5th Sunday of Lent: MASS PRAYERS AND READINGS.

The practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from this Sunday may be observed, if the Conference of Bishops so decides. Crosses remain covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil. On this Sunday the third scrutiny in preparation for the Baptism of the catechumens who are to be admitted to the Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil is celebrated with the proper prayers and intercessions.
 
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Give me justice, O God, and plead my cause against a nation that is faithless. From the deceitful and cunning rescue me, for you, O God, are my strength.
[–» Greeting]
 
The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is not said.
 
COLLECT
By your help, we beseech you, Lord our God, may we walk eagerly in that same charity with which, out of love for the world, your Son handed himself over to death. Through our Lord.

READINGS FOR YEAR C (2019, 2022, 2025…)

READING I
Isaiah 43:16–21
Thus says the Lord, who opens a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters, who leads out chariots and horsemen, a powerful army, till they lie prostrate together, never to rise, snuffed out and quenched like a wick. Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers. Wild beasts honor me, jackals and ostriches, for I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink, the people whom I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise.
 
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R.

Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. 

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. 

Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. 
 
READING II
Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 3:8–14
Brothers and sisters: I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith to know him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.
 
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
With all your heart turn to me for I am tender and compassionate.
 
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel of St. John 8:1–11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

FOR TODAY’S SUNDAY REFLECTION, SEE: “GO AND SIN NO MORE.” CONVERSION ENTAILS LIVING A NEW LIFE, THAT OF CHRIST in
https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.com/2016/03/11/5th-sunday-of-lent-go-and-sin-no-more-authentic-conversion-demands-a-new-life-in-christ/

[–»  Creed, Universal Prayer]
[–»  Offertory]

 
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Hear our prayers, almighty God, and having imbued your servants with the teachings of the Christian faith, graciously cleanse them by this sacrifice. Through Christ our Lord.

[–» Eucharistic Prayer]
When the Gospel of Lazarus is not read, Preface I or II of Lent is used.
 [–» Preface of Lazarus (Year A) or Preface of Lent] 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Year A:
He All who live and believe in me will never die, says the Lord.
 
Year B:
Amen, amen I say to you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single grain. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
 
Year C:
Has no one condemned you, woman? No one, Lord. Neither shall I condemn you. From now on, sin no more.
 [–» Communion]
 
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
We pray, almighty God, that we may always be counted among the members of Christ, in whose Body and Blood we have communion. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
[–» Concluding Rite]
 
PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
Bless, O Lord, your people who long for the gift of your mercy, and grant that what, at your prompting, they desire they may receive by your generous gift. Through Christ our Lord.

ORIGINAL PHOTO CREDIT:  Isaak Asknaziy – (Public domain)_Wikipedia_200315

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