Third Sunday of Lent
Come back to me
with all your heart.
Don't let fear keep us apart.
Trees do bend,
though straight and tall;
so must we to others' call.
Long have I waited
for your coming
home to me and living
deeply our new life.
The wilderness will lead you
to your heart
where I will speak.
Integrity and justice
with tenderness you shall know.
Long have I waited
for your coming
home to me and living
deeply our new life.
You shall sleep secure
with peace; faithfulness
will be your joy.
Long have I waited
for your coming
home to me and living
deeply our new life.
Psalmody
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Your decrees, O Lord, are to be trusted; your truth is more powerful than the roaring of the seas.
Psalm 93
Splendor of God the Creator
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed; †
the Lord has robed himself with might, *
he has girded himself with power.
The world you made firm, not to be moved; †
your throne has stood firm from of old. *
From all eternity, O Lord, you are.
The waters have lifted up, O Lord, †
the waters have lifted up their voice, *
the waters have lifted up their thunder.
Greater than the roar of mighty waters †
more glorious than the surgings of the sea, *
the Lord is glorious on high.
Truly your decrees are to be trusted. †
Holiness is fitting to your house, *
O Lord, until the end of time.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
All power and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to you, Lord Jesus; you rule with decrees that are firm and trustworthy. Be with us always so that we may make disciples whose holiness will be worthy of your house.
Ant. Your decrees, O Lord, are to be trusted; your truth is more powerful than the roaring of the seas.
Ant. 2 Springs of water, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.
Canticle: Daniel 3:57-88, 56
Let all creatures praise the Lord
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
You heavens, bless the Lord,
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. *
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord. *
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord. *
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord. *
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord. *
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord. *
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord. *
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
Let the earth bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord. *
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord. *
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord. *
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord. *
You sons of men, bless the Lord.
O Israel, bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord. *
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. *
Let us praise and exalt him above all forever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven. *
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all for ever.
Ant. Springs of water, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.
Ant. 3 All kings and peoples of the earth, give praise to God.
Psalm 148
Praise to the Lord, the Creator
Praise the Lord from the heavens, *
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels, *
praise him, all his host.
Praise him, sun and moon, *
praise him, shining stars.
Praise him, highest heavens *
and the waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord. *
He commanded: they were made.
He fixed them for ever, *
gave a law which shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth, *
sea creatures and all oceans,
fire and hail, snow and mist, *
stormy winds that obey his word;
all mountains and hills, *
all fruit trees and cedars,
beasts, wild and tame, *
reptiles and birds on the wing;
all earth’s kings and peoples, *
earth’s princes and rulers,
young men and maidens, *
old men together with children.
Let them praise the name of the Lord *
for he alone is exalted.
The splendor of his name *
reaches beyond heaven and earth.
He exalts the strength of his people. *
He is the praise of all his saints,
of the sons of Israel, *
of the people to whom he comes close.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord, extolled in the heights by angelic powers, you are also praised by all earth’s creatures, each in its own way. With all the splendor of heavenly worship, you still delight in such tokens of love as earth can offer. May heaven and earth together acclaim you as king; may the praise that is sung in heaven resound in the heart of every creature on earth.
Ant. All kings and peoples of the earth, give praise to God.
1st Reading
Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15
Go to the Readings for Cycle A
A reading from the Book of Exodus
Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro,
the priest of Midian.
Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb,
the mountain of God.
There an angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in fire flaming out of a bush.
As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush,
though on fire, was not consumed.
So Moses decided,
“I must go over to look at this remarkable sight,
and see why the bush is not burned.”
When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely,
God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
He answered, “Here I am.”
God said, “Come no nearer!
Remove the sandals from your feet,
for the place where you stand is holy ground.
I am the God of your fathers,” he continued,
“the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.”
Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
But the LORD said,
“I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt
and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers,
so I know well what they are suffering.
