by Norbert Doulanni | Dec 21, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Chaeromon
O Rex Gentium ( O King of the Nation)
Psalter: Week IV
Purple
Bishop of Nilopolis, in Egypt. When the persecution was instituted by Emperor Trajanus Decius, St. Chaeromon was quite elderly. He and several companions fled into the Arabian desert and were never seen again. The bishop and his companions are listed as martyrs.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 23: 7
O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory!
Collect
O God, who, seeing the human race fallen into death, willed to redeem it by the coming of your Only Begotten Son, grant, we pray, that those who confess his Incarnation with humble fervour may merit his company as their Redeemer. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 1 Samuel 1:24-28
When Hannah had weaned the infant Samuel, she took him up with her together with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the temple of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was with them. They slaughtered the bull and the child’s mother came to Eli. She said, ‘If you please, my lord. As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. This is the child I prayed for, and the Lord granted me what I asked him. Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life. He is made over to the Lord.’ There she left him, for the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm : 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8
R/ My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.
My heart exults in the Lord. I find my strength in my God; my mouth laughs at my enemies as I rejoice in your saving help.
The bows of the mighty are broken, but the weak are clothed with strength. Those with plenty must labour for bread, but the hungry need work no more. The childless wife has children nowbut the fruitful wife bears no more.
It is the Lord who gives life and death, he brings men to the grave and back; it is the Lord who gives poverty and riches. He brings men low and raises them on high.
He lifts up the lowly from the dust, from the dungheap he raises the poor to set him in the company of princes to give him a glorious throne. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, on them he has set the world.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Root of Jesse, set up as a sign to the peoples, come to save us and delay no more. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 1:46-56
Mary said: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour; because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid. Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him. He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away. He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy – according to the promise he made to our ancestors – of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’ Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.
Prayer over the Offerings
Trusting in your compassion, O Lord, we come eagerly with our offerings to your sacred altar, that, through the purifying action of your grace, we may be cleansed by the very mysteries we serve. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Lk 1: 46, 49
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Prayer after Communion
May reception of your Sacrament strengthen us, O Lord, so that we may go out to meet our Saviour with worthy deeds when he comes and merit the rewards of the blessed. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation Mary sings her song of praise to God for His providence in her life through the “Magnificat.” This hymn holds profound messages for us, particularly during this season of advent. Firstly, Mary emphasises the importance of humility, as it attracts God’s blessings. She encourages us to recognise our role as instruments in God’s hands and cautions against the pitfalls of pride. Secondly, she calls us to be mindful of the poor and the needy, as doing so aligns us with the kingdom of God. Thirdly, she urges us to share our resources with the hungry and the starving. Through acts of care and love, we authentically demonstrate our love for God in our hearts, thereby making a positive impact in the lives of others. Mary’s “Magnificat” serves as a timeless guide for fostering humility, compassion, and generosity in our lives.
by Norbert Doulanni | Dec 20, 2025 | Evangelium
4th Sunday of Advent
Saint Peter Canisius, priest, Doctor
O Oriens ( O Rising sun)
Psalter: Week IV
Purple
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Is 45: 8
Drop down dew from above, you heavens,and let the clouds rain down the Just One;let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour.
Collect
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,your grace into our hearts,that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Sonwas made known by the message of an Angel,may by his Passion and Crossbe brought to the glory of his Resurrection.Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Isaiah 7:10-14
The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’ Then Isaiah said:‘Listen now, House of David:are you not satisfied with trying the patience of menwithout trying the patience of my God, too? The Lord himself, therefore,will give you a sign.It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a sonwhom she will call Immanuel,a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23(24):1-6
R/ Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory.
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples.It is he who set it on the seas;on the waters he made it firm.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place?The man with clean hands and pure heart,who desires not worthless things.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him.Such are the men who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Second reading: Romans 1:1-7
From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News that God promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures.This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human nature he took was a descendant of David: it is about Jesus Christ our Lord who, in the order of the spirit, the spirit of holiness that was in him, was proclaimed Son of God in all his power through his resurrection from the dead. Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name. You are one of these nations, and by his call belong to Jesus Christ. To you all, then, who are God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace and peace.
Gospel Acclamation: Mt1:23
Alleluia, alleluia! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a sonand they will call him Emmanuel,a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:The virgin will conceive and give birth to a sonand they will call him Emmanuel,a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’ When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.
