Death and Resurrection with Christ
Penitential hymn
Psalm 131: Humble trust in God.
Response: R/ My soul is longing for your peace, my God.
L. Lord, you know that my heart is not proud and my eyes are not lifted from the earth, R/
L. Lofty thoughts have never filled my mind; far beyond my sight, all ambitious deeds, R/
L. In your peace I have maintained my soul; I have kept my heart in your quiet peace, R/
L. As a child rests on the mother’s knee; so I place my soul in your loving care, R/
L. Israel, put all your hope in God; place your trust in him, now and forever. R/
Invitation to Prayer
L. Come, let us worship the Lord!
A. Christ Jesus, we worship you and we praise you, for by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
L. “Andnow,brothers,Ibegyou,throughthemercy of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect” (Ro 12:1-2).
A. “Our attitude must be that of Christ, who emptied himself and took the form of a slave” (Phil 2:5,7).
L. “Be imitators of God as his dear children. Follow the way of love, even as Christ loved you. He gave himself for us as an offering to God, a gift of pleasing fragrance” (Eph 5:1-2).
A. “You must lay aside your former way of life and old self which deteriorates through illusion and desire, and acquire a fresh, spiritual way of thinking” (Eph 4:22f).
L. “Christ suffered in the flesh: therefore, arm yourselves with the same mentality. Those who
have suffered in the flesh have broken with sin”
(1 Pet 4:1).
A. “We have been crucified with Christ, and the life we live now is not our own; Christ is living in us”(Gal 2:20).
L. Let us pray. Lord, may the suffering and death of Jesus, your only Son, make us pleasing to you. Alone we can do nothing, but may the perfect sacrifice of himself win us your mercy and love. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
A. Amen. (Passion Sunday)First Reading Joel 2:11-18
Introduction: The prophet Joel calls for collective repentance, since there are sins that are collective and personal, which bring evil on the community and the whole people of God. Lent is a communal observance which invites us to pray together, and do penance as a body. This is the content of Joel’s message, though he calls for personal repentance also. To those who undergo this change of heart, the Lord promises good things in abundance.
The reading follows. (pause)Intercessions
L. Beforehispassion,JesuslookedoutoverJerusalem and wept for it, because it had not recognized the hour of God’s visitation. Let us repent for our sins, lest we all likewise perish.
A. Spare, O Lord, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach.
L. Donotforsakethosewhohaveforsakenyou;turn our hearts to you, and we will return to you, our God.
A. Through your passion you redeemed everyone; help us to recognize your love and live always by your Spirit.
L. Savior of all, you came to save sinners; bring into your kingdom all who have faith, hope and love.
A. Look with love on those who suffer because of our indifference; come to their aid, and turn our hearts to works of justice and charity.
L. Redeemer of the world, give us a greater share of your passion through a deeper spirit of repentance, so that we may share the glory of your resurrection.
A. May your Mother, comfort of the afflicted, intercede for us and make our penitential offerings pleasing to you.
L. Let us pray.
A. Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your Son to be born of a woman and to die on a cross, so that through the obedience of one man, all may be reconciled to you. Guide our minds by his truth, and strengthen our lives by the example of his death, that we may live in union with you in the kingdom of your promise. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Passion Sunday)
Hymn
Introduction to the Second Reading
Jesus knew full well that the sacrifices of the Old Covenant did not remit the sins of the people of God, and so, perceiving it was the will of the Father, he offered his own body for this purpose.
The reading follows: Heb 10:5-17 (pause)
Selection from a Homily by St. Melito of Sardis
L. “For the sake of suffering humanity, Christ came down from heaven to earth, clothed himself in that humanity in the Virgin’s womb, and was born a man. Having then a body capable of suffering, he took the pain of the fallen human race upon himself; he triumphed over the diseases of soul and body that were its cause, and by his Spirit, which was incapable of dying, he dealt our destroyer, death, a fatal blow. He was led forth like a lamb; he was slaughtered like a sheep. He ransomed us from our servitude to the world; he freed us from our slavery to the devil. He sealed our souls with his own Spirit, and the members of our body with his own blood. He is the One who rose from the dead, and who raised us from the depths of the tomb.”
Scriptural Responses
L. “May we never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A. Through it, the world has been crucified to us and we to the world” (Gal 6:14).
L. “Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession of faith;
A. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet never sinned.
L. Soletusconfidentlyapproachthethroneofgrace to receive mercy and favor, and to find help in time of need” (Heb 4:14-16).
A. “Strive for peace with all, and for that holiness without which no one can see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).
L. “Because you are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
A. Bear with one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you” (Col 3:12f).
L. LetuspraytheprayerwhichJesustaughtus:Our Father…
L. Let us pray.
A. Father of mercy, hear the prayers of your repentant children, who call on you in love. Help us to pass from our old life of sin to the new life of grace. Enlighten our minds and sanctify our heart, that we may be prepared for the glory of your kingdom. This we ask through Jesus the Lord. Amen.
Examination of conscience/evaluation and individual confessions follow
