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First Reading: Is 56:1–3a, 6 – 8
Thus says the LORD:
Observe what is right, do what is just;
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed.
Blessed is the man who does this,
the son of man who holds to it;
Who keeps the sabbath free from profanation,
and his hand from any evildoing.
Let not the foreigner say,
when he would join himself to the LORD,
“The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.”
The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
ministering to him,
Loving the name of the LORD,
and becoming his servants—
All who keep the sabbath free from profanation
and hold to my covenant,
Them I will bring to my holy mountain
and make joyful in my house of prayer;
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be acceptable on my altar,
For my house shall be called
a house of prayer for all peoples.
Thus says the Lord GOD,
who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
Others will I gather to him
besides those already gathered.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67:2 –3, 5, 7– 8
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
The earth has yielded its fruits;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
Gospel Reading: John 5:33-36
Jesus said to the Jews, "John also bore witness to the truth when you sent messengers to him, but I do not seek such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may be saved.
"John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were willing to enjoy his light. But I have greater evidence than that of John - the works which the Father entrusted to me to carry out. The very works I do bear witness: the Father has sent me."
Introduction
The reading from the third part of the book of Isaiah has for its keynote a confused universalism; on the one hand it describes the conditions under which non-Jews will be admitted to worship in the temple and to enter the covenant; on the other hand it says that all peoples are called to worship God.
In the Gospel, John the Baptist is described as the lamp testifying to Christ. But he himself is not the light. Christ is the Son of God and the light itself: what he does bears witness that he is not only the Messiah but also the Son of the heavenly Father.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
through your Son Jesus Christ
you call all people to know you
and to offer you their worship.
Grant your Church,
the community of your people,
to be open to all nations and cultures,
that all may give you glory
in every language on earth
and that every culture may express
that no people is alien to you
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
General Intercessions
– That we may keep doing the works of justice, so that everyone has a chance to live in human dignity, we pray:
– That foreigners among us may not be discriminated against but welcomed hospitably and treated well, we pray:
– That the Church may be open to all peoples and all cultures, as a place of universal brotherhood and love, we pray:
– That the works of justice and mercy we do may enlighten and attract many to Christ, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
accept in this bread and this wine
our recognition of your Son Jesus Christ
as one of us, fully human,
yet our Savior and our God.
May our thoughts and our way of life
bear witness that he is alive today
and that he is the Lord of all
now and for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
you call us to be lamps
alight and shining
in witness of Jesus your Son.
Let him be the bright flame
warming our hearts
and illuminating our lives,
so that we can draw all people
to walk in the light of your love,
for Jesus Christ is our Lord
and you are our God for ever and ever.
Blessing
Let us work and pray that the house of God may be really a house of prayer for all peoples. We have to witness to all that Christ is alive in our world. May almighty God bless you, the Father, an the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