Prayer over the Offerings
May the Holy Spirit, O Lord,sanctify these gifts laid upon your altar,just as he filled with his power the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Is 7: 14
Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son;and his name will be called Emmanuel.
Prayer after Communion
Having received this pledge of eternal redemption,we pray, almighty God,that, as the feast day of our salvation draws ever nearer,so we may press forward all the more eagerlyto the worthy celebration of the mystery of your Son’s Nativity.Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Meditation
Today’s gospel revolves around Saint Joseph, who initially plans to discreetly divorce Mary upon learning of her pregnancy. However, an angel reassures him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. Joseph’s fear does not stem from taking Mary as his wife but rather from the apprehension of the responsibilities and challenges associated with being the foster father of Jesus – the Messiah. This attitude mirrors that of contemporary Christians who seek God’s blessings yet shy away from making the necessary sacrifices and paying the price. In a similar vein, many are eager to hear inspiring sermons but are not ready to live out the profound words spoken to them. Overcoming these fears and redirecting our focus on Christ is essential for success in our spiritual journey.
by Norbert Doulanni | Dec 19, 2025 | Evangelium
Blessed Scubilion (1797 – 1867)
O Clavis David ( O Key of David)
Psalter: Week III
Purple
Born in France in 1797, He joined the Brothers of Christian Instruction and was given the name Scubilion. In 1833 he was sent to the Isle of Réunion, where he remained until his death in 1867. In Réunion he was named “the catechist of the slaves” on account of his ministry among them.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Is 11: 1; 40: 5; Lk 3: 6
A branch shall sprout from the root of Jesse, and the glory of the Lord will fill the whole earth, and all flesh will see the salvation of God.
Collect
O God, eternal majesty, whose ineffable Word the immaculate Virgin received through the message of an Angel and so became the dwelling-place of divinity, filled with the light of the Holy Spirit, grant, we pray, that by her example we may in humility hold fast to your will. 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 : Isaiah 7:10-14
The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’ Then Isaiah said: ‘Listen now, House of David: are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men without trying the patience of my God, too? The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 23(24):1-6
R/ Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory.
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples. It is he who set it on the seas; on the waters he made it firm.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him. Such are the men who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver, come and save us, Lord our God. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob forever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.
Prayer over the Offerings
Look, O Lord, we pray, upon the one sacrifice of your Son, that, by participating in this mystery, we may possess at last the gifts we have awaited and for which our faith bids us hope. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Lk 1: 31
The Angel said to Mary: Behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
Prayer after Communion
Grant divine protection, O Lord, to those you renew with this heavenly gift, that to those who delight in your mysteries you may give the joy of true peace. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Today’s gospel announces the conception of Jesus Christ in the womb of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary. Jesus takes on both body and soul, mirroring our own humanity. It is therefore fitting that the mother of our Savior of the world be holy, pure, and brimming with faith to bear Christ, the Son of God, who Himself is holy. In our text today, among the many virtues of Mary, her virginity stands out prominently. Mary, a human like us, grapples with various emotions, yet she maintains her chaste purity. However, in our contemporary society, we live in a world were immorality, lust, and sex are often celebrated by the married, singles, and even those professing celibacy. This calls for caution and reflections on the values we uphold.
by Norbert Doulanni | Dec 18, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Nemesius
O Radix Jesse ( O Root of Jesse)
Psalter: Week III
Purple
Martyr of Egypt. He was burned alive in Alexandria, Egypt, during the persecutions under Emperor Trajanus Decius. Nemesius was arrested and scourged and then burned to death. Like Christ, he was executed between two criminals.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Heb 10: 37
He who is to come will come and will not delay, and now there will be no fear within our land,for he is our Saviour.
Collect
O God, who through the child-bearing of the holy Virgin graciously revealed the radiance of your glory to the world,grant, we pray,that we may venerate with integrity of faiththe mystery of so wondrous an Incarnationand always celebrate it with due reverence.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: Judges 13:2-7,24-25
There was a man of Zorah of the tribe of Dan, called Manoah. His wife was barren, she had borne no children. The angel of the Lord appeared to this woman and said to her, ‘You are barren and have had no child. But from now on take great care. Take no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For you will conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch his head, for the boy shall be God’s nazirite from his mother’s womb. It is he who will begin to rescue Israel from the power of the Philistines.’ Then the woman went and told her husband, ‘A man of God has just come to me; his presence was like the presence of the angel of God, he was so majestic. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not reveal his name to me. But he said to me, “You will conceive and bear a son. From now on, take no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be God’s nazirite from his mother’s womb to his dying day.”’The woman gave birth to a son and called him Samson. The child grew, and the Lord blessed him; and the spirit of the Lord began to move him.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 70(71):3-6,16-17
R/ My lips are filled with your praise, with your glory all the day long.
