TUESday 02 MAY

SAINT Athanasius

He was born in Alexandria. He fought hard against Arianism all his life, undergoing many sufferings and spending a total of 17 years in exile. He wrote outstanding works to explain and defend orthodoxy.

Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Sir 15: 5

In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory, alleluia.

Collect         

Almighty ever-living God, who raised up the Bishop Saint Athanasius as an outstanding champion of your Son’s divinity, mercifully grant, that, rejoicing in his teaching and his protection, we may never cease to grow in knowledge and love of you. 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: Acts 11:19-26

Those who had escaped during the persecution that happened because of Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, but they usually proclaimed the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, who came from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch where they started preaching to the Greeks, proclaiming the Good News of the Lord Jesus to them as well. The Lord helped them, and a great number believed and were converted to the Lord. The Church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion; for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were won over to the Lord. Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that Church a whole year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’

Psalm 86:1-7

R/ O praise the Lord, all you nations!

On the holy mountain is his city cherished by the Lord.  The Lord prefers the gates of Zion

To all Jacob’s dwellings. Of you are told glorious things, O city of God!

‘Babylon and Egypt I will count among those who know me; Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia, these will be her children and Zion shall be called “Mother” for all shall be her children.’

It is he, the Lord Most High, who gives each his place. In his register of peoples, he writes: ‘These are her children,’ and while they dance, they will sing: ‘In you all find their home.’

Gospel Acclamation: Jn10:27

Alleluia, alleluia! The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me. Alleluia!

Gospel: John 10:22-30

It was the time when the Feast of Dedication was being celebrated in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of Solomon. The Jews gathered round him and said, ‘How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus replied: ‘I have told you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness; but you do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine. The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me. The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone, and no one can steal from the Father. The Father and I are one.’

Prayer over the Offerings          

Look, O Lord, upon the offerings we present to you in commemoration of Saint Athanasius, and may witnessing to your truth bring salvation to those who profess the same unblemished faith as him. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: 1 Cor 3: 11     

No one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion           

Grant us, we pray, almighty God, that the true divinity of your Only Begotten Son, which we firmly profess with Saint Athanasius, may, through this Sacrament, ever give us life and protection. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation.

Beloved of the Risen One, Jesus shows great commitment to those for whom the Father has entrusted him with the mission of salvation. He is very protective and vigilant over them. He maintains a good relationship with them. He also appreciates the sheep who are receptive to his voice. “My sheep listen to my voice… they follow me.” He knows all those who belong to him and gives them eternal life. So, all those who follow Jesus can rejoice in the guarantee that they will not perish even if they go through tough trials. In return, we must recognize God as ever present in our lives. Do we acknowledge that we are loved by God? Do we measure the assurance that Jesus gives us? Do we realize how much assurance we have in God’s hands? Let us listen to God speaking to us through the different moments of our lives.