THE POWER TO FORGIVE AND TRANSFORM
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We cannot gather as usual for the Eucharist. But we are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: We celebrate the Feast of Jesus Christ the Universal King. Christ’s Kingship, particularly in Luke’s Gospel, is one of mercy and forgiveness. We thank the Lord for showing us that authority is for humble and loving service. We pray that we may open ourselves to his love and mercy, and in turn may be loving and merciful to the people in our lives.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have closed ourselves to Christ’s mercy and have not been merciful; for the times we have not accepted him as our King, we ask his mercy.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, king of our hearts,
you were born one of us in the poverty of a crib in a stable:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, king of the people,
you came to be the servant of all, especially the sick and sinners:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, king of the universe,
your love went so far as to make you lay down your life for all:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave us your Son,
the beloved who was rejected,
the Saviour who appeared defeated.
Show us in his death
the victory that crowns the ages,
and in his broken body
the love that unites heaven and earth.
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.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalm Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
Response Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Reading 2 Colossians 1:12-20
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
Gospel Luke 23:35-43
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are at the foot of the cross. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear the rulers’ and soldiers’ jeering and the dialogue between Jesus and the thief?
Sunday Snippets
In the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Archbishop of Paris preached:
Some years ago, three young tourists—rude and cynical—came into this cathedral. Two dared the third to make up a confession. The young man went and arrogantly made his confession. The confessor told him: “For your penance, stand before the crucifix, look into the face of the crucified Christ and say: All this you did for me, and I don’t give a damn!” The young man went out and bragged that he had completed the dare; but the other two insisted he finish the dare by doing the penance. So he re-entered the cathedral, stood before the crucifix, looked up into the face of Christ and began: “All this you did for me and I… I… I don’t… I don’t give…” he couldn’t continue.
At this point, the archbishop leaned over the pulpit and said: “That young man stands before you to preach today.”
This is the power of our King has: the power to forgive and transform through love and the cross.
On the cross, stripped of everything—clothes, strength, dignity—Jesus retains his power
- to forgive: he forgives his persecutors, the executioners, and the repentant thief;
- to change hearts: he transforms the thief, the centurion, and the people.
Paul’s hymn to the Colossians (second reading) emphasizes that in Jesus we have the forgiveness of sins; through him, all things are reconciled.
In a world which gives importance to territory, power, wealth, rhetoric, and show… Jesus is a king
whose kingdom has no boundaries and goes beyond nationality;
whose citizens are the poor, the lost, the marginalized;
whose crown is compassion
whose throne is the crib and the cross;
whose authority is that of humble and loving service;
whose law is love;
whose life and death was among sinners.
Is Jesus my king? If so… Do I imitate him and his way of love and mercy, humility and service? Do I allow him to transform me with the power of his love and his cross?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: Compare Jesus and David as shepherds, anointed ones, and kings.
Compare/contrast Jesus’ kingdom with countries that have powerful political organizations. How are the objectives different in God’s kingdom and in these countries?
Reading 2: “For him all the fullness was pleased to dwell.” What does fullness mean to me in this context? Let me think of all the places in which I find goodness. Are they sacred? What is the goodness and beauty in my life saying to me about God?
Gospel: According to Pope Francis, from the beginning of his life to his last act, Jesus revealed himself as Mercy. What does that mean to me? What does his assurance to the good thief confirm?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Let us turn to God our Father, the source of all that is good, asking him, with humble hearts, for all that we need to live in his light as we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For Pope Francis and all leaders of the Christian community: that they may be effective leaders and wise shepherds of God’s people, we pray to the Lord…
R: For the leaders of nations: that they may recognize the source of their authority and be guided by God’s wisdom in promoting justice and advancing the well-being of all members of society, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all whose commitment to the truth brings them into conflict with the social, governmental, and religious authorities: that they may learn from and be strengthened by Christ, the suffering servant of truth, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who are imprisoned, particularly those condemned to death: that the Spirit of God may lead them to conversion and through Christ into paradise, we pray to the Lord…
R: For a renewed reverence for God’s creation: that we may respect and care for all that God has created, we pray to the Lord…
R: For ourselves: that through the Cross, we may change our understanding of power, success, and glory, open ourselves to receiving his mercy, and forgive all who have injured us, we pray to the Lord…
L: God, our Father, your Son showed us the meaning of kingship and authority. Like him and with him commit us totally to you and to people, in generous love and dedicated service. Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Lord,
we stand before your Cross today.
The leaders are jeering and the soldiers are pouring scorn on you.
The dialogue of Dismas, the one of the criminals, with you
is refreshingly different!
He sees that you have done no wrong
and do not deserve this punishment.
He sees that this was not the end,
and that you would return as King.
He accepted he deserved to be punished
but threw himself on your mercy.
You responded to him with the gift of salvation.
Lord,
I acknowledge my sinfulness
and I rejoice that your grace and mercy is available to me.
We entrust ourselves, with Dismas,
to your infinite love and mercy,
and like him, we ask simply: remember us.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God our Father,
you sent us Jesus your Son
as the humble servant of your love,
who offered his life on the cross for all.
Give us enough faith to learn from him
that to serve is to reign,
and that to give our life to our brothers and sisters
is to find a joy and a happiness
that no one can take away from us.
Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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