Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 12, 2010, Cycle C
Green priestly vestments symbolize hope and the vitality of the life of faith.

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Liturgical Year Cycle C 09-10

                                     Introductory Acts Of Worship

The Entrance Prayers:
   On Sunday, usually a hymn praising God is sung in place of reciting a Psalm from the Bible which invites us to enter more deeply into the mystery of God's love for us.  The recited weekday Psalm expresses a youthful heart and spirit, delighted that we may come before the living God.

Entrance Song / Entrance Psalm (Antiphon)           
Entrance Song
Sirach 36:18   G
ive peace, Lord, to those who wait for you and your prophets will proclaim you as you deserve.  Hear the prayers of your servant and of your people Israel.

The Priest Approaches and Kisses the Altar:  The altar is a symbol of Christ.  In it are cut five crosses to recall the five wounds of Christ.  The altar also represents the Church and has embedded in it the relics of her saints.  The priest comes to the altar to celebrate the Sacrifice in the Church's name.  Because of the glory surrounding the altar upon which the divine Sacrifice will be made, the kiss of the priest unites the Church to Christ, its Redeemer.

Priest:   In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All:         
Amen.

The Greeting:  We are welcomed in God's name.  Our response unites us to our neighbor, to the priest and to God.  (The priest may select from several forms of greeting).

Priest:  
The Lord be with you.
All:          
And also with you.


The Penitential Prayers:  We recognize our guilt for past sins, express our sorrow for them, and ask that Mary, the angels, the saints, and our brothers and sisters in Christ pray for the Lord God's mercy.  (The priest may select from several forms).

Priest:   My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
Priest:   Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God's kingdom: Lord, have mercy.
All:         Lord, have mercy.
Priest:   You come in word and sacrament to strengthen us in holiness: Christ, have mercy.
All:         Christ, have mercy.
Priest:   Y
ou will come in glory with salvation for your people: Lord, have mercy.
All:         Lord, have mercy.
Priest:   May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All:         Amen.

The Gloria:  The Glory of God prayers have existed from the second century.  They repeat the angels praise of God which heralded the birth of Christ on earth.  Our praise is lifted again through the years as we rejoice at His coming as Lord, God, the most high Jesus Christ, who at Christmas took on our human nature while at the same time being the son of Man. This ancient hymn expresses our recognition of God's glory and love.  It calls upon Christ as our holy and divine mediator, and the Holy Spirit who forever binds us together in God's love.

Priest and All:   Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.  Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thinks, we praise you for your glory.  Lord Jesus Christ, only son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.  For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

The Opening Prayer:    The priest lifts the united prayers and petitions of the congregation to God the Father through the merits of Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.

Priest:   L
ord, hear the prayers of your people and receive our gifts.  May the worship of each one here bring salvation to all.  Grant this through Christ our Lord. 



                              Liturgy of the Word

Christ is made known to us through the Old Testament which prepares us to recognize Him.  In those days, God inspired men who spoke His message.  Now, the New Testament Gospel reading announces His presence to us directly through His Son.  Both readings bring God's message to us.  Our responsibility is to respond.


The First Reading:  From the Old Testament

Priest/Reader:   A reading from the Book of Exodus.

First Reading:  Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14
The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved.  They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, ‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’  I see how stiff-necked this people is,” continued the Lord to Moses.  “Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them.  Then I will make of you a great nation.”

But Moses implored the Lord, his God, saying,  “Why, O Lord, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand?  Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage,’”  So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.

Priest/Reader:   The Word of the Lord.
All:                           T
hanks be to God.


The Responsorial Psalm:  This Psalm praising God, is a prayer to God, or recommends the practice of virtue.  It is sung as an interlude between the scriptural readings.  It provides yet another instructional setting and invites the assembly to imitate the cantor who sings a repeated response to the verses of an ancient Psalm many of which are attributed to King David.  The verses are sung first by a cantor (song leader) accompanied by instruments, the refrain is sung by the people. 


Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
Cantor:   I will rise and go to my father.
All:          I will rise and go to my father.
Cantor:  Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.  Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
All:          I will rise and go to my father.
Cantor:   A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.  Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
All:          I will rise and go to my father.
Cantor:   O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.  My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
All:          I will rise and go to my father.

Priest/Reader:        A Reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy.

Second Reading:   1 Timothy 1:12-17  

Beloved: I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry.  I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.  Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  Of these I am the foremost.  But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.  To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Priest/Reader:   The word of the Lord.
All:                            T
hanks be to God.  

Cantor:    Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!
ALL:  R/.  A
lleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!
Cantor:    G
od was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
ALL:  R/.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

The Gospel:  The Liturgy of the Word is completed by the reading of the Gospel.  Before its reading, the members of the assembly trace the sign of the cross upon the forehead to indicate their mental acceptance of the Truth, on the lips to indicate their readiness to announce it, and over the heart to indicate their sincere desire to accept it into their lives.  The "Good News" of the Gospel tells that God's kingdom has come for all to hear, accept, and announce to the world for its salvation.  It is God who is speaking to us.  Christ comes to teach us by the example of His life and by His own words.

Priest:   C
leanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.  Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.

Priest:   The Lord be with you.
All:           A
nd also with you.
Priest/Deacon:   A
reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
All:                             G
lory to you, Lord.

The Gospel:   Luke 15:1-32
T
ax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  So to them he addressed this parable.  “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?  And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’  I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?  And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’  In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’  So the father divided the property between them.  After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.  When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.  So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the sine.  And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.  Coming to his senses the thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.  I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’  So he got up and went back to his father.  While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and will filled with compassion.  He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.  His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’  But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.  Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again: he was lost, and has been found.’  Then the celebration began.  Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.  He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.  The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’  He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.  He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.  But when your son returns, who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’  He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.  But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

Priest:   The Gospel of the Lord.
All:          P
raise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 The Priest's Sermon:    The priest develops, explains, and comments upon the Master's words, so our minds may be
enlightened, and our hearts enriched.

(A priestly reflection upon this Gospel)

Profession of Faith:     We state in the Nicene Creed the principles of our faith in precise and definite terms.

All:   We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.  We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.  Through him all things were made.  For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.  For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried.  On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.  We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the son.  With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.  He has spoken through the Prophets.  We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

General Intercessions:   We pray for the needs of the pope, civic leaders, our own needs, those of others, the sick, the dying, those who have died, the church, and the world.  The response of all to each intercession:  Lord, hear our prayer.
All:   L
ord, hear our prayer.


                  The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Gifts of bread and wine symbolizing ourselves are presented to the priest who will offer them to God the Father.  Through the Holy Spirit, they will become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ whom we receive in Holy Communion.  Jesus unites Himself with us for our spiritual nourishment and strength.  Today, when individuals do not present their own personal offerings of bread and wine, the monetary contribution symbolizes the material of their united sacrifice.


Preparation of the Bread and Wine:

Priest:   Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you;
               fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
All:           Blessed be God for ever.

Priest:   B
y the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself share   
               in our humanity.


Priest:
    Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you; fruit
               of the vine and work of human hands it will become our spiritual drink.

All:
           Blessed be God for ever.

The Priest's Hands are Washed: This act was traditional necessary because the priest handled the various gifts presented by the people.  Now, the cleansing act using water reminds the priest and ourselves of the need to cleanse not only the hands but the soul.  Soon, the priest's hands will hold the actual body of Christ, and we will become His dwelling place.   

Priest:    Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleans me from my sin.
               Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.


All:           
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of
               all his holy Church.

Prayer over the Gifts:  Speaking in our name, the priest asks the Father to accept the gifts we offer through him.

Priest:   Lord, hear the prayers of your people and receive our gifts.  May the worship of each one here bring salvation to all.  Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All:           Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer:   (Number Three: The priest may select from several forms).

Priest:
    The Lord be with you.
All:           And also with you. 

Priest:    Lift up your hearts.
All:           We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest:
    Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
All:           It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Preface Prayer: 

Priest:    Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.  He is the true and eternal priest who established this unending sacrifice.  He offered himself as a victim for our deliverance and taught us to make this offering in His memory.  As we eat His body which He gave for us, we grow in strength.  As we drink His blood which He poured out for us, we are washed clean.  Now, with angels and archangels, and the whole company of heaven, we sing the unending hymn of your praise.

Acclamation:

Priest and All:   Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.   Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

Priest:    Father, you are holy indeed, and all creation rightly gives you praise.  All life, all holiness comes from you through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, by the working of the Holy Spirit.  From age to age you gather a people to yourself, so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name.

The priest repeats the words which Christ used at his Last Supper when He changed the bread into His Body and the wine into His Blood.  His Body and Blood are truly present but under the appearance of bread and wine.  The death of Christ is prolonged in each of those who receive Him worthily.  We apply His death to ourselves so that we may share His glory.  This moment is the most solemn on earth because it is Divine act which enables us to apply to ourselves the Cross which Christ willingly took upon Himself. 

We are called to die to sin and lift our very selves to God so that we become changed; to do as God would have us do, to become what God would have us become.  Our own little cross can lift us into union with Christ's Cross so we may earn the joys of everlasting happiness with God the Father. 

The Lord's Supper:   And so, Father, we bring you these gifts.  We ask you to make them holy by the power of your Spirit, that they may become the body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate this Eucharist.  On the night he was betrayed, 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 of it: for this is my Body which will be given up for you.

