TUESDAY 14  febRuary

SAINT Cyril, Monk, and

SAINT Methodius, Bishop

Methodius was born in Thessalonica. With his brother Cyril he went to Moravia to preach the faith. They translated liturgical texts and invented the Glagolithic and the Cyrillic alphabet. He died in 885.

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, one God, for ever and ever.

First reading: Genesis 6: 5-8, 7: 1-5, 10

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that the thoughts in his heart fashioned nothing but wickedness all day long. The Lord regretted having made man on the earth, and his heart grieved. “I will rid the earth’s face of man, my own creation,” the Lord said, “and of animals also, reptiles too, and the birds of heaven; for I regret having made them.” But Noah had found favour with the Lord. The Lord said to Noah, “Go aboard the ark, you and all your household, for you alone among this generation do I see as a good man in my judgement. Of all the clean animals you must take seven of each kind, both male and female; of the unclean animals you must take two, a male and its female (and of the birds of heaven also, seven of each kind, both male and female), to propagate their kind over the whole earth. For in seven days’ time I mean to make it rain on the earth for forty days and nights, and I will rid the earth of every living thing that I made.” Noah did all that the Lord ordered.  Seven days later the waters of the flood appeared on the earth.

Psalm 28(29): 1-4, 9-10

R/ The Lord will bless his people with peace.

O give the Lord, you sons of God, give the Lord glory and power; give the Lord the glory of his name. Adore the Lord in his holy court.

The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters, the Lord on the immensity of waters; the voice of the Lord, full of power, the voice of the Lord, full of splendour.

The God of glory thunders.  In his temple they all cry: ‘Glory!’ The Lord sat enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits as king for ever.

Gospel Acclamation: cf. Ac 16: 14    

Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!

Gospel: Mark 8: 14-21    

The disciples had forgotten to take any food and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then he gave them this warning, “Keep your eyes open; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” And they said to one another, “It is because we have no bread.” And Jesus knew it, and he said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you not yet understand? Have you no perception? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes that do not see, ears that do not hear? Or do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?” They answered, “Twelve.” “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?” And they answered, “Seven.” Then he said to them, “Are you still without perception?”

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

It hurts the Lord to see our unbelieving and hardened hearts. The hearts of Jesus’ disciples were still so unbelieving that they were troubled by the lack of bread. Yet the Lord had many times multiplied bread before their eyes. Oh, how many times the Lord has done great things for us, wonders! And yet, if we are tested by ‘hunger’, we forget all that and allow ourselves to be troubled. The hearts of Noah’s contemporaries were so comfortable with their complacence that they did not repent even though the Lord was patient and merciful to them. Let us not abuse the Lord’s mercy as they did, choosing to persist in doing evil instead of being converted. Closing our hearts to the Lord, that is, refusing to believe and to repent of our sins, can only lead to our ruin. We must be on guard against.