Liturgy Alive Friday, August 8, 2014

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Friday, August 8, 2014

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
we are but timid people,
and yet you expect of us
to speak the word of your Son
by the witnessing of our lives.
We pray you for the courage
to live the kind of life
that your Son lived
and to follow him wherever he leads us
without the luggage of our securities.
Grant us this conviction
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

Introduction to the First Reading

Today the prophet Jeremiah warns the people that their trust in the temple as God's presence among them is of no value unless they make God present in their lives by living their religion, and the temple will be destroyed as once the Philistines destroyed the sanctuary of Shiloh. The priests and the people threaten to kill Jeremiah.

Introduction to Gospel Reading

Jesus is not welcome either among his people, in his town, his home country, for he is disturbing people's consciences. He confronts them with the challenging reality of God and his ways. Christ shakes his people from their security in laws and outward practices. How dare he, one from their own town and street? Who does he think he is? Dare we to be the prophet's voice needed today? Dare we to be unconventional?

General Intercessions

- That the Spirit of Christ may inspire our leaders of the Church with prophetic zeal to lead our people to true Christian freedom, we pray:

- That there may be prophets also among us today, however annoying we may find them, to remind us of what God expects of us, we pray:

- That the world of today may not turn a deaf ear to the voices of prophets who plead for peace and justice for all, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
we want this bread and wine to signify
that as we share your Son's table
we also accept to be with him
signs of contradiction.
Let him change us
from weak and faint-hearted people
into people with the courage
to live as we believe
and to speak out boldly
for all that is right and good,
as Jesus did, your Son,
who lives with you and with us for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
your Son Jesus has spoken among us
prophetic words and deeds
of courage and self-giving.
Make us bold enough
to go with him his way to people,
even if the best of our intentions
are misunderstood.
We say so in fear and trembling,
but we want to be humble disciples
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

We should learn to listen to prophets, people who have something to say that is perhaps not pleasing but to the point. And we too should have the courage to speak up when needed, especially when we see injustice done to people. May almighty God give you this courage and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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