Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
(1647 – 1690)
Psalter: Week IV
Green
She was born in Lombardy. Because of her frail health she was refused admission to two convents. She devoted herself to teaching, and founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She founded 67 institutions across the United States, South America and Europe. She died of malaria at Chicago in 1917.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 87: 3
Let my prayer come into your presence. Incline your ear to my cry for help, O Lord.
Collect
Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep from us all adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours. 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 : Wisdom 7:22-8:1
Within Wisdom is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, active, incisive, unsullied, lucid, invulnerable, benevolent, sharp, irresistible, beneficent, loving to man, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, all-surveying, penetrating all intelligent, pure and most subtle spirits; for Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; she is so pure, she pervades and permeates all things. She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; hence nothing impure can find a way into her. She is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God’s active power, image of his goodness. Although alone, she can do all; herself unchanging, she makes all things new. In each generation she passes into holy souls, she makes them friends of God and prophets; for God loves only the man who lives with Wisdom. She is indeed more splendid than the sun, she outshines all the constellations; compared with light, she takes first place, for light must yield to night, but over Wisdom evil can never triumph. She deploys her strength from one end of the earth to the other, ordering all things for good.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 118(119):89-91,130,135,175
R/ Your word, O Lord, stands for ever.
Your word, O Lord, for ever stands firm in the heavens: your truth lasts from age to age, like the earth you created.
By your decree it endures to this day; for all things serve you. The unfolding of your word gives light and teaches the simple.
Let your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees. Give life to my soul that I may praise you. Let your decrees give me help.
Gospel Acclamation : 1P1:25
Alleluia, alleluia! The word of the Lord remains for ever: What is this word? It is the Good News that has been brought to you. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 17:20-25
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’ He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Look with favour, we pray, O Lord, upon the sacrificial gifts offered here, that, celebrating in mystery the Passion of your Son, we may honour it with loving devotion. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 22: 1-2
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose, near restful waters he leads me.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished by this sacred gift, O Lord, we give you thanks and beseech your mercy, that, by the pouring forth of your Spirit, the grace of integrity may endure in those your heavenly power has entered. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
When Jesus declares that the Kingdom of God is among you, he is not referring to a physical location. Instead, the Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality, representing the reign of God in our hearts and in the world around us. The Kingdom of God is present wherever love, justice, and peace prevail, and where individuals actively contribute to the betterment of the world. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God is not a distant event but a present reality here and now. We are all called to be builders of the Kingdom of God, living lives characterised by love, justice, and peace. Our contributions can extend to actively working towards making the world a better place. Let us pray for God’s grace to be faithful builders of His Kingdom, committing ourselves to lives that embody love, justice, and peace. This may involve enduring hardships in solidarity with Christ, so that God’s Kingdom may continue to reign in our midst.