Liturgical Information
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Themes & Motives: Peter, apostles, Church, authority, love of God, kingdom of God, worship, wisdom

Introit:
Listen, Lord, and answer me. Save your servant who trusts in you. I call to you all day long, have mercy on me, O Lord. [Psalm 86:1-3]

Opening Prayer:
Father,
help us to seek the values
that will bring us lasting joy in this changing world.
In our desire for what you promise
make us one in mind and heart.
Grant 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 22:19-23 [I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder. /v.22]
• Psalm 138:1-2 / 2-3 / 6,8 [R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands. /v.8bc]
• Romans 11:33-36 [From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. /v.36]
• Gospel Verse: Mt 16:18 [You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.]
• Matthew 16:13-20 [You are Peter, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. /v.18-19]

Offertory Antiphon: **
I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God. [Psalm 40:2,4a]
     Verses of  Psalm 113  can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Prayer over the Gifts:
Merciful God,
the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ
made us your people.
In your love,
grant peace and unity to your Church.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Preface for Sundays in Ordinary Time V: [Creation]
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

All things are of your making,
all times and seasons obey your laws,
but you chose to create man in your own image,
setting him over the whole world in all its wonder.
You made man the steward of creation,
to praise you day by day for the marvels of your wisdom and power,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

  Holy, holy, holy Lord...

Communion Antiphon:
Lord, the earth is filled with your gift from heaven; man grows bread from the earth, and wine to cheer his heart. [Psalm 104:13-15]

Prayer after Communion:
Lord,
may this eucharist increase within us
the healing power of your love.
May it guide and direct our efforts to please you in all things.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

** An official, approved English translation of the Offertory Antiphon has never been published. The offertory antiphon used here is cited in Latin, (Exspectans exspectavi Dominum) 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.