THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Time Is Running Out
Greetings (see the gospel)
Our Lord is here in our midst and tells us: “The time has come, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent and believe the Good News.” May you heed his words and may the Lord be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
“Do not postpone until tomorrow what you can do today,” says an old proverb. Unfortunately, we often do the opposite, saying that there will be time enough tomorrow. God’s word, though, keeps urging us. The time to do the things of God is now. The time to change is urgent. Repent now, be converted now, God and his kingdom are here with you now. With the Lord among us here we ask him to make us listen now to his Good News and to make it come true among us now.
Penitential Act
Too easily we postpone our wish to serve God better. We now ask the Lord to forgive us. (pause)
Lord Jesus, you tell us that now the time has come to turn away from our sins: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you ask us to accept fully your Good News and to live by it: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you urge us to serve you and your kingdom: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
In your kind mercy, forgive us, Lord, for being so slow to accept your word and to implement it fully. Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that we may answer the Lord’s urgent call for conversion. (pause)
God our Father, you tell us through Jesus your Son that it is more than time for us to be converted to the Good News which he wants us to hear and to live up to. You alone can change us. Give us the courage to entrust ourselves without fear and hesitation to Jesus and to follow him wherever he leads us, for we are sure he will lead us to joy and make us share his words and life with our brothers and sisters, and guide us to you, our God and Father for ever. R/ Amen.
First Reading: Josah 3:1-5,10 Pagans Are Also Called to Conversion
Jonah, thinking that salvation is only for the Jews, reluctantly preaches conversion to pagans. These pagans listen to the word of God and turn away from evil.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 The Detached Style of Life of Christians
Because Christians are converted and turned to God, they are supposed to live for the kingdom. Hence, they should use the things of this world without attaching themselves to them.
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20 Repent, and Believe the Good News
The Good News proclaimed by Jesus Christ demands conversion and commitment of faith. The apostles respond with total generosity and will cast their nets over the world to gather everyone and all in Christ.
Intercessions
Let us recommend to God our Father the needs and sufferings of this world, and let us say: R/ Lord, renew our hearts.
– For the Church dear to us, that the Lord may help it to keep renewing itself, that it may
stay on the road of the gospel and help people to live it as Good News, let us pray to the Lord:
R/ Lord, renew our hearts.
– For those who leave their nets to follow Jesus the Lord, that they may so live the Gospel as to make it visible and tangible, let us pray to the Lord:
R/ Lord, renew our hearts.
– For those who are rejoicing, that they may take the time to bring joy to others, let us pray to the Lord:
R/ Lord, renew our hearts.
– For those who weep, that they may keep hoping for the time when their tears will be dried, let us pray to the Lord:
R/ Lord, renew our hearts.
– And for all of us, that the Lord may give us courage to take the gospel seriously and to live in closer union with Jesus, let us pray to the Lord:
R/ Lord, renew our hearts.
Keep calling us, Lord, but give us the strength to respond to your call, by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father, you know how we are, at the same time looking and groping for you with goodwill and yet fickle, unreliable and weak. With these gifts of bread and wine, we bring before you our good intentions, and our desire to please you in all we do. Accept us with these offerings and give us the strength to follow the words of life and the example of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is good that Jesus is with us, for left to ourselves we are not capable of responding to the challenge of the gospel. Let us thank the Father for giving us Jesus.
Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
That our hearts may be set on God’s kingdom, let us pray to God our Father the prayer of Jesus, his Son and our brother: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from our indifference, and from our fickleness which keeps us from seeking you with all our hearts. Help us to break the chains of sin, that we can become free for you and for your kingdom and for serving our neighbor. Grant us the peace of your lasting friendship and give us the courage to prepare for the full coming among us of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus our Lord, God’s Son, and our brother. He invites us to repent and to believe in him and his Good News. Happy are we to hear him and to receive him as our food of strength.
R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
God our Father, it has been a joy for us to be with your Son and to eat from his table. He has spoken to us and calls us to be his disciples and to come after him. Give us the courage not to hesitate but to leave behind our petty self-interests, our little plans, and narrow thoughts; open us to his wide new world of all that is true and good and lovable. By the strength of the food he has given us, make us go without fear where he goes and follow him on the road to you, our God forever and ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
Let us not forget the urgency of the Lord’s call in this celebration. The time to conform our mentality to that of Jesus and his Good News is not later, but NOW, today: the time has come to be real disciples of Jesus. May almighty God give you that courage and bless you: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in the peace of Christ.
R/ Thanks be to God.
