Presider’s Page for 23 February (Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time)
SONGS AT MASS (suggestions) “Love is His Word”, “A New Commandment”, “Peace I leave with you”, Walk in the Light”; “Colours of Day”.
Opening Comment (for the Presider)
Loving the enemy and praying for those who make life difficult are two marks of a Christian, or so Jesus teaches us today. We gather, aware of how difficult love can be, yet united by the saving mercy of God, on which we rely.
• Today, the last Sunday before Lent, is the Day of Prayer for Temperance.
Penitential Act
To prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind times we failed to show love, never forgetting God’s merciful love for us (pause):
I confess….
Alternative Opening Prayer (from the 1998 ICEL Missal)
Heavenly Father,
in Christ Jesus
you challenge us to renounce violence
and to forsake revenge.
Teach us to recognise as your children
even our enemies and persecutors
and to love them without measure or discrimination.
We ask 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 (for Ministers of the Word)
Leviticus 19: 1-2, 17-18 Love for the Lord is seen in love for all God’s people.
1 Corinthians 3:16-23 We belong to Christ and Christ is God’s, so we belong to God.
Matthew 5:38-38 Continuing to read from the Sermon on the Mount, we hear Jesus explain how Christians should live.
BIDDING PRAYERS
Introduction (by the Presider) We bring our prayers to our God of compassion and love, who is slow to anger and rich in mercy.
- For Francis our pope and all religious leaders — that they may have courage (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For people who are at war with each other — that they may learn to forgive (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For those who have hurt us — that God may help us to end our quarrels (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For people who are sick because of the coronavirus — that they may recover (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
- On this Temperance Sunday, we remember those who find temperance hard, that God may help them (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For all of us, as we begin Lent this week, that we may show greater temperance, one day at a time (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
The presider prays for the dead (especially N and N who died recently and N and N whose anniversaries occur) that the Lord may redeem their lives from the grave and crown them with love and compassion (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
Conclusion (by the Presider) God of love and compassion, have pity on your people and grant us your gracious help, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord,
as we celebrate these mysteries
with fitting reverence,
grant that the offering We make
to the glory of your name
may lead us to salvation.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION II
Merciful God and Father,
it is truly right to give you thanks
through Christ our Lord
for the working of your grace in the world.
In the midst of human conflict
you turn our minds to thoughts of peace.
Your Spirit stirs our hearts,
so that enemies speak again to each other,
adversaries join hands in friendship,
and nations seek to live in harmony.
Through your healing power
the love of peace quells violence,
mercy conquers hatred,
and vengeance yields to forgiveness.
For this we praise you without end
and join with the choirs of heaven
as they sing the hymn of your glory: Holy, holy, holy…
Lord of power and might,
we bless you through Jesus Christ, your Son,
who comes in your name.
He is the word that brings salvation,
the hand you stretch out to sinners,
the way that leads to your peace.
God our Father,
when we had wandered far from you,
you called us back through your Son.
You gave him over to death,
that we might turn to you again
and find our way to one another.
We now celebrate the reconciliation
gained for us by Christ.
We ask you to sanctify these gifts
by the coming of your Spirit,
as we fulfil your Son’s + command.
Before he laid down his life for our deliverance,
he took bread in his hands and gave you thanks;
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.
So too, on that last evening,
he took into his hands the cup of blessing;
he praised your mercy,
gave the cup to his disciples, and 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…
Lord our God,
your Son has left us this pledge of his love.
We celebrate, therefore, the memorial of his death and resurrection,
offering you the very gift you have given us,
the sacrifice of perfect reconciliation.
Father most holy,
accept us together with your own beloved Son,
and, through our partaking of this banquet,
fill us with his Spirit,
who heals every wound and division.
May that Holy Spirit preserve us in unity,
together with Francis our Pope, N. our Bishop,
all the bishops and your entire people.
Make your Church throughout the world
a sign of unity and an instrument of peace.
Lord,
as you have welcomed us here to the table of your Son
in fellowship with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
and all the saints,
so gather at the one eternal banquet
people of every race, nation, and tongue,
in that new world
where the fullness of peace will reign
through Jesus Christ the Lord.
Through him, with him, in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
All-powerful God,
grant that we may come to the fullness of salvation,
which is pledged to us through this eucharistic mystery.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord.