Second Sunday of Lent
Processional Hymn - From Ashes to the Living Font
From ashes to the living font
Your Church must journey, Lord,
Baptised in grace, in grace renewed
By your most holy word.
Through fasting, prayer, and charity,
Your voice speaks deep within,
Returning us to ways of truth
And turning us from sin.
From desert to the mountaintop
In Christ our way we see,
So, tempered by temptations might
We might transfigured be.
From ashes to the living font
Your Church must journey still,
Through cross and tomb to Easter joy,
in Spirit-fire fulfilled.
1st Reading – Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.
“Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.”
Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.
He then said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.”
“O Lord GOD,” he asked, “how am I to know that I shall possess it?”
He answered him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
Abram brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up.
Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them.
As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.
When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces.
It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.”
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 27
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
2nd Reading – Philippians 3:17—4:1
Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us.
For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction.
Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.”
Their minds are occupied with earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord.
Gospel – Luke 9:28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.
Prayer for Our Lady of Angels Parish
Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us together and calling us to serve as your disciples.
You have charged us through your Son, Jesus, with the great mission of evangelizing and witnessing your love to the world.
Send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern your will for the spiritual renewal of our parish.
Give us strength, courage, and clear vision as we use our gifts to serve you.
We entrust our parish family to the care of Mary, our mother, and ask for her intercession and guidance, as we strive to build a parish that loves God, embraces all people, and shares the Gospel joyfully.
Amen.
Offertory Hymn - Let Us Return to the Lord
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord,
For God’s appearing is as sure as the dawn.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
God will come just as the faithful showers fall,
Just as the spring rains that water the earth.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
God desires steadfast love, not sacrifice,
Knowledge of God in stead of offerings.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
Communion Hymn - Return to God
Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy;
Come seek the tender faithfulness of God.
Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy;
Come seek the tender faithfulness of God.
Now the time of grace has come, the day of salvation;
Come and learn now the way of our God.
Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy;
Come seek the tender faithfulness of God.
Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy;
Come seek the tender faithfulness of God.
I will take your heart of stone and place a heart within you,
A heart of compassion and love.
Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy;
Come seek the tender faithfulness of God.
Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy;
Come seek the tender faithfulness of God.
If you break the chains of oppression,
If you set the pris'ner free;
If you share your bread with the hungry,
Give protection to the lost;
Give shelter to the homeless,
Clothe the naked in your midst,
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn.
Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy;
Come seek the tender faithfulness of God.
Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy;
Come seek the tender faithfulness of God.
Recessional Hymn - Again We Keep This Solemn Feast
Again we keep this solemn fast,
A gift of faith from ages past,
This Lent which binds us, lovingly
To faith and hope and charity.
The law and prophets from of old
In figured ways this Lent foretold,
Which Christ, all ages’ Lord and Guide,
In these last days has sanctified.
More sparing, therefore, let us make
The words we speak, the food we take,
Our sleep, our laughter, ev’ry sense;
Learn peace through holy penitence.
Let us avoid each harmful way
That lures the careless mind astray;
By watchful prayer our spirits free
From scheming of the Enemy.
We pray, O blessed Three in One,
Our God while endless ages run,
That this, our Lent of forty days,
May bring us growth and give you praise.
