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First Reading: Ne 2:1-8
In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,
when the wine was in my charge,
I took some and offered it to the king.
As I had never before been sad in his presence,
the king asked me, "Why do you look sad?
If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart."
Though I was seized with great fear, I answered the king:
"May the king live forever!
How could I not look sad
when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins,
and its gates have been eaten out by fire?"
The king asked me, "What is it, then, that you wish?"
I prayed to the God of heaven and then answered the king:
"If it please the king,
and if your servant is deserving of your favor,
send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' graves,
to rebuild it."
Then the king, and the queen seated beside him,
asked me how long my journey would take
and when I would return.
I set a date that was acceptable to him,
and the king agreed that I might go.
I asked the king further: "If it please the king,
let letters be given to me for the governors
of West-of-Euphrates,
that they may afford me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah;
also a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the royal park,
that he may give me wood for timbering the gates
of the temple-citadel and for the city wall
and the house that I shall occupy."
The king granted my requests,
for the favoring hand of my God was upon me.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
R./ Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the aspens of that land
we hung up our harps.
R./ Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
Though there our captors asked of us
the lyrics of our songs,
And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:
"Sing for us the songs of Zion!"
R./ Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
How could we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten!
R./ Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy.
R./ Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
Gospel Reading: Lk 9:57-62
As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
To another Jesus said, "Follow me." But he answered, "Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Another said to him, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family." And Jesus said to him, "Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God."
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
your Son Jesus was born of a Jewish mother;
he loved his people and his country
and wept over Jerusalem.
We pray you today for men and women
willing to give the best of themselves
to our people and country
and capable of building community.
Help them to use their potentials
for bringing out the best in others
to the benefit of all.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
In the Old Testament, too, we find enthusiastic, dedicated leaders, giving the best of themselves to God and country. Nehemiah has a good, secure function at the court of Artaxerxes, as butler - often a confidential job. Hearing alarming reports about the disorganized Jews in Palestine after the exile, he does not want to keep his administrative competency to himself or to serve at a pagan court. He asks the king for permission to give the best of himself to his people and country. He goes to Jerusalem, rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem and the Jewish community, works for social justice, and gets the city and country of God's people going again.
Gospel Introduction
Jesus gave himself totally to his mission. He asks the same radical commitment to the kingdom of God of justice and love not only of his apostles but also of all who "follow" him - of us. A "radical" commitment is asked, that is, going to the roots in the depths of our being; it must be consistent, it is a commitment that does not look back but that has its eyes on both the present and the future.
General Intercessions
- For our public officials, that they may respect God's laws, work for the well-being of all citizens and guests, and commit themselves to justice and integrity, we pray:
- For all our people, even the humblest, that they take an active interest in public affairs, vote for honest, responsible and capable leaders, respect just laws and promote peace, we pray:
- For our beautiful country, so rich in human and natural resources, that all may fully use their talents to make us great and be good stewards of nature's bounty, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
you give us your Son Jesus Christ
as the model and source
for being ourselves in his image.
Make us aware of our riches,
of our potentials and also our liabilities,
that we may mobilize all our energies
to commit ourselves to the adventure
of becoming and being a people.
And may we be your people, Lord,
now and for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
we dream of authenticity,
of our identity as a people,
of seeing our human aspirations fulfilled.
May our values and hopes
be in conformity with yours;
perfect and surpass them in Christ
and keep us open to all that is great and good,
that we may take with dignity
our place in the concert of nations
and in the unity in diversity
of your people on earth.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
We are not only citizens of heaven but also citizens of our own country. We love it. May also you serve it as best as you can, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
