(A Note: this Eucharistic prayer grew out of the experience of life and mission of a parish dedicated to Christ the King, but has a more universal relevance and usefulness – as any Eucharistic Prayer should express)
GOD OF COMPASSION AND LOVE,
WE DO WELL ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE TO GIVE YOU THANKS,
BUT ESPECIALLY TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE
JESUS YOUR SON, OUR KING AND SERVANT.
LONG AGO YOU CHOSE A NATION TO BE YOUR OWN,
THAT YOU MIGHT BE HONOURED ON EARTH AS KING OF ALL CREATION.
IT PLEASED YOU TO DWELL IN THE MIDST OF THIS PEOPLE,
RAISING UP KINGS, PRIESTS AND PROPHETS,
TO MAKE THE REIGN OF YOUR LOVE AND JUSTICE
A VISIBLE SIGN AND A TRANSFORMING POWER
IN THE UNFOLDING HISTORY OF OUR WORLD.
AT THE APPOINTED HOUR,
YOUR SPIRIT OVERSHADOWED A YOUNG GIRL, MARY:
SHE ALLOWED YOUR KINGDOM TO INVADE HER HEART
AND YOUR WORD TO BE CARRIED IN HER WOMB.
SHE BROUGHT FORTH JESUS WHOM YOU ANOINTED THE CHRIST –
OUR KING AND OUR SERVANT:
HE MADE KNOWN TO ALL PEOPLES YOUR REIGN OF LOVE AND PEACE.
AND SO WITH ALL THE SAINTS AND ANGELS
WHO DWELL IN THE FULLNESS OF THAT KINGDOM,
WE JOIN IN THEIR CRIES OF JOY, SINGING…
[Holy, Holy. Holy…]
WE GIVE YOU GREAT THANKS,
THE GOD WHO YEARNS FOR US TO BE FULLY ALIVE.
YOU FILLED OUR BROTHER JESUS WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THAT HE SHOULD PROCLAIM TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN:
THAT THE KINGDOM HAD COME;
THAT THE SEED OF THIS KINGDOM WAS A TREASURE BURIED WITHIN US;
THAT THE LEAVEN OF THIS KINGDOM
WILL ONE DAY TRANSFORM ALL CREATION
INTO A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.
HE CALLED WEAK PEOPLE LIKE US, APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES,
TO WITNESS TO THE KINGDOM AMONG US;
HE LIVED AND LOVED, HEALED AND PROPHESIED
AMONG THE POOR, THE WOUNDED, THE EXCLUDED AND THE POWERLESS.
THUS HE REVEALED TO ALL WHO HAVE EYES TO SEE
AND A HEART TO KNOW,
WHO IS FIRST IN THIS KINGDOM.
SO SEND FORTH UPON OUR COMMUNITY THE EMPOWERING SPIRIT:
TO HEAL OUR BROKENNESS, AWAKEN OUR APATHY
AND INFLAME OUR HEARTS WITH DIVINE COMPASSION;
TOUCH BY THE SPIRIT’S POWER,
THESE SIMPLE GIFTS OF BREAD AND WINE
THAT THEY BECOME THE SIGN OF THE KINGDOM AMONG US,
THE BROKEN BODY AND THE POURED-OUT BLOOD
OF JESUS, KING AND SERVANT.
FOR ON THE NIGHT HE DIED FOR LOVE OF US,
HE LAID ASIDE HIS GARMENTS AND HIS ROYAL DIGNITY,
AND ALL CREATION’S KING BENT LOW AT OUR FEET AND WASHED THEM.
HE COMMANDED US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS HE HAS LOVED US,
TO SERVE OUR WORLD AS HE HAS SERVED US;
THEN TAKING THE BREAD,
HE BLESSED YOU TO WHOM THE KINGDOM BELONGS,
BROKE THE BREAD AND GAVE HIS FRIENDS LOVE’S FOOD, SAYING:
TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU AND EAT IT:
THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
AT THE END OF THE SUPPER, AS DEATH DREW NEAR,
HE TOOK THE CUP OF LOVE’S PAIN AND LOVE’S JOY,
AND EMBRACING HIS FATHER’S WILL, HE SAID:
TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU AND DRINK IT:
THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT.
IT WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR ALL
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
LET US PROCLAIM THE MYSTERY OF FAITH…
WE REMEMBER, THAT WE MIGHT BE FULLY ALIVE,
THAT JESUS SHARED THE PAIN AND JOY OF OUR FLESH,
EVEN UNTO DEATH! BUT DEATH NO LONGER HAS DOMINION,
FOR LOVE RAISED HIM TO EASTER’S DAWNING LIGHT.
ENTHRONING THE SERVANT JESUS AT YOUR RIGHT HAND AS OUR KING,
HE POURED OUT IN ABUNDANCE THE SPIRIT OF HIS HEART,
THE POWER OF HIS LOVE, THE LIFE OF HIS KINGDOM.
MAY THAT SPIRIT INFUSE US AFRESH,
THAT WE MIGHT EVER SERVE YOUR BROKEN WORLD,
EVER HEAL YOUR WOUNDED PEOPLE,
EVER CRY FREEDOM FOR THE VICTIMS THAT ARE YOUR BELOVED ONES.
MAY WE GROW IN COMMUNION WITH THOSE WHO KNOW
THE GLORY OF YOUR KINGDOM:
WITH MARY, CLEAREST SIGN OF YOUR LOVE’S REIGN,
WITH THE APOSTLES TEACHING US TO REACH OUT INTO THE WORLD,
WITH ALL THE MARTYRS AND SAINTS, SHOWING US LOVE’S FIDELITY,
ESPECIALLY ST NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO AND THE SAINTS OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY.
MAY IT BE OUR JOY TO BUILD ONE CHURCH AMONG ALL BELIEVERS,
IN UNBREAKABLE BONDS OF LOVE WITH ALL THE CHURCHES,
WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SERVANTS, FRANCIS AND DECLAN,
AND WITH THE WHOLE OF HUMANITY
WHO ARE THE FAMILY OF THE KINGDOM.
THEN WE SHALL JOURNEY AND WORK AND LOVE TOGETHER
UNTIL THE GREAT DAY OF OUR KING’S COMING,
WHEN ALL THE EARTH SHALL BE THE KINGDOM HE PRESENTS TO YOU,
AND YOU WILL BE ALL IN ALL.
THROUGH HIM, AND WITH HIM, AND IN HIM,
O GOD, ALMIGHTY FATHER
IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ALL GLORY AND HONOUR IS YOURS,
FOREVER AND EVER…AMEN!