by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 16, 2026 | Evangelium
THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS OF THE SERVITE ORDER
Psalter II | GREEN
In the early thirteenth century seven young Florentines formed a confraternity of laymen devoted to the praise of Mary. In 1233, after a vision on the feast of the Assumption, they took up the life of hermits on Monte Senario outside Florence. They went preaching through the whole of Tuscany and founded the order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Servites, whose foundation was approved by the Pope in 1304.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 30:3-4
Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.
Collect
O God, who teach us that you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: James 1:12-18
Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him. No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19
R/ Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
- Blessed the man whom you instruct, O Lord, whom by your law you teach, Giving him rest from evil days.
- For the Lord will not cast off his people, nor abandon his inheritance; But judgment shall again be with justice, and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
- When I say, “My foot is slipping,” your mercy, O Lord, sustains me; When cares abound within me, your comfort gladdens my soul.
Saint Biography
In the early thirteenth century seven young Florentines formed a confraternity of laymen devoted to the praise of Mary. In 1233, after a vision on the feast of the Assumption, they took up the life of hermits on Monte Senario outside Florence. They went preaching through the whole of Tuscany and founded the order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Servites, whose foundation was approved by the Pope in 1304.
Gospel Acclamation: John 14:23
Alleluia, alleluia. Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 8:14-21
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Prayer over the Offerings
May this oblation, O Lord, we pray, cleanse and renew us and may it become for those who do your will the source of eternal reward. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 77: 29-30
They ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them; they were not disappointed in what they craved.
Prayer after Communion
Having fed upon these heavenly delights, we pray, O Lord, so that we may always long for that food by which we truly live. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation.” Temptation is not sin; it is an invitation to sin. Temptation does not come from God, for God does not want us to sin; it comes from the Evil One, who seeks to lead us astray. He tempts us through our desires, which in themselves are not bad but can lead us into sin. We all possess bodily urges, as well as aspirations to social, political and economic advancement and recognition. The devil tempts us by proposing means of satisfying these desires which are quick and effective, but which go contrary to what God expects of us. We can see this with the Pharisees; in their desire to observe the Law of Moses, they got carried away by the desire for self-aggrandisement, and as a result they became more interested in showing off their piety than teaching love and justice. This was why Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the yeast of the scribes and Pharisees, that is, of their teaching. May God grant us the wisdom to see the devil’s plans to mislead us and the courage to resist temptation and remain faithful to Jesus.
by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 15, 2026 | Evangelium
SAINT JULIANNA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
Psalter II | GREEN
She was born in Nicomedia to a pagan family. She was betrothed as a child to a senator, Eleusius, who was also a pagan. However, Juliana secretly became a Christian and refused to marry Eleusius. She was tortured and beheaded for her refusal to renounce her Christian faith during the persecution of Maximian.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 30: 3-4
Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.
Collect
O God, who teach us that you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: James 1:1-11
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings. Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in high standing, and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.” For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76
R/ Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
- Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I hold to your promise.
- You are good and bountiful; teach me your statutes.
- It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
- The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
- I know, O Lord, that your ordinances are just, and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.
- Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to your servants.
Saint Biography
She was born in Nicomedia to a pagan family. She was betrothed as a child to a senator, Eleusius, who was also a pagan. However, Juliana secretly became a Christian and refused to marry Eleusius. She was tortured and beheaded for her refusal to renounce her Christian faith during the persecution of Maximian.
Gospel Acclamation: John 14:6
Alleluia, alleluia. I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 8:11-13
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.
Prayer over the Offerings
May this oblation, O Lord, we pray, cleanse and renew us and may it become for those who do your will the source of eternal reward. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 77: 29-30
They ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them; they were not disappointed in what they craved.
Prayer after Communion
Having fed upon these heavenly delights, we pray, O Lord, so that we may always long for that food by which we truly live. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“No sign will be given to this generation.” Jesus had preached and performed countless signs among the people, but the Pharisees still did not believe in him. Their request for a sign from heaven was an indication of their lack of faith. It is this lack of faith that St. James condemns in the First Reading; the man who doubts, he says, is a man of two minds and cannot obtain anything from God. If we want God to answer our prayers, we must pray in faith. As Jesus says, when we ask God for something in prayer, we should believe that we have already obtained it, it will be given to us (Mk 11: 24). Our relationship with God should not depend on signs and wonders; rather, it should be grounded on our firm conviction that God can and will do all that he says in his Word. May God rid our hearts of every trace of doubt and give us the gift of faith in his Son Jesus Christ. May we develop the faith that makes us pray with total confidence and stand firm when trials come our way.
by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 14, 2026 | Evangelium
6th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINT CLAUDE DE LA COLOMBIÈRE
Psalter II | GREEN
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 30: 3-4
Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.
Collect
O God, who teach us that you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Sirach 15:15-20
If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man’s every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
R/ Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
- Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart.
- You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes! Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words. Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law.
