Liturgy Alive Tuesday, April 4, 2017

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Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Introduction

An incontestable truth is that only faith saves. In the history of the Israelites, they showed how they believe in this truth. While they were wandering in the de-sert, they became rebellious to God. They were punished by God by sending them poisonous snakes. Eventually, they repented and asked God to deliver them. They have shown their faith in God’s power. It is presented here in the form of a bronze serpent staff that whoever see the staff will be cured. The Pharisees have to accept Christ in faith if they want to be saved. We too, must look up to the cross with eyes of faith to become free people and God’s sons and daughters. And we, the Church, must become the sign of salvation raised above the nations.

Opening Prayer

Our saving, merciful God,
wandering in our deserts
of injustice and lack of love,
we cry out with fear
or are stunned into silence,
some into doubt or despair.
Give us enough trusting faith
to look up to him,
who took our evil and doubts upon himself,
and suffered them on a cross, and rose from them,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord.

General Intercessions

–    For people who suffer much, that they may look up in faith and hope to Jesus on the cross for strength and healing, we pray:
–    For a deep faith in the love of God, whose Son, Jesus, suffered for us on the cross, we pray:
–    For all of us, that we may look up to the cross as a liberating sign for all those who follow Jesus, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
we celebrate the memorial
of the passion and death of Jesus.
May our encounter with your Son
save us from the evil in us
and help us to rise above it,
for we know and believe
that he is with us,
and that he is your Son,
one God with you and with the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
you have called your Church—
that is us—to be your sign
 set in the sight of nations.
May our living faith in your Son
inspire people to discover and encounter him,
that with him, we may always do
what pleases you and serve you.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

Pain, suffering, death, will always remain a scandal and a mystery, something difficult to bear. Yet, there is Jesus, who accepted the cross to save us. We are disciples of him who died on the cross. However hard it may be, let us learn to bear it when it comes to us in the circumstances of life. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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