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worship 3

INVOCATION

Liturgist:

Let us bow our heads in prayer. Father, in this worship hour we proclaim our unity with Christ in our struggle for the promotion of human dignity. Attune our hearts and minds that we may truly share and understand the sufferings and hopes, the despair and aspirations of our people. Lift us up who are weak that we might be the strength for others. Forge us in the spirit and love of Jesus Christ that we may work in unity in building a society where there is true freedom, justice and love. Amen.

Song:

Whatever you did to the least of my Brethren

Chorus: Whatever you did to the least of my brethren

You did it to the king of all men,

Whatever you did to the least of my brethren

You did it to the king of all men,

He was standing by the highway

Shivering under the rain,

Clothes all tattered. Teeth all a chatter,

And I went on my way.

A mother in the river, Washing Mister Bigs clothes,

Hoping for the money, For the coming baby, And I lay on my bed.

Sister in a restaurant, working less than her gain

All for money until midnight and I kept sipping my drink.

Father in a cornfield, sweating under the sun,

Farmen did the labour, rich man got the favor

And I just sat on my chair.

Liturgist:

God said: Let us make people in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be the masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of hea-

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-ven the cattle all the wild beasts, and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.

People:

SO PEOPLE WERE MADE ACCORDING TO THE IMAGE OF GOD, THEIR CREATOR, THE GOD WHO IS THE ALMIGHTY, SUPREME CREATOR, OF THE UNIVERSE, THE WONDERFUL, THE BEAUTIFUL, THE OMNISCIENT, THE JUST, THE MERCIFUL, THE PRINCE OF PEACE AND THE PERFECTION OF ALL ATTRIBUTES THAT WE CAN THINK OF.

Liturgist:

God shared to people his image, his perfection, with power to rule and creative dominion over other creatures. God endowed people with intellect and free will, clothed them in splendor and dignity and gave them inalienable rights to live, to speak, to love, to serve and to be free.

Voice:

But let us ask ourselves: what is left of God’s image in people? Of human dignity?

..... When they are afraid to open their eyes and open their mouths?

People:

HELP US TO SEE THE RADIANCE OF YOUR FACE O LORD THAT WE MAY LEARN TO BE YOUR INSTRUMENTS IN THE PROMOTION OF HUMAN DIGNITY.

Voice:

..... when the God given power to rule and to have creative dominion is used to deceive and cheat other people.

People:

HELP US O LORD TO OPEN OUR EARS AND TO OPEN OUR EYES. HELP US TO FIND UNITY NOT ONLY IN DOCTRINE BUT MORE SO IN OUR LOVE AND SERVICE TO OUR FELLOW PEOPLE.

Liturgist:

What is left of God’s image… in Christians who cannot recognize their neighbor in the poor workers, peasants, scavenger -- because the smell of the sweat, mud, of the grime and dregs of the earth - - - and not of the comfortable and antiseptice pew?

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PEOPLE:

O LORD, OPEN OUR EYES THAT WE MAY SEE YOU.... IN MILLIONS OF POOR WORKERS AND PEASANTS AND IN THOUSANDS OF SQUATTERS WHO ARE UNCERTAIN OF THEIR FUTURE. WHO CAN BE DRIVEN OUT OF THEIR BARONG-BARONGS AT ANY MOMENT, NOT KNOWING WHERE NEXT TO SPREAD THEIR TATTERED MATS AND STRETCH THEIR ACHING BACKS.

Song:

Awit ng Sakada (Song of the Sugar Workers)

Reflection:

(On today’s activities)