Greeting
Through Jesus, God has entrusted the Church to weak human hands. May the Spirit of the Lord guide the leaders and members of the Church and may the Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. In the Hands of Weak People
We may wonder at times how Jesus put his Church into the hands of weak, frail people, both in our leaders and in us, the members. Still, God trusts us and our leaders and promises to be with us until the end of the ages. God seems to trust us more than we at times trust him. Let us ask Jesus present here that we and our leaders may live up to that trust.
B. Authority in the Church
Who is the Church for us? Not only the pope and the bishops. They are the foundations, entrusted by Christ to lead and preside and serve, keep order and unify; but we too, with them, are the Church. It is our responsibility to cooperate with them and in all trust and maturity to share in their burden and to build up the Church with them. Together we are the Church of Christ. Together we now celebrate our faith in Christ.
C. You Are the Christ
If we could see Jesus standing here before us, a man of flesh and blood, and he would ask us: "Who do you say I am?" what answer would we give him? Who is he to you? He is here among us. Do we see in him our Savior and our Lord? Is he the meaning of all we live for? Let us give him an answer of faith here in this eucharist.
Penitential Act
Let us ask forgiveness from the Lord that our faith and trust are often hesitant and weak. (PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, we believe in you for you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, we trust that you pardon us, for you have commissioned your Church to bring your forgiveness to the world: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we rely on your promise that the powers of evil can never overcome the people you have won for yourself: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, we trust in you that in your great mercy you forgive us. Help us bring your forgiveness to others and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us thank the Father for our faith in Jesus and for trust in the leadership of the Church (PAUSE)
God our Father, we give you thanks that you have gifted us with faith in your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord. Make this faith grow in us, that it may weather all questions and difficulties. Give us also a great understanding and trust in the leadership of the Church, that together with our Pope and our bishops we may strengthen the community of the faithful of your Church and bear witness with them to the world of your saving mercy and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word First Reading Introduction: The leader is responsible to God
God entrusts his work to people. He gives them "the key" of authority. They are responsible to him and to the people. Second Reading Introduction: To God be glory forever
Paul has explained how God offers salvation both to the Jews and to pagans. He praises God for his great wisdom. Gospel Introduction: Peter is our rock. Who is Jesus for us?
To Jesus' question, "Who am I for you?" Peter professes his faith: "You are the Savior, the Son of the living God." Jesus lets him share in his own authority for the service of his fellow apostles and the whole Church.
Introduction to the Creed
With Peter and the whole Church we express our faith in God and in Jesus, our Savior. R/ I believe...
General Intercessions
Let us pray to God our Father from whom comes all authority in heaven and on earth, and let us say: R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.
- For the Holy Father, Pope N. that the Holy Spirit may strengthen him to lead the Church with wisdom and courage, in co-responsibility with all bishops, let us pray to the Lord: R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.
- For all bishops and priests, that they may speak to the People of God words of hope and encouragement; that they may be the hand that raises up those who fall and cannot go further, let us pray: R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.
- For all Christians, that the Lord Jesus Christ may remain the cornerstone on which their lives are built, and that they may build up the Church by their loving and dedicated service, let us pray: R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.
- For the mighty of this earth, the leaders of nations, that they may not abuse power or resort to oppression or violence and defend the poor and the people without voice, let us pray. R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.
- For all those in positions of authority and influence, for parents and educators, for reporters and programmers in the mass media, that they may respect human dignity and promote truth, justice and peace, let us pray. R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.
Lord our God, help us to respect each person as someone for whom Christ has given his life. Let your Son come alive in our midst, that we may build up one another in faith and courage, trust and hope, for he is our Lord for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, give us in this eucharist the body of your Son, that we may become more and more the body of the Church, the living community of your Son. Through him we offer you all honor and glory for ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Among us is Jesus, the Savior, the Son of the living God. With him we offer to God our Father this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
We stand before the Father in heaven and pray now with Jesus our Lord the prayer he himself has taught us. : R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from our lack of faith and from the evil of every sin. Give us the peace and trust that come from knowing that Jesus is alive among us as our Lord and safe guide. Reassure us that with him there is nothing to fear and that with him we can build the kingdom of service and love among us, of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.R/ For the kingdom..
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior and the Son of the living God. Happy are we who believe in him and who receive him as our food of life. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
God of power and might, your Son Jesus Christ has come here among us without any display of power but rather as the humble servant of his brothers and sisters. Let those who bear in the Church the burden of authority become more like your Son. Unconcerned about power and prestige, may they reflect the attitude of your Son, who came not to be served but to serve. Let this be their way to become great in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
We have experienced in this eucharist a bit of the unity of the Church. We have felt one in Christ. After Christ and under him, the principle of unity in love and service is the pope, and with him the bishops. With them we are called to continue the mission of Christ in the Church and in the world. May God bless you all for this task, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen. Go in the love and peace of Christ. R/ Thanks be to God.