                                    
In a similar way, when supper was ended, He took this precious chalice in His holy and venerable hands, and once more giving you thanks, He said the blessing and gave the chalice to His disciples, saying:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it; for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant; which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Do this in memory of me.



Memorial Acclamation:
(The priest may select from several forms). 
                

Priest: 
                  Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Priest and All:   Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.


Memorial Prayer:  (The priest may select from several forms).

Priest:  
Recalling Christ's Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension:   Father, calling to mind the death your Son endured for our salvation, his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven, and ready to greet him when he comes again, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.  Look with favor on your Church's offering, and see the Victim whom death has reconciled us to yourself.  Grant that we, who are nourished by his body and blood, may be filled with this Holy Spirit, and become one body, one spirit in Christ.

For Those  Present:   May he make us an everlasting gift to you and enable us to share in the inheritance of your saints, with Mary, the virgin Mother of God; with the apostles, the martyrs, and all your saints, on whose constant intercession we rely for help.  Lord, may this sacrifice, which has made our peace with you, advance the peace and salvation of all the world.  Strengthen in faith and love your pilgrim Church on earth; your servant, Pope _____, our bishop _____, and all the bishops, with the clergy and the entire people your Son has gained for you.  Father, hear the prayers of the family you have gathered here before you.  In mercy and love unite all your children wherever they may be.
                                       

For the Dead:   Welcome into your kingdom our departed brothers and sisters, and all who have left this world in your friendship.

For Ourselves:   We hope to enjoy for ever the vision of your glory, through Christ our Lord, from whom all good things come.

Through whom you continue to create all these good things, O Lord; you make them holy, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us.

Doxology:   
               
Prayer of Praise:  
Through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.    
All:   Amen.       

                        Communion Rite

In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we symbolically offer ourselves to the Lord through the gifts of bread and wine.  At the Consecration, we offer our very lives to be united the God the Father through the Cross of Christ.  In Communion, we find that we have not died at all, but have come to life.  We have surrendered ourselves to God through His Divine Son, Jesus Christ.  In return become ennobled and enriched.  We give up time and we get eternity, we give up our sin and we receive grace, we surrender our self-will and receive the strength of the Divine Will, we give up ourselves and we receive everything.  For the Son of God says to us that unless we receive Him we shall not have Divine life in us.  But it is not really we who receive Christ as it is Christ who receives us, bringing us into Himself.

God makes His Cross the very means of our salvation and our life.  While we have crucified Him, His eternal love cannot be extinguished.  Christ willed to give us the very life we crucified in our Redemption, the Consecration of Holy Thursday into Communion, His death into our everlasting life.

The Lord's Prayer:

Priest:                Let us pray for the coming of the kingdom as Jesus taught us.
Priest and All:   Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be they name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
                                     

Priest:
   Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day.  In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 
All:        For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever.

                                                                           

Prayer for Peace:

Priest:   Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.  Who live and reign for ever and ever.
All:        Amen.                                     
Priest:   The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All:          And with your spirit.
Priest:   Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

Breaking of the Bread:

Priest and All:   Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
                                  Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
                                  Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Communion of the Priest:

Priest:   May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.

Priestly Preparation:   
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit, through  your death gave life to the world; free me by this your most holy Body and Blood from all my sins and from every evil; keep me always faithful to your commandments, and never let me be parted from you.

Priest:   This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  Happy are those who are called to his supper. 

Priest and All:   Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Priest:   May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
              May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.

Communion Antiphon:

Communion Song: Psalm 35:8
O
God, how much we value your mercy!  All mankind can gather under your protection.

Communion of the Faithful:

Priest:              The Body of Christ.    
The Faithful:   
Amen.
Priest:               
The Blood of Christ.   
The Faithful:   
Amen.

Cleansing of the Vessels:

Priest:   L
ord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart.  May they bring me haling and strength, now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion:

Priest:
   Let us pray.
Priest:   Lord, may the Eucharist you have given us influence our thoughts and actions.  May your Spirit guide and direct us in your way.  We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
All:          Amen.

                                     Concluding Rite

Priest:   The Lord be with you.
All:          And also with you.
Priest:   Bow your heads and let us pray for God's blessing.

Dismissal Prayer:
 
(The priest may select from several forms)

Priest:   Lord, have pity on your people; help them each day to avoid what displeases you and grant that they may serve you with joy.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Priest:   May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All:          Amen.

Priest:   Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.  
All:          Thanks be to God!


O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. 
Save us from the fires of hell. 
Lead all souls to heaven,
especially those in most need of your mercy.

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Liturgical Year Cycle C 09-10