Liturgy Alive Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Introduction

What is the meaning of the commandments to us? To some, they are the summary and summit of all morality; to others, narrow and outmoded rules; still to others, obstacles to the freedom of the gospel.
To Israel, they were the expression of fidelity to God and to the whole people as part of God’s covenant. They were the road to freedom from all forms of slavery: to other gods, to selfishness, to exploitation of one person by another. They were the signs of belonging to God and God’s nearness. And they were witnesses that love of God and love of neighbor cannot be separated.
In Christ, all this is fulfilled, and more. The commandments remain, but they become a basic step not to salvation by observances, but to seeking communion with God in Christ and communion with our neighbor, animated by love.

Opening Prayer

Lord, our God,
you have given us your commandments
to set us on the road of freedom
from all forms of alienation.
May we learn to obey them
not to save ourselves by observances
nor to do you favors,
but to be free for you and for people
and to live in your love,
with Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.

General Intercessions

–    That we may learn to look at the commandments not as obstacles to our freedom, but like the people of God of old, as guidelines for fidelity and freedom, we pray:
–    That we may not get entangled in the letter of the law, but serve the Lord with the freedom of the sons and daughters of God as Jesus teaches us in the Gospel, we pray:
–    That we ask ourselves not so much of what must we do but rather what can we do for the love of God and people, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, our God,
you are near to us
in your Son, Jesus Christ.
May he make us aware
of the price he paid for our freedom.
As we sit at table with him,
may he give us the grace and strength
to give you a response of freedom,
that with him, we may love you
as your sons and daughters,
now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord, our God,
you have chosen us to be your people.
May your Son be alive in us,
that with him, we may be faithful to you
and march forward together
to build a land of freedom
and to share with one another
until you share yourself with us for ever.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

Let the great commandment given to us by Jesus guide our life and make it beautiful and rich: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself, with the blessing of the Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Sprit.