∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

The following presentation is made possible by the generosity of the viewers of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Today we celebrate the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. My name is Dan Riley. I’m joined by Tom McNamara and Elizabeth Norden, and our celebrant is Father Scott Donahue, president of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

∫ The God of all eternity, ∫
∫ unbound by space, yet always near, ∫
∫ is present where His people meet ∫
∫ to celebrate the coming year. ∫

We gather today at the table of the Lord to celebrate the Eucharist, to give thanks to God, as together we praise our God. This weekend is the 25th anniversary of the terrible attack on this country and on the Twin Towers. And so I would ask, in a special way, that we do two things: that we remember and that we pray.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

-Amen.

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with each of you.

-And with your spirit.

And friends, as we gather, let’s just pause for a moment to acknowledge our need for God’s mercy, God’s love, and God’s forgiveness in our lives. Lord Jesus, we believe that You are the way that leads us to the Father.

Lord, have mercy.

-Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we believe that You are truth, that Your words proclaim God’s love for us.

Christ, have mercy.

-Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we believe that You are life. Through Your own life, and Your death, and Your resurrection, You have promised us a new life in You.

Lord, have mercy.

-Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us of our sin, and bring us to life everlasting.

-Amen.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Glory to God in the highest, ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫
∫ Glory to God in the highest, ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫

My friends, let us pray. Look upon us, O God, Creator and Ruler of all things, that we may feel the working of Your mercy. Grant that we may serve You then with all of our hearts, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

-Amen.

The first reading is a reading from the Book of Sirach.

Wrath and anger are hateful things if the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for He remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice, then when you pray your own sins will be forgiven. Can anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? Can anyone refuse mercy to another like himself? Can he seek pardon for his own sins? If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside, remember death and decay, and cease from sin. Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor, remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.

The Word of the Lord.

-Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ The Lord is kind and merciful, ∫
∫ slow to anger, and rich in compassion. ∫
∫ The Lord is kind and merciful, ∫
∫ slow to anger, and rich in compassion. ∫
∫ Bless the Lord, O my soul, ∫
∫ and all within me, His holy name. ∫
∫ Bless the Lord, O my soul, ∫
∫ and never forget all His benefits. ∫
∫ The Lord is kind and merciful, ∫
∫ slow to anger, and rich in compassion. ∫

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.

Brothers and sisters, none of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

The Word of the Lord.

-Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ I give you a new commandment, says the Lord. ∫
∫ Love one another as I have loved you. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

The Lord be with each of you.

-And with your spirit.

Ours is a reading taken from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew.

-Glory to You, O Lord.

Peter approached Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, if my brother or my sister sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a large amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all of his property in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, paid him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion, the master of the servant let him go and forgave the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe me.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put into prison until he paid back the debt. Now, when his fellow servants saw what happened, they were deeply disturbed, and they went to their master and they reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger, his master handed him over to the torturers until he paid back the whole debt. So will My heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother or your sister from your heart.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

-Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

I often don’t read when I preach at TV Mass, but this is such a wonderful story, and I want to make sure that I get every word correct and right. So stay with me through this little story, and then we’ll fill it out. It’s called the story of two monks and a woman. It’s called a Zen story.

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and a beautiful woman who was attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side. The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken a vow never to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on with his journey.

The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened, and after rejoining his companion, he was speechless. An hour passed without a word between them. Two hours passed, then three. Finally, the young monk could not contain himself any longer, and he blurted out, “As monks, we are not permitted to touch a woman. How could you have carried that woman on your shoulder?”

The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river. Why are you still carrying her?”

What a great life lesson! What we carry in life and what we carry in our hearts. You know, don’t remember if you recall, during the Lenten season — I love the Lenten season — but one of the great themes of the Lenten season: I’m going to take away your stony heart, and I’m going to give you a heart of flesh again. A living, loving, forgiving heart. That’s what we’re called to do: to be people of understanding and compassion and of forgiveness.

