SAINT Kenelm
Saint Kenelm was the son of Kenwulf, who was King of Mercia from 796 to 821. He is remembered by the people of the West Midlands as a faithful follower of Christ in particularly difficult circumstances.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 16:15
As for me, in justice I shall behold your face; I shall be filled with the vision of your glory.
Collect
O God, who show the light of your truth to those who go astray, so that they may return to the right path, give all who for the faith they profess are accounted Christians the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ and to strive after all that does it honour. 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: Exodus 1:8-14,22
There came to power in Egypt a new king who knew nothing of Joseph. “Look,” he said to his subjects “these people, the sons of Israel, have become so numerous and strong that they are a threat to us. We must be prudent and take steps against their increasing any further, or if war should break out, they might add to the number of our enemies. They might take arms against us and so escape out of the country.” Accordingly they put slave-drivers over the Israelites to wear them down under heavy loads. In this way they built the store-cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. But the more they were crushed, the more they increased and spread, and men came to dread the sons of Israel. The Egyptians forced the sons of Israel into slavery, and made their lives unbearable with hard labour, work with clay and with brick, all kinds of work in the fields; they forced on them every kind of labour. Pharaoh then gave his subjects this command: “Throw all the boys born to the Hebrews into the river, but let all the girls live.”
Psalm 123(124)
R/ Our help is in the name of the Lord.
“If the Lord had not been on our side,” this is Israel’s song. “If the Lord had not been on our side when men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive when their anger was kindled.
Then would the waters have engulfed us, the torrent gone over us; over our head would have swept the raging waters. Blessed be the Lord who did not give us a prey to their teeth!
Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler. Indeed the snare has been broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Gospel Acclamation: cf.Ac16:14
Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household. “Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me. “Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward. ”If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.” When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.
Prayer over the Offerings
Look upon the offerings of the Church, O Lord, as she makes her prayer to you, and grant that, when consumed by those who believe, they may bring ever greater holiness. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 83: 4-5
The sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for her young: by your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise.
Prayer after Communion
Having consumed these gifts, we pray, O Lord, that, by our participation in this mystery, its saving effects upon us may grow. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Today, the readings give us a concrete warning of what lies ahead for us Christians. We have a cross to bear valiantly in order to be worthy of the one we have chosen as our guide. Indeed, by his life and teaching, he kindles a fire of justice, truth and salvation, the acceptance and application of which can likely lead to a fission with those of us who hold the opposite doctrine. But this lost life is nothing compared to the one that will be gained by perseverance in what is good. Lord, we pray that you will hide our lives in you so that our affection for those around us will not lead us astray from your way of truth and life.