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Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Praise
Lord of heaven and earth,
as Jesus taught his disciples to be persistent in prayer,
give us patience and courage never to lose hope,
but always to bring our prayers before you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 78.1-8
Hear my teaching, O my people;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will pour forth mysteries from of old,
such as we have heard and known,
which our forebears have told us.
We will not hide from their children,
but will recount to generations to come,
the praises of the Lord and his power
and the wonderful works he has done.
He laid a solemn charge on Jacob
and made it a law in Israel,
which he commanded them to teach their children,
that the generations to come might know,
and the children yet unborn.
That they in turn might tell it to their children;
so that they might put their trust in God
and not forget the deeds of God,
but keep his commandments.
And not be like their forebears,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
Reading
Someone came to Jesus and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these; what do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Matthew 19.16-22
This is the word of the Lord.
Prayers
Let us pray for guidance and grace to follow the way to eternal life.
Make the Church faithful in keeping the commandments and avoiding the temptations of outward success and power. Trusting in no human righteousness but only in the divine mercy, may your people be as a light to the world.
Have mercy on the world where so many trust in riches and seek continually to increase them. Guide those who control the wealth of commerce and the finance of nations, to use their power wisely, setting aside the love of gain and showing compassion for those in need.
Help us, our families, friends and neighbours, to use well the money entrusted to us, whether it is much or little. Give grace to those who control the financial affairs of thus community that their decisions shall be for the common good.
We pray for all who are enslaved by the passion for material things and have lost their way in the journey of life. We pray for the poor of the world, for people and nations in debt, for those whose lives are a daily struggle to survive.
Be merciful to those who have died still trusting in the wealth of this world. In the infinite mercy that makes all things possible, receive them and all departed souls into the Kingdom of heaven.
We pray in the name of Christ, the Teacher of wisdom to all who seek him.
Let your merciful ears, O Lord,
be open to our prayers of your humble servants;
and that they may obtain their petitions
make them to ask such things as shall please you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Conclusion
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen.