… do justice and to love goodness,

and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

BIBLE SERVICE
ALAY Class of
St. Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila
 INTRODUCTORY RITES

Together with the servers, the presider approaches the altar while an appropriate song is sung.
Upon reaching the altar the presider places the Bible in the area provided, then, incenses it.

OPENING SONG

After the song, the priest makes the sign of the cross, then he greets the assembly in the following
words:

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
R.Amen

GREETING

May the grace, mercy and peace

of our Lord Jesus Christ,
be with you all.
R: And with your spirit.

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After the greeting, the lector explains the meaning of the celebration in the following words:

INTRODUCTION

As we gather in this celebration of the Word of God,

we are reminded of the profound journey of conversion
that lies at the heart of our faith.
Inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis
in one of his morning meditations in the chapel of the
Domus Sanctae Marthae,
we embark on a path of self-reflection
and transformation during this sacred time.

With each step, we are called

to distance ourselves from darkness
and embrace the light of goodness and grace
by doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with him.
As we delve into the Pope's insights,
let us be encouraged by the loving hand of God,
ever ready to guide and uplift us.

Together, let us embrace humility as the key

to our spiritual growth and
rejoice in the promise of forgiveness and renewal
where we are invited to rise and walk in the footsteps of Christ,
guided by the wisdom of our Holy Father
and the boundless love of our Heavenly Father.

OPENING PRAYER

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 Let us pray,

O God, as we draw close to our lenten journey,

guide us on the path of conversion,
humility and courage.
As we gather in prayer,
we are reminded of Your words
through the Prophet Micah,
urging us to act justly, to love mercy and
to walk humbly with you.

Grant us the strength

to distance ourselves from evil,
to recognize its poison in our lives,
and to turn away from it with resolve.
Help us not to become complacent
in our faults but to strive daily
for goodness and righteousness.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
R.Amen

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 THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

READING Mic 6:1-4, 6-8

A reading from the book of the Prophet Micah,

Hear what the LORD says:

Arise, present your plea before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice!
Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD,
pay attention, O foundations of the earth!
For the LORD has a plea against his people,
and he enters into trial with Israel.

O my people, what have I done to you,

or how have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
from the place of slavery I released you;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.

With what shall I come before the LORD,

and bow before God most high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with myriad streams of oil?
Shall I give my first-born for my crime,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
You have been told, O man, what is good,
and what the LORD requires of you:
Only to do the right and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:

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 Ps 50:5-6, 8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23

TO THE UPRIGHT I WILL SHOW THE SAVING POWER OF GOD.

“Gather my faithful ones before me,

those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.

“Gather my faithful ones before me,

those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.

“Why do you recite my statutes,

and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”

“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?

Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way
I will show the salvation of God.”

PRAISE TO YOU, LORD JESUS CHRIST,

KING OF ENDLESS GLORY.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

GOSPEL Mt. 5:1-12

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A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

When Jesus saw the crowds,* he went up the mountain,

and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,*

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
* Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
* Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,*
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,*
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter
every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.
* Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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 PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Loving God, we come before you as we present our needs.

Teach us to be peacemakers. Guide us in our pursuit of
justice and the common good. Inspire us to welcome all,
forgive all, and love all. Direct us as we walk in the
shadow of Jesus: the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

LORD, IN YOUR GOODNESS, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

1. For an end to the violence perpetrated by harsh words, deadly

weapons, or cold indifference. May our homes, our nation, and
countries around the world become havens of peace. Let us pray to
the Lord.

2. For the grace to see every human being as a child of God,

regardless of race, language or culture. Let us pray to the Lord.

3. For the wisdom to receive the stories and experiences of those

different from ourselves and to respond with respect. Let us pray to
the Lord.

4. That the Lord will place in our hearts his own compassion for
everyone who feels lonely and lost, particularly in these testing
economic times, those whole lives are being wrecked. May God’s
grace pull them back from the wreckage of their lives and all that
drags them down; may they find freedom and hope. Let us pray to
the Lord.

5. For solidarity in our global human family, that we may work

together to protect those who are most vulnerable and most in
need, do good and work for justice. Let us pray to the Lord.

PRAYER

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Let us pray,

Merciful and loving God,

teach us, do justice, love mercy
and walk humbly with your people
whom you sent to us to serve,
following the example of Your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, who is love and mercy himself.

We place our trust in Your boundless love and guidance,

and lead us on this path of Lenten conversion,
that we may grow as your faithful disciples
and bear witness to Your kingdom of justice,
mercy, and peace.
Through Christ, our Lord.
R. Amen

LORD’S PRAYER

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 Let us join the voice of the Church
with that of Christ
in praying to the Father
using those words which
His Son Jesus has taught us.
The assembly sings.

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.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

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Then, concluded by the presider in the following words:

Gracious and loving God,

expand our vision
that we might see the mission
we share with all of our Christian brothers and sisters,
to show forth the justice and loving kindness
of your kingdom.
Help us to welcome our neighbours
as your Son welcomed us.
Help us to be more generous as we witness
to the grace that you freely give us.
Through Christ Our Lord.
R. Amen

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 LOVE OFFERING

As family of God,
and exemplar of love and selfless giving,
let us humbly present together our offerings
as an act of generosity and charity.

When the offering or gifts is done. An appropriate song may be sung.

DISMISSAL

The Lord be with you.

R. And with your spirit

For the final blessing, the presider lifts up the Bible tracing a Cross to the people.

May almighty God bless you,

the Father, and the Son, 
and the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.

Our celebration of the Word ends,

go and proclaim the Good News of salvation.
R. Thanks be to God.

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