Liturgy Alive Thursday, June 2, 2016
Opening Prayer
God our Father,
you want your heart to be
the measure of our love,
but you are always greater than our heart.
In this Eucharist, let your Son give us
a heart of flesh in which burns
a fire of love that cannot be extinguished,
and that prompts us to follow him all the way
to you and to all you have entrusted to us.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
Our text is a profession of faith and a liturgical hymn. The profession of faith is made because Gnosticism was creeping in.
Gospel Introduction
As there were so many rules of the Law to observe, it is easy to understand the desire of scribes to ask which was the key commandment. Twice a day pious Jews professed the "Hear, Israel," with the love of God unique and very important. Jesus attaches to it love of neighbor too, as a total commitment that he will practice on the cross.
General Intercessions
– That the Church for which Christ died may grow into a universal community of love, which makes God's unconditional love visible to all people, we pray:
– That Christians everywhere may not be people of legalisms and outward observances but people with a heart, who do what they have to do and more because they are God's children, we pray:
– That our anemic and dried-up love may become rich and spontaneous, like a fresh breath of life and joy, brightening the lives of those around us and a wordless song of praise to God, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Loving God,
in this Eucharist, we celebrate
the memory of the sacrifice
of Jesus who showed us
the full extent of his love.
Let him make our love
as deep and as wide as his,
even if it will upset our settled ways.
May this be the sacrifice we offer you
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
to be open to you and to your call,
to enter into the world of people
who are wounded by life
by other persons and by us too,
to hear their cries and to welcome all,
where will all this lead us?
By the strength of this Eucharist,
help us to encounter our neighbors,
to share their bread, their joys and miseries
and to kindle new hope in their hearts.
May this be our response to your love
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
Indeed, to love one's neighbor as oneself often demands sacrifices, and is therefore, worth more than ritual sacrifices. May God inspire such a commitment and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
