Liturgy Alive 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Sunday, August 27, 2017

 

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

A. In the Hands of Weak People
B.
Authority in the Church
C.
You Are the Christ

Readings:
Isaiah 22:19-23; Ps 138:1-2,2-3,6-8
Rom 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20

Commentaries / Gospel Reflections from:
Daily Gospel Preaching the Word A Certain Jesus Sundays Into Silence


Greeting

Through Jesus,
God has entrusted the Church
to weak human hands.
May the Spirit of the Lord guide
the leaders and members of the Church
and may the Lord Jesus be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

A. In the Hands of Weak People

We may wonder at times how come that Jesus put his Church into the hands of weak, frail people, both in our leaders and in us, the members. Still, God trust us and our leaders and promises to be with us until the end of the ages. God seems to trust us more than we at times trust him. Let us ask Jesus present here that we and our leaders may live up to that trust.

B. Authority in the Church

Who is the Church for us? Not only the pope and the bishops. They are the foundations, entrusted by Christ to lead and preside and serve, keep order and unify; but we too, with them, are the Church. It is our responsibility to cooperate with them and in all trust and maturity to share in their burden and to build up the Church with them. Together we are the Church of Christ. Together we now celebrate our faith in Christ.

C. You Are the Christ

If we could see Jesus standing here before us, a man of flesh and blood, and he would ask us: "Who do you say I am?" what answer would we give him? Who is he to you? He is here among us. Do we see in him our Savior and our Lord? Is he the meaning of all we live for? Let us give him an answer of faith here in this eucharist.

Penitential Act

Let us ask forgiveness from the Lord
that our faith and trust
are often hesitant and weak.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, we believe in you
for you are the Messiah,
the Son of the living God:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, we trust that you pardon us,
for you have commissioned your Church
to bring your forgiveness to the world:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we rely on your promise
that the powers of evil can never overcome
the people you have won for yourself:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Lord, we trust in you
that in your great mercy you forgive us.
Help us bring your forgiveness to others
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us thank the Father for our faith in Jesus
and for trust in the leadership of the Church
(PAUSE)
God our Father,
we give you thanks that you have gifted us
with faith in your Son Jesus Christ,
our Savior and our Lord.
Make this faith grow in us,
that it may weather all questions and difficulties.
Give us also a great understanding
and trust in the leadership of the Church,
that together with our Pope and our bishops
we may strengthen the community
of the faithful of your Church
and bear witness with them to the world
of your saving mercy and love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: The leader is responsible to God
God entrusts his work to people. He gives them "the key" of authority. They are responsible to him and to the people.

Second Reading Introduction: To God be glory forever

Paul has explained how God offers salvation both to the Jews and to pagans. He praises God for his great wisdom.


Gospel Introduction: Peter is our rock. Who is Jesus for us?
To Jesus' question, "Who am I for you?" Peter professes his faith: "You are the Savior, the Son of the living God." Jesus lets him share in his own authority for the service of his fellow apostles and the whole Church.



Introduction to the Creed

With Peter and the whole Church
we express our faith in God
and in Jesus, our Savior. R/ I believe...

General Intercessions

Let us pray to God our Father from whom comes all authority in heaven and on earth, and let us say: R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.

- For the Holy Father, Pope N. that the Holy Spirit may strengthen him
to lead the Church with wisdom and courage, in coresponsibility with all bishops, let us pray to the Lord: R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.

- For all bishops and priests, that they may speak to the People of God
words of hope and encouragement; that they may be the hand that raises up those who fall and cannot go further, let us pray: R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.

- For all Christians, that the Lord Jesus Christ may remain the cornerstone on which their lives are built, and that they may build up the Church by their loving and dedicated service, let us pray: R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.

- For the mighty of this earth, the leaders of nations, that they may not abuse power or resort to oppression or violence and defend the poor and the people without voice, let us pray. R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.

- For all those in positions of authority and influence, for parents and educators, for reporters and programmers in the mass media, that they may respect human dignity and promote truth, justice and peace, let us pray. R/ Lord, make us servants of your love.

Lord our God, help us to respect each person as someone for whom Christ has given his life. Let your Son come alive in our midst, that we may build up one another in faith and courage, trust and hope, for he is our Lord for ever. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
give us in this eucharist
the body of your Son,
that we may become more and more
the body of the Church,
the living community of your Son.
Through him we offer you
all honor and glory for ever. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

Among us is Jesus, the Savior, the Son of the living God. With him we offer to God our Father this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

Invitation to the Lord's Prayer

We stand before the Father in heaven
and pray now with Jesus our Lord
the prayer he himself has taught us.
: R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us

Deliver us, Lord, from our lack of faith
and from the evil of every sin.
Give us the peace and trust
that come from knowing
that Jesus is alive among us
as our Lord and safe guide.
Reassure us that with him
there is nothing to fear
and that with him we can build
the kingdom of service and love among us,
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
R/ For the kingdom..

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus Christ our Lord,
our Savior and the Son of the living God.
Happy are we who believe in him
and who receive him as our food of life.
R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

God of power and might,
your Son Jesus Christ has come here among us
without any display of power
but rather as the humble servant
of his brothers and sisters.
Let those who bear in the Church
the burden of authority
become more like your Son.
Unconcerned about power and prestige,
may they reflect the attitude of your Son,
who came not to be served but to serve.
Let this be their way to become great
in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing

We have experienced in this eucharist
a bit of the unity of the Church.
We have felt one in Christ.
After Christ and under him,
the principle of unity in love and service
is the pope, and with him the bishops.
With them we are called
to continue the mission of Christ
in the Church and in the world.
May God bless you all for this task,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in the love and peace of Christ. R/ Thanks be to God.

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