Saint Leander of Seville
Purple
Leander was born in the year 534 in Carthage. Leander became a Benedictine monk and in 579 was made Bishop of Seville. Leander is responsible for introducing the Nicene Creed at Mass. Leander died around the year 600 and was succeeded by his brother, Isidore.
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.’
Responsorial Psalm: 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.
Meditation
Jesus never grows tired of telling his disciples to be humble. On numerous instances, he reminds them of this. He provided an example of this when he washed the apostles’ feet. He contradicts popular perceptions of greatness by stating that the greatest should be the servant of everyone. However, the ego can be very cunning. It can infiltrate even humility. The expression «humility with a hook» refers to putting on a humble demeanour so that others can respect your humility. There is a false humility when we despise ourselves for others to oppose us and say the opposite. Being humble is something to be proud of. True humility may be founded on actual self-awareness and intentional self-acceptance. As a result, one does neither undervalue nor overstate oneself. One recognises one’s gifts and puts them to good use. However, one is also aware of one’s limitations and «does not bite off more than one can chew.» Lord, help us to truly know and accept ourselves, and grant us the grace to be authentically humble.