Therefore I have come down to rescue them
from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land,
a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Moses said to God, “But when I go to the Israelites
and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’
if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?”
God replied, “I am who am.”
Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites:
I AM sent me to you.”
God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the Israelites:
The LORD, the God of your fathers,
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob,
has sent me to you.
“This is my name forever;
thus am I to be remembered through all generations.”
Continue with the Readings for Cycle C
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
℟. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
℟. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills,
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
℟. The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice
and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
and his deeds to the children of Israel.
℟. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
℟. The Lord is kind and merciful.
2nd Reading
1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,
that our ancestors were all under the cloud
and all passed through the sea,
and all of them were baptized into Moses
in the cloud and in the sea.
All ate the same spiritual food,
and all drank the same spiritual drink,
for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them,
and the rock was the Christ.
Yet God was not pleased with most of them,
for they were struck down in the desert.
These things happened as examples for us,
so that we might not desire evil things, as they did.
Do not grumble as some of them did,
and suffered death by the destroyer.
These things happened to them as an example,
and they have been written down as a warning to us,
upon whom the end of the ages has come.
Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure
should take care not to fall.
Thanks be to God.
Glory to You,
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Living God.
Repent, says the Lord;
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Glory to You,
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Living God.
Gospel
Lk 13:1-9
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them—
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’”
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:
The Gospel of the Lord.
All reply:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:
Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.
The Creed is said.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
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 became man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate,
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.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
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 believe in One, Holy,
Catholic and Apostolic Church.
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.
Lord, we gather today, in your house we kneel down and pray.
We ask for your mercy as we
open our hearts to receive your forgiveness, O Lord.
Lord, we lift up to you, all these gifts we offer for your glory.
We will eat this living bread,
we will drink this saving cup,
and feel your presence, O Lord.
As we offer this bread and
as we bring you this wine,
bless them Lord Jesus,
feed us now, give us life.
Send us your spirit,
the source of our lives,
and together we will
serve you with love.
As we offer this bread and
as we bring you this wine,
bless them Lord Jesus,
feed us now, give us life.
Send us your spirit,
the source of our lives,
and together we will
serve you with love.
Dan Schutte, SJ
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God of Hosts.
Heaven and Earth are full,
are full of Your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna,
hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes,
who comes in the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna,
hosanna in the highest.
Dan Schutte, SJ
Save us, save us,
Savior of the world,
for by your Cross and Resurrection,
you have set us free.
M.V. Francisco, SJ
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,
deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
have mercy on us,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
have mercy on us,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
grant us peace.
Have mercy on me,
O God, in Your kindness.
In Your compassion,
blot out my offense.
Wash me, O God,
from the stain of my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offenses, truly I know them.
My sin is always before me.
Against You alone
have I sinned.
What is evil in Your sight,
I have done.
Have mercy on me,
O God, in Your kindness.
In Your compassion,
blot out my offense.
Wash me, O God,
from the stain of my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
Create in me a pure heart.
Put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away
from Your presence
nor deprive me of Your spirit.
Have mercy on me,
O God, in Your kindness.
In Your compassion,
blot out my offense.
Wash me, O God,
from the stain of my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
Defend me, O God, my Savior.
My tongue shall sing out
Your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim
Your praise.
Have mercy on me,
O God, in Your kindness.
In Your compassion,
blot out my offense.
Wash me, O God,
from the stain of my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
Gospel Canticle
Ant. Destroy this temple, says the Lord, and in three days I will rebuild it. He was speaking of the temple of his body.
Canticle of Zechariah
Luke 1:68-79
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old †
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Destroy this temple, says the Lord, and in three days I will rebuild it. He was speaking of the temple of his body.
It’s time for us to make
our dreams come true.
A guiding voice
will tell us what to do.
It’s the time to change
ourselves and show the world
that we still care for men
and we’ll lead them there.
We’ll lead them to
a place beyond the sea.
A place of love where
everyone is free.
Don’t despair the path
to happiness is wide.
If we must change our ways
call on God for our guide.