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

16 February 2020 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

The Call to Live Out the Values

T
he Commandments are “the way that leads to life.” (See Mk
10:17.19.) To those who felt surprised or bewildered at the
freedom with which he related to the Sabbath observance,
Jesus assured them all that he had not come to abolish the Law
but to bring it to completion. (See Mt 5:17-19.) And in the Sermon on
the Mount he showed that bringing the Law to completion meant
going deeper than its legal formulations. It meant unearthing the
values which every Commandment enshrines, and to live by those
values to the utmost, without watering down their demands, with-
out simplifications, or shortcuts.
Jesus’ teaching on this matter is illustrated by some practical examples contained in today’s Gospel
passage. These give us food for thought for our reflection and encouragement to action, for only those
who live by the values enshrined in God’s Commandments will have the light of life. May our participa-
tion in this Eucharistic celebration strengthen us in our resolve to do just that.

P –For the times we have for your great glory, Lord God,
used our freedom to make heavenly King, O God, almighty
choices that displeased you, Father.
Lord, have mercy! Lord Jesus Christ, Only Be-
Entrance Antiphon All – Lord, have mercy! gotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of
(To be recited only when no En- P –For the times we have re- God, Son of the Father, you take
trance Hymn is sung.) mained satisfied with an away the sins of the world, have
Be my protector, O God, a observance of the literal mercy on us; you take away the
mighty stronghold to save me. formulation of the Com- sins of the world, receive our
For you are my rock, my mandments, Christ, have prayer; you are seated at the right
stronghold! Lead me, guide mercy! hand of the Father, have mercy
me, for the sake of your name. All –Christ, have mercy! on us. For you alone are the Holy
One, you alone are the Lord, you
P –For the times we have alone are the Most High, Jesus
Greeting obeyed the Commandments Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the
P –Blessed be God the Father not out of love for you but glory of God the Father. Amen!
who gave us in Jesus the supreme out of fear of your punish-
moral teacher and model. May ment, Lord, have mercy! Collect (Opening Prayer)
His grace and peace be with you All – Lord, have mercy!
P –O God, who teach us that
all! P –May almighty God have you abide in hearts that are just
All – And with your spirit! mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and true, grant that we may be
and bring us to everlasting life. so fashioned by your grace as to
Penitential Act All –Amen! become a dwelling pleasing to
P –Today’s theme reminds us of you.
the importance of God’s Law and Gloria Through our Lord Jesus
of the values it enshrines. All – Glory to God in the high- Christ, your Son, who lives and
Let us pause for a while and est, and on earth peace to people reigns with you in the unity of
examine our behavior in the of good will. We praise you, the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
light of some of these values. we bless you, we adore you, we and ever.
(Pause) glorify you, we give you thanks All –Amen!
 in the ways of keeping your ones the mysteries of the
statutes! R. Kingdom.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
* Be good to your servant,
that I may live and keep your Gospel
1st Reading Sir 15:15-20 words. Open my eyes, that I
Mt 5:20-22.27-28.
33-34.37
The great moral teacher Sir- may consider the wonders of Continuing his “Sermon on
ach reminds his disciples and us your law. R. the Mount,” Jesus shows how
today that God created us free so
that we might freely choose what * Instruct me, O Lord, in demanding the “New Law” can
is good. Hence, we have the duty the way of your statutes, that be. Through a series of forceful
to use our freedom wisely, avoid- I may exactly observe them. statements, he shows that real
ing sin because it displeases the Give me discernment, that I holiness can be achieved only by
Lord and brings about our ruin. may observe your law and keep living out the greater demands
it with all my heart. R. of the values enshrined in every
R – A proclamation from the individual commandment.
Book of Sirach 2nd Reading 1 Cor 2:6-10* P –The Lord be with you!
If you choose you can keep Today St. Paul tells the All –And with your spirit!
the commandments, they will faithful of Corinth that God’s
P –A proclamation from the
save you; if you trust in God, mysterious plan of salvation in
holy Gospel according to
you too shall live; he has set Christ was revealed by the Holy
Matthew
before you fire and water; to Spirit to the apostles and all
All – Glory to you, O Lord!
whichever you choose, stretch believers. Such was the ruling of
forth your hand. Before man Divine Wisdom, which had been Jesus said to his disciples:
are life and death, good and kept hidden from the wise of this “I tell you, unless your righ-
evil, whichever he chooses world. teousness surpasses that of
shall be given him. Immense R – A proclamation from the the scribes and Pharisees, you
is the wisdom of the Lord; he First Letter of Paul to the will not enter the kingdom of
is mighty in power, and all see- Corinthians heaven.
ing. You have heard that it was
The eyes of God are on Brothers and sisters: said to your ancestors, ‘You
those who fear him; he un- We do speak of wisdom to shall not kill; and whoever kills
derstands man’s every deed. the mature in faith, although it will be liable to judgment.’ But
No one does he command to is not a wisdom of this world or I say to you, whoever is angry
act unjustly, to none does he of its rulers, who are doomed with his brother will be liable
give license to sin. to perish. We teach the mys- to judgment. You have heard
tery and secret plan of divine that it was said, ‘You shall not
The Word of the Lord! wisdom, which God destined commit adultery.’ But I say to
All – Thanks be to God! from the beginning to bring us you, everyone who looks at a
to Glory. woman with lust has already
Responsorial Psalm Ps 119 No ruler of this world committed adultery with her
R –Blessed are they who follow ever knew this; otherwise they in his heart.
the law of the Lord! would not have crucified the Again you have heard that
Lord of Glory. But as Scrip- it was said to your ancestors,
ture says: Eye has not seen, ‘Do not take a false oath, but
ear has not heard, nor has it make good to the Lord all that
dawned on the mind what God you vow.’ But I say to you, do
