Liturgy Alive Wednesday, 13th Week in Ordinary Time

IN WIND AND STORM

Opening Prayer
    Lord our God,
    Your Son, Jesus Christ, took pity
    on people rejected by their society
    and restored them as human beings.
    Never allow us to judge anyone
    and to reject people from our communities.
    Make us leave the judgment to you
    for you alone know what is going on
    in the hearts of people.
    Make us mild and compassionate
    through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction

God fulfilled at least a bit of his promise to Abraham, that in him, the families of the earth would be blessed. Ishmael, the son of the slave girl, would not inherit the promises made to Abraham, but God took pity on this outcast and made him the ancestor of nomadic Bedouin tribes.

First Reading: Genesis 21:5, 8-20a

Gospel Reading Introduction

Jesus takes pity on people considered possessed by the devil, outcasts of little value to their pagan fellow citizens, who are more concerned about the loss of their pigs than over the cure of these outcasts. This text is difficult to understand unless we pay attention to the underlying theme of impurity. The outcasts from whom Jesus will exorcise demons live in an impure place, a cemetery; the demons are driven out into pigs, an unclean animal for the Jews. The pagans of the region do not yet recognize Jesus and this seems to indicate that the story is symbolic of times still to come: evil is still rampant. But in any case, the power of Jesus is already working.

General Intercessions

– For the Church, that like our God, it may care for those who are least favored and least loved, so that the Gospel may be good news to them, we pray:
– For governments and public officials, that they may not tolerate favoritism or discrimination of any kind and that they may defend the oppressed and restore their rights, we pray:
 – For those considered outcasts by "respectable" society, that we may not judge them, but that our goodness, respect, and understanding may help them to integrate themselves in our communities, we pray:

Prayer over the Gift.

Lord, loving God,
    your Son Jesus, died on the cross
    as an outcast deserted by his people,
    but that was the way in which he saved us.
    Let this offering of bread and wine express
    that we are one with Jesus,
    and that with him, we accept people
    the way you accept them and want to save them.
    We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
    you have let us share the table of your Son
    and let us join him in giving praise and thanks to you.
    By his power, we want to continue
    giving you honor and thanks
    with the whole of our everyday lives
    through deeds of justice, love,
    and endless compassion for people
    who lose their struggle with the difficulties of life.
    We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

"Let justice flow like water, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream." If we can be just and good, the Lord will listen to us and accept our offering, for then, it will be part of the sacrifice of Jesus. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.