Saint Josaphat, Bishop, Martyr
(c.1580 – 1623)
Psalter: Week IV
Red
He was born in Ukraine of Orthodox parents. Josaphat joined the first monastery of the order of St Basil to be united to the Catholic Church: he was the first person to do so. He was ordained priest and, eventually and reluctantly, appointed bishop of Polotsk in 1617. Josaphat was murdered by a mob in 1623 while on a pastoral visit to Vitebsk.
Entrance Antiphon
Because of the Lord’s covenant and the ancestral laws, the Saints of God persevered in loving brotherhood, for there was always one spirit in them, and one faith.
Collect
Stir up in your Church, we pray, O Lord, the Spirit that filled Saint Josaphat as he laid down his life for the sheep, so that through his intercession we, too, may be strengthened by the same Spirit and not be afraid to lay down our life for others. 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 6:1-11
Listen, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning; hear this, you who have thousands under your rule, who boast of your hordes of subjects. For power is a gift to you from the Lord, sovereignty is from the Most High; he himself will probe your acts and scrutinise your intentions. If, as administrators of his kingdom, you have not governed justly nor observed the law, nor behaved as God would have you behave, he will fall on you swiftly and terribly. Ruthless judgement is reserved for the high and mighty; the lowly will be compassionately pardoned, the mighty will be mightily punished. For the Lord of All does not cower before a personage, he does not stand in awe of greatness, since he himself has made small and great and provides for all alike; but strict scrutiny awaits those in power. Yes, despots, my words are for you, that you may learn what wisdom is and not transgress; for they who observe holy things holily will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in them. Look forward, therefore, to my words; yearn for them, and they will instruct you.
Responsorial Psalm :Psalm 81(82):3-4,6-7
R/ Arise, O God, to judge the earth.
Do justice for the weak and the orphan, defend the afflicted and the needy. Rescue the weak and the poor; set them free from the hand of the wicked.
I have said to you: “You are gods and all of you, sons of the Most High.” And yet, you shall die like men, you shall fall like any of the princes.’
Gospel Acclamation : 2Th2:14
Alleluia, alleluia! Through the Good News God called usto share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Most merciful God, pour out your blessing upon these offerings and confirm us in the faith that Saint Josaphat professed by the shedding of his blood. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Mt. 10: 39
Whoever loses his life for my sake, will find it in eternity, say the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
May this heavenly table, O Lord, bestow on us a spirit of fortitude and peace, so that, following Saint Josaphat’s example, we may willingly spend our lives working for the honour and unity of the Church. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Ten lepers have the privilege of receiving healing from the Master, Jesus, who responds to their desperate cry for help: “‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.” In a remarkable display of grace, He grants their plea for total healing. However, only one of them demonstrates a leap of faith, transitioning from grace to gratitude and ultimately to salvation. Because of this act of gratitude, he hears these wonderful words from the Master: “Your faith has saved you.” His response is immediate and from the heart. While the other nine may be concerned about fulfilling the legal requirements, the Samaritan, in a beautiful display of faith, focuses on expressing gratitude to God right where the grace of God found him. This act of gratitude exemplifies the kind of faith that not only saves but transforms us. In our own pursuits, many of us turn to God seeking healing or requesting various favours. The essential question arises: how many return to show an attitude of gratitude to God? Let us fervently pray for the grace to be always grateful for the many blessings we receive from God.