Liturgy Alive Saturday, August 16, 2014

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Saturday, August 16, 2014

 

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you love all that is little and humble.
As a child seeks refuge in the arms of its parents,
may our strength be to let you carry us.
Teach us through little children
not to boast of anything we have
or anything we have done
but to be open to and receptive of your grace. 
For you are our greatness and richness
through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Introduction to the First Reading
       It is true that we often suffer the consequences or enjoy the benefits of the deeds of others, good or bad, that there is a solidarity in sin. Yet, Ezekiel points out for us today, that each is personally responsible for the good or evil one does. And so, he calls the people out of their fatalistic attitude. As God's sons and daughters, we should renew ourselves and personally commit ourselves to all that is good.

Introduction to Gospel Reading
     Few people today take Jesus' words seriously when he says: "To such as these little children the kingdom of heaven belongs." Many, for example, discredit the spirituality of the little way of St Therese of Lisieux. We speak of adulthood in Christ, of a human and spiritual maturity. And yet, true adulthood consists in what God wanted us to be in Jesus Christ, in being receptive to the gospel. To the disciples, who have no use for children and who want to cut the gospel to the measure of their petty ideas, Jesus holds up the child not as a sign of innocence but as a model of openness to God and to the good news of his Son. It is the entrance ticket to the kingdom.

 

General Intercessions

- That all of us may love and respect children and all that is little and brittle, we pray:

- That those who have promised fidelity in marriage may remain faithful to each other, we pray:

- That out of gratitude for all God has given us we may be faithful in our love for him and for people, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
we remember that when you appeared among us,
you came in your Son as a little child
dependent on people.
May we accept you with a child's heart,
trusting in you and your love,
admiring you for all the great things 
you do among us
and loving you in return
with the spontaneous, uncomplicated love of children.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
we thank you for letting Jesus come among us
in the simplicity of a family meal.
This is an occasion for us to pray
for our children and their parents.
Dispose parents to let their children
feel and taste in their care and love
that you, God, care and love 
all that is fragile and little.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Let us stand before God in all humility, aware of how much we owe him. And ask God to bless you, and especially your children: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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