Greeting (See Responsorial Psalm) I will listen to the voice of the Lord, for it speaks of peace. His help is near for those who fear him. May the Lord with his help be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant Is the Lord to be found also in the chaos of our doubts, our confusion, our hesitant faith? Can he still be found in the disorder of our time? He is there, in the storms and difficulties of the little world of our own heart and in the wide, divided and threatening world, but it is hard to recognize him there. If we really encounter the Lord in faith, friendship and deep love, then the Lord makes everything become quiet, even when the storm wind keeps blowing, for the Lord makes his presence felt. Keep trusting, keep believing, for the Lord is here with us.
Penitential Act When we sink into sin, we cry out: Lord, save me, for I am perishing. Let us ask the Lord to extend his saving hand. (PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you ask us: People of little faith, why do you doubt? Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, when we are full of fear, you tell us: courage! It is I! Do not be afraid. Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we ask you: if it is you, tell us to come to you across the water and to follow you all the way: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, calm the storms caused in us by sin; give us your peace and lead us to the joys of everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer Let us pray God for a firm faith that cannot be shaken (PAUSE)
God our Father, we believe in you, in your love and your care. But you know how our faith is often tried by doubts, uncertainties and fears. Make our faith strong enough to believe that your Son Jesus is with us to revive our faith and to give us the courage to live with the risks of doubts and ambiguities, and to confirm in their faith our brothers and sisters in need. Keep us hoping, and let Jesus take us by the hand and lead us to you, our God and Father for ever. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word First Reading Introduction:
After the storm came a gentle breeze The fiery prophet Elijah is discouraged when all his efforts do not lead to lasting results. He marches to the desert, to the mountain of God. There God comes to him, not in fire and storm but as a gentle breeze and gives him fresh courage.
Second Reading Introduction:
May my people accept Christ Paul is very sad that the Jews, the people of the promise, have not accepted Christ. Yet, when the promised Savior came, they did not recognize him.
Gospel Introduction:
Tell me to come to you across the water Peter stands for the Church and also for each of us. If in the storms of our times we rely only on ourselves, we are in danger. If we trust in Jesus Christ, we are safe.
General Intercessions
Let us pray with great faith to our God who is ever-present to people. He speaks to us with a voice of peace. Let us say: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in lightning and thunder of anger and revenge. Hear the cries of your Church wherever it is persecuted and deprived of freedom, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in the tornado of those who inflict harm on their opponents; be merciful on their victims and on those who hurt them, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in the earthquake of those who sow fear and cause wars. Give peace and justice to their victims and also to those who hurt them, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in the fire of those who judge and condemn other people. Show your gentleness to those who are their victims and convert the hearts of those who hurt others, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are in the gentle breeze of people who try to serve you well and who bring joy to their families and communities. Stay close to them and give them courage, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
Father, we hope in you, we trust in your word. Be near to us, let your Son be our companion in life now and for ever. R/ Amen. Prayer over the Gifts
You wish to reassure us, Lord our God, how much you are with us through him who is our food and drink, your Son Jesus Christ. May he give us the courage to walk with him the stormy road of faith and to take the risk of love. May we thus set our fears aside and make his reassuring word the foundation of our life and work, until we reach the haven of peace in you, our God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
With one heart and one voice, let us express our trust in God, for he gave us his Son Jesus as our Savior and companion in life. Invitation to the Lord's Prayer Let us pray with the Lord Jesus his prayer of trust in our heavenly Father. R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us Deliver us, Lord, from sin and every evil and grant us your peace in our day. Keep us free from discouragement and from all paralyzing fears. Help us to discover behind obstacles the saving hand of your Son, that we may march forward with joyful hopetoward the full comingof our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom..
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, the Son of God, who says to us today: "Take courage, it is I; come to me and walk with me across dangers and obstacles." Happy are we to receive the Lord and to have him renew our faith and strength. R/ Lord, I am not worthy... Prayer after Communion
Lord God, Father of all, you invite us through Jesus, your Son, to leave our timid security and to come across the water with him to commit ourselves to you and to others. Even though we do not see his hand reaching out to us and holding us, give us enough trusting faith to be certain that with him we shall overcome. Build up your future among us, until Jesus leads us across to you, our God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing This eucharist has been, I hope, a heartening experience of faith. We have expressed our faith that Jesus our Lord is with us, that he never abandons us, that he stays with us in the storms of life, that he extends his helping hand to us and that with him we can overcome all obstacles. May this hope and trust always grow in us, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in the peace of Christ. R/ Thanks be to God.
