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First Reading: Eph 1:11–14
Brothers and sisters:
In Christ we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
which is the first installment of our inheritance
toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13
R./ Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the Lord;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the Lord on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R./ Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the Lord,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.
R./ Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the Lord looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R./ Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Gospel Reading: Lk 12:1-7
Such a numerous crowd had gathered that they crushed one another. Then Jesus spoke to his disciples in this way, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be made known. Whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in daylight, and what you have whispered in hidden places, will be proclaimed from the housetops.I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who put to death the body and after that can do no more.
But I will tell you whom to fear: Fear the One who after killing you is able to throw you into hell. This one you must fear. Don't you get five sparrows for two pennies? Yet not one of them has been forgotten by God. Even the hairs of your head have been numbered. So do not fear: are you not worth more than a flock of sparrows?"
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
we stand before you with empty hands.
Our good intentions, the things we do
are powerless to save us.
God, help us to accept this truth,
for it hurts our pride.
Teach us to receive gratuitously
your grace, your merciful love
and also the help and love of our neighbor.
Save us from ourselves and from sin
by the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
Ephesians continues to praise God. In Christ, we have received the truth as found in the Gospel and we were given the Spirit. We are God's own people, whose task is to give praise and glory to God.
Gospel Introduction
Christ continues to denounce the Pharisees. In the contradictions of a life that wants to be faithful to the gospel, Christians have to go God's ways, not their own. They entrust themselves into the hands of God who cares and to whom we are very precious.
General Intercessions
- That our faith may be a personal encounter with a living God to whom we commit ourselves, we pray:
- That we may not boast about what we have done for God, but recognize with humility and gratitude what God has done for us, we pray:
- That with great trust we may put ourselves into the hands of God, who loves us deeply in Christ, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, merciful Father,
in the face of contradiction and opposition
your Son Jesus went his loyal way to you,
for he knew that he lived
in the palm of your hand.
In these signs of bread and wine
we too entrust ourselves to you,
for we know that we are your friends
and that you care for us
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Our God and Father,
you love us as we are,
even when you see our faults and failures.
You forget the evil we do
and we are good enough for you
to give us your Son Jesus Christ.
Accept our thanks
and let your Son fill us
with his Spirit of trust and love,
that we too may learn
to trust and love one another
and to be a community in which Jesus lives,
he who is our Lord for ever.
Blessing
Jesus assures us that God cares for us and that we are precious to him. Ask him to keep us in his love. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
