Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

14 May 2017 5th Sunday of Easter Year A

MOTHERS DAY
ROOTED IN JESUS, OUR WAY, OUR TRUTH, AND OUR LIFE

O
n this Fifth Sunday of Easter, we look back with gratitude to
all the blessings which Almighty God has granted us in this
month. We thank Him, in a special manner, for the gift of
Jesus, our risen Brother and Savior who, in these past weeks, has
accompanied us as our friendly fellow traveler and our Good Shep-
herd. He still continues to lead us from the confusion and lies of a
society tainted with so many forms of corruption to the tranquillity
of Gods home heaven!
May this Eucharist further strengthen our union among our-
selves and with Jesus who is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE.
As members of his Body, the Church, may we oer humankind the
only well-grounded hope for better days as it continues its quest for
peace, compassion, and generous solidarity.
In this Eucharist, let us also pray for all mothers as we celebrate
Mothers Day.

us through your example Lord Jesus Christ, Only Be-

Entrance Antiphon
(To be recited only when no En-
trance Hymn is sung.)
O sing a new song to the
Lord, for he has worked won-
ders; in the sight of the nations
he has shown his deliverance,
alleluia.
Greeting
P Blessed be God, the Father
Almighty, who gave us in Jesus
every spiritual blessing we need.
May His grace and peace be with
you all!
All And with your spirit!
Penitential Act
P As we prepare to celebrate
the sacred mysteries, let us call
to mind our sins and ask the Lord
for pardon and strength. (Pause)
P Lord Jesus, you are the great
Servant-Leader who leads
of humility and generous
service. Lord, have mercy!
All Lord, have mercy!
P Lord Jesus, you are the cor-
nerstone on which we can
build our hopes and experi-
ence security and peace.
Christ, have mercy!
All Christ, have mercy!
P Lord Jesus, you are our Way
to the Father, our Truth, and
our Life. Lord, have mercy!
All Lord, have mercy!
P May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All Amen!
Gloria
All Glory to God in the high-
est, and on earth peace to people
of good will. We praise you,
we bless you, we adore you, we
glorify you, we give you thanks
for your great glory, Lord God,
heavenly King, O God, almighty
Father.
gotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of
God, Son of the Father, you take
away the sins of the world, have
mercy on us; you take away the
sins of the world, receive our
prayer; you are seated at the right
hand of the Father, have mercy
on us. For you alone are the Holy
One, you alone are the Lord, you
alone are the Most High, Jesus
Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen!
Collect (Opening Prayer)
P Almighty ever-living God,
constantly accomplish the Pas-
chal Mystery within us, that
those you were pleased to make
new in Holy Baptism may, under
your protective care, bear much
fruit and come to the joys of life
eternal.
Through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son, who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever.
All Amen!

