MORNING PRAISE (Friday Group) OPENING SONG: One More Gift OPENING PRAYER: Lord, may I be wakeful art

sunrise to begin a new day for You; cheerful at sunset for having done my work for You; thankful at moonrise and under starshine for the beauty of Your universe. And may I add what little may be in me to add to Your great world. GOSPEL: Luke 1: 57-66, 80 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, No. He will be called John. But they answered her, There is no one among your relatives who has this name. So they made sign, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, John is his name, and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel. REFLECTION: When people realized that they had been sharers of a wonderful experience of God s intervention, they went around to spread the news. We are the same way when we share with our friends how God answered our prayers and how He blessed our family. The people wondered, What will this child be? for he is no ordinary person. Luke tells s that John did not live openly in Israel but stayed in the desert while growing up and when the right time came became a messenger and prophet of God. John became the faithful prophet and fearless preacher who led people to Jesus with his message of conversion and repentance. We, the Church, ought to be like John the Baptist exalting Someone grater (Jesus) and showing the Lord to those who seek Him, and so that they themselves may know and experience Him in their lives. INTERCESSORY PRAYER: For every petition, let our response be, Lord, graciously hear our prayer. For our government and Church leaders, may they continue to do their mission in order to attain justice and peace. Let us pray to the Lord. For the sick, especially Mrs. Patron, may they receive God s healing power. Let us pray to the Lord. For the remaining four months of the school year, may we continue to do our best in our activities. Let us pray to the Lord. And for our own intentions let us pray to the Lord. CLOSING PRAYER: Creator of all things, true source of Light and Wisdom, lofty source of all Being, graciously let a ray of Your Brilliance penetrate into the darkness of my understanding and take from me the double darkness in which I have been born, sin and ignorance. Give me a sharp sense of understanding , a retentive memory, and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally. Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations, and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm. Point out the beginning, direct the progress, help in the completion. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. CLOSING SONG: Anima Christi