Leader: The Lord will not abandon his people:
All: Let us give thanks and Praise! Glory be to the father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Suggested Hymns: Be Not Afraid; The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor

I am distraught by the lure of corruption, at
oppression caused by wickedness. The evil
that brings trouble upon me, and whose
anger weighs on my soul.

My heart is in anguish within me,
the terrors of death fall upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me,
And horror overwhelms me.

O that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
indeed, I would wander afar.
I would take refuge in the wilderness, I
would haste to find me a shelter From the
raging wind and tempest.

Overthrow this oppression, O God, Confuse
all that seeks to destroy, For I see violence
and strife all around me.

Day and night it patrols our cities;
They are full of wickedness and evil, Ruin
is in their midst; Oppression and fraud do
not depart From their market places.

Glory to you, Source of all Being,
Eternal Word and Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning,
is now and will be forever. Amen.

Ant 2 The Spirit helps us in our weakness,
for we do not know how to pray as we
ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us with
sighs too deep for words.

II

It is not our enemies who cause this, then I
might bear it; it is not our foes who
oppress, I might hide from them.

But it is ourselves, our companions, our
familiar and intimate friends. We used to
speak together of justice,
we walked together in companionship in the
ways of our God.

O God, who could stand?
But with you is found forgiveness:
for this we revere you.

My soul waits for you,
In your word I hope,
my soul waits for you
more than those who watch for daybreak.

Let Israel hope in you!
For with you there is love,
and fullness of redemption.

And you will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.

Glory to you, Source of all Being,
Eternal Word and Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning,
is now and will be forever. Amen.

Reflection/Sharing

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from helping me, from
the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not
answer, and by night, but find no rest.
Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our ancestors trusted,
they trusted, and you did deliver them.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near,
and there is no one to help.

Psalm 22:1-5

Responsory I will not leave you desolate; I will come to
you. ---I will ...

Yet a little while, ---I will...

The promise He made to our Father Francis,
and to his followers forever.

Fr. Gabriel Giles, Capuchin

Intercessions:

Hagar was sent out into the wilderness with
her son Ishmael.

---O God, give all who feel
abandoned the assurance of your
steadfast care.

The daughter of Jephthah was given over to
her death.

---grant that all women have the right to
determine their own destiny.

Susanna was falsely accused and no one but
a stranger came to her defense.

---comfort all who feel themselves
forsaken by family or friends.

Jesus, you felt abandoned by your friends in
the Garden and forsaken by God on the
cross.
---at times of desolation give us the
courage to persevere until the darkness passes.

You were betrayed by one you had chosen ---
one who sat with you at table.

---heal the wounds inflicted by those
we have loved, and give us the grace to
forgive.

Your Mother's heart was wounded with
sorrow as she lost you to the cross.

---be consolation and hope for all who journey with the dying.

I will call out to you, O God,
and you will save me.
Evening, morning and at noon
I utter complaint and lament,
you will hear my voice.

You will deliver my soul in safety
in the attack waged all around,
for many things can bring me down, but you
will hear my cry.

You will give ear, and chastise us,
you, who reign from of old; because
we have not kept your law, and have not
revered you.

Cast your burdens on our God,
and you will be supported.
Never will God permit
the just ones to falter.

But you, O God, will bring down
to the pit of the grave,
all that is wicked and evil,
that oppresses the poor and the needy.

O God, we will trust in you.

Glory to you, Source of all Being,
Eternal Word and Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning,
is now and will be forever. Amen.

Ant 3 Peace I leave with you; my peace I
give to you; not as the world gives do I give
to you. Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you,
O God, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplication.
If you should mark our iniquities,
O God, who could stand?
But with you is found forgiveness:
for this we revere you.