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First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14
When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,
he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here;
the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan."
"As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live,
I will not leave you," Elisha replied.
And so the two went on together.
Fifty of the guild prophets followed and
when the two stopped at the Jordan,
they stood facing them at a distance.
Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up
and struck the water, which divided,
and both crossed over on dry ground.
When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,
"Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you."
Elisha answered, "May I receive a double portion of your spirit."
"You have asked something that is not easy," Elijah replied.
"Still, if you see me taken up from you,
your wish will be granted; otherwise not."
As they walked on conversing,
a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
When Elisha saw it happen he cried out,
"My father! my father! Israel's chariots and drivers!"
But when he could no longer see him,
Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.
Then he picked up Elijah's mantle that had fallen from him,
and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.
Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah,
Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,
"Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?"
When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31:20, 21, 24
R./ Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
How great is the goodness, O Lord,
which you have in store for those who fear you,
And which, toward those who take refuge in you,
you show in the sight of the children of men.
R./ Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men;
You screen them within your abode
from the strife of tongues.
R./ Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
Love the Lord, all you his faithful ones!
The Lord keeps those who are constant,
but more than requites those who act proudly.
R./ Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."
Opening Prayer
Lord, our God,
you let your Holy Spirit fill us spontaneously
with every good gift.
You want us to be ministers
of your generosity to everyone.
Help us to express our gratitude to you
and to reveal your goodness
by sharing what we are and have
with joy and in all sincerity,
as Jesus did, your Son,
who lives with you for ever.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
What a bold question of the prophet Elisha to ask that he will be given a double share of the prophetic spirit that was in the prophet Elijah! May the Lord give us the Holy Sprit to a great measure.
General Intercessions
– That we may be discreet and unobtrusive in helping people in need, we pray:
– That we may learn to see the unspoken needs of modest, simple, timid people, we pray:
– That the Lord may make us generous of heart and hands, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
you give us not only all things we need
but you give us the best of yourself
in your Son, Jesus Christ.
Accept from our hands
these humble gifts of bread and wine,
which we have received from you
and through them let your Son come among us.
May they express that we too,
are willing to share with others
without putting labels and price tags on our gifts,
and to give ourselves with Jesus,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, our Father in heaven,
your own gifts are often humble and veiled,
like the giving to us of your Son
in the signs of bread and wine.
God, you who look in the depths of our hearts,
teach us to share without display,
that our left hand not know
what our right hand is giving.
Let it be enough for us to know that you know,
you who are our Father
in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Blessing
If we only love those who love us, we merely do what some people do who do not believe. We should not exclude anyone from our love, for that is the mark of the followers of Christ, to love people, as we love ourselves! May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
