OPENING PRAYER

God our Father, your light of truth guides us to the way of Christ. May all who follow him reject what is contrary to the gospel.

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of Deuteronomy 30:10-14

Theme: The word is very near to you for your observance.

Moses said to the people: “Obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping those commandments and laws of his that are written in the Book of this Law, and you shall return to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. ‘For this Law that I enjoin on you today is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, so that you need to wonder, “Who will go up to heaven for us and bring it down to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” Nor is it beyond the seas, so that you need to wonder, “Who will cross the seas for us and bring it back to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” No, the Word is very near to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance.’

This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 68:14. 17. 30-31.33-34. 36-37. R.v.33.

R. Seek the Lord, you who are poor, and your hearts will revive.

1. This is my prayer to you, my prayer for your favour. In your great love, answer me, O God, with your help that never fails: Lord, answer, for your love is kind; in your compassion, turn towards me. (R.)

2. As for me in my poverty and pain let your help, O God, lift me up. I will praise God’s name with a song; I will glorify him with thanksgiving. (R.)

3. The poor when they see it will be glad and God-seeking hearts will revive; for the Lord listens to the needy and does not spurn his servants in their chains (R.)

4. For God will bring help to Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. The sons of his servants shall inherit it; those who love his name shall dwell there. (R.)

SECOND READING

A reading from the  letter of St. Paul to the Colossians 1:15-20

Theme: All things were created through Christ and for him.

Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation, for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth: everything visible and everything invisible, Throne, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers – all things were created through him and for him. Before anything was created, he existed, and he holds all things in unity. Now the Church is his body he is its head. As he is the Beginning, he was first to be born from the dead, so that he  should be first in every way; because God wanted all perfection to be found in him and all things to reconciled through him and for him, everything in heaven and ever on earth, when he made peace by his death on the cross.

This is the word of the Lord.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia!  Alleluia!!  Lord, your words are spirit they are like. You have the words of eternal life . Alleluia!

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke 10:25-37

Theme: Who is my neighbor?

There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, “Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, ”What is written in the  Law? What do you read there?” He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” “You have answered right”, said Jesus. “Do this and life is yours.”

But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbor to the man who fell into the brigands’ hands?” “The one who took pity on him,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Go, and do the same yourself.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

Lord, accept the gifts of your Church. May this eucharist help us to grow in holiness and faith.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Lord, by our sharing in the mystery of this eucharist, let your saving love grow within us.

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