Seasonal Psalm 117 (118): Let us rejoice (Haugen)—G 81, GA 71
Gospel acclamation (see CWBII 43–53)
John 13:34
Alleluia, Alleluia! I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. Alleluia!
Procession of the gifts/offertory
A new commandment—CWB 615, CWBII 443, GA 318
A Trusting Psalm—AOV1 115, CWBII 293, GA 455
Christians, let us love one another—CWB 648, CWBII 469, GA 206
Come, my way, my truth, my life—CWB 656
Lord, to whom shall we go? (Herry)—AOV1 6, CWBII 549, GA 189, DD (Marist Music, free)
Micah’s Theme—CWB 748, GA 486
See, I make all things new—AOV2 7
Set your heart on the higher gifts (Warner)—DD (WLP)
So you must do (Haugen)—G 507, DD (GIA)
Communion
Gift of finest wheat/You satisfy the hungry heart—CWB 685, CWBII 651, G 940, GA 191
I receive the living God—G 916, DD (OCP)
In the breaking of the bread (Hurd)—AOV1 58, G 918, DD (OCP)
In perfect charity—AOV1 142
Life-giving bread, saving cup—G 926, DD (GIA)
No greater love—CWBII 622, G 701, GA 460
Our Supper Invitation—AOV1 185, GA 202
Remain in my love—AOV1 159
Seed, scattered and sown—CWBII 592, GA 195
Ubi caritas (Taizé)—CWBII 633, 634, GA 324
Unless a grain of wheat—AOV1 35, CWBII 635, G 783, GA 500
Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)
God of peace—AOV2 138, CWBII 546, GA 553
Halleluya! We sing your praises—G 626
Lead me, Lord (Becker)—DD (OCP)
Love divine, all loves excelling—CWB 740, CWBII 552, G 641, GA 463
We walk his way/Ewe, thina—G 517, DD (GIA)
Sending forth
Alleluia! Raise the gospel (Alstott/Farrell)—DD (OCP)
Be not afraid (Taizé)—G 516
Christ be near us—AOVNG 21
Christ is alive, with joy we sing—CWB 639, CWBII 353, GA 365
Easter Alleluia—CWBII 348, G 537, GA 358
Go out in the world—AOVNG 54
Sing to the mountains—AOV1 92, CWBII 604, G 519, GA 362
Siyahamba (We are marching)—AOV2 113, G 594
The voice of God—CWB 835, CWBII 621, GA 476
To the ends of the earth—AOVNG 134
We walk by faith—AOV1 63, CWBII 641, G 680, GA 447
We will walk with God—G 737, DD (GIA)
Where there is charity and love—CWB 863, CWBII 638, GA 323
First reading
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21–23 Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 89(90):3–6, 12–14, 17 R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Second reading
Colossians 3:1–5, 9–11 You must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is.
Gospel acclamation
Matthew 5:3 Happy the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Gospel
Luke 12:13–21 Fool! This very night your soul will be demanded of you.
Images from the Word
Your judge
Good harvest
Fool
Vanity
Life with Christ
Liturgical notes
For in the readings, as expounded by the Homily, God speaks to his people, opening up to them the mystery of redemption and salvation, and offering them spiritual nourishment; and Christ himself is present in the midst of the faithful through his word.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §55
Our daily life is filled with a plethora of words and sounds. We are constantly bombarded with conflicting values and invitations. So, when we come to Sunday Mass, we need to be focussed on our beloved God speaking gently to us. Our readers have already prayed with this Word of God. Drawing upon this prayer, they proclaim the consoling and confronting Word of God. We need to be attentive so that our hearts are willing to live what we hear.
‘Graciously sanctify these gifts, O Lord, we pray, and, accepting the oblation of this spiritual sacrifice, make of us an eternal offering to you.’
—prayer over the offerings
Presider
We are Jesus’ disciples if we have love for one another, a love that embraces the entire world. We open our hearts in prayer for those most in need of God’s healing, justice and peace.
Reader
We pray for Pope Francis and all Church leaders. May they be full of love and compassion as they minister in your name.
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our leaders, and especially for those seeking election to serve our nation. May the Holy Spirit inspire them to pursue a better politics that is wise and courageous and governs for the good of all.
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our country. As we celebrate this week the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, the Patron Saint of Australia, may we all commit ourselves to this Great Southern Land of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our faith community. May we never forget those less fortunate than ourselves.
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for …
Lord hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the sick of our parish and for those who care for them. We pray for those who have died recently and those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May their faith be rewarded now in the fullness of Christ’s new creation.
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
Presider
God of Mercy, receive these petitions today. Bring your love to bear on all that is unloving and broken in our world. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
First reading
Acts 14:21–27 They assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them.
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 144(145):8–13a R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Second reading
Apocalypse 21:1–5 He will wipe away all the tears from their eyes.
