Liturgy Alive Monday, June 15, 2015

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Monday, June 15, 2015

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
the injustice found in the world upsets us.
Forgive us the wrongs we have committed
and do not allow us to add
to the evil in the world
by exploiting our brothers and sisters
and using them for our own purposes.
Rather, teach and help us
to stand up for integrity and truth 
out of the goodness of our hearts 
and not to take revenge.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction
     "Do not accept the grace of God in vain. Be always open to it. For today is the acceptable time, today is the day of grace. Do not let it pass!" Are we willing to listen to the voice of Paul?

Gospel Reading Introduction

     Jesus tells us not to repay the unjust by revenge. "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is not Christian. We must rather suffer injustice and let people take advantage of us, at least, when the injustice is done against us. But other parts of the Scriptures tell us to defend others if they are wronged, like the poor, and to fight injustice through goodness and forgiveness. That is how we must break the spiral of evil.

Gospel Reading: Matthew  5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples: 
"You have heard that it was said, 
          An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. 
When someone strikes you on your right cheek, 
          turn the other one to him as well. 
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, 
          hand him your cloak as well. 
Should anyone press you into service for one mile, 
          go with him for two miles. 
Give to the one who asks of you, 
          and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."

General Intercessions

– That in our world, people may learn not to repay violence with more violence, but as much as possible resist evil in a nonviolent way, we pray:
– That reconciliation may be the mark of Christians when they have suffered from personal enmity and hurt, we pray:
– That we may have the courage to stand up for the injustice done to the poor and those exploited, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
in these signs of bread and wine,
we bring before you our willingness
to be just and fair to every person.
But we ask you even for more.
Give us the disposition of your Son,
that we may forgive wholeheartedly
those who have wronged us,
and repay evil with kindness.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
you have shown your goodness to us
by giving us your own Son.
With him, we want to be on the side
of the poor and the disinherited.
Do not allow us to remain silent
when people are trampled upon,
but give us the courage and the patience
to make this cold world
a place of justice and respect for people
and warm it with the love
of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

Break the spiral of evil! Each of us, in her or his own place, has to do away with evil, in oneself, and as much as one can in one's family, occupation and employment and community. May God give you the strength and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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