Lyon, France
Opening Prayer
Your word, O Lord, is upright, and all Your work is done in faithfulness. You love righteousness and justice; the earth is full of Your lovingkindness -Psalm 33:4-5 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! -Psalm 9: 7-11 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin You are the righteous God, who searches hearts and secret thoughts. -Psalm 7:9 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ -Mark 7:1-7 (Think deeply on the life and words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. -Psalm 86:1 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Oh, Lord my God, You have called me from the sleep of nothingness merely because in your tremendous love you want to make good and beautiful beings. You have called me by my name in my mother’s womb. You have given me breath and light and movement and walked with me every moment of my existence. I am amazed, Lord God of the universe, that you attend to me and, more, cherish me. Create in me the faithfulness that moves you, and help me trust you and yearn for you all my days. -Joseph Tetlow, SJ (1930- ) 
Lyon, France
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