Saint Peter Claver
(1581 – 1654)
Green
St. Peter Claver, SJ, was a member of the Society of Jesus and is the patron of African missions and of interracial justice, due to his work with slaves in Colombia.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 20: 2-3
In your strength, O Lord, the just one rejoices; how greatly your salvation makes him glad! You have granted him his soul’s desire.
Collect
O God, who made Saint Peter Claver a slave of slaves and strengthened him with wonderful charity and patience as he came to their help, grant, through his intercession, that, seeking the things of Jesus Christ, we may love our neighbour in deeds and in truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
I have been told as an undoubted fact that one of you is living with his father’s wife. This is a case of sexual immorality among you that must be unparalleled even among pagans. How can you be so proud of yourselves? You should be in mourning. A man who does a thing like that ought to have been expelled from the community. Though I am far away in body, I am with you in spirit, and have already condemned the man who did this thing as if I were actually present. When you are assembled together in the name of the Lord Jesus, and I am spiritually present with you, then with the power of our Lord Jesus he is to be handed over to Satan so that his sensual body may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. The pride that you take in yourselves is hardly to your credit. You must know how even a small amount of yeast is enough to leaven all the dough, so get rid of all the old yeast, and make yourselves into a completely new batch of bread, unleavened as you are meant to be. Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed; let us celebrate the feast, then, by getting rid of all the old yeast of evil and wickedness, having only the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 5:5-7,12
R/ Lead me, Lord, in your justice.
You are no God who loves evil; no sinner is your guest. The boastful shall not stand their ground before your face.
You hate all who do evil; you destroy all who lie. The deceitful and bloodthirsty man the Lord detests.
All those you protect shall be glad and ring out their joy. You shelter them; in you they rejoice, those who love your name.
Gospel Acclamation : Ps118:105
Alleluia, alleluia! Your word is a lamp for my steps and a light for my path. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 6:6-11
On the Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The Scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see if he would cure a man on the Sabbath, hoping to find something to use against him. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up! Come out into the middle.’ And he came out and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I put it to you: is it against the law on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it?’ Then he looked round at them all and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was better. But they were furious, and began to discuss the best way of dealing with Jesus.
Prayer over the Offerings
Through the present oblation, O Lord, which we offer in commemoration of blessed N., bestow on your faithful, we pray, the gifts of unity and peace. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Mt 16: 24
Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me, says the Lord. Or, for those who served in public office: Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
May the Sacrament we have received, O Lord, in commemoration of blessed N., sanctify our minds and hearts, that we may merit to be made sharers in the divine nature. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Doing good is always in season there is no exception on doing good and Jesus proves this point by healing a man’s withered hand. Doing good also encompasses anyone else be it friends, strangers or even enemies. We must do good in and out of season. Jesus cured the man with a withered hand notwithstanding the presence of the Pharisees and the scribes who were keenly watching Him. He laid more emphasis on the need to help the sick man rather than be afraid, a real sure of courage. Let us ask ourselves this question: have you forgone helping someone in need just because you are afraid that you might offend someone who is very influential? It is not really easy as this is easier said than done. Jesus did not fear even when he faced threats of physical and verbal abuse.