Gospel acclamation
John 13:34 I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.
Gospel
John 13:31–35 I give you a new commandment: love one another.
Images from the Word
Glorify him
Love
My disciples
Door of faith
God-with-them
Liturgical notes
In proclaiming the Year of the Eucharist in 2004, St John Paul II wrote:
We cannot delude ourselves: by our mutual love and, in particular, by our concern for those in need we will be recognised as true followers of Christ. This will be the criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged.
—Mane Nobiscum Domine, §28
Again our readings today invite us to make this examination of conscience. How do we live this criterion given us by St John Paul? Our Easter season recalls for us the glory that has been given us in baptism: to be the children of God. As we have been loved by our God, so we too must love one another.
‘O sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders; in the sight of the nations he has shown his deliverance, alleluia.’
‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified. If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon.
‘My little children, I shall not be with you much longer. You will look for me, and, as I told the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come. I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.’
(John 13:31–35)
Did you know?
Points of interest and Catholic lore
The title ‘Son of Man’ is one that is often used by Jesus in the gospels to describe himself.
In the Gospel of John, when Jesus speaks of being glorified or exalted, he is referring to his death on the cross. For John, this is the moment of supreme triumph for Jesus.
This text comes from a section of John’s Gospel known as the Farewell Discourse, which is delivered by Jesus to his friends just before his arrest. Here, Judas has already gone out to betray him.
Exploring the Word
The Gospel of John is often divided into two sections: the Book of Signs, detailing the public ministry of Jesus aimed at bringing people to belief, and the Book of Glory, which outlines the events leading to his death and resurrection. One part of that concluding section of the gospel describes the events of his final night with his followers. It is too late now for those who have not recognised that Jesus is the Messiah. He closets himself with those who do believe and gives them extended instruction on how they are to continue his mission after he is gone. Both today’s reading and next week’s gospel come from this section of the text.
Jesus is telling his disciples not just that they must love each other, but also that they must love as he has loved. This moves beyond the commandment known to the Jews to love one’s neighbour as oneself. The love that Jesus showed was the total self-giving and selfless love that led to his death on the cross—his glorification. It is this love that reveals the love of God, who islove. This new and difficult love is to be the true mark of a Christian in a truly Christian community.
How do you understand this commandment to love as Jesus loved?
Making connections
Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer
How will people know that you are a disciple of Jesus?
In what ways do you glorify God?
How do you show love for others?
Sometimes it is easy to love but at other times it becomes very difficult. Share an experience of being loved beyond what was expected or even deserved. Or share an occasion when you were called on to continue loving, even though it was very difficult.
Can you take up the challenge and act with love towards all people you encounter this week?
The Easter season is one of praise and glorification. Use the Gloria as your prayer this week. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. 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.
Sharing the tradition
A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ
‘Ever since St Augustine, the Ten Commandments have occupied a predominant place in the catehesis of baptismal candidates and the faithful’ (CCC §2065). The Ten Commandments outline how to live in right relationship both with God (the first three) and with our neighbour (the remaining seven). They cover all aspects of living in fidelity to the love of God for God’s people. ‘Ever since St Augustine, the Ten Commandments have occupied a predominant place in the catehesis of baptismal candidates and the faithful’ (CCC §2065). The Ten Commandments outline how to live in right relationship both with God (the first three) and with our neighbour (the remaining seven). They cover all aspects of living in fidelity to the love of God for God’s people.
Explore how the Ten Commandments can be applied to our own society and interpreted to guide our lives today.
The new commandment of Jesus to love one another as he loved takes this a step further.
Explore the nature of loving as Jesus loved.
You could use some examples of people who have displayed this selfless love—for example, Damien of Molokai, Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Symbols and images
The new commandment of love for one another becomes the defining principle and sign of discipleship. It is through this love for each other, which sets believers apart from the rest of the community, that people will know that they are followers of Jesus. This is much more difficult than it sounds! The biggest challenge is to act with love towards those we find it difficult to like!
Living the Word
Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment
In what ways does your community show love for one another? How does it give public witness to discipleship? How may the broader community see this in the way people treat each other and in the love they display?
Continue to use the symbols of Easter and initiation as a focus for prayer. Pray for strength for each other to live as Christ lived and to love as he loved. You could again recite the Creed together. Conclude with an Easter song or perhaps ‘I have loved you’ (GA 402).
Entrance
Baptised in water—G 903, GA 179, CWBII 99
Be thou my vision—AOV1 9, CWBII 455
Christ, be our light—AOV2 3, CWBII 540, G 590, GA 404
Come to the feast—AOV1 151, G 585, GA 400
In labour all creation groans—AOV2 40, CWBII 521
Love is his word—CWB 743, CWBII 553, GA 462
O God, our help in ages past—AOV1 175, CWB 767, CWBII 568, G 688, GA 459
Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Ordinary Time)
Psalm 89 (90): In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge (Isele)—CWB 402
Common Psalm 94 (95): If today you hear his voice (Soper)—DD (OCP)
Common Psalm 94 (95): If today you hear God’s voice (Wood)—GA 55
Common Psalm 94 (95): If today you hear his voice (Willcock)—PFS 50
Gospel acclamation
Matthew 5:3
Alleluia, Alleluia! Happy the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs! Alleluia!
