Ordinary Time, Lent and Easter 2021 English
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February 7, 2021 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Opening Prayer Petitions Merciful Lord, we pray for a fresh Lenten Lord, no one escapes your authority, That beginning, so that we may recommit ourselves we continue to witness Jesus' miraculous works to the promises of our baptism and be more of healing throughout our world today; we pray faith giving to you and to God's people. Bless to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer us with your grace, and fill our hearts with a desire to imitate your love, compassion and As the sign of the cross drawn in ashes on our healing touch, as Jesus did. We ask this through foreheads disappears, let it be imbedded in our Christ our Lord. Amen hearts and guide our steps, giving us courage on our journey; we pray to the Lord. Gospel: Mark 1:29-39 Lord, hear our prayer May our heavenly Father walk with us on our On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the journey to the many tables of life, and deliver house of Simon and Andrew with James and us from the demons and the grips of the Devil; John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a we pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on Lord’s Prayer them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought Our Father who art in heaven, to him all who were ill or possessed by hallowed be thy name; demons. The whole town was gathered at the thy kingdom come; door. He cured many who were sick with thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. various diseases, and he drove out many Give us this day our daily bread; demons, not permitting them to speak because and forgive us our trespasses they knew him. as we forgive those who trespass against us; Rising very early before dawn, he left and went and lead us not into temptation, off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon but deliver us from evil. Amen and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for Closing Prayer you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this Loving Jesus, and miracle worker, you not only purpose have I come.” So he went into their healed the sick or dying, you transformed the synagogues, preaching and driving out demons lives of those who found faith through your throughout the whole of Galilee. preaching and teaching. Help us to understand what you are The Gospel of the Lord. calling us to Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. do, and give us the strength to Reflection Questions follow through with 1. Can you think of a moment in your life your works. where you have bestowed compassion or a In Jesus’ healing touch to others? name, we 2. Even Jesus took time to pray as well as pray. Amen preach. Besides praying, are you comfortable sharing your faith with others outside of your Catholic community? 3. What prevents you from sharing the Gospel with people of different faiths? February 14, 2021 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Opening Prayer Petitions Loving God, we know that you love us For us to be accepting and non- always, in good times and the bad times. judgmental to everyone in our You accept us even when we have strayed society, no matter their race, away. We pray for enlightenment and color, religious beliefs or strength to refrain from those obstacles ethnic background. This that cross our paths. We thank you for the includes the elderly, the ongoing visible reminders of your physically, mentally and precious love. Amen emotionally handicapped, and the marginalized and all who Gospel: Mark 1:40-45 are needy; we pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer. A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me Heavenly Father, guide us as we open our clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his minds and hearts to you and to one another. hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will May you guide us in discerning ways for us to it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him have safe protests for good causes, which do immediately, and he was made clean. Then, not inflict harm or place people in danger of warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. being harmed; we pray to the Lord. He said to him, “See that you tell no one Lord, hear our prayer. anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses For all who have been faithful in spreading the prescribed; that will be proof for them.” good news of the Gospel to others as the leper The man went away and began to publicize the did after Jesus healed him; we pray to the Lord. whole matter. He spread the report abroad so Lord, hear our prayer. that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, Lord’s Prayer and people kept coming to him from everywhere. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; The Gospel of the Lord. thy kingdom come; Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses Reflection Questions as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, 1. Jesus healed the leper and made him clean but deliver us from evil. Amen but warned him not to tell anyone. Despite Jesus' warning, he publicized it Closing Prayer everywhere. When have you experienced something so spectacular or magnificent that you could not refrain from telling Compassionate and merciful God, embrace us someone? with your abiding love. Let our conversations 2. Have there been times in your life that you reflect your presence and your wisdom to help rejected someone or you felt rejected, and communities eliminate ongoing violence, have there been times in your life that your harmful ways, and despair. We hope and pray private information has been revealed to that we may become instruments of others? How did these incidents make you reconciliation and healing, and we beg you for feel? the graces that will help us be real witnesses to 3. Have you ever witnessed or personally the world. We ask this in your holy name. experienced God's healing touch in Amen. unexpected places or moments? The Echo of Ashes “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” the large brown bowl rests on a purple cloth its roundness holding ashes freshly burned black and ready for wearing. blackened thumbs press the ancient sign upon the waiting foreheads. I hear the message repeated until it haunts and hunts me down: remember, remember, remember you are dust, dust, only dust someday only dust will remain. the echo of the Lent stained ashes speaks the truth of my humanity: the humbleness of my beginning, the simplicity of my departure. A few wise words echoing through Ash Wednesday urge me to deeper things: renewed dedication, constant compassion and mindful awareness. I leave marveling at how simple and sublime is this envelope of the soul, which one day returns to dust, dust, only dust. Joyce Rupp, Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems and Reflections for Every Season, Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2010. February 21, 2021 – First Sunday of Lent Opening Prayer Petitions Heavenly Father, our 40-day Lenten For the conversion of our hearts and minds journey has begun. We ask for your help in during this Lenten season, so that we strive disciplining ourselves to resist ongoing to be in Communion with our Lord; we temptations. We humbly pray this Lenten pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer. path will create in us a clean heart, and inspire a burning desire within us to walk While Jesus had angels that ministered to more closely with you. We ask this through him in the desert, let us be reminded that Christ our Lord. Amen. Jesus is always there for us throughout all our struggles and temptations, and that he Gospel: Mark 1:12-15 has given us every gift to help us grow in his love; we pray to the Lord. The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, Lord, hear our prayer. and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among For the sick, the poor, the persecuted, the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to unemployed, and for those suffering from him. unhealthy addictions and depression; we After John had been arrested, Jesus came to pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer. Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and Lord’s Prayer believe in the gospel.” Our Father who art in heaven, The Gospel of the Lord. hallowed be thy name; Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Reflection Questions Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses 1. Of the ongoing temptations in your life, as we forgive those who trespass against us; have you found a clever trick or and lead us not into temptation, behaviors to enable you to resist them? but deliver us from evil.