FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
In these extraordinary times when we cannot gather as a Christian Community to celebrate Mass, let us unite ourselves spiritually to the Mass as it is being celebrated in our churches.
One way you can do this by joining broadcast Masses on radio, television, or via the internet.
This resource is offered to provide a ritual by which families, "the domestic church," can keep the Lord's day holy by joining together to celebrate part of the Church's liturgy at home. Ideally, the head of the family will lead the service; other members of the family should take on roles as readers.
It would be appropriate to celebrate this service at the usual time the family would attend Mass. If possible, prepare a suitable prayer space with a crucifix, holy picture and/or a candle or two. If the family is blessed with musical talent, hymns would be appropriate.
GREETING
PENITENTIAL ACT
After a pause for silent reflection,
the leader continues.
GLORY TO GOD
Glory to God in the highest,
We praise you, we bless you
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
For you alone are the Holy One,
COLLECT
Grant us, Lord our God,
Let us prepare ourselves to celebrate these mysteries.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
and on earth peace to people of good will.
we adore you, we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
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.
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, (Jesus),
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
that we may honor you with all our mind,
and love everyone in truth of heart.
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. Amen.
FIRST READING
Moses spoke to all the people, saying: "A prophet like me will
The Word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
SECOND READING
Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties.
An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how
he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the
things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided.
An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of
the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A
married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things
of the world, how she may please her husband. I A.M. telling you
this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you,
but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without
distraction.
The Word of the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered
the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried
out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you
come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean
spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All
were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching
with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they
obey him." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region
of Galilee.
The Gospel of the Lord.
What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? (Mark 1:24)
Talk about bursting onto the scene! Of course the demon possessing
this man couldn't tolerate being around Jesus. But wouldn't it
have been wiser to slink away rather than draw attention to himself?
It happened a lot, in fact. Jesus would show up somewhere or
reveal his glory in some way, and his presence would prompt resistance
and sometimes even violent outbursts.
This wasn't true just of demons. At the very beginning of his
ministry, Jesus' announcement of the good news enraged enough
people that they tried to push him off a cliff (Luke 4:24-30).
Then, after only a few weeks of preaching and performing miracles,
Jesus upset some Pharisees enough that they began plotting his
murder (Mark 3:6). Not even his closest disciples were immune.
Jesus' revelation of God's plan to save us through his cross
upset Peter enough that he rebuked Jesus (Matthew 16:22).
In one way or another, we have all reacted strongly against Jesus
and his message of salvation. We all have pockets of darkness
still lingering in our hearts. Maybe you refused to forgive someone.
Maybe you knowingly chose sin in a tempting situation. Or maybe
you denigrated a fellow believer who thinks differently than
you do. Still, Jesus continues to love you and offer the grace
you need to change. What was true in that synagogue in Capernaum
is still true today: the darkness of sin can never overpower
the light of Christ.
Don't be surprised if you experience some form of opposition
to Jesus in your heart today—maybe in prayer or as you're trying
to focus at Mass or as an opportunity to serve your family arises.
Instead, take comfort from it. Trust that the light of Christ
will not only expose your darkness; it can expel it as well.
"Thank you, Jesus, for exposing my darkness — and for setting me
free from it!"
I believe in one God,
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
[All bow during these two lines:]
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Amen.
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed
Amen.
PRAYER OF BLESSING
the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin;
to him you shall listen. This is exactly what you requested of
the Lord, your God, at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when
you said, `Let us not again hear the voice of the Lord, our God,
nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.' And the Lord
said to me, `This was well said. I will raise up for them a prophet
like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his
mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. Whoever will
not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will
make him answer for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak in
my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or
speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.'"
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
let us kneel before the Lord who made us.
For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds,
the flock he guides.
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death,
light has arisen. Mt 4:16
GOSPEL
REFLECTION
PROFESSION OF FAITH
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
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, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made,
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and become man.
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.
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the Prophets.
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.
With confidence let us present our prayers.
that the authoritative teachings of Jesus will guide and
challenge us as we seek to be more authentic disciples.
that they will hear and comprehend the needs
of the powerless and marginalized as
legislation and priorities are developed.
that they use their authority as Jesus did,
to free people, to heal the sick, and to build up the community.
that each of us, whether celibate, single, married, or widowed,
may seek God first in our lives and love others
with the love with which God first loves us.
that the Spirit of Christ may release them from addictions,
greed, anger, and vengeance so that they may live
in the freedom of God's children.
that the Spirit will guide them in growing in faith,
offering outstanding education, and serving in love
and, particularly, those who are placed in quarantine and isolation,
(pause)
that God's healing touch may bring them comfort and peace.
those who have died from the coronavirus pandemic,
(pause)
that they experience the joy of God's heavenly family for all
eternity.
Listen to our prayers and make us worthy followers of your Son.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
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.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Sacrament.
I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into
my soul.
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there,
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Lectionary for Sunday Mass
© 1998, 1997, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington,
DC
Prayers at Home When Gathering for Mass Is Not Possible
© 2020, the Diocese of Clonfert and the Diocese of Elphin,
Ireland
The Roman Missal © 2011, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC
Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest: Leader's
Edition
© 2007, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington,
DC
The Word Among Us, © 2020 The Word Among Us.