When we hold on to grudges, when we hold on to anger, those things cause our hearts to turn to stone, and nothing good comes from a stony heart. Love and compassion, understanding and forgiveness, is at the very heart of the Gospel. A heart of flesh, a living heart of flesh, that we bring to others as we live our lives, as we preach the Gospel by our lives, by the ways in which we show forgiveness and compassion and love.

Let’s profess what we believe:

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnated by the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

We take this opportunity now as we offer our prayer. Our response to each prayer will be, “Lord, hear our prayer.”

For the Church, may she continue to provide care and healing for all victims of violence and terrorism around the world, and especially for those affected by the attacks of September 11, 2001. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

For world leaders, may the Holy Spirit guide them to promote peace and reconciliation over violence. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

For the youth of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, may they experience God’s never-ending love and compassion in their lives. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

For all people, may we have the courage to forgive those who have hurt us. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray too, and always, the prayer of the angels in heaven, that there might be peace on earth, good will towards all. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

Gracious and loving God, tenderize our hearts. Give us loving hearts, hearts of compassion, hearts that bring hope and healing to others. All this we pray through Christ our Lord.

-Amen.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ [Piano music continues] ∫

Pray, my friends, my sisters, and my brothers, that this our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the Father almighty.

-May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory in His name, for our good and the good of all the holy Church.

Look with favor on our supplications, O Lord, and in Your kindness accept these Your servants’ offerings, that what each has offered to the honor of Your name may serve the salvation of all, through Christ our Lord.

-Amen.

The Lord is with you.

-And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.

-We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

-It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere, to give You thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For out of compassion for the waywardness that is ours, He humbled Himself and He was born of the Virgin Mary. By the passion of the cross, He freed us from unending death, and by rising from the dead, He has given us life eternal. And so, with the angels and with the archangels, with thrones and dominions, with all the hosts and the powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of Your glory as without end we acclaim:

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Holy, holy, holy, ∫
∫ Lord God of hosts, ∫
∫ heaven and earth are full of Your glory. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest, ∫
∫ blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest. ∫

You are indeed holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts we pray, by sending down Your Spirit upon them like the dew falls, so that they become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. At the time that He was betrayed and entered willingly into His Passion, He took bread, and giving thanks, He broke it. He gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is My Body, which will be given up for you.” In a similar way, when the supper was ended, He took the chalice, and once more giving thanks, He gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of My Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of Me.”

The mystery of faith.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ When we eat this bread and drink this cup, ∫
∫ we proclaim Your death, O Lord, ∫
∫ until You come again. ∫

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His death and resurrection, we offer to You, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation, giving thanks that You’ve held us worthy to be in Your presence and minister to You. Humbly we pray that, partaking in the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit. Remember, Lord, Your Church spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with Pope Leo, our bishop, and with all Your faith-filled people. Remember also our sisters and our brothers who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all of those who have died in Your mercy. Welcome them into the light of Your presence. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, with her blessed spouse, Joseph, with the blessed apostles, and with the martyrs, with all the saints that have pleased You throughout the ages, that we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him, and with Him, and in Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Amen, amen, amen. ∫

Gathered with His friends, with His apostles, His disciples, Jesus taught them, and teaches us, how to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, and graciously grant peace in our day, that by the help of Your mercy we may be always freed from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope, the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

-For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever.

And Lord Jesus Christ, who said to His apostles, “Peace I leave you, it is My peace that I give to you.” Look not on our sins but on the faith of Your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with Your will, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

-Amen.

The peace of the risen Lord be with each of you.

-And with your spirit.

Share now the Lord’s peace. And for those of you who are celebrating this Eucharist with us here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, please know that you’re always in our prayers. Please pray for us at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, and we wish you the gracious peace of Christ in your own lives.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world. ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫
∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world. ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫
∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world. ∫
∫ Grant us peace. ∫

My friends, behold Jesus, behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, the Bread of Life that comes down from heaven. Blessed are those invited to the supper of the Lamb.

-Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

For those of you at home, please turn to page six in your TV Mass guide and join in singing our communion song, “Lord When You Came.”