- Instruct me, O Lord, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them. Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; or, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 11:25
Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. “It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife—unless the marriage is unlawful— causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. “Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”
Prayer over the Offerings
May this oblation, O Lord, we pray, cleanse and renew us and may it become for those who do your will the source of eternal reward. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 77: 29-30
They ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them; they were not disappointed in what they craved.
Prayer after Communion
Having fed upon these heavenly delights, we pray, O Lord, so that we may always long for that food by which we truly live. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Blessed are they who follow the Law of the Lord.” Psalm 118(119) underlines the importance of loving the commandments of God and keeping them. Sirach, in the First Reading, points out an important element in our understanding of the Law of God; it has to be obeyed out of choice rather than a sense of obligation. God has given us the choice between good and evil; he wants us to choose to obey him and not follow him because we feel forced to do so. It is only when we follow God out of conviction that our righteousness can surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, as Jesus demands. The scribes and Pharisees saw the Law of God as a set of rules that were imposed on people; Jesus invites us to see God’s commandments rather as instruments meant to purify our hearts and make us love another. For instance, it is not enough to abstain from killing; I have to keep my heart off anger and envy so that I don’t hate my neighbour. When we understand the spirit of God’s Law, we learn to obey it out of conviction and not in order to conform to social or religious norms.
by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 13, 2026 | Evangelium
SAINT CYRIL, MONK, METHODIUS AND BISHOP
Psalter I | WHITE
They are known as the “Apostles of the Slavs” for their efforts in spreading Christianity throughout Eastern Europe. Their most significant contribution was the creation of the Glagolitic alphabet, which became the foundation for Old Church Slavonic and later the Cyrillic alphabet.
Entrance Antiphon
These are holy men who became friends of God, glorious heralds of divine truth.
Collect
O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching, and perfect us as a people of one accord in true faith and right confession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34
Jeroboam thought to himself: “The kingdom will return to David’s house. If now this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, the hearts of this people will return to their master, Rehoboam, king of Judah, and they will kill me.” After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold and said to the people: “You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough. Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan. This led to sin, because the people frequented those calves in Bethel and in Dan. He also built temples on the high places and made priests from among the people who were not Levites. Jeroboam established a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month to duplicate in Bethel the pilgrimage feast of Judah, with sacrifices to the calves he had made; and he stationed in Bethel priests of the high places he had built. Jeroboam did not give up his evil ways after this, but again made priests for the high places from among the common people. Whoever desired it was consecrated and became a priest of the high places. This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106:6-7ab, 19-20, 21-22
R/ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
- We have sinned, we and our fathers; we have committed crimes; we have done wrong. Our fathers in Egypt considered not your wonders.
- They made a calf in Horeb and adored a molten image; They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
- They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt, Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea.
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4:4b
Alleluia, alleluia. One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 8:1-10
In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over-seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
Prayer over the Offerings
Look, O Lord, upon the offerings which we bring before your majesty in commemoration of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and grant that these gifts may become the sign of a new humanity, reconciled to you in loving charity. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Mk 16:20
The disciples went forth and preached the Gospel, while the Lord worked with them, confirming the word through accompanying signs.
Prayer after Communion
O God, Father of all nations, who make us sharers in the one Bread and the one Spirit and heirs of the eternal banquet, grant in your kindness on this feast day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, that the multitude of your children, persevering in the same faith, may be united in building up the Kingdom of justice and peace. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd.” Today’s readings present us two types of leaders: in the First Reading, we see a leader who leads his people into sin, and in the Gospel, we see a leader who caters for his people. Jeroboam, in his desire to consolidate his power and keep his people loyal to him, led them into idolatry; he made them abandon the Lord and worship idols, and he desecrated the priesthood. Jesus, for his part, nourished the crowd that followed him spiritually and physically; he instructed the crowd on God’s Word for three days, and then fed the crowd before sending it away. We are leaders at various levels and in various capacities; you may be a priest, a parent, a teacher, the president of a social group, or a director at your workplace. What type of leader are you? Are you the type who oppresses people, bosses them around, and allows or even encourages them to do evil? Or do you show concern for their needs, try to make life easy for them, and exhort them to do what is right by word and example? Is your model Jeroboam or Jesus?
by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 12, 2026 | Evangelium
SAINT CATHERINE OF RICCI
Psalter I | GREEN
She was an Italian Catholic nun, born in Florence, and later known as a mystic and saint. Her early life included a period at the Convent of Monticelli, where she was cared for by her aunt, a nun. She later entered the Dominican Order, taking the name Catherine and dedicating her life to religious service.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 94: 6-7
O come, let us worship God and bow low before the God who made us, for he is the Lord our God.
Collect
Keep your family safe, O Lord, with unfailing care, that, relying solely on the hope of heavenly grace, they may be defended always by your protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19
Jeroboam left Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road. The two were alone in the area, and the prophet was wearing a new cloak. Ahijah took off his new cloak, tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam: “Take ten pieces for yourself; the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp and will give you ten of the tribes. One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant, and of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.'” Israel went into rebellion against David’s house to this day.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 81:10-11ab, 12-13, 14-15
R/ I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
- There shall be no strange god among you nor shall you worship any alien god. I, the Lord, am your God who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”
- My people heard not my voice, and Israel obeyed me not; So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts; they walked according to their own counsels.”