1st Reading Acts 6:1-7
Every crisis can be turned
into an opportunity to grow. This
is what happened in the early
community of believers in Je-
rusalem, where accusations of
discrimination led to the insti-
tution of the diaconate, a new
type of service-leadership in the
Church that has become a part of
its permanent structure.
R A proclamation from the
Acts of the Apostles
As the number of disciples
continued to grow, the Hellenists
complained against the Hebrews
because their widows were being
neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called togeth-
er the community of the disci-
ples and said, It is not right for
us to neglect the word of God to
serve at table. Brothers, select
from among you seven reputable
men, filled with the Spirit and
wisdom, whom we shall appoint
to this task, whereas we shall
devote ourselves to prayer and
to the ministry of the word.
The proposal was acceptable to
the whole community, so they
chose Stephen, a man filled
with faith and the Holy Spirit;
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor,
Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas
of Antioch, a convert to Juda-
ism. They presented these men
to the apostles who prayed and
laid hands on them.
The word of God continued
to spread, and the number of the
disciples in Jerusalem increased
greatly; even a large group of
priests were becoming obedient
to the faith.
The Word of the Lord!
All Thanks be to God!
Responsorial Psalm Ps 33
R Lord, let your mercy be on us,
as we place our trust in you!
14 May 2017
* Exult, you just, in the
Lord; praise from the upright
is fitting. Give thanks to the
Lord on the harp; with the ten-
stringed lyre chant his prais-
es. R.
* Upright is the word of the
Lord, and all his works are
trustworthy. He loves justice
and right; of the kindness of
the Lord the earth is full. R.
* See, the eyes of the Lord
are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his
kindness, to deliver them from
death and preserve them in
spite of famine. R.
2nd Reading 1 Pt 2:4-9
Jesus Christ is the Living
Cornerstone on which the spiri-
tual building of the Church rests.
All believers are like as many
living stones to whom God
offers the unique privilege to be
part of the same building.
R A proclamation from the
First Letter of Peter
Beloved:
Come to him, a living
stone, rejected by human be-
ings but chosen and precious
in the sight of God, and, like
living stones, let yourselves be
built into a spiritual house to
be a holy priesthood to offer
spiritual sacrifices acceptable
to God through Jesus Christ.
For it says in Scripture:
Behold, I am laying a
stone in Zion, a cornerstone,
chosen and precious, and who-
ever believes in it shall not be
put to shame.
Therefore, its value is for
you who have faith, but for
those without faith:
The stone that the builders
rejected has become the corner-
stone, and A stone that will
make people stumble, and a
rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobey-
ing the word, as is their des-
tiny. You are a chosen race, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people of his own, so that you
may announce the praises of
him who called you out of dark-
ness into his wonderful light.
The Word of the Lord!
All Thanks be to God!
Gospel Acclamation Jn 14:6
All Alleluia! Alleluia!
I am the way, the truth,
and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Fa-
ther, except through me.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gospel Jn 14:1-12
Jesus is not just our Mentor
and our Host. He is also the Way
that leads to our final destina-
tion. He is our very Life. He is
all that makes our life meaning-
ful and every effort worthwhile
because of his intimate commu-
nion with the Father.
P The Lord be with you!
All And with your spirit!
P A proclamation from the
holy Gospel according to
John
All Glory to you, O Lord!
Jesus said to his disciples:
Do not let your hearts be
troubled. You have faith in
God; have faith also in me. In
my Fathers house there are
many dwelling places. If there
were not, would I have told you
that I am going to prepare a
place for you? And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will
come back again and take you
to myself, so that where I am
you also may be. Where I am
going, you know the way.
Thomas said to him, Mas-
ter, we do not know where you
are going; how can we know
the way? Jesus said to him,
I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will
also know my Father. From
now on, you do know him and
have seen him.
Philip said to him, Mas-
ter, show us the Father, and
that will be enough for us.
Jesus said to him, Have I been
with you for so long a time and
you still do not know me, Phil-
ip? Whoever has seen me has
seen the Father. How can you
say, Show us the Father? Do
you not believe that I am in
the Father and the Father is in
me? The words that I speak to
you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me
is doing his works. Believe me
that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me, or else, believe
because of the works them-
selves. Amen, amen, I say to
you, whoever believes in me
will do the works that I do, and
will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Fa-
ther.
The Gospel of the Lord!
All Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ!
Homily
Profession of Faith
(Nicene Creed)
All I believe in one God, the
Father almighty, maker of heaven
and earth, of all things visible and
invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the Only Begotten Son of
God, born of the Father before all
ages. God from God, Light from
Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstan-
tial with the Father; through him
all things were made. For us men
and for our salvation he came
down from heaven, (bow)* and
by the Holy Spirit was incarnate
of the Virgin Mary, and became
man.* For our sake he was cru-
cified under Pontius Pilate, he
suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day in
accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is
seated at the right hand of the
Father. He will come again in
glory to judge the living and the
dead and his kingdom will have
no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life, who
proceeds from the Father and
the Son, who with the Father
and the Son is adored and glori-
fied, who has spoken through
the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic
and apostolic Church. I confess
one Baptism for the forgiveness
of sins and I look forward to the
resurrection of the dead and the
life of the world to come. Amen!
Prayer of the Faithful
P Gathered around the Risen
Christ, our Way to the Father,
we feel fully confident in his
boundless love for us. Hence we
humbly submit to him our peti-
tions for the needs of humankind
and our own as we say:
All Lord Jesus, lead us to the
Father!
C For the universal Church,
the community of disciples gath-
ered around Jesus, the Living
Stone: May she be for all man-
kind a source of inspiration and
hope. Let us pray! R.
C For the Holy Father, our
Bishop, our Parish Priest, and
other spiritual leaders: May they
mirror to us the holiness of Je-
sus and lead us to an ever-greater
communion with the Father. Let
us pray! R.
C For all those who have lost
the sense of direction in life and
feel confused and discouraged:
May they find in the teaching
of the Church and in our good
example the guidance and en-
couragement they need. Let us
pray! R.
C For the terminally ill and
those who are about to die: May
they find in the promises of Jesus
the foundation for their hope to
live for ever in the House of the
Father. Let us pray! R.
C For each of us and the rest
of our parish community: May
we always be united in brotherly
solidarity and love around Jesus,
the Cornerstone of our spiritual
edifice. Let us pray! R.
C For all mothers: May they
be caring, gentle, and patient
with their children as Mary
was to Jesus. And may they be
blessed abundantly for the love
theyve shown. Let us pray! R.
C Let us pray in silence
for our personal intentions.
(Pause) Let us pray! R.
P God, our Father, we thank
You for the gift of eternal life
offered us in Jesus, Your Son
and our Brother. May all our
thoughts, words and actions be
according to Your will and lead
us to the enjoyment of the eternal
mansions where You live with
Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever.
All Amen!
Preparation of the Gifts
P Pray, brethren . . .
All May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands, for the
praise and glory of his name,
for our good and the good of all
his holy Church.
Prayer over the Offerings
P O, God, who by the wonder-
ful exchange effected in this sac-
rifice have made us partakers of
the one supreme Godhead, grant,
we pray, that, as we have come to
know your truth, we may make it
ours by a worthy way of life.
Through Christ our Lord.
All Amen!
Preface of Easter II
P It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation, at all
times to acclaim you, O Lord,
but in this time above all to laud
you yet more gloriously, when
Christ our Passover has been
sacrificed.
Through him the children of
light rise to eternal life and the
halls of the heavenly Kingdom
are thrown open to the faithful;
for his Death is our ransom from
death, and in his rising the life of
all has risen.
Therefore, overcome with
paschal joy, every land, every
people exults in your praise and
even the heavenly Powers, with
the angelic hosts, sing together
the unending hymn of your glo-
ry, as they acclaim:
All Holy, holy, holy Lord, God
of hosts. Heaven and earth are
full of your glory. Hosanna in
the highest!
Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord. Hosanna
in the highest!
Memorial Acclamation
P The mystery of faith!
All We proclaim your Death,
O Lord, and profess your
Resurrection until you
come again!
5th Sunday of Easter (A)

