BLESSED ARE YOU
Blessed are you who made the universe,
You who see beyond our death;
Blessed are you who dwell in each of us,
Blessed be you with every breath
Through your goodness we have bread to eat,
Seeds that died to bring life new;
As the separate grains become one loaf,
Gather us as one in you.
Through your goodness we have wine to drink,
Fruit of vineyard, work of hands;
Let the fruits of all we celebrate,
Spread your love to every land.
Here the stranger is a welcome guest,
Here all hungers shall be fed;
Come and know the One who brings you life,
In the breaking of the bread.
Blessed are you who made the universe,
You who see beyond our death;
Blessed are You who dwells in each of us,
Blessed are you with every breath.
Blessed are you with every breath.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
Reflection: How does this Gospel speak to me today?
The Breath of Life in Us
Prayer is not so much about talking to or addressing God, but rather about deepening our awareness that God - the Breath of Life present throughout the universe - comes to visible expression in us. When we reflect on this truth, we deepen our wonder and joy about who we are, we appreciate the story of Jesus more than ever before, and we understand better what it means to say "Yes" to being the "Body of Christ."
+
We gather to pray,
believing that
God,
Source, Empowerer,
Breath, Enlivener,
and Energizer
prays in us.
We pray,
aware that
God at work
in the vastness of this universe
for billions of years
comes to visible
and audible expression
in our words
of appreciation.
We rejoice
in the Breath
breathing life and vitality
into our world,
into our lives
and into our gathering here,
connecting us
at the deepest level
with all that exists.
We call to mind
Jesus of Nazareth,
who opened minds and hearts
to this awareness
and to this challenge.
The Breath of Life
moved so freely and openly
in his life
that people recognized
the relationship
at the deepest level of being
between God and a human person.
We rejoice
in the wonder of who we are,
bearers of the Breath of Life,
privileged
in our awareness of this,
and challenged
by our privilege
to allow the Breath of Life
full expression
in our living and loving.
In Jesus
we have come to see
the truth of who we are
and we give thanks for his life,
his teaching,
and the courage with which
he faced death
and the mystery
of relationship
with the Breath of Life
beyond death.
We take this bread,
as Jesus took bread,
mindful of the Breath of Life,
always present,
always sustaining,
always nourishing,
and we give thanks
for that Breath
and the wonder of who we are.
We share bread and wine many times in our lives, in many
places and for many reasons.
We pause to reflect on what this bread and wine mean to us:
♦By
sharing in these gifts we express our commitment to our
community
♦By
our sharing in these gifts we express our longing to be
forgiven for all our faults and failings. [Pause to reflect]
♦By
our sharing in these gifts we ask to be strengthened and to
be fired with a passion for justice and peace in our world.
♦By
our sharing in this eucharist may we come in touch with
Jesus the compassionate face of God and so be moved to care
for our marginalised brothers and sisters.
♦What else do we
express by sharing this bread and wine together?
We eat this bread,
praying that the generosity
of the Breath of Life
may find free expression
in our lives.
We take this wine,
mindful of the Breath of Life
bonding us with all that exists
in its fecundity,
diversity,
complexity,
and supporting systems.
We drink
with appreciation
with respect,
and with gratitude
for that bonding.
Time for silent reflection:
The Breath of Life prays in us.
May we allow the Breath of Life
to be evident in our words and actions,
in our homes,
in our workplaces,
in all our relationships,
and in our world. Amen.
PRAYERS AND
REMEMBRANCES
MANTRA:
No-one lives on bread alone but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God