LEADER:
God calls us to accept His unconditional love and respond willingly to Him. Let us pray that both present and future MSCs may deepen their belief in this tender love God has for us.
Psalm 145, verses 1-9
I will extol you, My God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you,
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord and highly to be praised;
God’s greatness is unsearchable.
Generation after generation praises your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works,
The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed and
I will declare your greatness.
They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness and
sing joyfully of your justice.
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
And his compassion is over all that he has made.
PRAYER:
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received, you never give by halves. You give full measure, packed down and running over. You give us the fullness of your Heart. May we enter your Heart and respond with generosity to your faithful love.
RESPONSE: Psalm 112
Happy are those who fear the Lord,
Who greatly delight in God’s commands.
Their descendents will be mighty in the land;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their home
And their righteousness endures forever.
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
And they are merciful, gracious, and just.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
Who conduct their affairs with justice.
The righteous will never be moved, they will be remembered forever.
They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
Their righteousness endures forever;
They are exalted in honor.
READING: John 15 9-17
"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Live on in my love. You will live in my love if you keep my commandments, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and live in his love. All this I tell you that my joy may be yours and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment; love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this; to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer speak of you and slaves, for a slave does not know what his master is about. Instead, I call you friends, since I have made known to you all that I heard from my Father. It was I who chose you to go forth and bear fruit. Your fruit must endure, so that all you ask the Father in my name he will give you. The command I give you is this, that you love one another."
OPPORTUNITY FOR SHARED REFLECTION
Spontaneous Petitions followed by the Our Father
PRAYER:
Heart of Jesus, Your love knows no bounds. Even should we run away and go hopelessly astray, still you find and heal us. Make us grateful for such a great and loving care. May gratitude inspire us to accept generously and joyfully your invitation to share in your mission of love. Widen our hearts to be “bearers of the love of Christ in the world.” We make this prayer, trusting in you love and mercy. Amen.