∫ Lord, when You came to the seashore, ∫
∫ You weren’t seeking the wise or the wealthy, ∫
∫ but only asking that I might follow. ∫
∫ O Lord, in my eyes You were gazing, kindly smiling, ∫
∫ my name You were saying. ∫
∫ All I treasured I have left on the sand there, close to You. ∫
∫ I will find other things. ∫

And my friends, I invite you to turn to page six of the TV Mass guide that we have here at Mercy Home, and please pray with me the prayer that we have for the children here at Mercy:

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that You will guide, protect, and bless all boys and girls who this day have a home called Mercy. May they find the Father’s mercy as we offer them our hearts in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May they see God’s mercy in action through our love, prayer, and sacrifices.

We continue our prayer. May the working of this heavenly gift, O Lord, we pray, take possession of our minds and of our bodies, so that its effects, and not our own desires, may always prevail in us, through Christ our Lord.

-Amen.

Before the final blessing, I just want to thank everyone again for joining us to celebrate this Eucharist at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. We so appreciate your prayers and the ways in which you support this home. And one of the most important things you can do is pray for my coworkers here at Mercy Home and for all of our children.

So I say, the Lord is with you.

-And with your spirit.

May the many blessings of almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come upon all of you, your family members, and your friends, and remain with you forever.

-Amen.

Our Mass is ended. Go in peace.

-Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Crown Him with many crowns, ∫
∫ the Lamb upon His throne. ∫
∫ Hark! How the heavenly anthem ∫
∫ drowns all music but its own. ∫
∫ Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who set us free, ∫
∫ and hail Him as your heavenly king ∫
∫ through all eternity. ∫
∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

Hello, my friends. As you know, as I know, this TV ministry at Mercy Home is so important. It allows us to gather wherever you may be to participate in the prayer of the Church. It allows us to pray for one another, and how important it is. It allows you and me to pray for the children here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. We’re nourished by our presence together and by the celebration of the Eucharist.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank you so very much for the ways in which you support this Mass here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Please consider doing that going forward as well. May God bless you and your family and your friends for all you do for the TV Mass at Mercy Home and for our children.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home is generously provided by GIA Publications, Incorporated, and its World Library Publications division.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

The following presentation is made possible by the generosity of the viewers of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Today we celebrate the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. My name is Dan Riley. I’m joined by Tom McNamara and Elizabeth Norden, and our celebrant is Father Scott Donahue, president of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

∫ The God of all eternity, ∫
∫ unbound by space, yet always near, ∫
∫ is present where His people meet ∫
∫ to celebrate the coming year. ∫

We gather today at the table of the Lord to celebrate the Eucharist, to give thanks to God, as together we praise our God. This weekend is the 25th anniversary of the terrible attack on this country and on the Twin Towers. And so I would ask, in a special way, that we do two things: that we remember and that we pray.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

-Amen.

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with each of you.

-And with your spirit.

And friends, as we gather, let’s just pause for a moment to acknowledge our need for God’s mercy, God’s love, and God’s forgiveness in our lives. Lord Jesus, we believe that You are the way that leads us to the Father.

Lord, have mercy.

-Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we believe that You are truth, that Your words proclaim God’s love for us.

Christ, have mercy.

-Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we believe that You are life. Through Your own life, and Your death, and Your resurrection, You have promised us a new life in You.

Lord, have mercy.

-Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us of our sin, and bring us to life everlasting.

-Amen.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Glory to God in the highest, ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫
∫ Glory to God in the highest, ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫

My friends, let us pray. Look upon us, O God, Creator and Ruler of all things, that we may feel the working of Your mercy. Grant that we may serve You then with all of our hearts, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

-Amen.

The first reading is a reading from the Book of Sirach.

Wrath and anger are hateful things if the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for He remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice, then when you pray your own sins will be forgiven. Can anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? Can anyone refuse mercy to another like himself? Can he seek pardon for his own sins? If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside, remember death and decay, and cease from sin. Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor, remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.

The Word of the Lord.

-Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ The Lord is kind and merciful, ∫
∫ slow to anger, and rich in compassion. ∫
∫ The Lord is kind and merciful, ∫
∫ slow to anger, and rich in compassion. ∫
∫ Bless the Lord, O my soul, ∫
∫ and all within me, His holy name. ∫
∫ Bless the Lord, O my soul, ∫
∫ and never forget all His benefits. ∫
∫ The Lord is kind and merciful, ∫
∫ slow to anger, and rich in compassion. ∫

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.

Brothers and sisters, none of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

The Word of the Lord.

-Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ I give you a new commandment, says the Lord. ∫
∫ Love one another as I have loved you. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

The Lord be with each of you.

-And with your spirit.

Ours is a reading taken from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew.

-Glory to You, O Lord.

Peter approached Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, if my brother or my sister sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a large amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all of his property in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, paid him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion, the master of the servant let him go and forgave the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe me.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put into prison until he paid back the debt. Now, when his fellow servants saw what happened, they were deeply disturbed, and they went to their master and they reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger, his master handed him over to the torturers until he paid back the whole debt. So will My heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother or your sister from your heart.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

-Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

I often don’t read when I preach at TV Mass, but this is such a wonderful story, and I want to make sure that I get every word correct and right. So stay with me through this little story, and then we’ll fill it out. It’s called the story of two monks and a woman. It’s called a Zen story.

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and a beautiful woman who was attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side. The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken a vow never to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on with his journey.

The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened, and after rejoining his companion, he was speechless. An hour passed without a word between them. Two hours passed, then three. Finally, the young monk could not contain himself any longer, and he blurted out, “As monks, we are not permitted to touch a woman. How could you have carried that woman on your shoulder?”

The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river. Why are you still carrying her?”

What a great life lesson! What we carry in life and what we carry in our hearts. You know, don’t remember if you recall, during the Lenten season — I love the Lenten season — but one of the great themes of the Lenten season: I’m going to take away your stony heart, and I’m going to give you a heart of flesh again. A living, loving, forgiving heart. That’s what we’re called to do: to be people of understanding and compassion and of forgiveness.

When we hold on to grudges, when we hold on to anger, those things cause our hearts to turn to stone, and nothing good comes from a stony heart. Love and compassion, understanding and forgiveness, is at the very heart of the Gospel. A heart of flesh, a living heart of flesh, that we bring to others as we live our lives, as we preach the Gospel by our lives, by the ways in which we show forgiveness and compassion and love.

Let’s profess what we believe:

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnated by the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

We take this opportunity now as we offer our prayer. Our response to each prayer will be, “Lord, hear our prayer.”

For the Church, may she continue to provide care and healing for all victims of violence and terrorism around the world, and especially for those affected by the attacks of September 11, 2001. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

For world leaders, may the Holy Spirit guide them to promote peace and reconciliation over violence. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

For the youth of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, may they experience God’s never-ending love and compassion in their lives. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

For all people, may we have the courage to forgive those who have hurt us. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray too, and always, the prayer of the angels in heaven, that there might be peace on earth, good will towards all. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

Gracious and loving God, tenderize our hearts. Give us loving hearts, hearts of compassion, hearts that bring hope and healing to others. All this we pray through Christ our Lord.

-Amen.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ [Piano music continues] ∫

Pray, my friends, my sisters, and my brothers, that this our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the Father almighty.

-May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory in His name, for our good and the good of all the holy Church.

Look with favor on our supplications, O Lord, and in Your kindness accept these Your servants’ offerings, that what each has offered to the honor of Your name may serve the salvation of all, through Christ our Lord.

-Amen.

The Lord is with you.

-And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.

