NOT ALONE!
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
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: When kids feel lonely and desolate and frightened, what do they do? They cling to a stuffed toy or their “blanket” that gives them peace and comfort. This blanket is actually called a comforter.
The Lord promises us a Comforter: the Holy Spirit, who is with us not just in moments of loneliness but always. We pray that we may cling to this great gift of the Spirit.
Penitential Rite
L: For the moments, we have not recognized God’s presence in our lives and have given in to desolation, we ask the Lord to pardon us.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you have shown us the way to the Father.
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Jesus Christ, you have given us the consolation of the truth.
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you promise to be with us through your Spirit.
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: Lord our God,
your Son has promised not to leave us orphans.
Give us the Holy Spirit,
to be with us and to live in us,
that we may feel your comforting presence
and that we may make the Good News of your love
visible and tangible to all.
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 Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
Psalm Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
Response Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or: Alleluia.
Reading 2 1 Peter 3:15-18
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.Gospel John 14:15-21
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Once more, place yourself in the Upper Room with Jesus and his disciples. The Lord tells you: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” Become aware of your feelings and thoughts as you hear the Lord repeat this phrase to you.
Sunday Snippets
Home Alone. The real-life experience, not the movie, of many people. Here’s just one story:
“I am sixteen. A year ago, I lost the most important person in my life: my grandmother. She was my world, and suddenly she was gone. I was alone. I cried for days, cursing God, her, and even myself for her death. I had no idea how to get through my freshman year, but I did. Now I remember her and do what I know she would want me to do: help people.”
Alone. On their own. That’s perhaps the way the apostles felt during the Last Supper.
Jesus, the most important person in their lives, has repeatedly told them about his death. Jesus promises them his Spirit to comfort and lead them: “The Father... will give you another advocate to be with you always... I will not leave you orphans.” He reminds them: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
A promise and a reminder! The promise of the eternal, comforting, abiding, and advocating presence of the Spirit. The reminder that they will experience the full presence of the Spirit when they love… because the Spirit is love.
We see the promise and the reminder unfold in the first reading: with the power of the Spirit and with love, the disciples go out to proclaim Christ to the people of Samaria. Like the sixteen-year-old, when they reach out, they are alone no longer.
We, too, have been given this gift of the Spirit. Why do we still feel lonely and troubled? Perhaps because we have forgotten the promise and the reminder.
Am I open to the comforting and guiding presence of the Spirit? Do I keep the commandment of love? Then… I will not be alone. I will not feel “orphaned”.
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: The Samaritans saw the signs Philip was doing and were filled with “great joy”. What are the signs of God’s presence in my life? Do these signs fill me with joy? What “miraculous” signs have I seen during this pandemic?
Reading 2: How do I “sanctify Christ as Lord” in all of life’s arena: home, school/ college/ work, church, world, all creation?
Gospel: In moments of trial and tribulation, do I hear Jesus’ words: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you”? Do I experience his presence through the Spirit and by keeping his commandments?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Inspired by Jesus’ promise of everlasting love, we make our petitions with renewed confidence to God our Father and we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: That the Spirit of strength may be given to the Pope and the bishops to bear witness to hope and joy, we pray to the Lord…
R: That the Spirit of power may be given to those who are persecuted for following their consciences and standing up for justice and peace, we pray to the Lord…
R: That the Spirit of light may be given to those who do not yet know the Lord and to those who fail to follow him, we pray to the Lord…
R: That the Spirit of love may be given to those who want to grow in love of God, of neighbour, and of creation, we pray to the Lord…
R: That the Spirit of hope may be given to the lonely and the unloved, we pray to the Lord…
R: That the Spirit of unity may be given to all who share in this celebration with faith and understanding, we pray to the Lord…
L: God our Father, pour out your Spirit on us and our world. Let him lead us forward in hope and help us to build our future with you. 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,
you promised the apostles
that you would not leave them orphans
and would ask the Father
to give them another Advocate to be with them always.
Lord,
you make the same promise to me.
It is comforting to know that I am never alone,
that you are with me and in me.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me
that I am not alone... even when I feel that way.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Lord,
open our hearts to your power
moving around us and within us,
until your glory is revealed in our love,
in communities transformed by justice and compassion,
and in the healing of all that is broken.
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:
No comments:
Post a Comment