has prepared for those who not swear at all. Let your ‘Yes’
love him. God has revealed it to mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’
us, through his Spirit, because mean ‘No.’ Anything more is
the Spirit probes everything, from the evil one.”
even the depth of God.
The Gospel of the Lord!
The Word of the Lord! All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
All – Thanks be to God! Christ!
* Blessed are they whose way * Editor’s Note: For a better
understanding of the reading, we Homily
is blameless, who walk in the
law of the Lord. Blessed are have edited the literal transla- Profession of Faith
they who observe his decrees, tion found in the Lectionary. (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed)
who seek him with all their Gospel Acclamation Mt 11:25
heart. R. All –I believe in one God, the Fa-
All – Alleluia! Alleluia! ther almighty, maker of heaven
* You have commanded that Blessed are you, Father, and earth, of all things visible
your precepts be diligently Lord of heaven and earth; and invisible.
kept. Oh, that I might be firm you have revealed to little I believe in one Lord Jesus
16 February 2020
Christ, the Only Begotten Son May they always make and en- P –Lift up your hearts!
of God, born of the Father be- force laws that promote the val- All – We lift them up to the Lord!
fore all ages. God from God, ues contained in God’s moral P –Let us give thanks to the
Light from Light, true God from Law. Let us pray! R. Lord our God!
true God, begotten, not made, C – For our catechists, teachers, All –It is right and just!
consubstantial with the Father; P – It is truly right and just,
through him all things were and media practitioners: May
they always be aware of the im- our duty and our salvation, al-
made. For us men and for our ways and everywhere to give
salvation he came down from portance of their mission and
carry it out with brave consis- you thanks, Lord, holy Father,
heaven, (bow)* and by the Holy
Spirit was incarnate of the Vir- tency. Let us pray! R. almighty and eternal God.
For in you we live and move
gin Mary, and became man.* C –For our youth, and espe- and have our being, and while in
For our sake he was crucified cially their leaders: May they be
under Pontius Pilate, he suf- this body we not only experience
convinced that the better world the daily effects of your care, but
fered death and was buried, and they dream of can become a real-
rose again on the third day in even now possess the pledge of
ity only by upholding the values life eternal.
accordance with the Scriptures. that are grounded in God’s Law.
He ascended into heaven and is For, having received the
Let us pray! R. first fruits of the Spirit, through
seated at the right hand of the
Father. He will come again in C – For our community and our whom you raised up Jesus from
glory to judge the living and the families: May the moral teaching the dead, we hope for an ever-
dead and his kingdom will have of the Sermon on the Mount be lasting share in the Paschal Mys-
no end. our constant reference point and tery.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, inspiration in facing the chal- And so, with all the Angels,
the Lord, the giver of life, who lenges of daily life. Let us pray! we praise you, as in joyful cel-
proceeds from the Father and R. ebration, we acclaim:
the Son, who with the Father C – Let us pray in silence for our All –Holy, holy, holy . . .
and the Son is adored and glori- personal intentions. (Pause)
fied, who has spoken through Let us pray! R. Memorial Acclamation
the prophets. P –The mystery of faith!
I believe in one, holy, cath- P –God our Father, we thank
You for having given us in Jesus All –We proclaim your Death,
olic and apostolic Church. I O Lord, and profess your
confess one Baptism for the our infallible moral teacher and
perfect example to be followed. Resurrection until you
forgiveness of sins and I look come again!
forward to the resurrection of May Your Holy Spirit grant us
the strength that we need to put
the dead and the life of the world
into practice the laws You have
to come. Amen! given us. You who live and reign
for ever and ever.
Prayer of the Faithful All – Amen!
P –Today, God’s Word has en- All – Our Father . . .
lightened us about the values P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
enshrined in the Commandments All –For the kingdom, the
and the strict demands they im- power, and the glory are
pose on us. Let us ask for the yours, now and for ever.
Lord’s help in our endeavor to Preparation of the Gifts
live up to these demands. In all Sign of Peace
P – Pray, brethren . . .
humility, we implore: All – May the Lord accept the Breaking of the Bread
All –Lord, graciously hear us! sacrifice at your hands, for the All – Lamb of God, you take
C –For the universal Church, praise and glory of his name, away the sins of the world: have
mother and teacher of all the for our good and the good of all mercy on us. (2×)
faithful: May she never tire of re- his holy Church. Lamb of God, you take
minding humankind to treasure away the sins of the world:
Prayer over the Offerings grant us peace.
and live the values enshrined
in the Commandments. Let us P – May this oblation, O Lord,
pray! R. cleanse and renew us and may it Communion
become for those who do your P –Behold the Lamb of God, be-
C –For the Holy Father, our will the source of eternal reward.
bishops, and priests: May they hold him who takes away the sins
Through Christ our Lord. of the world. Blessed are those
continue to teach the demands All –Amen!
of God’s Law and constantly wit- called to the Supper of the Lamb.
ness with their lives to the values All –Lord, I am not worthy
Preface VI that you should enter under
they proclaim. Let us pray! R.
P –The Lord be with you! my roof, but only say the word
C –For our civil authorities: All –And with your spirit! and my soul shall be healed.
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
 Communion Antiphon food by which we truly live. P –Go in peace, glorifying the
(To be recited only when no Through Christ our Lord. Lord by your life!
Communion Hymn is sung.) All –Amen! All – Thanks be to God!
God so loved the world that
he gave his Only Begotten Son, For a full treatment
so that all who believe in him of the relationship
may not perish, but may have between Commandments and
eternal life. P –The Lord be with you.
All –And with your spirit! moral values, see the
Prayer after Communion P –May almighty God bless “Catechism for Filipino
P –Having fed upon these heav- you: the Father, and the Catholics,” Part Two
enly delights, we pray, O Lord, Son, and the Holy Spirit. (pp. 187-352).
that we may always long for that All – Amen!

