Greeting (See Second Reading)
May the peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. May his peace be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. I Expected Sweet Grapes
Church, people of God of today, the Lord asks an answer from us: look at all the good things he has given us: our faith, the people around us, his own kingdom lovingly entrusted to us, and what have we done with all this? Have we cared for his trusting love? Let us ask Jesus in this eucharist that from now on we may give with Jesus an eager and generous answer to our Father in heaven.
B. Our Care of God's Vineyard
A good farmer, even one who rents the land, takes care of his fields and crops even more than a trader of his business. For he loves all that grows and bears fruit; there is life in it, he can see it grow. God loves his people, the vineyard he has planted and surrounded with loving care. His Son died for us, his people, that it might live and grow. God has entrusted this vineyard to us, leaders and people together, not as a privilege but as a field to work in, so that it can bear rich fruits of justice and love. Where are these fruits?
Penitential Act
Let us examine ourselves before the Lord whether we have been responsible Christians. (PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you have entrusted to us this earth as a beautiful vineyard. We have neglected it. Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you have entrusted to us people to care for with love. We have often remained indifferent to them. Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you have entrusted to us our faith as a plant to grow. We have cared little for it. Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Merciful and tender God, forgive us all our sins through the sacrifice of your Son and lead us to everlasting life . R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray the Lord to keep surrounding us with his care, till we bear rich fruit (PAUSE)
Lord God, our Father, you ask of us today: My people, answer me: What more could I have done for you? Teach and help us to respond with our whole being to your daily forgiveness and patience, to the riches of life brought us by Jesus, to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, that we may be a people that bears lasting fruits. May we bring to all a justice animated by love, may we learn to share as you do with us. Show us your mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: God's people is his vineyard
God's people is like a vineyard which he planted and tended with loving care. Yet his people do not respond to God's love.
Second Reading Introduction: Christian living opens us to God's grace
Paul invites his Christians to live in union with God and to integrate all human values. A good Christian is a good person and lives in God's peace.
Gospel Introduction: Are we faithful caretakers?
God has entrusted his kingdom to us. We are his caretakers and must produce fruits of Christian living. Otherwise the kingdom will be taken away from us.
General Intercessions
United with our Lord Jesus Christ as branches of the life-giving vine, let us pray to the Father for everything that the Church and the world need, and let us say: R/ Lord, hear the people you love.
- For the Church, which we are together, that it may always remain young and faithful and inspire its members and the whole world with a sense of hope and deep love, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the people you love.
- For the whole Christian people, that we may show patience and compassion to people who go astray, to those who disappoint us, and accept them as the Lord accepts us, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the people you love.
- For those who offend the rights of others, that they may return to the Lord, and that all of us may be just and fair to all and even enrich our justice with love, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the people you love.
- For all those, Christian and others, who in honesty and with courage keep trying to bring happiness and goodness to the people around them, especially the poor, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the people you love.
- And for all of us in our Christian community here, that we may be grateful that the Lord has made us the vineyard and the tenants from whom he expects much, and that we may respond to his expectations, we pray: R/ Lord, hear the people you love.
God our Father, may we really become what you have called us to be: your vineyard, your holy people, who respond to your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Faithful God, we bring these gifts before you to celebrate how you have made with us, your chosen people, a new and everlasting covenant through the death and rising of your Son. Do not allow us to become proud of being the people you love, but help us to be worthy of your trust and to give you a response of deep faith expressed in service. Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer With our praise and thanks, let us bring before our Father in heaven our willingness to bear fruits of honesty, goodness and justice.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer (See Second Reading) Let us pray in the words of Jesus to our heavenly Father to present our needs to him in petitions full of gratitude. : R/ Our Father... Deliver Us (See Second Reading)
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, above all from the evil of sin. Grant us peace in our day, peace among nations and in our homes, above all your own peace which surpasses all understanding. Direct our thoughts to all that is true, all that is honest, beautiful and good, as we prepare for the full coming among us of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom..
Invitation to Communion
Because there is one bread, we, though many, are one body, for we all share in the one loaf and the one cup. This is Jesus our Lord; he is our bread of unity. R/ Lord, I am not worthy... Prayer after Communion
Lord, mighty God, in this eucharist your Son has been your encouraging word and our food of strength for building up your kingdom among your people. Deepen our trust that Christ will stay with us and that he is the foundation on which we build. Make us inventive and creative in sharing the good news we have received with all who are willing to listen. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
The message of today called attention to our great responsibility as Christians. We are God's cherished people. We are answerable to God and sent by him for making his good news known to all by our words and our deeds, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen. Go in peace, and let your life be a song of gratitude to the Lord . R/ Thanks be to God.
