SAinT HILARY OF POITIERS (- 367)

MEMORiAl OF THE BvM

Green

He was born at the beginning of the fourth century. He was elected Bishop of Poitiers in 350. His works are full of wisdom and learning, directed to the strengthening of the Catholic faith and the right interpretation of Scripture. He died in 367.

Entrance Antiphon

Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold him, the name of whose empire is eternal.

Collect

Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen. 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 Samuel 9:1-4,17-19,10:1  

Among the men of Benjamin there was a man named Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah; a Benjaminite and a man of rank. He had a son named Saul, a handsome man in the prime of life. Of all the Israelites there was no one more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders taller than the rest of the people. Now some of the she-donkeys of Saul’s father Kish had strayed, so Kish said to Saul, ‘My son, take one of the servants with you and be off; go and look for the she-donkeys.’ They passed through the highlands of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but did not find them; they passed through the land of Shaalim, they were not there; they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them. When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, ‘That is the man of whom I told you; he shall rule my people.’ Saul accosted Samuel in the gateway and said, ‘Tell me, please, where the seer’s house is?’ Samuel replied to Saul, ‘I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place. You are to eat with me today. In the morning I shall take leave of you and tell you all that is in your heart.’

Samuel took a phial of oil and poured it on Saul’s head; then he kissed him, saying, ‘Has not the Lord anointed you prince over his people Israel? You are the man who must rule the Lord’s people, and who must save them from the power of the enemies surrounding them.’

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 20(21):2-7

R/              O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.

1. O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king; how your saving help makes him glad! You have granted him his heart’s desire;  you have not refused the prayer of his lips.
2. You came to meet him with the blessings of success, you have set on his head a crown of pure gold. He asked you for life and this you have given,  days that will last from age to age.
3. Your saving help has given him glory.  You have laid upon him majesty and splendour, you have granted your blessings to him forever.  You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.

Gospel Acclamation : Ps118:36,29

Alleluia, alleluia! Bend my heart to your will, O Lord, and teach me your law. Alleluia!

Gospel : Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out to the shore of the lake; and all the people came to him, and he taught them. As he was walking on he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus, sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. When Jesus was at dinner in his house, a number of tax collectors and sinners were also sitting at the table with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many of them among his followers. When the scribes of the Pharisee party saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard this he said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’

Prayer over the Offerings

May your people’s oblation, O Lord, find favour with you, we pray, that it may restore them to holiness and obtain what they devoutly entreat. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon : Ps 35: 10

With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.

Prayer after Communion

Humbly we ask you, almighty God, be graciously pleased to grant that those you renew with your Sacraments may also serve with lives pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

In the 1st Reading and the Gospel, we see two men chosen by God. From all indications, Saul was the darling of the people of Israel and appeared to be a young man quite obedient to his father. Mathew (Levi), the tax collector, was hated by his people for being a tax collector – for tax collectors were seen as collaborators of the invading/occupying Roman powers. Saul was anointed as the king of Israel to govern and protect the lives and property of the people of Israel. Mathew was chosen to be an apostle – a companion of Jesus. Yet before that, he was a man in search of redemption, hated and rejected by his own people. All that changed when Jesus came calling – “Follow me!” That was all he needed to hear. He left everything and followed Jesus. He left a well-paying job but got a more decent living even if he was going to be poorer by human standards! He left everything but not his clerical skills symbolised by the pen. From him, the world received the written account of the life and words of Our Lord Jesus Christ.