SAINT CYRIL, MONK, METHODIUS AND BISHOP
Psalter I | WHITE
They are known as the “Apostles of the Slavs” for their efforts in spreading Christianity throughout Eastern Europe. Their most significant contribution was the creation of the Glagolitic alphabet, which became the foundation for Old Church Slavonic and later the Cyrillic alphabet.
Entrance Antiphon
These are holy men who became friends of God, glorious heralds of divine truth.
Collect
O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching, and perfect us as a people of one accord in true faith and right confession. 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 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34
Jeroboam thought to himself: “The kingdom will return to David’s house. If now this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, the hearts of this people will return to their master, Rehoboam, king of Judah, and they will kill me.” After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold and said to the people: “You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough. Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan. This led to sin, because the people frequented those calves in Bethel and in Dan. He also built temples on the high places and made priests from among the people who were not Levites. Jeroboam established a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month to duplicate in Bethel the pilgrimage feast of Judah, with sacrifices to the calves he had made; and he stationed in Bethel priests of the high places he had built. Jeroboam did not give up his evil ways after this, but again made priests for the high places from among the common people. Whoever desired it was consecrated and became a priest of the high places. This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106:6-7ab, 19-20, 21-22
R/ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
- We have sinned, we and our fathers; we have committed crimes; we have done wrong. Our fathers in Egypt considered not your wonders.
- They made a calf in Horeb and adored a molten image; They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
- They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt, Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea.
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4:4b
Alleluia, alleluia. One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 8:1-10
In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over-seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
Prayer over the Offerings
Look, O Lord, upon the offerings which we bring before your majesty in commemoration of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and grant that these gifts may become the sign of a new humanity, reconciled to you in loving charity. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Mk 16:20
The disciples went forth and preached the Gospel, while the Lord worked with them, confirming the word through accompanying signs.
Prayer after Communion
O God, Father of all nations, who make us sharers in the one Bread and the one Spirit and heirs of the eternal banquet, grant in your kindness on this feast day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, that the multitude of your children, persevering in the same faith, may be united in building up the Kingdom of justice and peace. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd.” Today’s readings present us two types of leaders: in the First Reading, we see a leader who leads his people into sin, and in the Gospel, we see a leader who caters for his people. Jeroboam, in his desire to consolidate his power and keep his people loyal to him, led them into idolatry; he made them abandon the Lord and worship idols, and he desecrated the priesthood. Jesus, for his part, nourished the crowd that followed him spiritually and physically; he instructed the crowd on God’s Word for three days, and then fed the crowd before sending it away. We are leaders at various levels and in various capacities; you may be a priest, a parent, a teacher, the president of a social group, or a director at your workplace. What type of leader are you? Are you the type who oppresses people, bosses them around, and allows or even encourages them to do evil? Or do you show concern for their needs, try to make life easy for them, and exhort them to do what is right by word and example? Is your model Jeroboam or Jesus?