Liturgy Alive Saturday, February 22, 2020
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
when your Son was transfigured
you gave eyes of faith to the apostles
to see beyond appearances
and to recognize Jesus as your beloved Son.
This vision gave them courage for the hour of trial.
When our faith and trust
seem to desert us in dark moments,
let your Son take us up to the mountain
and give us a glimpse of his light,
that with fresh courage and generosity,
we may see where he wants us to go.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
Alarmed by the evil done to the Christian community by false teachers, James warns against the dangers of falsehood. This warning is valid today when words are so much manipulated to deceive and disguise.
Gospel Introduction
After he has announced his coming suffering and answered Peter's protest, Jesus is transfigured before the eyes of his intimate friends among the apostles who will also watch his agony in the garden. This is how he strengthens their faith. Then, he speaks again with them about his approaching passion. Let us ask the Lord in this Eucharist to give us courage in difficult moments.
General Intercessions
– For the People of God, the Church, that Christ may become more visible in its commitment to serve God and people, in its loving concern for the poor and its continuous conversion to the Gospel, we pray:
– For all Christians, who claim to follow Christ, that they may live up without fear to the demands of the Gospel and bear witness to the crucified Lord, we pray:
– For those who suffer in their bodies and their hearts, that they may realize that they are one with the Lord in his passion and death, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God,
we bring these humble gifts before you.
In these sign of bread and wine,
Jesus, your Son will give himself to us.
May he give us the strength
to go with courage on our journey through life,
also when it becomes a way of the cross,
that we may follow him all the way
to you, our loving God for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, in this Eucharist,
we have seen a glimpse of your Son's glory
in the love shown us at his table
and in his encouraging words.
Let our lives reflect his light and life,
that each of us may be to his sisters and brothers
a firm support and a helping hand
and a road sign on the way to you,
our God, for ever and ever.
Blessing
May the Lord give us in difficult moments a glimpse of his deep love and nearness, and may we too, brighten the face of people in their troubles with a word and a smile of sympathy and warmth. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
