Tuesday 07 MARCH
SAINTS PERPETUA AND FELICITY
They were martyred at Carthage in 203 during the persecution of Septimius Severus. Devotion to them spread rapidly and they are mentioned in the Roman Canon of the Mass.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 12: 4-5
Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death, lest my enemy say: I have overcome him.
Collect
Guard your Church, we pray, O Lord, in your unceasing mercy, and, since without you mortal humanity is sure to fall, may we be kept by your constant helps from all harm and directed to all that brings salvation. 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: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20
Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the command of our God, You people of Gomorrah. “Wash, make yourselves clean. Take your wrong-doing Out of my sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us talk this over, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they Shall be like wool. If you are willing to obey, you shall eat the good things of the earth. But if you persist in rebellion, the sword shall eat you instead.”
Psalm 49: 8-9, 16-17, 21, 23
R/ I will show God’s salvation to the upright.
I find no fault with your sacrifices; your offerings are always before me. I do not ask more bullocks from your farms, Nor goats from among your herds.
But how can you recite my commandments and take my covenant on your lips, you who despise my law and throw my words to the winds.
You do this, and should I keep silence? Do you think that I am like you? A sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me And I will show God’s salvation to the upright.
Gospel Acclamation: Mt 4: 17
Glory and praise to you, O Christ! Repent, says the Lord, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
Gospel: Matthew 23: 1-12
Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, “The Scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi. You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Be pleased to work your sanctification within us by means of these mysteries, O Lord, and by it, may we be cleansed of earthly faults and led to the gifts of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 9: 2-3
I will recount all your wonders. I will rejoice in you and be glad, and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.
Prayer after Communion
May the refreshment of this sacred table, O Lord, we pray, bring us an increase in devoutness of life and the constant help of your work of conciliation. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
Graciously hear the cries of your faithful, O Lord, and relieve the weariness of their soul, that, having received your forgiveness, they may ever rejoice in your blessing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Meditation
Hypocrisy is a vice that undermines and tempts people throughout the ages. We are often like the Scribes and Pharisees whom Jesus castigates in today’s Gospel. Many times, we only pretend to be good. Rotten on the inside, we often make others believe that we are saints. The “cult of appearances” is so widespread today that there is a total mismatch between what we say and what we do almost everywhere. The Lord invites us this day to be genuine and authentic people. Therefore, let us strive to avoid any attitude that leads us to pride and to the thought or believe that we are above others. Let us be humble and true in our lives.