Presider: Fr. Mark Payne Parish: Chaplain, Heart of the Nation
Choir: Heart of the Nation
TEXT FROM THE GOSPEL AND HOMILY
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you O Lord.
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly father is perfect."
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
I'll tell you, these readings really hit me this Sunday. Drivers.... you're on alert! You know, honestly when we're out there driving, and I'm going to speak about myself... When I'm out there I'll tell you, and I get cut off, mmhh! You get that feeling and it's like, ok! And then you get this gospel or the first reading which challenges us to really consider what are we about? Last weekend I talked about respect. The respect of taking the law to a deeper meaning and recognizing each other as persons and the depth of what that holds for each and every one of us. Well we can do it this weekend as well. We need to recognize that we live in a world where retaliation and revenge seems to occur all the time! How often do we hear about bullying? How often do we hear name calling? How often do we hear in the news about people fighting with each other? Folks, Jesus' words are really directed for all of us. So none of us, even our home bound, you're not off the hook this weekend! We all fall into the category of really saying to ourselves “what needs to change?” We have to look at our attitude. I worked with my spiritual director and she directed me at one point to say, “Fr. Mark, let those drivers go around you.” Let go. Because we want to always be in control. We want to take control, we feel unjustly treated. I don't think it's that. I think what I need to do is ok, go by. Learn to go the extra mile. Take the time with people, stop name calling and pulling everyone down. You know, a few weeks ago I spoke about being light, and salt. We need to be that. We can make a change but we ourselves have to recognize the change in ourselves. We have to make that change. Respect one another. Come to a deeper understanding of human beings and our own nature. You know, sometimes the things we dislike about others, is really in ourselves. We have to recognize "what do we dislike?" and to ask for forgiveness and mercy and understanding and compassion. We're challenged, we’re really challenged this weekend because these readings really strike us at the heart of who we are as human beings. Jesus calls us to be richer, deeper people. Deeper people. We don't have to retaliate. We don't have to name call. We don't have to tear down. Love your enemy. Pray for those who do wrong. Ask for forgiveness. And then we will be deeper people.
Entrance: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Text: Reginald Heber, 1783-1826, alt.
Tune: NICAEA, 11 12 12 10; John B. Dykes, 1823-1876
Psalm 103: The Lord Is Kind and Merciful
Text: Psalm 103; Jeanne Cotter
Music: Jeanne Cotter
© 1993, GIA Publications, Inc.
Preparation: Set Your Heart on the Higher Gifts
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13; Steven C. Warner, b. 1954
Tune: Steven C. Warner, b. 1954
© 1992, 1994, World Library Publications
Communion: A New Commandment
Text of English verses © James Quinn, S.J. Used by permission of Selah Publishing co., Inc., North American agent, Kingsford, NY 12401. All rights reserved
Text of refrain and music copyright © 1999, World Library Publications
All rights reserved.
Sending Forth: Go Make a Difference
Text: Matthew 5:13-16; Steve Angrisano, b. 1965, and Tom Tomaszek, b. 1950
Tune: Steve Angrisano, b. 1965, and Tom Tomaszek, b. 1950; acc. by Rick Modlin, b. 1966
© 1997, 1998, Steve Angrisano and Thomas N. Tomaszek, Published by OCP
Mass of Renewal
Text © 2010 ICEL, All rights reserved. Used with permission
Music © 2009, Curtis Stephan. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this liturgy obtained from ONE LICENSE, License No. A-718591.
www.HeartoftheNation.org
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