Download prophets to the nations

112
PROPHETS TO THE NATIONS
Opening Prayer:
All: God, you have called us in your love. You have told us You will never forget
us, Your people, whom You have carved on the palm of your hands. While we
ask You to call new Marists into Your service with us, we also ask you to
preserve those whom You have already called, so that we my faithfully live out
our Marist call today. We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord and Brother.
Amen.
First Reading: Jer 1:4-10
The word of the Lord came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew
you. Before you were born I dedicated you; a prophet to the nations I appointed
you. “Ah, Lord God!:” I said. “I know not how to speak: I am too young.” But the
Lord answered me. Say not “I am too young. To whomever I send you, you shall
go. Whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them,
because I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. Then the Lord extended his
hand and touched my mouth, saying; “See I place my words in your mouth. This
day I set you over the nations and over kingdoms; to root up and to tear down, to
destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.
Pause
Faith Response:
Left: When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they
were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He
said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His
harvest.”
Right: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you
should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so whatever you
ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
Pause
Second Reading: John 10:14-18
“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me, in the same
way the Father knows me and I know the Father. For these sheep, I will give my
life. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must lead them, too, and
they shall hear my voice. There shall be one flock, then, one shepherd. The
Father loves me for this: that I lay down my life to take it up again. No one takes
it from me; I lay it down freely. I have power to lay it down and I have power to
take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Pause
Faith Response:
Left: When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they
were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He
said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His
harvest.”
Right: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you
should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so whatever you
ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
Intercessions:
Response: Give us the gift of hope.
Leader: During this time, we thank you for the gift of being Marist Brothers today
in a world alive with new challenges and possibilities. You know how too often in
our weakness we have been disturbed by the passing of an old, familiar world,
and have grieved at the loss of things that gave us comfort. Forgive us our fears,
our lack of trust in You, and stir us to deeper faith and surer hope.





Help us to be patient and confident in waiting for the unfolding of Your
mysterious ways, we pray…
Help us to see the potential for new life in the seed that must die, we
pray…
Help us to understand and support the young, especially when their
human growth causes tension and pain, we pray…
Help us to be inspired to deeper compassion, to generous sacrifice, to a
broader vision that draws its energy from You, we pray…
Help us to live in active hope for what others can become with the help of
our fraternal support, we pray…
(Pause for time to present individual needs and prayers of petition.)
Closing Prayer:
God, let us be sowers of hope. Inspire us to sow hope among all young people
so that they may come to love and serve You through their specific vocation.
Help us also to sow hope among each other so that, together, we can see the
power of Your Spirit alive within the Marist Brothers. We make this prayer in
Jesus’ name. Amen.
Salve