All Our Father . . .
P Deliver us, Lord . . .
All For the kingdom, the
power, and the glory are
yours, now and for ever.
Sign of Peace
Breaking of the Bread
All Lamb of God . . .
Communion
P Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the
sins of the world. Blessed are
those called to the Supper of the
Lamb.
All Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under
my roof, but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
Communion Antiphon
(To be recited only when no Com-
munion Hymn is sung.)
I am the true vine and you
are the branches, says the
Lord. Whoever remains in
me, and I in him, bears fruit in
plenty, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
P Graciously be present to
your people, we pray, O Lord,
and lead those you have imbued
with heavenly mysteries to pass
from former ways to newness of
life.
Through Christ our Lord.
All Amen!
P The Lord be with you.
All And with your spirit!
P Bow your heads and pray
for Gods blessing. (Pause)
May the God of all wisdom
and consolation lead you in
the WAY of peace.
All Amen!
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P May He enlighten your
minds with the light of His
TRUTH and empower you
to live by it.
All Amen!
P May He protect you from all
dangers and grant you the
abundance of His LIFE and
happiness.
All Amen!
GODS GUESTS IN THE ETERNAL MANSIONS
W hen we reflect on what Jesus
is in himself and for us, we
cannot but be amazed at the rich-
ness of the meaning of his titles as
we can derive them from todays
Biblical readings.
St. Peter speaks of him as
the LIVING STONE and the
CORNERSTONE upon whom
the building of the Church rests.
(See Second Reading.) As the
original living stone, Jesus
is the source of our life and the
reason for our presence and role
in the Church. Without him there
would be no Church as a spiritual
edifice. There would be no other
smaller living stones used by
God to construct the Temple of
His wonderful plan.
The image of Jesus as
Cornerstone, instead, connotes
both solidity and primacy. No
house would stand without a strong
foundation. Likewise, without Christ
as its cornerstone, there would be
no enduring Church. Persecutions
and defections would have soon re-
duced it to nothing. But the Church
has survived for two thousand
years a clear sign that it rests on
a most solid cornerstone!
In the Gospel Jesus gives the
three classical definitions of him-
self as THE WAY, THE TRUTH,
and THE LIFE.
As The Way, he reminds
us of the eternal mansions and
dwelling places he has prepared
for all his friends at the cost of his
life. It would be useless to know
about their existence and their
having been prepared for us, if
we did not know how to get there.
Jesus does not leave things half-
P May almighty God bless
you: the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All Amen!
P Go in peace, glorifying the
Lord by your life!
All Thanks be to God!
done. He is not only the designer,
the architect and the constructor of
the mansions. He is also the sure,
straight, and tested way that leads
to them.
Jesus is also The Truth in
all its fullness the truth about
God, and the truth about man. He
is the truth that really matters and
that gives meaning to all other
truths from which we derive our
certitudes in life. Without Jesus
as the foundational truth, we
would be submerged in an ocean
of doubts and fleeting theories
that change from one moment to
another and which would shroud
our lives in endless uncertainty.
Finally, Jesus is The Life:
the original and lasting Life,
without beginning or end; the Life
from which all living beings derive
their existence and on which they
depend for their continuation.
From him, as the source of our
life, flow all worthy initiatives and
enterprises, all the inspiration and
creativity that constantly renew
and improve our life on earth.
Invulnerable to all attacks of decay
and death, Jesus as the fullness of
Life is the ultimate aspiration of all
hearts.
Jesus is all this to us, and
much more. Our response to him
can only be what he himself sug-
gests at the beginning of todays
Gospel passage: Do not let your
hearts be troubled. You have faith
in God; have faith also in me. For,
if we really believe in him and put
all our trust in him, we shall never
be disappointed, and nothing ab-
solutely nothing will ever be able
to trouble us.