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First Reading: 1st Kings 19:9,11-13
When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God, he came to the cave and stayed in it. Then the word of Yahweh came to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
Then Yahweh said, "Go up and stand on the mount, waiting for Yahweh." And Yahweh passed by.
There was first a windstorm, wild wind which rent the mountains and broke the rocks into pieces before Yahweh, but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the storm, an earthquake, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, a fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, the murmur of a gentle breeze. When Elijah perceived it, he covered his face with his cloak, went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 50:1,8,12-13,14-15
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem
Praise you God, O Zion;
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Second Reading: Romans 9:1-5
Brothers and sisters, I tell you sincerely in Christ, and my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit that I am not lying: I have great sadness and constant anguish for the Jews. I would even desire that I myself suffer the curse of being cut off from Christ, instead of my brethren: I mean my own people, my kin. They are Israelites whom God adopted, and on them rests his Glory. Theirs are the covenants, the Law, the worship and the promises of God. They are descendants of the Patriarchs and from their race Christ was born, he who as God is above all distinctions. Blessed be He forever and ever: Amen!
Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
After he had fed the people, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowd away.
And having sent the people away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. At nightfall, he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was very far from land, dangerously rocked by the waves for the wind was against it.
At daybreak, Jesus came to them walking on the lake. When they saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost. And they cried out in fear. But at once Jesus said to them, "Courage! Don't be afraid. It's me!" Peter answered, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water."
Jesus said to him, "Come." And Peter got out of the boat, walking on the water to go to Jesus. But, in face of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, "Man of little faith, why did you doubt?"
As they got into the boat, the wind dropped. Then those in the boat bowed down before Jesus saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God!"
Greeting (See Responsorial Psalm)
I will listen to the voice of the Lord,
for it speaks of peace.
His help is near for those who fear him.
May the Lord with his help be always with you.
R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
Is the Lord to be found also in the chaos of our doubts, our confusion, our hesitant faith? Can he still be found in the disorder of our time? He is there, in the storms and difficulties of the little world of our own heart and in the wide, divided and threatening world, but it is hard to recognize him there. If we really encounter the Lord in faith, friendship and deep love, then the Lord makes everything become quiet, even when the stormwind keeps blowing, for the Lord makes his presence felt. Keep trusting, keep believing, for the Lord is here with us.
Penitential Act
When we sink into sin, we cry out:
Lord, save me, for I am perishing.
Let us ask the Lord to extend his saving hand.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you ask us:
People of little faith, why do you doubt?
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, when we are full of fear,
you tell us: courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we ask you: if it is you, tell us
to come to you across the water
and to follow you all the way:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
calm the storms caused in us by sin;
give us your peace and lead us
to the joys of everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray God
for a firm faith that cannot be shaken
(PAUSE)
God our Father,
we believe in you, in your love and your care.
But you know how our faith is often tried
by doubts, uncertainties and fears.
Make our faith strong enough to believe
that your Son Jesus is with us
to revive our faith and to give us the courage
to live with the risks of doubts and ambiguities,
and to confirm in their faith
our brothers and sisters in need.
Keep us hoping, and let Jesus
take us by the hand and lead us
to you, our God and Father for ever. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: After the storm came a gentle breeze
The fiery prophet Elijah is discouraged when all his efforts do not lead to lasting results. He marches to the desert, to the mountain of God. There God comes to him, not in fire and storm but as a gentle breeze and gives him fresh courage.
Second Reading Introduction: May my people accept Christ
Paul is very sad that the Jews, the people of the promise, have not accepted Christ. Yet, when the promised Savior came, they did not recognize him.
Gospel Introduction: Tell me to come to you across the water
Peter stands for the Church and also for each of us. If in the storms of our times we rely only on ourselves, we are in danger. If we trust in Jesus Christ, we are safe.
General Intercessions
Let us pray with great faith to our God who is ever-present to people. He speaks to us with a voice of peace. Let us say: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in lightning and thunder of anger and revenge. Hear the cries of your Church wherever it is persecuted and deprived of freedom, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in the tornado of those who inflict harm on their opponents; be merciful on their victims and on those who hurt them, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in the earthquake of those who sow fear and cause wars. Give peace and justice to their victims and also to those who hurt them, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are not in the fire of those who judge and condemn other people. Show your gentleness to those who are their victims and convert the hearts of those who hurt others, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
- Lord, you are in the gentle breeze of people who try to serve you well and who bring joy to their families and communities. Stay close to them and give them courage, we pray: R/ Lord, let us see your kindness.
Father, we hope in you, we trust in your word. Be near to us, let your Son be our companion in life now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
You wish to reassure us,
Lord our God,
how much you are with us
through him who is our food and drink,
your Son Jesus Christ.
May he give us the courage
to walk with him the stormy road of faith
and to take the risk of love.
May we thus set our fears aside
and make his reassuring word
the foundation of our life and work,
until we reach the haven of peace
in you, our God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
With one heart and one voice, let us express our trust in God, for he gave us his Son Jesus as our Savior and companion in life.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
Let us pray with the Lord Jesus
his prayer of trust in our heavenly Father.
R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from sin and every evil
and grant us your peace in our day.
Keep us free from discouragement
and from all paralyzing fears.
Help us to discover behind obstacles
the saving hand of your Son,
that we may march forward with joyful
hopetoward the full comingof our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
R/ For the kingdom..
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, the Son of God,
who says to us today:
"Take courage, it is I;
come to me and walk with me
across dangers and obstacles."
Happy are we to receive the Lord
and to have him renew our faith and strength.
R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord God, Father of all,
you invite us through Jesus, your Son,
to leave our timid security
and to come across the water with him
to commit ourselves to you and to others.
Even though we do not see his hand
reaching out to us and holding us,
give us enough trusting faith to be certain
that with him we shall overcome.
Build up your future among us,
until Jesus leads us across to you,
our God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
This eucharist has been, I hope,
a heartening experience of faith.
We have expressed our faith
that Jesus our Lord is with us,
that he never abandons us,
that he stays with us in the storms of life,
that he extends his helping hand to us
and that with him we can overcome all obstacles.
May this hope and trust always grow in us,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in the peace of Christ. R/ Thanks be to God.
