Now that Easter and all the feasts that follow it have been celebrated, the journey through the Sundays of the year starts again. From now until next Advent, we will listen to St Mark’s Gospel most Sundays, and discover Jesus through the eyes of Mark, whose account was the first to be written.

Penitential Rite
To prepare ourselves to listen to God’s word and share the bread of life, let us call to mind our sins (pause):
You raise the dead to life in the Spirit: Lord, heave mercy;
You bring pardon and peace to the sinner: Christ, have mercy;
You bring light to those in darkness: Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer (for Year B, from the 1998 ICEL Missal)
God our Redeemer,
in Jesus, your promised Messiah,
you crushed the power of Satan.

Sustain your Church in the struggle against evil,
that, hearing your word and doing your will,
we may be fashioned into a household of true disciples
who share in the victory of the cross.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

Introduction to the Scripture Readings
Genesis 3:9-15 — The ancient story of Adam and Eve gives an understanding of sin as part of the human condition; from this condition, Christ calls us to repentance.
2 Corinthians 4:13 to 5:1 — For the next five Sundays, the second reading is from 2 Corinthians, a letter in which Paul tried to keep the Christians of Corinth on a steady track. Today’s section sets out priorities for new Christians.
Mark 3:20-35 — The message of Jesus in this Gospel can be hard to understand; Jesus  preaches in a very challenging way.

BIDDING PRAYERS

Introduction (by the Presider) Sisters and brothers, let us pray to the Lord who always hears our voice.

1. For the Church — that it may always teach the mercy of God (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.
2. For people who are anxious — that they may hear a message of hope (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.
3. For those with difficult situations at home — that they may get the help they need (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.
4. For students sitting the Junior and Leaving Cert exams — that the Lord may be close to them (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.
5. For peace in Palestine and Israel — and that the innocent people of Gaza may be protected (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.
6. For safety on the roads and in the water — that God may protect us during these summer days (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.

The Presider prays for the dead: For our people who have died (especially N & N), that when the tent we live in here on earth is folded up, we may live in God’s house forever (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.

Conclusion (by the Presider) With you, O Lord, there is mercy and fullness of redemption; hear our prayers and show us your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Look kindly, Lord, upon our worship and praise,
that our offering may be acceptable to you
and cause us to grow in your love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation I (A reflection on the mercy of God — from the 1998 ICEL Missal)

Holy Father,
compassionate and good,
it is right to give you thanks and praise,
for you never cease to call us
to a new and more abundant life.

Though we are sinners,
you constantly offer us pardon
and ask us to trust in your mercy alone.

Time after time, when we broke your covenants,
you did not cast us aside;
but through the incarnation of Jesus, your Son,
you bound the human family to yourself
with a new and unbreakable bond.

In Christ you give your people
a season of reconciliation and grace:
a time to draw new breath
for our journey back to you,
a time to open our hearts to your Spirit
and respond to the needs of all.

In wonder and gratitude
we join our voices with the choirs of heaven,
as we proclaim with joy the power of your love
and sing the endless hymn of your glory:

HOLY HOLY HOLY

From the beginning, O God,
all you have done for the human family
you have done for our good,
that we may be holy, as you yourself are holy.

Look with kindness, then,
on your people gathered before you.
Send forth your Spirit in power,
that these gifts may become for us
the body + and blood of Jesus Christ, your beloved Son,
in whom we too are your children.

When we were lost
and our hearts were far from you,
you showed the depth of your love:
your Son, who alone is the Just One,
gave himself into our hands
and was nailed to the wood of the cross.
Before he stretched out his arms between heaven and earth
as the lasting sign of your covenant,
he desired to celebrate the Passover
in the company of his disciples.

While they were at table,
he took bread and gave you thanks and praise;
he broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT IT:
THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

At the end of the meal,
knowing he would reconcile all things in himself
by his blood poured out on the cross,
he took the cup filled with wine;
again he gave you thanks,
and, handing the cup to his friends, he said:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT:
THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT.
IT WILL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR ALL,
SO THAT SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

The mystery of faith……

We remember Jesus Christ, our Passover and our lasting peace,
we celebrate his death and resurrection,
we await the blessed day of his return.
And so we present to you, God ever faithful and true,
the offering that restores the world to your grace.

Merciful Father,
look with love on those you draw to yourself
through their sharing in the sacrifice of Christ.
By the power of your Spirit,
may they become the body of your risen Son,
in whom all divisions are healed.

Keep us in communion of mind and heart,
together with Francis our Pope and N. our Bishop.
Help us to work for the coming of your kingdom,
until at last we stand in your presence
and take our place among the saints,
with the Virgin Mary and the apostles,
and with our departed brothers and sisters,
whom we commend to your mercy.

Then, in the glory of your new creation,
freed from the sting of death,
we shall sing to you the hymn of thanksgiving
which rises from Christ the living Lord.

THROUGH HIM ………

Prayer after Communion
Grant in your mercy, Lord,
that your healing power in the eucharist
may rid us of waywardness and sin
and lead us to all that is right and good.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Songs at Mass (Suggestions): ‘How Great Thou Art’; Here I am, Lord’; ‘Come To Me’; ‘Let us Build the City of God’.