us back to true life. May his grace and peace be
with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
What are we living for?
What do we consider most important in life? The message of
today confronts us with this question. And it is basic for our Christian
living. Are there more important things for us than money, goods and power? Do
we find love of God and neighbor, friendship and affection and concern for each
other greater and lasting and worthy of living for? What is the answer we give
Jesus today?
What Brings Us Happiness That Lasts?
We all need the things that are necessary for life, but our
human experience keeps reminding us again and again of what Jesus told us in
the gospel long ago: accumulating riches does not bring happiness! The joy of
living does not depend on full granaries or fat bank accounts. The quality of
life and its joy depend rather on how much we love the Lord and one another and
on how far we can share what we have. That is how we become rich in the sight
of God. In this Eucharist we ask our Lord that he bring us joy and happiness
along with his friendship.
Penitential Act
What Are We Living for?
With empty hands and hearts we stand before the Lord and ask
him to forgive and heal us. (pause)
Lord Jesus, you were born in poverty. When we look too much
for a life of comfort, Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you had no stone on which to let your head
rest. When we put our security in the things we have, Christ, have mercy. R/
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, your concern was God’s honor and the joy of
people. When we fail to share with those in need, Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord,
have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us our greed and our
overconcern for material things
Make us generous in sharing and lead us to everlasting life.
R/ Amen.
What Brings us Happiness That Lasts?
Too often we have put our happiness and life in things that
are very perishable. Let us ask the Lord to forgive us. (pause)
Lord Jesus, you are our life and you want us to live for
values that last: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you are rich in mercy and you want us to be
rich in forgiveness and love: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you brought us freedom and you want us to be
free from greed and free for God and people: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have
mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, and free us from the slavery of sin.
Make us put our trust in you and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that we may use this earth’s goods wisely in the
service of God and people (pause)
Father, you care, and so in you we trust. Our hearts are
divided, yet we have to provide care and security to those we love. Do not
allow greed to blind us so as to pile up goods we do not need and things that
do not really matter. Make us generous sharers of what we have with the hungry
and the poor, that we may become rich in your sight. We ask this through Christ
our Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading (Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23): What Will Remain in
the End?
The author of the first reading speaks from sad
experience: possessions and human endeavors alone do not guarantee happiness.
He does not give a solution, but poses the problem very poignantly.
1 Reading: Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23
Second Reading (Col 3:1-5,9-11): Aim High!
The sense of life and our true values, says St. Paul, lie
beyond this life on earth, for we have become new in Christ; Christ is our
everything.
2 Reading: Col 3:1-5, 9-11
Gospel (Lk 12:13-21): Our Riches Is God
Our riches are to be found in God; possessions give us no
security, for only God can give lasting happiness.
Gospel: Lk 12:13-21
Intercessions
Let us pray now to God, the origin and final end of our
riches, happiness and joy, and let us say: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
– For
a poor and serving Church in which people try to have open hands and open
hearts for all, let us pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
– For
more justice and equality in our world; for effective political, social and
economic reforms that allow people to enjoy the fruits of their work, material
and spiritual goods, and the treasures of education and culture, let us pray:
R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
– For
poets, artists and scientists, that they may help us to admire and enjoy the
power and beauty of God’s creation and to give praise to God, let us pray: R/
Lord, your kingdom come.
– For
those who are rich and powerful, that they may learn to share; for the poor,
the humble, the exploited, that they may find help and keep hoping, let us
pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
– For
all of us, that we may learn to enjoy the things of life: friendship and
affection, unity and compassion, people who inspire us and even learn to love
our enemies, let us pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
Lord our God, keep us attentive to the brittleness of all
things we attach ourselves to. Make us share our goods and talents and keep us
trusting in you, our riches and our hope, now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, from your own gifts to us we bring bread and
wine before you. Let them become the signs in which Jesus gives himself to us. May
we learn from him to use your gifts and our efforts in the service of you and
our neighbor, that they may lead us to happiness that lasts for ever and ever.
R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
God has made us not the owners but the stewards of his
creation. Let us thank him for his goodness and offer everything to him through
Jesus.
Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer
With Jesus our Lord we pray to our Father in heaven for the
things we need on the way to him: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and set us free from all
attachments that keep us from giving ourselves to you and to people. Help us to
live in your hands,
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
This is Jesus our Lord, who became poor to make us rich in
grace and wisdom and love. Happy are we to receive him as the Father’s free
gift. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
God, giver of all good gifts,
we have received your Son from you.
You want us to enjoy life's good things
At the same time, we should not let them become our masters.
Give us enough faith, Lord,
to see that, no matter how much we have,
We are still poor if you are not our riches,
and that we are wealthy, even in poverty,
When we have you and your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
It was good to reflect together on the relative value of the
things we have. Yes, let us enjoy without scruple the simple, God-given things
of everyday life. But let us always remain free, as we are liberated by Jesus
our Lord; we are never again to be enslaved to anyone or to anything. And let
us share with one another our friendship, our joys, our goods, with the
blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/
Amen.
Let us go in the peace and security of Christ. R/ Thanks be
to God.
***
Commentary
True Home and Destiny
Read:
The book of Ecclesiastes laments the meaninglessness and
irony of human life. Paul asks Colossians to set one’s mind on the things from
above. Jesus relativizes earthly riches and invites us to seek to be wealthy in
the eyes of God.
Reflect:
In the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society, John
Keating, the new English teacher, leads his students towards a group photo of
senior alumni (who are all now dead), displayed prominently in the school.
Referring to them, Keating observes: “The world was their oyster. They believed
they were destined for greatness…. But these boys are now fertilizing
daffodils.” Shocking imagery, but so very true! How we obsess about many
material achievements in life, as if we would live forever! We live as if death
happens to someone else, and not to us! Once a woman in her late 80s came to me
to discuss her end-of-life decisions. While speaking, she repeatedly used the
phrase, “if I die…” I gently said to her: “Perhaps you might want to say, ‘when I
die.’” She stood stunned for a moment and then broke into a smile of
recognition.
Pray:
Pray for a clear awareness about our true home and destiny.
Act:
Spend some time in a cemetery, meditating on the fragility of life.