-We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

-It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere, to give You thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For out of compassion for the waywardness that is ours, He humbled Himself and He was born of the Virgin Mary. By the passion of the cross, He freed us from unending death, and by rising from the dead, He has given us life eternal. And so, with the angels and with the archangels, with thrones and dominions, with all the hosts and the powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of Your glory as without end we acclaim:

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Holy, holy, holy, ∫
∫ Lord God of hosts, ∫
∫ heaven and earth are full of Your glory. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest, ∫
∫ blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest. ∫

You are indeed holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts we pray, by sending down Your Spirit upon them like the dew falls, so that they become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. At the time that He was betrayed and entered willingly into His Passion, He took bread, and giving thanks, He broke it. He gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is My Body, which will be given up for you.” In a similar way, when the supper was ended, He took the chalice, and once more giving thanks, He gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of My Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of Me.”

The mystery of faith.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ When we eat this bread and drink this cup, ∫
∫ we proclaim Your death, O Lord, ∫
∫ until You come again. ∫

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His death and resurrection, we offer to You, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation, giving thanks that You’ve held us worthy to be in Your presence and minister to You. Humbly we pray that, partaking in the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit. Remember, Lord, Your Church spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with Pope Leo, our bishop, and with all Your faith-filled people. Remember also our sisters and our brothers who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all of those who have died in Your mercy. Welcome them into the light of Your presence. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, with her blessed spouse, Joseph, with the blessed apostles, and with the martyrs, with all the saints that have pleased You throughout the ages, that we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him, and with Him, and in Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Amen, amen, amen. ∫

Gathered with His friends, with His apostles, His disciples, Jesus taught them, and teaches us, how to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, and graciously grant peace in our day, that by the help of Your mercy we may be always freed from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope, the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

-For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever.

And Lord Jesus Christ, who said to His apostles, “Peace I leave you, it is My peace that I give to you.” Look not on our sins but on the faith of Your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with Your will, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

-Amen.

The peace of the risen Lord be with each of you.

-And with your spirit.

Share now the Lord’s peace. And for those of you who are celebrating this Eucharist with us here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, please know that you’re always in our prayers. Please pray for us at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, and we wish you the gracious peace of Christ in your own lives.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world. ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫
∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world. ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫
∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world. ∫
∫ Grant us peace. ∫

My friends, behold Jesus, behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, the Bread of Life that comes down from heaven. Blessed are those invited to the supper of the Lamb.

-Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

For those of you at home, please turn to page six in your TV Mass guide and join in singing our communion song, “Lord When You Came.”

∫ Lord, when You came to the seashore, ∫
∫ You weren’t seeking the wise or the wealthy, ∫
∫ but only asking that I might follow. ∫
∫ O Lord, in my eyes You were gazing, kindly smiling, ∫
∫ my name You were saying. ∫
∫ All I treasured I have left on the sand there, close to You. ∫
∫ I will find other things. ∫

And my friends, I invite you to turn to page six of the TV Mass guide that we have here at Mercy Home, and please pray with me the prayer that we have for the children here at Mercy:

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that You will guide, protect, and bless all boys and girls who this day have a home called Mercy. May they find the Father’s mercy as we offer them our hearts in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May they see God’s mercy in action through our love, prayer, and sacrifices.

We continue our prayer. May the working of this heavenly gift, O Lord, we pray, take possession of our minds and of our bodies, so that its effects, and not our own desires, may always prevail in us, through Christ our Lord.

-Amen.

Before the final blessing, I just want to thank everyone again for joining us to celebrate this Eucharist at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. We so appreciate your prayers and the ways in which you support this home. And one of the most important things you can do is pray for my coworkers here at Mercy Home and for all of our children.

So I say, the Lord is with you.

-And with your spirit.

May the many blessings of almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come upon all of you, your family members, and your friends, and remain with you forever.

-Amen.

Our Mass is ended. Go in peace.

-Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Crown Him with many crowns, ∫
∫ the Lamb upon His throne. ∫
∫ Hark! How the heavenly anthem ∫
∫ drowns all music but its own. ∫
∫ Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who set us free, ∫
∫ and hail Him as your heavenly king ∫
∫ through all eternity. ∫
∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

Hello, my friends. As you know, as I know, this TV ministry at Mercy Home is so important. It allows us to gather wherever you may be to participate in the prayer of the Church. It allows us to pray for one another, and how important it is. It allows you and me to pray for the children here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. We’re nourished by our presence together and by the celebration of the Eucharist.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank you so very much for the ways in which you support this Mass here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Please consider doing that going forward as well. May God bless you and your family and your friends for all you do for the TV Mass at Mercy Home and for our children.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home is generously provided by GIA Publications, Incorporated, and its World Library Publications division.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

The following presentation is made possible by the generosity of the viewers of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Today we celebrate the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. My name is Dan Riley. I’m joined by Tom McNamara and Elizabeth Norden, and our celebrant is Father Scott Donahue, president of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

∫ The God of all eternity, ∫
∫ unbound by space, yet always near, ∫
∫ is present where His people meet ∫
∫ to celebrate the coming year. ∫

We gather today at the table of the Lord to celebrate the Eucharist, to give thanks to God, as together we praise our God. This weekend is the 25th anniversary of the terrible attack on this country and on the Twin Towers. And so I would ask, in a special way, that we do two things: that we remember and that we pray.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

-Amen.

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with each of you.

-And with your spirit.

And friends, as we gather, let’s just pause for a moment to acknowledge our need for God’s mercy, God’s love, and God’s forgiveness in our lives. Lord Jesus, we believe that You are the way that leads us to the Father.

Lord, have mercy.

-Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we believe that You are truth, that Your words proclaim God’s love for us.

Christ, have mercy.

-Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we believe that You are life. Through Your own life, and Your death, and Your resurrection, You have promised us a new life in You.

Lord, have mercy.

-Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us of our sin, and bring us to life everlasting.

-Amen.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Glory to God in the highest, ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫
∫ Glory to God in the highest, ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫

My friends, let us pray. Look upon us, O God, Creator and Ruler of all things, that we may feel the working of Your mercy. Grant that we may serve You then with all of our hearts, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

-Amen.

The first reading is a reading from the Book of Sirach.

Wrath and anger are hateful things if the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for He remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice, then when you pray your own sins will be forgiven. Can anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? Can anyone refuse mercy to another like himself? Can he seek pardon for his own sins? If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside, remember death and decay, and cease from sin. Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor, remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.

The Word of the Lord.

-Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ The Lord is kind and merciful, ∫
∫ slow to anger, and rich in compassion. ∫
∫ The Lord is kind and merciful, ∫
∫ slow to anger, and rich in compassion. ∫
∫ Bless the Lord, O my soul, ∫
∫ and all within me, His holy name. ∫
∫ Bless the Lord, O my soul, ∫
∫ and never forget all His benefits. ∫
∫ The Lord is kind and merciful, ∫
∫ slow to anger, and rich in compassion. ∫

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.

Brothers and sisters, none of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

The Word of the Lord.

-Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ I give you a new commandment, says the Lord. ∫
∫ Love one another as I have loved you. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

The Lord be with each of you.

-And with your spirit.

Ours is a reading taken from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew.

-Glory to You, O Lord.

Peter approached Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, if my brother or my sister sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a large amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all of his property in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, paid him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion, the master of the servant let him go and forgave the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe me.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put into prison until he paid back the debt. Now, when his fellow servants saw what happened, they were deeply disturbed, and they went to their master and they reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger, his master handed him over to the torturers until he paid back the whole debt. So will My heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother or your sister from your heart.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

-Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

I often don’t read when I preach at TV Mass, but this is such a wonderful story, and I want to make sure that I get every word correct and right. So stay with me through this little story, and then we’ll fill it out. It’s called the story of two monks and a woman. It’s called a Zen story.

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and a beautiful woman who was attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side. The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken a vow never to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on with his journey.

The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened, and after rejoining his companion, he was speechless. An hour passed without a word between them. Two hours passed, then three. Finally, the young monk could not contain himself any longer, and he blurted out, “As monks, we are not permitted to touch a woman. How could you have carried that woman on your shoulder?”

The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river. Why are you still carrying her?”

