SATURDAY 02 MARCH 2O19

by | Mar 1, 2019 | Evangelium

St Chad (d. 672)

MEMORIAL OF THE BVM

Chad was born in Northumbria, one of four brothers, all of whom became priests. He was educated under St Aidan and partly in Ireland. Chad was outstanding for his humility and simplicity of life. He died of the plague on 2 March 672.

Green/White

Entrance Antiphon: Ps 12: 6

O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me.

 

Collect

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, always pondering spiritual things, we may carry out in both word and deed that which is pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

First reading: Ecclesiasticus 17:1-13

The Lord fashioned man from the earth, to consign him back to it. He gave them so many days’ determined time, he gave them authority over everything on earth. He clothed them with strength like his own, and made them in his own image. He filled all living things with dread of man, making him master over beasts and birds. He shaped for them a mouth and tongue, eyes and ears, and gave them a heart to think with. He filled them with knowledge and understanding, and revealed to them good and evil. He put his own light in their hearts to show them the magnificence of his works. They will praise his holy name, as they tell of his magnificent works   He set knowledge before them, he endowed them with the law of life. Their eyes saw his glorious majesty, and their ears heard the glory of his voice. He said to them, ‘Beware of all wrong-doing’; he gave each a commandment concerning his neighbour. Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight.

 

Psalm 102 (103):13-18

R) The love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear.

 

1)As a father has compassion on his sons, the Lord has pity on those who fear him; for he knows of what we are made, he remembers that we are dust.

 

2)         As for man, his days are like grass; he flowers like the flower of the field; the wind blows and he is gone and his place never sees him again.

 

3)         But the love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear; his justice reaches out to children’s children when they keep his covenant in truth.

 

Gospel Acclamation: Mt 11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!

 

Gospel: Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.

 

Prayer over the Offerings

As we celebrate your mysteries, O Lord, with the observance that is your due, we humbly ask you, that what we offer to the honour of your majesty may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon: Ps 9: 2-3

I will recount all your wonders, I will rejoice in you and be glad, and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.

 

Prayer after Communion

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we may experience the effects of the salvation which is pledged to us by these mysteries. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

One would wonder if the children of today can be compared with the children of the time of Jesus in many aspects. In antiquity, children had no control, no claim and no status; they could welcome whatever came their way with open arms, not necessarily because they were innocent and trusting, but because they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Likewise, a disciple is the one who comes and follows Jesus with no claim or status, the one who has renounced everything in order to gain ‘everything’ – Jesus the Saviour. Such are the primary citizens of God’s realm; they come to him like children, and they enjoy the warm embrace of the Master and his blessing forever.