Probing the Depth of the Commandments

L
aws can be hard, at Jesus reminds us of this. He In this “system” the two
times, but when we enters the scene as the young fundamental values are GOD
succeed in comp-lying prophet and reformer who has and MAN, with God raking
with their formal demands, an important message to deliv- first, and Man ranking sec-
they also produce in us a feel- ers and presents it with author- ond. God is the primoridal,
ing of fulfillment and secu- ity. With his moral teaching, he foundational and engen-
rity . . . Yet, there is more to shakes off the dust of accom- dering value. From Him, all
moral life than just comply- modation and the rust of com- derives and flows as a river
ing the verval formulation promise. With shocking frank- originates and flows from its
of the laws. Governments ness he presents to his followers source.
may not require more than stern demands which leave no Man is the engendered,
that, but God does. Our con- room for self-deception: “Un- secondary foundational
science does. A well-formed less your holiness surpasses value, which mirrors God’s
conscience never stops at the that of the Scribes and Phari- core values of life, love and
action in itself. It knows that sees, you shall not enter the wisdom. To acknowledge
every action – either forbid- Kingdom of God” (Mt 5:20). man’s radical dependence on
den or commanded – is like Not only does he remind his God is wisdom and source
the tip of an iceberg: the ice- audience that the Command- of harmony. To ignore or re-
berg of moral attitudes, and ments are still valid, but espe- ject such dependence is utter
fundamental commitments cially he challenges them to foolishness and source of the
which are the core of the look deeper and to go beyond radical aberration that finds
the wording of the Law, and its manifestation in all forms
moral law.
reach out toward the essential of moral disorder that we call
If we want to be in good “sin,” the utter “dis-value” or
terms with God and our con- core of every precept: the val-
ues its enshrines. “countervalue.” It is on the
science, we must reject the It is true that Jesus does not two “foundational values”
idea that He can be cheated, . use the term “value(s),” but it is of God and man that the su-
. . that He external observance also equally true and clear that, preme two basic command-
can be satisfied with and lip for him, the moral standing of ments of LOVE OF GOD
service. The letter of the Law a person is the deep conviction and LOVE OF NEIGHBOR
is important, but what mat- that lies in the “heart” of each are rooted. And from these
ters most are the values it individual and from which his/ “foundational values” come
enshrines, and the internal her moral stance and behavior the clusters of “derived val-
dispositions with which we derive – what we call “moral ues” that form the basis of
comply with its demands. values system.” (See Mt 12:35 the Ten Commandments or
In today’s Gospel excerpt and 14:18-19.) Decalogue.

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