friday 05 June 2020
St Boniface (675- 754)
Born in England about 680, St. Boniface became a Benedictine monk. He was appointed the first bishop of Germany by Pope Gregory II. Together with thirty companions, he died a martyr’s death in 754.
Red
Entrance Antiphon: Gal 6: 14; 1 Cor 1: 18
May we never boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the word of the Cross is the power of God to us who have been saved.
Collect
May the Martyr Saint Boniface be our advocate, O Lord, that we may firmly hold the faith he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood and confidently profess it by our deeds. 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: 2 Timothy 3:10-17
You know what I have taught, how I have lived, what I have aimed at; you know my faith, my patience and my love; my constancy and the persecutions and hardships that came to me in places like Antioch, Iconium and Lystra – all the persecutions I have endured; and the Lord has rescued me from every one of them. You are well aware, then, that anybody who tries to live in devotion to Christ is certain to be attacked; while these wicked impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and deceived themselves. You must keep to what you have been taught and know to be true; remember who your teachers were, and how, ever since you were a child, you have known the holy scriptures – from these you can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.
Psalm 118(119):157, 160-161, 165-166, 168
R/ The lovers of your law have great peace.
- Though my foes and oppressors are countless I have not swerved from your will. Your word is founded on truth, your decrees are eternal.
- Though princes oppress me without cause I stand in awe of your word. The lovers of your law have great peace; they never stumble.
- I await your saving help, O Lord, I fulfil your commands. I obey your precepts and your will; all that I do is before you.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps18:9
Alleluia, alleluia! Your words gladden the heart, O Lord, they give light to the eyes. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 12:35-37
At that time while teaching in the Temple, Jesus said, ‘How can the scribes maintain that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, moved by the Holy Spirit, said: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand and I will put your enemies under your feet. David himself calls him Lord, in what way then can he be his son?’ And the great majority of the people heard this with delight.
Prayer over the Offerings
As we venerate the passion of your Martyr Saint Boniface grant that through this sacrifice, O Lord, we may proclaim worthily the death of your Only Begotten Son, who, not content with encouraging the Martyrs by word, strengthened them likewise by example. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Communion Antiphon: Mt 5: 10
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Prayer after Communion
Having fed upon heavenly delights, we humbly ask you, O Lord, that by the example of Saint Boniface we may bear in our hearts the marks of your Son’s charity and suffering and ever enjoy the fruit of perpetual peace. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Throughout this week, there have been a number of encounters between Jesus and the authorities. The teaching and exhortation of Jesus today does not criticise the teachings of the doctors of the Law or the incoherence in their life, it is rather based on the teaching which has been transmitted to the people. The people looked forward to the coming of the Messiah who was going to be the Son of David. On Palm Sunday when we celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, the people shouted: “Blessed is the Kingdom that is coming from our Father David!” Also, the blind man of Jericho also cried out in this same way: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” Jesus seeks to correct this misconception where the people were being taught to expect a political figure, a powerful king who would subdue all his enemies and impose himself on them. David himself refers to the Messiah in the Psalm as “my Lord”. When he spoke of the Kingdom of God, he did not refer to an institutional monarchy. His Kingdom is built on peace, love, forgiveness and the poor have priority.