What a great life lesson! What we carry in life and what we carry in our hearts. You know, don’t remember if you recall, during the Lenten season — I love the Lenten season — but one of the great themes of the Lenten season: I’m going to take away your stony heart, and I’m going to give you a heart of flesh again. A living, loving, forgiving heart. That’s what we’re called to do: to be people of understanding and compassion and of forgiveness.

When we hold on to grudges, when we hold on to anger, those things cause our hearts to turn to stone, and nothing good comes from a stony heart. Love and compassion, understanding and forgiveness, is at the very heart of the Gospel. A heart of flesh, a living heart of flesh, that we bring to others as we live our lives, as we preach the Gospel by our lives, by the ways in which we show forgiveness and compassion and love.

Let’s profess what we believe:

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnated by the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

We take this opportunity now as we offer our prayer. Our response to each prayer will be, “Lord, hear our prayer.”

For the Church, may she continue to provide care and healing for all victims of violence and terrorism around the world, and especially for those affected by the attacks of September 11, 2001. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

For world leaders, may the Holy Spirit guide them to promote peace and reconciliation over violence. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

For the youth of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, may they experience God’s never-ending love and compassion in their lives. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

For all people, may we have the courage to forgive those who have hurt us. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray too, and always, the prayer of the angels in heaven, that there might be peace on earth, good will towards all. We pray to the Lord.

-Lord, hear our prayer.

Gracious and loving God, tenderize our hearts. Give us loving hearts, hearts of compassion, hearts that bring hope and healing to others. All this we pray through Christ our Lord.

-Amen.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ [Piano music continues] ∫

Pray, my friends, my sisters, and my brothers, that this our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the Father almighty.

-May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory in His name, for our good and the good of all the holy Church.

Look with favor on our supplications, O Lord, and in Your kindness accept these Your servants’ offerings, that what each has offered to the honor of Your name may serve the salvation of all, through Christ our Lord.

-Amen.

The Lord is with you.

-And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.

-We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

-It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere, to give You thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For out of compassion for the waywardness that is ours, He humbled Himself and He was born of the Virgin Mary. By the passion of the cross, He freed us from unending death, and by rising from the dead, He has given us life eternal. And so, with the angels and with the archangels, with thrones and dominions, with all the hosts and the powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of Your glory as without end we acclaim:

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Holy, holy, holy, ∫
∫ Lord God of hosts, ∫
∫ heaven and earth are full of Your glory. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest, ∫
∫ blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest. ∫

You are indeed holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts we pray, by sending down Your Spirit upon them like the dew falls, so that they become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. At the time that He was betrayed and entered willingly into His Passion, He took bread, and giving thanks, He broke it. He gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is My Body, which will be given up for you.” In a similar way, when the supper was ended, He took the chalice, and once more giving thanks, He gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of My Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of Me.”

The mystery of faith.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ When we eat this bread and drink this cup, ∫
∫ we proclaim Your death, O Lord, ∫
∫ until You come again. ∫

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His death and resurrection, we offer to You, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation, giving thanks that You’ve held us worthy to be in Your presence and minister to You. Humbly we pray that, partaking in the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit. Remember, Lord, Your Church spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with Pope Leo, our bishop, and with all Your faith-filled people. Remember also our sisters and our brothers who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all of those who have died in Your mercy. Welcome them into the light of Your presence. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, with her blessed spouse, Joseph, with the blessed apostles, and with the martyrs, with all the saints that have pleased You throughout the ages, that we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him, and with Him, and in Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Amen, amen, amen. ∫

Gathered with His friends, with His apostles, His disciples, Jesus taught them, and teaches us, how to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, and graciously grant peace in our day, that by the help of Your mercy we may be always freed from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope, the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

-For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever.

And Lord Jesus Christ, who said to His apostles, “Peace I leave you, it is My peace that I give to you.” Look not on our sins but on the faith of Your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with Your will, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

-Amen.

The peace of the risen Lord be with each of you.

-And with your spirit.

