WORSHIP@HOME

February 7, 2021 • 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Parish or Diocesan Leaders, please read this!

Preparation

Just Before You Begin

INTRODUCTORY RITES

Opening Song

Introduction

Leader: Today we gather together to continue hearing stories
from the early days of Jesus' ministry.

Greeting

Leader: ┼ In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be God forever.
(The response is: Blessed be God forever.)

All: Blessed be God forever.

Leader: We gather together as a family
to learn how to live more like Jesus.
One with all of our sisters and brothers throughout the world,
let us now listen to God's Word and join in prayer.

All: Amen.

Litany in Praise of God's Mercy

Leader: As we prepare to hear a story from our faith,
let us remember that God is love. Lord Jesus, you know that we don't always act out of love:
Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Leader: Lord Jesus, you know that sometimes we don’t speak up when we see something wrong:
Christ, have mercy.

All: Christ, have mercy.

Leader: Lord Jesus, we don’t always have the courage to do the right thing:
Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Leader: Let us pray

Leader: God of Love,
you stand for justice and peace
and ask for our help in building your Kingdom in this world. May we work peacefully toward a better world,
seeking what is best for all,
And having the courage to act and respond out of love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

Alleluia

Gospel

Reader 1: In today’s reading, we hear about Jesus healing someone and taking time for himself. We now do this action prayer together: May the Lord be on my mind, ┼
on my lips, ┼
and in my heart ┼
as we hear the Gospel today. A reading from the holy Gospel of Mark.

Reader 1: As soon as Jesus left the meeting place with James and John,
they went home with Simon and Andrew.
When they got there, Jesus was told that Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever.
Jesus went to her. He took hold of her hand and helped her up.
The fever left her, and she served them a meal. That evening after sunset, all who were sick or had demons in them were brought to Jesus.
In fact, the whole town gathered around the door of the house.
Jesus healed all kinds of terrible diseases and forced out a lot of demons.
But the demons knew who he was, and he did not let them speak. Very early the next morning,
Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray.
Simon and the others started looking for him.
And when they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can tell the good news to those people.
This is why I have come.”
Then Jesus went to Jewish meeting places everywhere in Galilee,
where he preached and forced out demons.

Reader 1: On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues,
preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Reader 1: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Video Reflection

Reflections on the Readings

  1. When Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law of her fever, she felt so much better that she did what she couldn’t do when she was sick, which was hosting Jesus and his friends and making food for them. Right now you might know people who are sick and don’t have the energy or strength to do what they would like to do. What can you do to help them know you are thinking of them now?
  2. Jesus had a very, very busy evening when so many people came to him at Simon’s house wanting to be healed. He was so tired afterwards that he wanted some quiet time to pray. So he just did it—he went someplace where he could be by himself for awhile. Are there times when you want to be by yourself? Where can you go or what can you do to give yourself a little bit of a break to let God re-charge your batteries?
  3. After Jesus had some time alone, he was ready to keep going with his preaching and healing. It seems he knew he needed to do both things in his life—take time alone (and pray) and then do things to help others. Do you take time for both things every day? Is there either you think God might be inviting you to do more of? Please share.

General Intercessions

Leader: Now let’s pray together to God for what we need.

Reader 2: We pray for the United States government, its elected officials, and everyone who works for it,
that they may be servant leaders who seek the good of all,
let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader 2: We pray for all those who are sick,
and for all the doctors, nurses, caregivers and essential workers
who are caring for them, that they remain healthy,
let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader 2: We pray for all those in public safety—police, fire, and other security—
that they can remain safe as they protect us,
let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader 2: We pray for students who are struggling to learn or stay connected to friends
while the coronavirus keeps some schooling virtual,
that they can stay focused until they can gather in person again,
let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader 2: For what else and for who else shall we pray?

Lord's Prayer

Leader: Jesus taught us to call God our Father, and so we have the courage to say:

All: 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.

Sign of Peace

Leader: Let us now offer each other a sign of peace.

A Litany for Spiritual Communion

Leader: The response is: Lord, bring us closer to you!

All: Lord, bring us closer to you!

Leader: Lord our God,
we wish we could gather today with our parish community,
but we gather here out of love and concern for others.
You teach us that when two or three are gathered in your name,
you are there.
Together, we pray:

All: Lord, bring us closer to you!

Leader: Christ Jesus, you are present in a special way
when bread and wine are turned into your Body and Blood.
Since we cannot receive you in this way today,
We ask that you enter our hearts
so that we may receive you spiritually.
Together, we pray:

All: Lord, bring us closer to you!

Leader: Lord our God,
watch over your family
and keep us safe in your care,
for all our hope is in you.

All: Lord, bring us closer to you!

Concluding Rite

Blessing & Dismissal

Leader: Go in the peace of Christ.

All: Thanks be to God.

Closing Song

After the Service

Give Us a Tip: Support Our Ministry

The Pastoral Center is a small, family-based ministry and business (pictured: Paul, Madeleine, Ann, and Rachel). This is our full-time job and ministry, and it's the way we pay our bills. We do not receive funding from any parish or diocese, except through resource sales (which are now largely suspended indefinitely). You are under no obligation, but we are very grateful for any contributions!

Please Support Your Local Parish

Your parish still has to pay the electric bill and your staff, even when public Masses are cancelled. If you haven't already, sign up for electronic payments or mail in a check today.

Give Us Feedback

How did it go? What would have made it better? Send us an email at resources@pastoralcenter.com to share feedback with us.