Thursday 21 st July 2022
St. Laurence
of Brindisi
(1559 – 1619)
He was born in Brindisi, joined the Capuchin Friars, and studied at the University of Padua, where he learned a number of languages (including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, French, and German) and acquired a deep knowledge of the Bible. He preached all over Europe, not just to Catholics but to Protestants and to Jews.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 53: 6, 8
See, I have God for my help. The Lord sustains my soul. I will sacrifice to you with willing heart, and praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.
Collect
Show favour, O Lord, to your servants and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace, that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity, they may be ever watchful in keeping your commands. 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 : Jeremiah 2:1-3,7-8,12-13
The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying, ‘Go and shout this in the hearing of Jerusalem: ‘“The Lord says this: I remember the affection of your youth, the love of your bridal days: you followed me through the wilderness, through a land unsown. Israel was sacred to the Lord, the first-fruits of his harvest; anyone who ate of this had to pay for it, misfortune came to them – it is the Lord who speaks.” ‘I brought you to a fertile country to enjoy its produce and good things; but no sooner had you entered than you defiled my land, and made my heritage detestable. The priests have never asked, “Where is the Lord?” Those who administer the Law have no knowledge of me. The shepherds have rebelled against me; the prophets have prophesied in the name of Baal, following things with no power in them. ‘You heavens, stand aghast at this, stand stupefied, stand utterly appalled – it is the Lord who speaks. Since my people have committed a double crime: they have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, only to dig cisterns for themselves, leaky cisterns that hold no water.’
Psalm 35:6-11
R/ In you, Lord, is the source of life.
- Your love, Lord, reaches to heaven; your truth to the skies. Your justice is like God’s mountain, your judgements like the deep.
- O Lord, how precious is your love. My God, the sons of men find refuge in the shelter of your wings. They feast on the riches of your house; they drink from the stream of your delight.
- In you is the source of life and in your light we see light. Keep on loving those who know you, doing justice for upright hearts.
Gospel Acclamation : Ps94:8
Alleluia, alleluia! Harden not your hearts today, but listen to the voice of the Lord. Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 13:10-17
The disciples went up to Jesus and asked, ‘Why do you talk to them in parables?’ ‘Because’ he replied, ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled: You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive. For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed by me. ‘But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who in the one perfect sacrifice, brought to completion varied offerings of the law, accept, we pray, this sacrifice from your faithful servants and make it holy as you blessed the gifts of Abel, so that what each has offered to the honour of your majesty may benefit the salvation of all. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 110: 4-5
The Lord, the gracious, the merciful, has made a memorial of his wonders; he gives food to those who fear him.
Prayer after Communion
Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass from former ways to newness of life. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The secret about the Word of God that Jesus presents to us is that it is sweet in the mouth and bitter when it is consumed. This explains why Jesus first speaks to His disciples in parables and only explains to those who show interest to follow Him and be part of His disciples. Anyone, therefore, who wants to get a taste of the message of Jesus Christ must be part of His flock. The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. The disciples have decided to follow Him and that is why the mysteries of the kingdom are revealed to them. Therefore, brethren, whoever has taken the firm decision to be a co-worker of Christ, the Father will reveal His secrets to him.