Mass – Thursday in Week 9, Ordinary Time

Entrance Hymn: O God Beyond All Praising
Verse 1
O God beyond all praising, we worship you today.
And sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay.For we can only wonder at every gift you send,
At blessings without number and mercies without end.We lift our hearts before you and wait upon your word.
We honour and adore you, our great and mighty Lord.Verse 2
Then hear, O gracious Saviour, accept the love we bring.
That we, who know Your favour, may serve you as our King;And whether our tomorrows, be filled with good or ill,
we’ll triumph through our sorrows, and rise to bless You still,to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise!

1st Reading – 2 Timothy 2:8-15Lector: A reading from the second letter of St Paul to Timothy.Remember the Good News that I carry, ‘Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David’; it is on account of this that I have my own hardships to bear, even to being chained like a criminal – but they cannot chain up God’s news.So I bear it all for the sake of those who are chosen, so that in the end they may have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus and the eternal glory that comes with it.Here is a saying that you can rely on:
If we have died with him, then we shall live with him.
If we hold firm, then we shall reign with him.
If we disown him, then he will disown us.
We may be unfaithful, but he is always faithful, for he cannot disown his own self.Remind them of this; and tell them in the name of God that there is to be no wrangling about words: all that this ever achieves is the destruction of those who are listening.Do all you can to present yourself in front of God as a man who has come through his trials, and a man who has no cause to be ashamed of his life’s work and has kept a straight course with the message of the truth.The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm - 24(25):4-5, 8-10,14Response: Lord, make me know your ways.Lord, make me know your ways. Lord teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me: for your are God my saviour.Response: Lord, make me know your ways.In you I hope all day long. The Lord is good and upright.
He shows the path to those who stray,
He guides the humble in the right path,
He teaches his way to the poor.Response: Lord, make me know your ways.His ways are faithfulness and love
for those who keep his covenant and low.
The Lord’s friendship is for those who revere him;
to them he reveals his covenant.Response: Lord, make me know your ways.

Gospel Acclamation – John 6:63, 68All: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;
you have the message of eternal life.All: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!Gospel - Mark 12:28-34Celebrant: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’ Jesus replied, ‘This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’The scribe said to him, ‘Well spoken, Master; what you have said is true: that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.’Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And after that no one dared to question him any more.The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you. Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayers of the FaithfulFor our Church
For our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, our archbishop William, and for all our clergy and religious. May God’s faithfulness and love continue to sustain and strengthen them, as they continue to lead the flock entrusted to their care.Response: Lord, hear our prayer.For the world
For countries in the world plagued by wars and strife, may God bring comfort and hope, that peace and reconciliation may return to their lands once more.Response: Lord, hear our prayer.For the sick
For the sick and for their caregivers; for those yearning for healing in mind and body: May they experience God's healing and hope in their time of need.Response: Lord, hear our prayer.For our community
For our community here and for our loved ones, may the God of love fill our hearts with meekness and humility, strengthen us in our times of need, and to live our lives with courage, to be witnesses of His love to all around us.Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

Offertory Hymn: In Bread We Bring You LordVerse 1
In bread we bring you, Lord, our bodies’ labour.
In wine we offer you our spirits’ grief.We do not ask you, Lord, who is my neighbour,
but stand united now, one in belief.O we have gladly heard your Word, your holy Word,
and now in answer, Lord, our gifts we bring.Our selfish hearts make true, our failing faith renew,
our lives belong to you, our Lord and King.Verse 2
The bread we offer you is blessed and broken,
and it becomes for us our spirits’ food.Over the cup we bring your Word is spoken;
make it your gift to us, your healing blood.Take all that daily toil plants in our hearts’ poor soil,
take all we start and spoil, each hopeful dream,the chances we have missed, the graces we resist,
Lord in thy Eucharist, take and redeem.

Communion Hymn: Christ’s Love for usVerse 1
Love is His word, Love is His way.
Feasting with men, fasting alone.
Living and dying, rising again.
Love only love is His way.Chorus
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord.
Better than splendour and wealth.Verse 2
Love is His way, love is His mark.
Sharing His last Passover feast.
Christ at the table, host to the twelve.
Love only love, is His mark.
[Chorus]Verse 3
Love is his mark, love is His sign.
Bread for our strength, wine for our joy.
This is my body, this is my blood.
Love, only love is His sign.
[Chorus]Verse 4
Love is His sign, love is His news.
Do this He said, lest you forget.
All my deep sorrow, all my dear blood.
Love, only love, is His news.
[Chorus]Verse 5
Love is His news, Love is His name.
We are His own, chosen and called.
Family, brethren, cousins and kin.
Love, only love is His name.
[Chorus]Verse 6
Love is His name, love is His law.
Hear His command, all who are His.
Love one another as I have loved you.
Love, only love, is His law.
[Chorus]

Recessional Hymn: Christ Be Our LightVerse 1
Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to You.
Make us Your own, Your holy people.
Light for the world to see.Chorus
Christ, be our light,
Shine in our hearts,
Shine through the darkness.Christ, be our light,
Shine in Your church gathered today.Verse 2
Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us Your building, sheltering others.
Walls made of living stone.
[Chorus]Verse 3
Many the gifts, many the people.
Many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another.
Making Your kingdom come.
[Chorus]