by L'équipe de publication | Jan 7, 2024 | Evangelium
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
FEAST
PSAlTER PROPER,
SAinT PETER THOMAS (1305-1366)
White
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Mt 3: 16-17
After the Lord was baptized, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him, solemnly declared him your beloved Son, grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you. 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 55:1-11
Thus says the Lord: Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy corn without money, and eat, and, at no cost, wine and milk. Why spend money on what is not bread, your wages on what fails to satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and you will have good things to eat and rich food to enjoy. Pay attention, come to me; listen, and your soul will live. With you I will make an everlasting covenant out of the favours promised to David. See, I have made of you a witness to the peoples, a leader and a master of the nations. See, you will summon a nation you never knew, those unknown will come hurrying to you, for the sake of the Lord your God, of the Holy One of Israel who will glorify you. Seek the Lord while he is still to be found, call to him while he is still near. Let the wicked man abandon his way, the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn back to the Lord who will take pity on him, to our God who is rich in forgiving; for my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways not your ways – it is the Lord who speaks. Yes, the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts. Yes, as the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.
Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12
R/ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
- Truly, God is my salvation, I trust, I shall not fear. For the Lord is my strength, my song, he became my saviour. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
- Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name! Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples! Declare the greatness of his name.
- Sing a psalm to the Lord for he has done glorious deeds; make them known to all the earth! People of Zion, sing and shout for joy, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Gospel Acclamation:
cf.Jn1:29
Alleluia, alleluia! John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said: This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 1:7-11
In the course of his preaching John the Baptist said: ‘Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’ It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. No sooner had he come up out of the water than he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, the offerings we have brought to honour the revealing of your beloved Son, so that the oblation of your faithful may be transformed into the sacrifice of him who willed in his compassion to wash away the sins of the world. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Communion Antiphon: Jn 1: 32, 34
Behold the One of whom John said:I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished with these sacred gifts, we humbly entreat your mercy, O Lord, that, faithfully listening to your Only Begotten Son, we may be your children in name and in truth. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The feast of the baptism of our Lord concludes the Christmas Cycle and is at the same time the first Sunday of Ordinary Time in the liturgical Year B. This Sunday begins a series of Sundays that speak of the early ministry of jesus Christ. Jesus, who had no sin, still received baptism to consecrate himself for his mission on earth. At his baptism, the heavens open, and the Holy Spirit descends upon him in the form of a dove, and the Father’s voice from heaven accliams him as his beloved Son with whom he is well pleased. This echoes the first reading, xhere some 700 years before Cjrist, Isaiah announced to the people the coming of the chosen one on whom the spirirt of God would rest. Fortified by God’s Spirirt, this servant of God would bring salvation to the nations. This prophecy found fulfilment in the person of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Son of David, who brings true peace and justice to all men and women of goodwill. As Jesus’ baptism marks the beginning of his divine ministry, our baptism also marks the beginning of a new life of love and service. We pray to the Holy Spirit to fortify our faith to remain faithful to our baptismal promises.
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 6, 2024 | Evangelium
THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
PSAlTER PROPER
White
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Mal 3: 1; 1 Chr 29:12
Behold, the Lord, the Mighty One, has come; and kingship is in his grasp, and power and dominion.
Collect
O God, who on this day revealed your Only Begotten Son to the nations by the guidance of a star, grant in your mercy, that we, who know you already by faith, may be brought to behold the beauty of your sublime glory. 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 60:1-6
Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord is rising on you, though night still covers the earth and darkness the peoples. Above you the Lord now rises and above you his glory appears. The nations come to your light and kings to your dawning brightness. Lift up your eyes and look around: all are assembling and coming towards you, your sons from far away and your daughters being tenderly carried. At this sight you will grow radiant, your heart throbbing and full; since the riches of the sea will flow to you, the wealth of the nations come to you; camels in throngs will cover you, and dromedaries of Midian and Ephab; everyone in Sheba will come, bringing gold and incense and singing the praise of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71 (72) :1-2.7-8.10-13
R/ All the nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
- 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 tight judgement.
- In his days justice shall flourish, and peace till the moon fails. He shall rule from sea to sea, from the Great Sea to earth’s bounds.
- The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts, shall pay him tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba, shall bring him gifts. Before him all kings shall fall prostrate, all nations shall serve him.
- For he shall save the people when they cry, and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak, and save the lives of the poor.
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6
You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery. This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Christ Jesus, through the gospel.
Gospel Acclamation : Mt 2:2
Alleluia, alleluia! We saw his star as it rose and have come to do the Lord homage. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they told him, ‘for this is what the prophet wrote: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah, for out of you will come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel. ‘Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them on to Bethlehem. ‘Go and find out all about the child,’ he said ‘and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.
Prayer over the Offerings
Look with favour, Lord, we pray, on these gifts of your Church, in which are offered now not gold or frankincense or myrrh, but he who by them is proclaimed, sacrificed and received, Jesus Christ. Who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Mt 2: 2
We have seen his star in the East, and have come with gifts to adore the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Go before us with heavenly light, O Lord, always and everywhere, that we may perceive with clear sight and revere with true affection the mystery in which you have willed us to participate. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphainen, meaning, “to shine upon,” “to manifest” or “to make known.” We celebrate the different manifestations of Jesus to the world: the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12, the baptism of Jesus in Mark 1:9-11, and the miracle at Cana in John 2:1-11. Epiphany Day is also known as the Feast of the visit of the Magi. In the book of Numbers, it is foretold that: “A king, like a bright star, will arise in that nation. Like a comet he will come from Israel…” (Num 24:17). Isaiah will insist on the fact that “The nations shall come to your light…all are assembling”. The Magi understood that “His star” (Mat. 2:2) had finally appeared to them, heralding the Birth of Christ the King. While Herod tried to kill Jesus and extinguish the shining star, the wise men instead adored him. The bright light and the star of the newborn king will shine on all nations, and none can extinguish it.
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 4, 2024 | Evangelium
SAinT JOHN NEUMANN, MEMORiAl
White
This American saint was born in Bohemia in 1811. John was appointed Bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. