SAINT JOHN THERISTUS, MONK
Psalter I | VIOLET
He was known for his faith, kindness, and helping with the harvest. He showed great faith during times of danger. He lived simply by praying, helping others, and working to feed the hungry and cared for the poor.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 89:1-2
O Lord, you have been our refuge, from generation to generation; from age to age, you are.
Collect
Look upon your family, Lord, that, through the chastening effects of bodily discipline, our minds may be radiant in your presence with the strength of our yearning for you. 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: Isaiah 55:10-11
Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19
R/ From all their distress God rescues the just.
- Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
- Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
- The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
- When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Saint Biography
He was known for his faith, kindness, and helping with the harvest. He showed great faith during times of danger. He lived simply by praying, helping others, and working to feed the hungry and cared for the poor.
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4:4b
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15
Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O Creator, almighty God, what we bring from your bountiful goodness, and be pleased to transform this temporal sustenance you have given us, that it may bring us eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 4: 2
When I called, the God of justice gave me answer; from anguish you released me; have mercy, O Lord, and hear my prayer!
Prayer after Communion
Grant us through these mysteries, Lord, that by moderating earthly desires we may learn to love the things of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
May your faithful be strengthened, O God, by your blessing: in grief, may you be their consolation, in tribulation, their power to endure, and in peril, their protection. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Quite often, we recite the Our Father mechanically and do not pay attention to the words we pronounce and their implications. The above phrase, for instance, attaches the mercy we expect from God to the mercy we show to others. We cannot expect God to forgive our sins if we are not ready to forgive those who offend us. In our dealings with others, people say and do things that annoy us. We get into conflicts and have misunderstandings with our family members, colleagues, mates and friends. When these conflicts arise, our natural inclination is to bear grudges and look for ways to get back at those who have hurt us. But Jesus invites us to act differently. He tells us to remember that we offend God and others as well, and just as God is merciful and forgives us, we too should readily forgive those who hurt us. This is not an easy thing to do; after all, as the saying goes, to err is human and to forgive is divine. Let us therefore ask God for the grace to be able to forgive those who offend us.