Greeting (See 1 Thes 1:11-12)

May our God make you worthy of his call.?
May his power fulfill all our desires?
to do what is right?
and so make our faith active.?
May we thus give glory to the name ?
of our Lord Jesus Christ, ?
and may he be with you always.

Introduction by the Celebrant

Isn’t it true that often in life we make great promises which we do not keep? Or we see what is right and good to do and then we do not do it. When we hear the magnificent message of Jesus about God’s love for us and the love we owe him and people, we say: “How beautiful all this is.” Jesus tells us today: it is not enough to say “Long live the Lord! I admire your words.” We must live as we believe. In this Eucharist we ask Jesus to make us believers and doers.

Penitential Act

Let us ask forgiveness from the Lord ?
for having honored him with our lips ?
but not always with our hearts.?
        (pause)?
Lord, your Word shows us the way, ?
but we often lack the courage to put it into practice:?
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, ?
you are the rock on which we build, ?
but often people cannot rely on us:?
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord, we cry out to you?
and call you our Lord and God, ?
but when your ways are demanding ?
we go our own easy ways:?
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,?
forgive us our inconsistencies and sins, ?
and lead us by your word and strength?
to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to our Father in heaven ?
that we may live as we believe.?
        (pause)?
Lord our God,?
you are the rock on which we are founded. ?
Let the word of your Son sink into our hearts ?
so deeply and so firmly?
that all of our life is marked by it?
and that nothing can shake this faith.?
Give us the courage to live as we believe, ?
consistently and radically, ?
that with your Son and by his strength ?
we may seek your will in all we do?
and live in your love for ever and ever. R/ Amen.

First Reading Introduction: Write My Words On Your Hearts
          God’s covenant people must take God’s words and commands to heart. By doing so, they choose to follow God and they receive his blessing.

Second Reading Introduction: Saved By Faith In Jesus Christ
          Whatever we do, however needed and good it is, only our faith in Jesus Christ makes it valuable. God accepts us in his love if we believe in Christ and accept his grace.

Gospel Introduction: Build On Rock!
        Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount by saying, “put my words into practice; in this way you build your faith on rock.”

General Intercessions

Jesus’ message of the Gospel and his own life are our guidelines for seeking God’s will. Let us pray to God our Father that we may follow Jesus and live his message and let us say: R/ Lord, give us faith and strength.
•     That the Church, both its leaders and members, may live in the spirit of the Gospel  and always seek God’s will in faithfulness and humble service, let us pray: R/ Lord, give us faith and strength.
•    That the leaders of nations  may keep international agreements;  that their efforts to seek peace  and the just access of all to the world’s goods may be rewarded with success, let us pray: R/ Lord, give us faith and strength.
•    That married couples may find happiness in fidelity to one another  and    in the good example they give to their children, let us pray: R/ Lord, give us faith and strength.
•    That the victims of our broken promises may not lose faith in God or people;  that we may bring to the old and the sick  words and deeds of encouragement and friendship, let us pray: R/ Lord, give us faith and strength.
•    That in this and all Christian communities  there may be men and women among us who make God’s Word alive among us, who bring us together and give us courage, let us pray: R/ Lord, give us faith and strength.
Lord our God, write your words and commands on our hearts  and lead us forward  in the ways of love and peace of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen

Prayer over the Gifts

God our Father,?
you offer us the bread and the cup ?
of your Son Jesus Christ.?
May his food and drink?
make us strong enough ?
to choose you and all that is good. ?
May we give you a response of freedom ?
and serve you in the people around us?
on account of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

We thank our Father in heaven that he saved us from our disobedience by the obedience of Jesus, who always did the will of the Father.

Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer

With Jesus our Lord, ?
we pray to the Father?
that we may always do his will.  R/ Our Father ....

Deliver Us

Deliver us Lord, from evil?
and from that obstinate self-will ?
which leads us to sin.?
Give us the peace and serenity that comes ?
from seeking your will in all we do. ?
Help us to choose you above all ?
and grant us that we may prepare ?
without fear and with expectant joy ?
for the full coming among us?
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  R/ For the kingdom ....

Invitation to Communion

This is the Lamb of God?
who takes away the sins of the world.?
Happy are we to be called to his supper?
and to receive from him the strength?
to do what we believe in.

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, our rock,?
we want to build our lives on you?
by the power of Jesus your Son,?
present here in our midst.?
Through him make us strong enough ?
to keep going forward in hope and trust ?

when the rains of sorrow come ?
and the floods of trials rise, ?
and when the stormwinds of doubt and fear blow in
us,?for you are our firm rock for ever and ever. R/ Amen.

Blessing

How different we and the world would be?
if only we would put into practice ?
the Good News of our Lord.?
He obeyed the will of the Father ?
in his life and even his death, ?
whereas we don’t even have the courage ?
to live by our faith.?
May God give us this strength and bless us: ?
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen
Go in peace and live by God’s word ?
in everything you do. R/ Thanks be to God.