Procession of the gifts/offertory
Abundant life—G 811, DD (GIA)
Act justly (Farrell)—DD (OCP)
Act justly—AOV1 50
Centre of my life—AOV2 170, G 679, GA 444
Eat this bread (Taizé)—AOV1 125, CWBII 484, G 941, GA 205
Eye has not seen—AOV1 146, G 728, GA 466
If we have died to ourselves in Jesus—CWBII 30, GA 87
In every age—AOVNG 77, G 716, DD (OCP)
Micah’s Theme—CWB 748, GA 486
O breathe on me, O breath of God—CWB 758, CWBII 564, G 902, GA 432
Seek, O seek the Lord—CWB 802, CWBII 595, GA 211
Seek ye first—AOV1 48, CWBII 594, GA 456, G 658
Set your heart on the higher gifts (Warner)—DD (WLP)
The cry of the poor—AOV1 83, CWBII 618, G 47, GA 36
Communion
The Beatitudes (Kearney)—CWB 817, CWBII 456, GA 489
Come to the water (Andersen)—AOV1 74, CWBII 473, GA 403
How rich are the depths of God (Willcock)—AOV2 79, CWB 795, CWBII 505, GA 81
I am the bread of life (Kaczmarek)—AOVNG 72
I am the bread of life (Toolan)—AOV1 49, CWB 718, CWBII 508, G 945, GA 204
Our blessing cup (Hurd)—AOV1 7
Table of plenty—AOV2 20, DD (OCP)
Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)
A Trusting Psalm—AOV1 115, CWBII 293, GA 455
Centre of my life—AOV2 170, G 679, GA 444
Jesus Christ, you are my life—CWBII 523
Sending forth
Bring forth the kingdom—AOV2 4, CWBII 647, G 734, GA 478
In Christ there is no east or west—CWBII 519, G 832
Lord, you give the great commission—CWBII 308, G 544, GA 313
The Church of Christ, in every age—CWB 818, CWBII 613
‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me. The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone, and no one can steal from the Father. The Father and I are one.’
(John 10:27–30)
Did you know?
Points of interest and Catholic lore
The Latin word for shepherd is pastor. It is from this word that we derive many of the terms used in the Church for people with a special role: pastor or priest, pastoral care, pastoral associate, pastoral council. These roles always imply a duty of love and care towards those for whom one is responsible.
The Shepherd King was an ancient image of God used by the Hebrew people.
In this gospel text, John is addressing one of the issues that confronted his community: the heretical voices of those who sought to lead people away from—rather than towards—God.
Exploring the Word
This text in John’s Gospel is set in Jerusalem, while Jesus is there for the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22), a feast celebrating the presence of God in the temple. The temple was not just a building for Israel. It was the visible place where God dwelt in the heart of God’s people; to go to the temple and worship was to ‘approach God’. Jesus is teaching something completely new here. He stands within the temple precinct and declares that it is only through him and through hearing his voice that people can come to the Father. The voice of Jesus is both seen and heard in the events of his life, death and resurrection. It is through all these events that the ways of God are made known to us.
How do you ‘hear the voice’ of Jesus?
What are some of the conflicting voices we hear in our world? Which voices are the loudest? Where do these voices lead us?
What sense do you have of being called by name? How do you experience God’s constant care for you?
Making connections
Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer
What are the things about the Church and your particular community that make you feel like you belong?
These words from Jesus are spoken with the utmost confidence in their truth! How confident are you feeling that you know Jesus and that he will give you eternal life?
What are the things that may ‘steal you away’ from listening to the voice of Jesus?
In your life, in what ways are you called on to act as a ‘shepherd’—a leader, provider, protector?
Who are the people who act as a shepherd to you? In what ways do they carry out this role for you?
Attend very carefully to the needs of those people who are in your care this week.
Use today’s psalm as your prayer this week: Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before him singing for joy. We are his people, the sheep of his flock. Know that he, the Lord, is God. He made us, we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his flock. Indeed how good is the Lord, eternal his merciful love. He is faithful from age to age. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Sharing the tradition
A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ
It is now a few weeks since the newly baptised were initiated. Return again to the events of the Vigil and explore the symbolism of some of the service, especially the anointing and the presentation of the candle.
You could trace the links between the oil and chrism ‘of salvation’ (RCIA, §§291, 295) and the gospel reading for today. Where is salvation found?
