SAinT ELIZABETH ANN SETON
(1774 – 1821)
White
She was born in New York into an Episcopalian family, who ostracized her and left her penniless when she became a Catholic in 1805. Seton was the first native born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Jn 1: 1
In the beginning and before all ages, the Word was God and he humbled himself to be born the Saviour of the world.
Collect
O God, who by the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son wondrously began for your people the work of redemption, grant, we pray, to your servants such firmness of faith, that by his guidance they may attain the glorious prize you have promised. 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: 1 John 3:7-10
My children, do not let anyone lead you astray: to live a holy life is to be holy just as he is holy; to lead a sinful life is to belong to the devil, since the devil was a sinner from the beginning. It was to undo all that the devil has done that the Son of God appeared. No one who has been begotten by God sins; because God’s seed remains inside him, he cannot sin when he has been begotten by God. In this way we distinguish the children of God from the children of the devil: anybody not living a holy life and not loving his brother is no child of God.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9
R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
- Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
- Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy before the Lord.
- The Lord comes; he comes to rule the earth; He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Gospel Acclamation: Hebrews 1:1-2
Alleluia, alleluia. At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. Alleluia
Gospel: John 1:35-42
As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God.’ Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned round, saw them following and said, ‘What do you want?’ They answered, ‘Rabbi,’ – which means Teacher – ‘where do you live?’ ‘Come and see’ he replied; so they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of that day. It was about the tenth hour. One of these two who became followers of Jesus after hearing what John had said was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Early next morning, Andrew met his brother and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ – which means the Christ – and he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked hard at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas’ – meaning Rock..
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive our oblation, O Lord, by which is brought about a glorious exchange, that, by offering what you have given, we may merit to receive your very self. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Jn 3: 16
God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, by the power of these holy mysteries, our life may be constantly sustained. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
A saying goes thus: «If you tell me your friends, I will tell you who you are.» Other amusing versions exist: «If you tell me your address, I will tell you where you live»; «If you show me what you do with your money, I’ll tell you who you are.» In today’s gospel narrative, to the question, «Rabbi… where do you live?» Jesus replied with an invitation to «come and see». They came, they saw, and they stayed. This kind of wise mind that Jesus exhibits is the hallmark of good listeners and leaders. To hear beyond what is verbalised and respond to it. Instead of rattling his address – «I stay at No. 15 Golden Street», he promptly invited them to be his guests because he was able to decipher, they were seeking friendship; they were seeking a deeper relationship. Religious Congregations have branded the initial contacts with their aspirants as a «Come-and-see experience» stemming from this encounter between Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist. Naturally, most «come-and-see experiences» end up becoming come-we-stay. Lord, may we constantly seek a deeper relationship with you, even during the hustle and bustle of daily life!
Amen!