Day 3
Giver of the Commandments
A. Opening Song
Prodigal Son
Eugene O'Reilly
1. Father I have sinned
let me find my way.
Remember not my sins
just let me hear you say
Refrain:
I forgive you, I love you,
You are mine
Take my hand, go in peace
sin no more, beloved one.
(Repeat Refrain)
2. Father I have turned my back
and walked away
Depending on my strength
and lived life my own way.
(Repeat Refrain)
3. Father I've returned.
I'm home with you to stay
Standing by your door,
knowing that you'll say.
(Repeat Refrain)
B. SCRIPTURE READING
(Deuteronomy 5:6-21)
'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
'You shall have no other gods before me.
'Your shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that it's in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
'Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God Commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
'You shall not murder.
'And you shall not commit adultery.
'And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
'And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.'
C. MEDITATION
The word "Decalogue" means literally "ten words" (Exodus 34,28;Dt 4,13). God revealed these "ten words" to his people on the holy mountain. They were written "with the finger of God" (Exodus 31,18;Dt 5,22)., unlike the other commandments written by Moses (Deuteronomy 1,9.24). They are pre-eminently the words of god. They are handed on to us in the books of Exodus(Exodus 20,1-7) and Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 5,6-22). Beginning with the Old Testament, the sacred books refer to the "ten words," but it is in the New Covenant in Jesus Christ that their full meaning will be revealed. (CCC 2056)
D. PRAYER
(Psalm 19, 7-14)
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is you servant warned; in keeping them there is great rewards.
Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then i shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
E. LITANY TO GOD THE FATHER
Leader: O God, Father of Heaven
All: * Have mercy on us.
: O God, Son, Redeemer of the World *
: O God, Holy Spirit *
: Father, Creator of the world *
: Father, eternal wisdom *
: Father, infinite goodness *
: Father, bountiful *
: Father, fount of everything *
: Father, most sweet *
: Father, infinite mercy *
: Father, and defender *
: Father, our glory and happiness *
: Father, wealth of all people *
: Father, triumph of all nations *
: Father, hope of all Christians *
: Father, splendor of the Church *
: Father, splendor of kings *
: Father, overturner of idols *
: Father, consolation of people *
: Father, happiness of priests *
: Father, guide of men and women *
: Father, gift of family life *
: Father, help of the poor *
: Father, guide of youth *
: Father, friend of children *
: Father, freedom of slaves *
: Father, light of those who live in darkness *
: Father, destroyer of the proud *
: Father, wisdom of the just *
: Father, rest in tribulations *
: Father, hope in toil *
: Father, harbor of safety in danger *
: Father, consolation of the afflicted *
: Father, refuge of the hopeless *
: Father, refuge of orphans *
: Father, refuge of the aged *
: Father, refuge of the dying *
: Father, that relieves our thirst and poverty *
: Father, life of the dead *
: Father, glory of all the saints *
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
* forgive us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
* graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
* have mercy on us, O Lord.
Prayer:
(taken from "The Father Speaks to His Children" p.68-69)
Father, the world needs You
Every person needs You
The heavy and polluted air needs You.
We beg You, dear Father
Come back to walk the streets of the world
Come back to live among Your people
Come back to guide the nations
Come back to bring peace with Your justice
Come back to bring the fire of Your love.
So... redeemed by sorrows
we can become a new creation.
Amen.
F. CLOSING SONG
Create in Me
Psalm 51
Refrain:
Create in me a clean heart,
put a new and right Spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
1. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness.
In Your compassion, blot out all my sin.
Thoroughly cleanse me from all of my guilt.
Wash me 'till I'm whiter than snow.
(Repeat Refrain)
2. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.
Uphold me with a willing spirit. So I will teach
transgressors your ways. And sinners will
return to You.
(Repeat Refrain)
3. You are pleased with sincerity of heart,
not with sacrifices or with holocausts.
My sacrifice is a broken spirit, for You will not refuse
a humble heart.
(Repeat Refrain)