THURSDAY 28 JANUARY

by | Jan 27, 2021 | Evangelium

St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor (1225 – 1274)

He was born of a noble family in southern Italy, and was educated by the Benedictines. He studied in Paris and in Cologne under the great philosopher St. Albert the Great. He is the Church’s one and only Angelic Doctor.

 

White

Entrance Antiphon :  cf. Sir 15: 5

In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory.

 

Collect

O God, who made Saint Thomas Aquinas outstanding in his zeal for holiness and his study of sacred doctrine, grant us, we pray, that we may understand what he taught and imitate what he accomplished. 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 : Hebrews 10:19-25

Through the blood of Jesus we have the right to enter the sanctuary, by a new way which he has opened for us, a living opening through the curtain, that is to say, his body. And we have the supreme high priest over all the house of God. So as we go in, let us be sincere in heart and filled with faith, our minds sprinkled and free from any trace of bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us keep firm in the hope we profess, because the one who made the promise is faithful. Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works. Do not stay away from the meetings of the community, as some do, but encourage each other to go; the more so as you see the Day drawing near.

 

Psalm 23(24):1-6

R/     Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

 

  1. The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples. It is he who set it on the seas; on the waters he made it firm.
  2. Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things.
  3. He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him. Such are the men who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Ph2:15-16

Alleluia, alleluia! You will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Mark 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand? For there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed, nothing kept secret except to be brought to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to this.’ He also said to them, ‘Take notice of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given – and more besides; for the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

May the sacrifice which we gladly present on the feast day of Saint Thomas Aquinas be pleasing to you, O God, for, taught by him, we, too, give ourselves entirely to you in praise. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon :  Lk 12: 42

Behold a faithful and prudent steward to give them their allowance of food at the proper time.

 

Prayer after Communion

Through Christ the teacher, O Lord, instruct those you feed with Christ, the living Bread, that on the feast day of Saint Thomas Aquinas they may learn your truth and express it in works of charity. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

Jesus invites his disciples to realise that they are the light of the world and they cannot afford to lead lives that are not worthy of their calling. A light shines for all to see. When we engage in acts of darkness and secrecy, we make a conscious effort