Be a rock where I can take refuge, a mighty stronghold to save me;for you are my rock, my stronghold.Free me from the hand of the wicked.
It is you, O Lord, who are my hope,my trust, O Lord, since my youth.On you I have leaned from my birth, from my mother’s womb you have been my help.
I will declare the Lord’s mighty deeds proclaiming your justice, yours alone.O God, you have taught me from my youthand I proclaim your wonders still.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Root of Jesse, set up as a sign to the peoples,come to save us,and delay no more.Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 1:5-25
In the days of King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest called Zechariah who belonged to the Abijah section of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron. Both were worthy in the sight of God, and scrupulously observed all the commandments and observances of the Lord. But they were childless: Elizabeth was barren and they were both getting on in years. Now it was the turn of Zechariah’s section to serve, and he was exercising his priestly office before God when it fell to him by lot, as the ritual custom was, to enter the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense there. And at the hour of incense the whole congregation was outside, praying. Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, ‘Zechariah, do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son and you must name him John. He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must drink no wine, no strong drink. Even from his mother’s womb he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before him to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and the disobedient back to the wisdom that the virtuous have, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.’ Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is getting on in years.’ The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel who stand in God’s presence, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. Listen! Since you have not believed my words, which will come true at their appointed time, you will be silenced and have no power of speech until this has happened.’ Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he stayed in the sanctuary so long. When he came out he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had received a vision in the sanctuary. But he could only make signs to them, and remained dumb. When his time of service came to an end he returned home. Sometime later his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept to herself. ‘The Lord has done this for me’ she said ‘now that it has pleased him to take away the humiliation I suffered among men.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Look with favour, we pray, O Lord, on the offerings we lay upon your altars,that what we bring despite our weaknessmay be sanctified by your power.Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Lk 1: 78-79
The Dawn from on high will visit us, guiding our feet in the way of peace.
Prayer after Communion
As we give thanks, almighty God, for these gifts you have bestowed, graciously arouse in us, we pray, the desire for those yet to come, that we may welcome the Nativity of our Saviour and honour it with minds made pure. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The Jewish culture considers a woman’s inability to conceive as shameful, often associating it with perceived punishment for the sin the woman or her ancestor had committed. In today’s gospel, the angel Gabriel informs Zechariah that, despite his wife’s old age and apparent barrenness, she will conceive and bear him a son. However, Zechariah’s expression of doubt leads to him being struck dumb. This episode highlights Zechariah’s mistrust in God which is influenced by both internal and external factors. It serves as a reminder that in life, situations may appear challenging and seemingly irredeemable, but it is crucial to remember that nothing is impossible with God. The narrative encourages us to trust in God’s power to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
by Norbert Doulanni | Dec 17, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Flannan, Bishop
O Adonai ( O Lord)
Psalter: Week III
Purple
He is the patron saint of the diocese of Killaloe and its first bishop. He lived in the seventh century.
Entrance Antiphon
Christ our King is coming, he is the Lamb foretold by John.
Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who are weighed down from of old by slavery beneath the yoke of sin, may be set free by the newness of the long-awaited Nativity of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Jeremiah 23:5-8
See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David, who will reign as true king and be wise, practising honesty and integrity in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel dwell in confidence. And this is the name he will be called: The-Lord-our-integrity. So, then, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when people will no longer say, “As the Lord lives who brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt!” but, “As the Lord lives who led back and brought home the descendants of the House of Israel out of the land of the North and from all the countries to which he had dispersed them, to live on their own soil.”
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 71(72):1-2,12-13,18-19
R/ In his days justice shall flourish, and peace until the moon fails.
O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice and your poor in right judgement.
For he shall save the poor when they cry and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak and save the lives of the poor.
Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, who alone works wonders, ever blessed his glorious name. Let his glory fill the earth. Amen! Amen!
