Liturgy Alive Monday of the First Week of Lent
Introduction
It is striking how the Bible insists, even in the Old Testament, that God is present where people love one another and do the works of mercy to one another. What we do to others is done to God. The Old Testament stressed love specially with regard to members of the chosen people, who were all to be considered as blood relatives, without excluding non-Jews. The New Testament extends this clearly not only to members of the people of God, but also to all people. The kingdom of God is present where people treat one another as brothers and sisters. Those belonging to the People of God have to bear witness to all the love that exists and is alive, and therefore, that God exists and is alive, by their love, particularly by their respect and concern for the weak and the fragile ones. It is by love of neighbor that we will be judged.
Opening Prayer
Lord, holy God, loving Father,
you give us the task to love one another
because you are holy
and you have loved us before we could love you.
Give us the ability to recognize your Son
in our brothers and sisters far and near.
Make us witnesses that love exists and is alive
and that you, the God of love,
exist and are alive, now for ever.
General Intercessions
– For the many who are hungry for food and human dignity, that those who have more may provide them with what they need, we pray:
– For strangers and aliens, that we may accept them with all their differences, we pray:
– For the sick and for the prisoners, people who are rarely visited, that we may show them our compassion and concern, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God, loving Father,
you let your Son share himself with us
in these signs of bread and wine.
Like him, and with his strength,
may we share with our brothers and sisters
our encounter with your Son,
especially to the lonely and the fragile
whom you place on our way.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Loving Father,
we have encountered your Son, Jesus Christ,
in this Eucharistic celebration.
May he accompany us today,
on the crossroads of the human city
and help us to show
your authentic face as a God who cares
to those in search of life and love,
that people may recognize
your kingdom that has come among us.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
“What you do to the least of my brothers, you have also done it to me,” the Lord said to us today. This is a beautiful task, but it is difficult to do. May God bless you for it, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
