Liturgy Alive Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Opening Prayer
Lord, God of the covenant,
the houses of worship
that we build for you with our own hands
cannot contain you.
We thank you for building
with our meager help
your own dwelling place among us
where people live for one another
for the sake of him
who is your living presence among us,
Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
A man of faith, David wants to build a house for God, to house the Ark of the Covenant, as the Ark was the sign of God's presence and union with his people. But David's loyalty to the covenant is enough for God. Instead, God will build a house for David: his royal house will be the origin of the coming Savior; through this Savior, God will dwell with his people for ever. In this Eucharist, we celebrate the joy of having God present among his people.
Gospel Introduction
Why has the kingdom of God not taken deeper roots among us? Why does it grow so slowly? In today's Gospel, Mark states that this is a mystery of God's efforts and people's lack of depth and understanding. The kingdom is here among us, but it meets the slowing down resistance of people. It is hard to respond to the demands of the Gospel, to be converted to God's plan with us, to form a community that lives according to God's norms and witnesses to God's presence. Are we willing to be that community which promotes the growth of God's kingdom?
General Intercessions
– That our Christian associations and organizations may better realize that all have to cooperate to be truly the Church of Christ, we pray:
– That our community may always be aware that it is not standing alone, but united in faith and love, in hope and service with the universal Church, we pray:
– That the Church may always be hospitable and be a home to strangers and refugees, people without a home or country, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
all you ask of us, your people,
to be present among us, your people,
and be loyal to you
through power of Jesus, your loyal Son.
We bring before you our faithful love
in these gifts of bread and wine
and beg you to stay with us,
to live among us,
to make your home among us
through your Son, Jesus Christ,
our Lord, for ever and ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, loyal God,
in this Eucharist, we have remembered
how you have saved us from our miseries
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Keep journeying with us, your people,
give us rest from evil,
be a father to us
and let us be your sons and daughters
through your loyal Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
The Lord keeps sowing his word in us whenever he speaks to us in the readings from the Scriptures and whenever we see how good Christians practice their faith. May we hear that Word and live by it, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
