Liturgy Alive Wednesday, 2nd week of Easter

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Wednesday, April 6, 2016

 

Introduction

God sent his only Son into the world to save us. Salvation. Do we need salvation? We have become so self-sufficient and proud of our human achievements that we often think that salvation belongs to another world - not ours. But when in our sober moments we sit down and reflect, we have to face deeper realities: which achievements? For what? Have they made us happier? Have we made the world a better place to live in? And then we realize that we cannot do it alone. We need salvation - from ourselves, from our achievements, from our so-called progress. And then we become grateful for Jesus, not merely a person-for-others, but God's Son, who is with us and who can still get us out of the mess we are often making.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you loved the world - that is us - so much
that you gave us your only Son
to save us from ourselves
and to give us eternal life.
Do not condemn us, Lord,
do not leave us to ourselves
and to our little schemes
but give us your Son now to stay with us
and to make love and justice and peace
ever new realities among us,
your people reborn in your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

General Intercessions

- That like God the Church may so love the world as to make Jesus known to all and giving him to all peoples far and near, we pray:
- That those who cannot believe in God because life is very hard on them, they may see God's love reflected in good people, we pray:
- That we may not condemn anyone, but accept people the way God accepts us, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
as your Son Jesus Christ is present here
and shares himself with us at his table,
may he also be present in our lives
and be the meaning of all we do.
May we learn from him
to do what we are incapable of when left to ourselves:
to forget injuries and to pardon enemies,
to be patient with those who do not understand,
to bring freedom to those who do not appreciate it.
Let Jesus work all this in us
for he is our Lord for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord, you hear the cries of the poor,
you sent your Son into the world
not to condemn it but to save it.
Give us the strength not to condemn
but to build up,
not to judge, but to heal and help,
not to curse, but to bless.
And when our clumsy efforts fail us,
remind us that your Son stays with us
and that he can do better, even through us,
than we could ever dare to expect.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn it. With Jesus and through him we are part of that plan. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 
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