Liturgy Alive Wednesday, 21st Week in Ordinary Time

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Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Wednesday, 21st Week in Ordinary Time

NO HYPOCRISY!

Opening Prayer

Just and merciful God,
you know what is in us.
Forgive us that often we are so busy,
that we have no time to stop and look back
to those who are too tired to follow.
Forgive us that we condemn
without having tried to understand.
Let justice and mercy and service
not be the business of others
but our concern and our life
on account of him who told us
to look for him in others,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

Introduction to the First Reading
        Happy are we if we can say with St. Paul that we have done nothing to please people but that our only aim is to please God and to care tenderly for people.

Introduction to Gospel Reading

    We probably agree with Jesus' strong condemnation of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. But hypocrisy is still with us today. The whitewashing of tombs goes on, and from an individual corruption it has pervaded society itself. The wrongs of the state, and the Church too, are covered up. Injustices and exploitation are passed over in silence or are condemned in such general terms that even oppressors agree. We close our eyes and our consciences are undisturbed because we think we have no share in the evil that goes on. Our deeds do not match our words.

General Intercessions

– For all those who bear witness to the truth, that the Spirit may put the right words in their mouths, we pray:
– For all of us, that we may do our works and tasks in life conscientiously and with zeal, we pray:
– For us all, who celebrate the Eucharist, that the Lord Jesus may make us authentic and trustworthy persons, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
because he could not be swayed
from his purpose to make people truly free in you,
your Son paid with his life,
but you raised him to lasting life.
As we join him in his sacrifice,
make us straightforward and committed with him
whatever the cost to ourselves,
in honesty and truth,
that we may stand the test of your scrutiny
and live in your light, now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
the words of your Son we have heard,
were hard and addressed not only to others
but also to us, to be put into practice.
By the strength of this Eucharist,
help us to live as we believe
and to be honest with ourselves and with others.
Make us not only speak of peace and love
but be men and women of peace
and of community in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

Let us never give in to the temptation of trying to appear better to people than we are, perhaps somehow trying to impress God! Let us humbly ask for his blessing. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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