Liturgy

Lord Jesus Christ,
pierce our souls with your love that we may always long for you.
You, the bread of angels and the fulfillment of the soul’s deepest desires.

May our hearts always hunger and feed on what you provide,
so that our souls may be filled with sweetness in your presence.

May our souls thirst for you, the source of life, wisdom,
knowledge, light, and all the riches of God our Father.

May we always seek and find you, think about you, speak to you,
find rest in you and do everything for the honor and glory of your name.

Be always our hope, our peace, our refuge and help
in whom our hearts are rooted, now and forever.

In the name of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

— St. Bonaventure, 13th century

Community Confession

In prayer, let us confess to God as a community.

God, thank you for your Spirit who breaks down barriers within and without.
Barriers that distort our ability to lead a life fully integrated with you and your ways.
And yet, forgive us for the times we have deliberately resisted the Spirit’s work.
Life giving spirit, God’s advocate and guide, have mercy on us.

Forgive us, God, for the barriers we create within ourselves,
Barriers that resist your healing work and prevent us moving toward wholeness.
Forgive our self-centeredness, our anger, our fear of change,
our lack of trust in your love.
Life giving spirit, God’s advocate and guide, have mercy on us.

Forgive us, God, for the barriers we create between us and you,
Barriers that separate us from your love and the assurance of your salvation.
Forgive our business, our independence, our desire to go our own way.
Life giving spirit, God’s advocate and guide, have mercy on us.

Forgive us, God, for the barriers we create between us and each other,
Barriers that separate us from neighbors near and far and inhibit
mutual love and care.
Forgive our resentment of others, our love of control, our indifference to the poor.
Life giving spirit, God’s advocate and guide, have mercy on us.

Forgive us, God, for the barriers we create between us and your beautiful creation,
Barriers that abuse your world and deny our responsibility as stewards.
Forgive our greed, our misuse of resources, our pollution of the environment.
Life giving spirit, God’s advocate and guide, have mercy on us.

God, by your Spirit, free us and break down these barriers.
Turn us away from the bondage of a life lived for ourselves and our own desires,
May your Spirit guide us into the freedom of life lived for you and your purposes.
Life giving spirit, God’s advocate and guide, have mercy on us.

God we go into this day knowing it is you who makes us stand firm in Christ.
We are filled with your Spirit,
We are anointed to serve,
We go out to bring resurrection life.

In the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Reflection

How can we engage God in a personal way and not simply know about God?
What are the things that Jesus did that we need to do more of?
In what ways do we need to depend on the Spirit in our lives?

Benediction

Finally, my friends,
whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable –
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy –
think about such things.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me,
or seen in me – put it into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you.

Let us go in the name of the Father,
of the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Go in peace and live the church.
See you throughout the week.

[Photo by james p. lucero @ Flickr]