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Ruler of the House of Israel, who gave the law to Moses on Sinai, come and save us with outstretched arm. Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 1:18-24
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfill the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’ When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.
Prayer over the Offerings
May the sacrifice to be offered to you, O Lord, make us acceptable to your name, that we may merit for all eternity to be the companions of Christ, by whose Death our own mortality was healed. Who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Communion Antiphon : Mt 1: 23
His name will be called Emmanuel, which means God-with-us.
Prayer after Communion
May we receive your mercy in the midst of your temple, O Lord, and show fitting honour to the coming solemnities of our redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In today’s gospel, Joseph is referred to as a righteous man. In the Jewish context, a righteous person strictly adheres to the law. Following this interpretation, Joseph should have reported Mary’s pregnancy to the authorities, potentially subjecting her to punishment by stoning. However, Joseph does no such thing. His decision to stand by Mary, shielding her from any harm, imparts a new meaning to the concept of righteousness – one that lays emphasis on us being sensitive to the needs of our neighbour, to the increase of our love for them, and our willingness to bear their burdens. Joseph’s obedience is noteworthy, aligning with the notion expressed by Thomas a Kempis: “Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace.” Joseph’s actions exemplify obedience that is immediate and rooted in love and compassion for neigbour.
by Norbert Doulanni | Dec 16, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Olympias
O SAPIENTIA ( O Wisdom)
Psalter: Week III
Purple
Olympias was born into a wealthy noble Constantinople family between the years 360–365. Being a very pious soul, she devoted her time and energy to serving the Lord. St. John Chrysostom acted as spiritual guide to Olympias. In 409, St. Olympias entered into eternal rest.
Entrance Antiphon : Is 49: 13
Rejoice, O heavens, and exult, O earth, for our Lord will come to show mercy to his poor.
Collect
O God, Creator and Redeemer of human nature, who willed that your Word should take flesh in an ever-virgin womb, look with favour on our prayers, that your Only Begotten Son, having taken to himself our humanity, may be pleased to grant us a share in his divinity. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Genesis 49:2,8-10
Jacob called his sons and said: ‘Gather round, sons of Jacob, and listen; listen to Israel your father. Judah, your brothers shall praise you: you grip your enemies by the neck, your father’s sons shall do you homage, Judah is a lion cub, you climb back, my son, from your kill; like a lion he crouches and lies down, or a lioness: who dare rouse him? The sceptre shall not pass from Judah, nor the mace from between his feet, until he come to whom it belongs, to whom the peoples shall render obedience.’
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 71(72):1-4,7-8,17
R/ In his days justice shall flourish, and peace till the moon fails.
O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice and your poor in right judgement.
May the mountains bring forth peace for the people and the hills, justice. May he defend the poor of the people and save the children of the needy.
In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails. He shall rule from sea to sea,
from the Great River to earth’s bounds.
May his name be blessed for ever and endure like the sun. Every tribe shall be blessed in him,
all nations bless his name.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Wisdom of the Most High, ordering all things with strength and gentleness, come and teach us the way of truth. Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 1:1-17
A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother, Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother, Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother, Obed was the father of Jesse; and Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Azariah, Azariah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh,Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah; and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers. Then the deportation to Babylon took place. After the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob; and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ. The sum of generations is therefore: fourteen from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Babylonian deportation; and fourteen from the Babylonian deportation to Christ.
Prayer over the Offerings
Sanctify these gifts of your Church, O Lord, and grant that through these venerable mysteries we may be nourished with the bread of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Hg 2: 7
Behold, the Desired of all the nations will come, and the house of the Lord will be filled with glory.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished by these divine gifts, almighty God, we ask you to grant our desire: that, aflame with your Spirit, we may shine like bright torches before your Christ when he comes. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Meditation
Today’s gospel unveils the genealogy of Jesus Christ with emphasis on Jesus as the promised Messiah, who had a tangible human history and did not simply descend from heaven. The inclusion of women with questionable standing in the eyes of the Jewish law serves to highlight that God’s salvation is for the whole world, embracing those in need of healing and redemption. This underscores the idea that God can use anyone for His divine purpose. We are reminded not to despice anyone because society and the church are a melting pot of saints and sinners, including individuals with varied backgrounds such as adulterers, prostitutes, betrayers, and foreigners as well as kings, peasants, men and women. The message is clear: God’s love encompasses us all, regardless of societal standards or personal histories!
