Isaiah 57:14
Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove the stumbling blocks from my people's path.
For thus says he who is high and exalted,
living eternally, whose name is the Holy One;
On high I dwell, and in holiness,
and with the crushed and dejected in spirit,
To revive the spirits of the dejected,
to revive the hearts of the crushed.
I will not accuse forever,
nor always be angry;
For their spirits would be faint before me,
the souls that I have made.
Because of their wicked avarice I was angry,
and struck them, hiding myself in wrath,
as they went their own rebellious way.
I saw their ways,
but I will heal them and lead them;
I will give full comfort
to them and to those who mourn for them,
I, the Creator who gave them life.
Peace, peace to the far and the near,
says the Lord; and I will heal them.
But the wicked are like the tossing sea
which cannot be calmed,
And its waters cast up mud and filth
No peace for the wicked, says my God.
Responsorial Psalm (all respond)
"Grant to us, O Lord, a heart renewed
Recreate in us your Spirit, Lord."
Romans 8:14-25
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you do not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a sprit of adoption, through which we cry, Abba, "Father!" The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.
GOSPEL
Luke 5:1-7
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. The came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking."
Reflection: (Leader)
We must go into "deep water" perhaps facing complex issues, facing unknown areas, facing our tiredness. But Christ is telling us that to follow his instruction leads to great rewards, greater than we even could have imagined.. We are being asked to keep going, to go into deeper waters, to do the work to which we say we are committed. If we wish to fulfill our mission, Christ's mission, we must do the work.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS (Read sequentially by individual participants)
For all those who were abused by clergy, we embrace you; we pray that as the people of God we can in some real way be agents of your healing. We are overwhelmed by the knowledge of your pain and suffering; you are precious in God's sight. May you feel God's healing love in every way and in everything. (Pause...)
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who have been abused and their families. For the pain and suffering you have endured, we pray for healing and new life. For all that was not heard, for the pleas that went unanswered, for the pain and betrayal that was not shared, we pray for forgiveness. (Pause...)
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
For all those who have experienced sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and degradation, we acknowledge your pain and suffering and cry out against such sinfulness. For all those marginalized by abuses of power and by hatred, we ask for healing and wholeness. (Pause..)
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the faithful who have been betrayed by those we trusted, by those who are said to lead us in the name of Jesus Christ, we pray for an increase of faith, for the holy wisdom to understand and accept that sin and death are not the final answers, but that we are called each day to new life. (Pause...)
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the failure of the Catholic Church to be a true sign of the power of God's unconditional love and need for each of us, and for all those who have been unable to remain in full communion with our Church, we pray for the growth in holiness which will welcome you all home. (Pause...)
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
For priests of integrity and all women religious who toil in the vineyard and endure their own sense of betrayal and abandonment, we pray that the voice of the faithful will be a witness to you of Jesus' love and communion with you, that you know the voice of the faithful is raised in Thanksgiving for your vocation. (Pause...)
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
For our Church, that it remains truly grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a communion of believers, transfigured by the good news of Jesus Christ, who together do the work of building up the Reign of God in our hearts and in our world. (Pause...)
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
For our church leaders, that they be renewed by the action of the Holy Spirit in their midst. May they welcome the spiritual gifts of humility, wisdom, and courage; may the image of Jesus as Good Shepherd, listening, guarding, and caring, inform all they do in the name of God. (Pause...)
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
Individuals add their own prayers...followed by:
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
Conclude vigil by joining hands and reciting the Our Father.