- If only my people would hear me, and Israel walk in my ways, Quickly would I humble their enemies; against their foes I would turn my hand.”
Gospel Acclamation: Acts 16:14b
Alleluia, alleluia. Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 7:31-37
Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Prayer over the Offerings
O Lord, our God, who once established these created things to sustain us in our frailty, grant, we pray, that they may become for us now the Sacrament of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 106: 8-9
Let them thank the Lord for his mercy, his wonders for the children of men, for he satisfies the thirsty soul, and the hungry he fills with good things.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who have willed that we be partakers in the one Bread and the one Chalice, grant us, we pray, so to live that, made one in Christ, we may joyfully bear fruit for the salvation of the world. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“I am the Lord your God; hear my voice.” A prominent theme in the Old Testament is idolatry. God is always warning the Israelites not to worship other gods, but to remain faithful to him and serve him alone. An idol must not be a carved statue to which we offer sacrifices; it is anything or anybody to which we attach more importance than to God. When television and social media leave us with no time to pray, when the love of wealth and positions makes us ready to oppress and destroy others, when our desire for alcohol and sex is so strong that we want to satisfy it at all costs, these things become idols; they make us turn away from God. Like the deaf and dumb man in the Gospel, we become closed; we are incapable of hearing God’s voice and doing his will. Let us turn back to God today and ask Jesus to open us to his grace. May he open our ears, that we may listen to his Word; may he open our hearts, that we may allow him to dwell in us and take the first place in our lives; may he open our mouths, that we may proclaim his Word and help others to turn away from their own idols.
by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 11, 2026 | Evangelium
SAINT FEBRONIA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
Psalter I | GREEN
She was a nun at Nisibis (modern-day Nusaybin, Turkey). She suffered persecution under Diocletian, who offered her freedom if she renounced her faith and married his nephew, Lysimachus, who had been leaning towards conversion to Christianity. Febronia refused and was tortured, suffered mutilation and death. Lysimachus, witnessing her suffering, converted.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 94: 6-7
O come, let us worship God and bow low before the God who made us, for he is the Lord our God.
Collect
Keep your family safe, O Lord, with unfailing care, that, relying solely on the hope of heavenly grace, they may be defended always by your protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 1 Kings 11:4-13
When Solomon was old his wives had turned his heart to strange gods, and his heart was not entirely with the Lord, his God, as the heart of his father David had been. By adoring Astarte, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the idol of the Ammonites, Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not follow him unreservedly as his father David had done. Solomon then built a high place to Chemosh, the idol of Moab, and to Molech, the idol of the Ammonites, on the hill opposite Jerusalem. He did the same for all his foreign wives who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. The Lord, therefore, became angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice (for though the Lord had forbidden him this very act of following strange gods, Solomon had not obeyed him). So the Lord said to Solomon: “Since this is what you want, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes which I enjoined on you, I will deprive you of the kingdom and give it to your servant. I will not do this during your lifetime, however, for the sake of your father David; it is your son whom I will deprive. Nor will I take away the whole kingdom. I will leave your son one tribe for the sake of my servant David and of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106:3-4, 35-36, 37 and 40
R/ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
- Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people; visit us with your saving help.
- But they mingled with the nations and learned their works. They served their idols, which became a snare for them.
- They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. And the Lord grew angry with his people, and abhorred his inheritance.
Gospel Acclamation: James 1:21bc
Alleluia, alleluia. Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 7:24-30
Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
Prayer over the Offerings
O Lord, our God, who once established these created things to sustain us in our frailty, grant, we pray, that they may become for us now the Sacrament of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 106: 8-9
Let them thank the Lord for his mercy, his wonders for the children of men, for he satisfies the thirsty soul, and the hungry he fills with good things.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who have willed that we be partakers in the one Bread and the one Chalice, grant us, we pray, so to live that, made one in Christ, we may joyfully bear fruit for the salvation of the world. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Blessed are they who observe what is right.” God always gives us the choice to either follow him or turn away from him, and our choice comes with consequences. If we choose to serve him then he will be with us and bless us; but if we choose to reject him, then he abandons us and we meet with disaster. As long as King Solomon obeyed God, God blessed him; he was the wisest, richest and most powerful king of his time. But when he abandoned God and gave in to idolatry, he lost God’s blessing. Human life is a series of choices, and ultimately, the choice we have to make every day is between good and evil. The story of Solomon teaches us that the choice of good over evil is not made once and for all; it is a choice that we have to renew every day in order to remain on the right path. The pagan woman in the Gospel chose to come to Jesus because she had in faith in his ability to heal her daughter. Let us choose Jesus like her, and more importantly, let us remain with Jesus, not just sometimes, but throughout our lives.
