PRIEST: We gather to celebrate the World Day of the Sick on this Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, in the midst of the continuing Covid Pandemic. While some are relaxing restrictions others are still fearful of their health We come together as a people of Faith, to entrust this world into the healing love of Christ Jesus, who overflows with healing and life for the broken and the sick, the exhausted carers and the lonely isolated. Mary as the servant of God’s healing in Lourdes challenges us to care and to pray, and also to work for equality and justice that will bring health-care, hope and vaccines to the poorest of the earth. Our mission is to witness to the Gospel of Life and the tenderness of God especially for those excluded from hope, healing and opportunity. Do we seek to be signs of hope and healing?
READER: For the ways our words have wounded, not healed;
our hearts have hardened against another,
not opened in caring and compassion, offering hope
LORD HAVE MERCY…
For the ways we have not valued and supported
those whose work is medicine, research or caring;
when we could have shared the burden and did not
CHRIST HAVE MERCY…
For the times we have been too preoccupied with self
to reach out and listen to another’s pain;
slow to respect every person, not bearers of the Gospel of Life
LORD HAVE MERCY…
PRIEST: O God of love without limit,
make us compassionate as you are compassionate;
Jesus, come to bring us Life in all fullness
makes us whole and holy;
Holy Spirit, breath of love and great Comforter,
bind us together in unbreakable bonds of a love that give hope
and so bring us and all Creation to everlasting life…
AMEN!