Celebrant: Like Peter, may we
recognize Jesus and trust that he will hear the prayers we offer in faith.
Deacon/Lector:
For the Church, that her leaders and members be mindful of serving the world
in humility and faith, we pray to the Lord...
For world leaders, may they place the needs and rights of the oppressed
before those who are revered in society, we pray to the Lord...
That the Church, against which the gates of death cannot prevail, will
work with confidence to eradicate the injustices of abortion, infanticide,
and euthanasia, we pray to the Lord...
For our young people, may they be blessed with a safe and peaceful
transition back to school, we pray to the Lord...
For those who have gone before us, may they find joy and honor as they
enter into eternal peace with the righteous, we pray to the Lord...
Celebrant:
God of infinite love and wisdom,
we humbly ask you to hear these prayers.
Continue to keep us faithful to the humility of Christ
so that we may one day rejoice in the resurrection of the righteous.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bulletin Insert
The Gospel of Mercy
“The Church cultivates an indomitable trust in human beings and in their
capacity for recovery. She knows that with the help of grace human freedom
is capable of the definitive and faithful gift of self which makes possible
the marriage of a man and a woman as an indissoluble bond; she knows that
even in the most difficult circumstances human freedom is capable of
extraordinary acts of sacrifice and solidarity to welcome the life of a new
human being. Thus, one can see that the “No” which the Church pronounces in
her moral directives [against abortion and divorce] on which public opinion
sometimes unilaterally focuses, is in fact a great “Yes” to the dignity of
the human person, to human life, and to the person’s capacity to love.” –
From a message of Pope Benedict XVI, “The Gospel of Mercy,” April 5, 2008
Homily Suggestions on Pro-life Themes
Is 22:19-23
Rom 11:33-36
Mt 16:13-20
If some mistook Jesus for John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah, as today’s
Gospel passage indicates, then his preaching must have borne a resemblance
to theirs. John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah were tough characters.
They did not hesitate to confront power with the truth and the demands of
the moral law. They did not hesitate to point out that violation of the
covenant brings ruin to the people. They did not shy away from moral
absolutes, and from the absolute requirements of fidelity to God.
The Church presents the same teaching to the world, assured, as we also see
in the Gospel, of its union with Christ in its mission not only of teaching
but of transformation. Challenging every culture with which it communicates,
the Church takes the initiative and storms “the gates of hell.” Gates, after
all, do not run out on the battlefield to attack the enemy. Rather, gates
stand still and defend the city against the enemy attacking it. To say that
the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church is to say that it is
the Church who is taking the offensive, and is storming the gates of hell to
win ground for Jesus Christ.
All of this provides a context for understanding the fight against abortion
and all the manifestations of the Culture of Death. The readings of today
should help people understand not only why the Church’s pro-life teachings
are faithful to Christ, consistent and unchangeable, but also why she does
not shy away from asserting that her mission is to transform the culture of
the death into the culture of life, and is not deterred from pursuing that
mission.
