Liturgy Alive Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Opening Prayer
    Our God with a heart,
    in your Son Jesus Christ you have shown us
    your compassion for all that is weak
    Give us shepherds who care for your people
    and nourish them with faith and trust in you
    and with an unselfish love
    that knows how to serve
    even without waiting for gratitude.
    Let it be the kind of gratuitous love
    that you have shown us
    in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

Introduction to the First Reading
The people of God in the OT deserted God for idols - false gods, sham gods of their own making. They tried to fashion a god in their own image and likeness. Are we Christians free from idolatry? We make our own idols and bend our knees to them - some in the crude way: God is for Sundays; power, money, the horoscope for weekdays, or drugs and escapists pleasure; others in a milder way, but perhaps equally destructive of people and of God in us: efficiency, timesaving and speed, mechanization of life, comfort. Even the pious person may have his little idols: his devotions, his institutions, his intolerance, and his tendency to turn laws and authority into absolutes. Who is our God?

First Reading: Hos 8:4-7, 11-13
Thus says the LORD:They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority;they established princes, but without my approval.With their silver and gold they madeidols for themselves, to their own destruction.Cast away your calf, O Samaria!my wrath is kindled against them;How long will they be unable to attaininnocence in Israel?

The work of an artisan,no god at all,Destined for the flames—such is the calf of Samaria!When they sow the wind,they shall reap the whirlwind;The stalk of grain that forms no earcan yield no flour;Even if it could,strangers would swallow it.When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin,his altars became occasions of sin.Though I write for him my many ordinances,they are considered as a stranger’s.Though they offer sacrifice,immolate flesh and eat it,the LORD is not pleased with them.He shall still remember their guiltand punish their sins;they shall return to Egypt.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 115:3-4,5-6,7-8,9-10

    R./ The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.  or: Alleluia.

    Our God is in heaven;
    whatever he wills, he does.
    Their idols are silver and gold,
    the handiwork of men.

    R./ The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.  or: Alleluia.

    They have mouths but speak not;
    they have eyes but see not;
    They have ears but hear not;
    they have noses but smell not.

    R./ The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.  or: Alleluia.

    They have hands but feel not;
    they have feet but walk not.
    Their makers shall be like them,
    everyone that trusts in them.

    R./ The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.  or: Alleluia.

Introduction to the Gospel
Jesus was spreading his message of good news in word and deed. Today he asks us that there may be among us many who hear his invitation to continue his work and to bring his liberating compassion to the people of our day. At least all of us should pray for such messengers, for the need is urgent.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:32-38

Some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." (But the Pharisees said, "He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.")

Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest."

General Intercessions

    - For the Church, the People of God, that the Lord may give us shepherds who reconcile and animate with fairness and love, we pray:
    - For all our Christian communities, that we may trust and support our pastors, dialogue with them and share their burdens, we pray:
    - For all of us, that Christ's care for us may inspire us to nourish one another with words of encouragement and hope and deeds of support, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
    Tender and compassionate God,
    you give us food and drink
    to sustain us on the road of life.
    See how many people today
    are needy and rudderless
    and give them shepherds to guide them in life,
    to nourish them with your living word
    and with the food of lasting life,
    Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
    Lord our God,
    your Son Jesus still goes around today
    to our cities and towns far and near.
    Let his word be to all of us
    good news of liberation
    from the diseases of our hearts and bodies
    and make us pass on this message
    to the people around us,
    at least by the way we live it.
    We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Let us be and proclaim the good news of God's kingdom on earth by our goodness and compassion. May almighty God bless you for this task, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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