Penitential Liturgy
Gathering – Song (optional)
Opening Responses
Priest/ Reader We gather in the name of the Father
All
Who dreamed a dream at the dawn of Creation
of a People with hearts centred on him –
and whose dream was shattered
in the disobedience of humanity.
Priest/ Reader We gather in the name of the Son
All
Who came into the world through the obedience of Mary –
not to condemn God’s Creation
but to save it.
Priest/ Reader We gather in the name of the Holy Spirit
All
Who hovered over Creation –
and countless prophets –
and over a young woman
and in her conceived the Son of God –
who hovers over us as we come seeking God’s mercy,
God’s pardon – God’s peace.
Priest/Reader We gather in the name of the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit…
All
Amen
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading
The Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are
you?’ He said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was
afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ He said, ‘Who
told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of
which I commanded you not to eat?’ The man said, ‘The woman
whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree,
and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this
that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent tricked me,
and I ate.’ The Lord God said to the serpent,
‘Because you have done this,
cursed are you among all animals
and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.
The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all
who live
Genesis 3: 9-15, 20
Time for Personal Reflection on the Reading
Gospel Reading
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in
Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And
he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with
you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what
sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be
afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him
Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor
David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his
kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this
be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will
come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow
you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son
of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also
conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to
be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said,
‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to
your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Luke 1: 26-38
Time for Personal Reflection
-
How does this Reading contrast with the first one?
What does Mary’s openness show you about how you might come
before God today?
Individual Confession and Absolution
Closing Prayers/ Responses
Priest/ Reader We have gathered to reflect on the reality of sin in human life
– but also to remember God’s great grace and mercy and his eternal desire to
be reconciled to his children.
Before we part, let us pray for those we have hurt – that we might have the
courage and humility to be reconciled with them.
Lord in your mercy…
Let us pray for a firm desire to overcome our weakness – especially those that
are deep-seated habits and practices.
Lord in your mercy…
Let us pray for confidence and trust in God – that we do not hide from him in
our shame and failure but turn to him in times of temptation and failure to
resist it.
Lord in your mercy…
Prayer for other intentions could be added here…
It would be appropriate to commend all these prayers to the intercession of
Mary, closing with the Hail Mary…
Priest
All
Priest
All
May the God of infinite love and mercy
bless you this day and always
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Let us go back to our homes, workplaces, schools
and other places where we can witness to the mercy of God,
glorifying the Lord by our lives.
Thanks be to God.
Closing Song – optional; suggestions “O Mary when our God chose you”