Liturgical Information
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Themes & Motives: word of God, providence, harvest, resurrection, children of God

Introit:
In my justice I shall see your face, O Lord; when your glory appears, my joy will be full. [Psalm 17:15]

Opening Prayer:
God our Father,
your light of truth
guides us to the way of Christ.
May all who follow him
reject what is contrary to the gospel.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

• Isaiah 55:10-11 [My word shall not return to Me empty. /v.11]
• Psalm 65:10 / 11 / 12-13 / 14 [R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest. / Lk 8:8]
• Romans 8:18-23 [Creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. /v.19]
• Gospel Verse: [The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will have life forever.]
• Matthew 13:1-23 [Behold, the sower went out to sow. /v.3]

Offertory Antiphon: **
To you I lift up my soul, O Lord, my God. In you I trust; let me not be put to shame, let not my enemies exult over me. No one who waits for you shall be put to shame. [Psalm 25:1-3a]
     Verses of  Psalm 5  can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Prayer over the Gifts:
Lord,
accept the gifts of your Church.
May this eucharist
help us grow in holiness and faith.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Preface for Sundays in Ordinary Time VII: [Salvation through the Obedience of Christ]
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

So great was your love
that you gave us your Son as our redeemer.
You sent him as one like ourselves,
though free from sin,
that you might see and love in us
what you see and love in Christ.
Your gifts of grace, lost by disobedience,
are now restored by the obedience of your Son.

We praise you, Lord, with all the angels and saints
in their song of joy:

  Holy, holy, holy Lord...

Communion Antiphon:
The sparrow even finds a home, the swallow a nest wherein to place her young, near to your altars, Lord of hosts, my King, my God! How happy they who dwell in your house! For ever they are praising you. [Psalm 84:4-5]

Prayer after Communion:
Lord,
by our sharing in this mystery of the eucharist,
let your saving love grow within us.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

** An official, approved English translation of the Offertory Antiphon has never been published. The offertory antiphon used here is cited in Latin, (Ad te, Domine, levavi) in the Graduale Romanum. The English is from the New American Bible, a Scripture translation approved for liturgical use in the United States.

The English translation of the Introit, Opening Prayer, Psalm Refrain, Gospel Verse, Prayer over the Gifts, Preface, Communion Antiphon and Prayer after Communion from The Roman Missal, Copyright 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the First Reading, Second Reading and Gospel are taken from the New American Standard Bible ® © Copyright 1973 The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.