PRAYER FOR THIS MORNING (MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30)
Saint Andrew
Prayer for the Morning
Jesus Christ is the light of the Apostles:
come, let us walk in his way!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!
HYMN
When Christ our Lord to Andrew cried:
“Come, thou, and follow me,”
The fisher left his net beside
The Sea of Galilee.
To teach the truth his Master taught,
To tread the path he trod
Was all his will, and thus he brought
Unnumbered souls to God.
When Andrew’s hour had come, and he
Was doomed like Christ to die,
He kissed his cross exultingly,
And this his loving cry:
“O noble cross, O precious wood!
I long have yearned for thee;
Uplift me to my only Good
Who died on thee for me.”
PSALM 85:9-14
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16:24)
Saint Andrew showed his courage not by feats of physical prowess but by his unrelenting commitment to the Gospel of the cross written in the blood of Jesus Christ. Andrew died as he had lived, the true servant of his beloved Master, whose message of love and mercy shaped Andrew’s life and death.
I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people and his friends
and those who turn to him in their hearts.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land.
Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.
The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps.
Glory to the Father….
Word of God (Isaiah 12:2)
God indeed is my savior;/ I am confident and un-afraid./ My strength and my courage is the Lord,/ and he has been my savior.
Fear not, beloved, you are safe;
take courage and be strong.
(Dn 10:19)
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged. (2 Cor 4:1)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father…
INTERCESSIONS
O Lord, you called Saint Andrew from the simple safety of the life of a village fisherman to take the message of salvation to all the world. Through his intercession we pray:
R/Keep us faithful in your service.
You sign all your disciples with the sign of the cross:
– grant us the courage to live what we professed in baptism. R/
You call all your disciples to take up the cross and follow you:
– let no suffering dampen our enthusiasm for the Gospel. R/
You arm all your disciples with the weapons of faith, hope, and charity:
– make us messengers of your peace. R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Andrew left home and livelihood and even life itself to follow you. May we love you more than life itself and love all of life’s gifts as treasures to be shared with all who are in need. We ask this in your name, who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
