1. Stand Ready in Faith
2. God Is with UsGreeting (See Heb 3:14)
The Lord Jesus is here with us.
We are all partners with him
if we hold on to the trust
we had in the beginning.
May he always be with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
1. Stand Ready in Faith
It is surprising how many people live in fear: fear of illness, fear of losing their beloved ones, fear of their own death, fear of today, fear of tomorrow. Jesus assures us: “Do not fear! Do not give up your hope! Have faith!” Even when we go through difficult days, we should never give up our faith and hope; we should always stay alert to the Lord and to his loving coming among us. In this eucharist we ask the Lord to keep us always attentive to his presence.
2. God Is with Us
If we knew from the beginning the difficulties we would have to cope with before we could bring something to a good end, would we have had the courage to begin the work? And even then we fail at times. Yes, we would have done it and do it again if we had faith and hope and strength of character. That is what faith and hope are all about: to do what we have to do, to go on even if we are working in the dark, for if we have faith we know we are not alone. God is with us, there is a promise and a future, and the dawn will come. In this Eucharist we ask the Lord to sit with us at table and to give us strength.
Penitential Act
Let us acknowledge before the Lord
that at times we have failed to believe fully
in his promises and in his future.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you tell us:
Do not be afraid. Trust in me.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you ask of us
to be always ready to open the door for you.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you expect us
to serve you in people as your faithful servants.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, let your kind forgiveness
strengthen our faith and hope.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray
for trust in God’s promises
(PAUSE)
Lord God, unseen and yet the ground
of all reality, of all that counts,
we seek security and certainty,
something we can see and hold on to.
It is fearful for us to walk in the dark
and confusing not to know where the road leads.
Be truly our God in whom we trust:
Help us to serve you faithfully in the present
and to be ready to follow you in the future.
Take us by the hand
and guide us through all obstacles
to the land of your promise.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading (Wis 18:6-9): Trust in God’s Promises
When God’s people had to pass through trials, they recalled the night of the first Passover, when God had saved them.
Second Reading Abraham, Father of the Faith
Abraham became a pilgrim of faith because he trusted in God’s promises. He is our model, even if, like him, we don’t see where God will lead us.
Gospel Prepared for the Lord’s Coming
Our faith should be so firm as to make us trust in the word of Jesus and to be ready to meet him any time.
General Intercessions
Let us pray, with the fullest trust, to our kind and faithful God, and let us say: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That the Church may bring the light of faith where there is darkness and indifference, hope where there is fatalism and despair, and love where there is hatred and strife, let us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That leaders, prophets, witnesses of faith, and all those whose task it is to keep hope alive toward a better world may be guided by the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That those who are discouraged by trials, by their troubles and fears, may keep believing and hoping in a God who brings everything to a good end, let us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That all of us may grow in the certainty that our commitment to justice and love, and our dedicated service in everyday life are needed to make God’s promises come true, let us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That we may learn in our communities to share with one another what we have and to bear witness to our living hope, and thus prepare the return of the Lord, let us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
Lord, we know that you love us and that you care for us. We trust in you, our living God for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, here are bread and wine, the signs of faith and hope in a world not sure of where it is going. Accept out thanks for reassuring us that we need not be afraid. For you have set for us the table of your Son Jesus Christ. Let him give us a firm and living faith that makes us trust in your future as the fulfillment of all our hopes. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Each Eucharist is an act of faith and hope, for it is God present among us now as the pledge of our resurrection and the return of Christ in glory. Let us give thanks to the Father for it.
Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer
With Jesus our Lord we entrust ourselves to our Father in heaven and we expect all good things from him, and so we pray: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and from all fear to entrust ourselves to you, even when we are not sure where you lead us. Call us away from our certainties, and lead us to the land of your promise, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those servants whom the Lord finds awake when he comes. He will give them a place at his table and serve them. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, you have kept your promise: you have broken for us the bread of your Son and poured for us his wine of joy. Jesus has waited on us at his table. Help us to hold on to your dream of happiness and justice for all. Help us to live in faith and to support one another, as you lead us to the land of your promise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
We have watched and prayed with the Lord. Let us be people who wait for the return of the Lord, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. For the friend or the stranger who knocks is the Lord himself.
May almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen. Let us go in peace, trusting in the Lord and serving one another. R/ Thanks be to God. -