In what ways is Christ ‘priest, prophet and king’? How are we called to be these as well?
How can the newly baptised be assisted in keeping alight the ‘flame of faith’ so they can ‘walk always as children of the light’ (RCIA, §297)?
What supports do we need to offer each other in the continued journey of faith?
Symbols and images
The care that a shepherd showed for his flock remains a powerful image in the Church, despite its origins in an ancient agricultural society. In our country, with its vast paddocks and endless fences, the work of a true shepherd has lost some of its meaning, but the intimacy and tenderness of the image still speak to us of the closeness of Christ’s relationship with all who believe in him.
Living the Word
Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment
Who are the people of the ‘flock’ that make up your own community? What characteristics does your community have? Do the newly baptised have special gifts or talents that can be used in ministering to particular members of your community?
Continue with the use of the Easter and initiation symbols in your prayer. Perhaps you could use a simple anointing ritual to strengthen the newly baptised in their continued growth. Pray for each other and for all the sheep of the flock, especially those who shepherd them. Conclude with an Easter song.
First reading
Genesis 18:20–32 Abraham negotiates with the Lord.
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 137(138):1–3, 6–8 R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Second reading
Colossians 2:12–14 Christ has brought you to life with him and forgiven us all our sins.
Gospel acclamation
Romans 8:15bc You have received the Spirit which makes us God’s children, and in that Spirit we call God our Father.
Gospel
Luke 11:1–13 How to pray
Images from the Word
Teach us
Persistence
Ask
Give me leave
Been raised up
Liturgical notes
In the Lord’s Prayer a petition is made for daily food, which for Christians means preeminently the Eucharistic Bread, and also for purification from sin, so that what is holy may, in fact, be given to those who are holy.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §81
The inclusion of the Lord’s Prayer in the Mass came very early. Including this prayer at the time of Communion draws us in two ways. First, we, the holy people of God, petition the Holy One to give us a share in that holiness: ‘Give us today our daily bread.’ This petition then links the Eucharist with our petition for forgiveness: ‘Forgive us as we forgive.’ The generous gift of God is an invitation to do the same and forgive those who ‘have trespassed against us’. So we move from this prayer to the sign of peace.
‘Accept, O Lord, we pray, the offerings which we bring from the abundance of your gifts, that through the powerful working of your grace these most sacred mysteries may sanctify our present way of life and lead us to eternal gladness.’
—prayer over the offerings
First reading
Acts 13:14, 43–52 We are now turning to the Gentiles.
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 99(100):1–3, 5 R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Second reading
Apocalypse 7:9, 14–17 The Lamb who is at the throne will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water.
Gospel acclamation
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me
Gospel
John 10:27–30 I give my sheep eternal life.
Images from the Word
Listen
Follow
Are one
Remain faithful
Living water us
Liturgical notes
On Sundays, especially in Easter Time, the blessing and sprinkling of water as a memorial of Baptism may take place from time to time in all churches and chapels, even in Masses anticipated on Saturday evenings. If this rite is celebrated during Mass, it takes the place of the usual Penitential Act at the beginning of Mass.
—Roman Missal, p. 1358
Because of the close connection between the season of Easter and the celebration of Christian initiation, it is helpful to include the blessing of water in place of the penitential act. By this inclusion, we are reminded that through our washing in water and consecration by anointing in confirmation, we are sharers in Christ—Priest, Prophet and King. As the priestly people of God, we gather for Mass to exercise this priesthood in sacrifice and thanksgiving.
‘The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth; by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia.’
—entrance antiphon
Entrance
All people that on earth do dwell—AOV1 25, CWB 613, CWBII 448, G 853, GA 533
All the earth proclaim the Lord—AOV1 184, CWB 611, CWBII 447, GA 534
Alleluia No. 1—AOV1 15, CWBII 350, G 524, GA 360
Easter Alleluia—CWBII 348, G 537, GA 358
Centre of my life—AOV2 170, G 679, GA 444
Christ is alive, with joy we sing—CWB 639, CWBII 353, GA 365
Christ is here (Walker)—GA 351, DD (OCP)
Gather as one—AOVNG 48
Good Shepherd, you know us—CWBII 357
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven—AOV1 78, CWB 789, CWBII 588, G 613, GA 392
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty—AOV2 132, CWB 792, CWBII 586, G 616, GA 421
Sing a new song unto the Lord—AOV1 80, CWBII 598, GA 414
Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Holy Week and Easter)
Psalm 99 (100): We are God’s people (Willcock)—CWB 335, GA 59 (refrain II), PFS 54
Common Psalm 117 (118): Give thanks to the Lord (Boschetti)—CWB 296 (verses 1, 3, 4)
Common Psalm 117 (118): Let us rejoice (Haugen)—G 81, GA 71
Common Psalm 117 (118): This is the day (Willcock)—CWB 289a, GA 70, PFS 26