Share now the Lord’s peace. And for those of you who are celebrating this Eucharist with us here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, please know that you’re always in our prayers. Please pray for us at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, and we wish you the gracious peace of Christ in your own lives.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world. ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫
∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world. ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫
∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world. ∫
∫ Grant us peace. ∫

My friends, behold Jesus, behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, the Bread of Life that comes down from heaven. Blessed are those invited to the supper of the Lamb.

-Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

For those of you at home, please turn to page six in your TV Mass guide and join in singing our communion song, “Lord When You Came.”

∫ Lord, when You came to the seashore, ∫
∫ You weren’t seeking the wise or the wealthy, ∫
∫ but only asking that I might follow. ∫
∫ O Lord, in my eyes You were gazing, kindly smiling, ∫
∫ my name You were saying. ∫
∫ All I treasured I have left on the sand there, close to You. ∫
∫ I will find other things. ∫

And my friends, I invite you to turn to page six of the TV Mass guide that we have here at Mercy Home, and please pray with me the prayer that we have for the children here at Mercy:

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that You will guide, protect, and bless all boys and girls who this day have a home called Mercy. May they find the Father’s mercy as we offer them our hearts in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May they see God’s mercy in action through our love, prayer, and sacrifices.

We continue our prayer. May the working of this heavenly gift, O Lord, we pray, take possession of our minds and of our bodies, so that its effects, and not our own desires, may always prevail in us, through Christ our Lord.

-Amen.

Before the final blessing, I just want to thank everyone again for joining us to celebrate this Eucharist at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. We so appreciate your prayers and the ways in which you support this home. And one of the most important things you can do is pray for my coworkers here at Mercy Home and for all of our children.

So I say, the Lord is with you.

-And with your spirit.

May the many blessings of almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come upon all of you, your family members, and your friends, and remain with you forever.

-Amen.

Our Mass is ended. Go in peace.

-Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫
∫ Crown Him with many crowns, ∫
∫ the Lamb upon His throne. ∫
∫ Hark! How the heavenly anthem ∫
∫ drowns all music but its own. ∫
∫ Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who set us free, ∫
∫ and hail Him as your heavenly king ∫
∫ through all eternity. ∫
∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

Hello, my friends. As you know, as I know, this TV ministry at Mercy Home is so important. It allows us to gather wherever you may be to participate in the prayer of the Church. It allows us to pray for one another, and how important it is. It allows you and me to pray for the children here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. We’re nourished by our presence together and by the celebration of the Eucharist.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank you so very much for the ways in which you support this Mass here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Please consider doing that going forward as well. May God bless you and your family and your friends for all you do for the TV Mass at Mercy Home and for our children.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home is generously provided by GIA Publications, Incorporated, and its World Library Publications division.

∫ [Piano music plays] ∫

I often don’t read when I preach at TV Mass, but this is such a wonderful story, and I want to make sure that I get every word correct and right. So stay with me through this little story, and then we’ll fill it out. It’s called the story of two monks and a woman. It’s called a Zen story.

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and a beautiful woman who was attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side. The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken a vow never to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on with his journey.

The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened, and after rejoining his companion, he was speechless. An hour passed without a word between them. Two hours passed, then three. Finally, the young monk could not contain himself any longer, and he blurted out, “As monks, we are not permitted to touch a woman. How could you have carried that woman on your shoulder?”

The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river. Why are you still carrying her?”

What a great life lesson! What we carry in life and what we carry in our hearts. You know, don’t remember if you recall, during the Lenten season — I love the Lenten season — but one of the great themes of the Lenten season: I’m going to take away your stony heart, and I’m going to give you a heart of flesh again. A living, loving, forgiving heart. That’s what we’re called to do: to be people of understanding and compassion and of forgiveness.

When we hold on to grudges, when we hold on to anger, those things cause our hearts to turn to stone, and nothing good comes from a stony heart. Love and compassion, understanding and forgiveness, is at the very heart of the Gospel. A heart of flesh, a living heart of flesh, that we bring to others as we live our lives, as we preach the Gospel by our lives, by the ways in which we show forgiveness and compassion and love.