Liturgy Alive Monday, 19th Week in Ordinary Time

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Monday, August 12, 2019

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you are present among us in secret, incognito,
with the everyday appearance
of an ordinary person.
God, give us eyes of faith
to see that you are among us
in the person of Jesus your Son
in this eucharist,
in the joys and sorrows of life,
in the people we meet in the street.
Make us attentive to your presence
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction
       A mixed assortment of slaves had been made into a people, obtained freedom, and was on its way to a land of its own. People without hope had been given dreams of a great future. All this because there was a God "foolish" enough to attach himself to these people and to love them without any merit on their part. This love was a call, waiting for a response of life-long fidelity to God's ways.

Gospel Introduction
       The gospel gives us the image of God-in-civilian Jesus, God's Son, a man who pays his taxes even when he is not obliged to. It may be a hint for us not to ask for privileges because we are Christians and to act and live as free people, who at times - or often - choose to do what we are not obliged to do, especially in the form of help.

General Intercessions

- For the Church, that it may not be ashamed of preaching the crucified Christ and of being self-effacing with him, we pray:

- For all of us, that we may never put the law above people but practice first the great commandment of loving one another, we pray:

- For our Christian communities, that we may welcome strangers and foreigners and make them our friends in the name of God who has befriended us, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
you are our God of glory,
and yet you let your Son come among us
in the simple signs of bread and wine.
Stay among us
and make us also reflect your presence
in all simplicity
by making you available to people
in our goodness and compassion,
by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
you know how complicated we can be,
and yet, your glory is among us
in all that is simple and commonplace:
in water and oil, bread and wine,
a gesture of forgiveness and reconciliation.
God, we thank you for your goodness.
And may our hearts and gestures
be as simple as your presence,
that in a tear or a smile
we may reveal your Son in our midst,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

We are free sons and daughters of God and we cherish this freedom. Yet we do not want to be a clan separate from others or people seeking privileges. We want to be united with all and to serve them. May almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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