Greeting (See Second Reading)
We have become imitators of the Lord and it was with the joy of the Spirit that we accepted the gospel; we have become servants of the real, living God. May Jesus, the Lord we expect, be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. God in People
Do we love God? Of course, we say; what a queer question! Is it really so self-evident that we love God with our whole heart, soul, and mind? There is a good test of our love of God: How patient are you with your cranky husband or wife? Can you forgive the former friend who cheated you in an important deal? Can you still love the neighbor who unjustly brought you to court about the boundary of your property? Your neighbor is the visible shape of the invisible God. Ask Jesus in this eucharist to recognize him in your neighbor.
B. You Will Be Known By Your Love
Do people say of our Christian communities today what they said about the first Christians, "See how they love one another"? How different our world would be if we had put into practice a love like that of God and the first Christians! Christian love, the one with which we love God and people and ourselves is a love that has God as its source and force. It is this love that Jesus teaches us and asks of us here in this eucharist.
Penitential Act
It is difficult to love God in people. Let us ask the Lord and people to forgive us where we have failed. (PAUSE)
The child in the slums was you, Lord, and we did not love you: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
The shy alien living among us is you, Lord, and we have not learned to love you: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
The family around the corner that has failed to repay its debts is you, Lord, and it is difficult to love them: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
In your great mercy, forgive us, Lord, and help us to love you in people. Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that our love of God may become real and tangible in our love of our neighbor (PAUSE)
God, you display your almighty power in loving us without regret. In the human heart of Jesus your Son, you have shown us how far love can go. Give us a love that is forgiving, generous, and gentle like his, so that we may recognize and welcome him in our brothers and sisters. And may our hearts reach out first to the poorest and the least lovable, with the gratuitous love you have given us in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word First Reading Introduction: Love the poor in the name of the Covenant
In the name of the covenant, God's people is asked to do the same for the poor as God has done for his people: show love to strangers, widows and orphans, to people with debts.
Second Reading Introduction: Faith is contagious
The faith of the Christians of Saloniki is a model to all who believe and inspire other communities. For genuine faith is contagious.
Gospel Introduction: Above all:
Love Jesus makes love of neighbor the sign of the love of God. What matters above all is the love of God and of people.
General Intercessions
Let us pray to our kind and merciful God that his love for us may animate all we do and that our love may become contagious. Let us say: R/ Lord, make us instruments of your love.
- That the Church, the People of God, may never cease to proclaim by its teaching, life, and liturgy that love of God and neighbor is the heart of the gospel and that people are God's gift to us, let us pray: R/ Lord, make us instruments of your love.
- That people may not lose their hearts in today's economic systems of profit, efficiency, production, and competition, but that they may keep giving first place to human relationships of friendship and respect, let us pray: R/ Lord, make us instruments of your love.
- That we may have room in our hearts and homes for refugees and strangers, that we may learn to share our goods and ourselves with the little people loved by God
- the poor and the lonely and those who suffer, let us pray: R/ Lord, make us instruments of your love.
- That those who don't know how to forgive, those who have not experienced much happiness in life or whose longings have not been fulfilled may encounter a bit of God's goodness in our attention and care, let us pray: R/ Lord, make us instruments of your love.
- That in our Christian communities we may uplift one another rather than tear down, accept each other with trust and affection, forgive one another from the heart, and go forward together in hope and love, let us pray: R/ Lord, make us instruments of your love.
Our gentle God, help us to love you and one another with your measure, that is, without measure, in Christ Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father, in this eucharist we remember how Jesus your Son gave himself with a love without measure, going all the way through suffering and death. Make our love creative, like his, that we too may not break the crushed reed nor put out the smoldering wick but lift up the weak and sustain one another in hope. Let this be our answer to your love, by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
In this Eucharist, we remember how Jesus sacrificed himself for us because he loved us without limits. Let us thank the Father for this love and offer him our willingness to live for him and for people.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
We know that the Father loves us and so we pray to him Jesus' prayer of trust. : R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from the coldness of sin which refuses to warm up to you and our neighbor. Keep us free from pride which looks down on others. Banish all envy and hatred from among us, and bind us together in your love, that we may prepare in hope and joy for the full coming among us of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom..
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus the Lord, who said: Love the Lord your God with your whole heart and soul; love one another as I have loved you. By this love, people will know that you are my disciples. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
God our Father, you have satisfied our hunger for love by giving us your Son Jesus Christ. Following his example, let us send no one away empty, exclude no one, classify no one, and build no walls around ourselves or others. Let our happiness not be complete as long as our brothers and sisters suffer. Help us to take all the risks of love, for it is not so much our love we want to give but yours, which became visible in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
In this Eucharist, we have experienced God's love for us. Now that he has warmed us with his love, may we let its glow shine on those around us, with the blessing of almighty God: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen. Go, and love one another as the Lord has loved you. R/ Thanks be to God.
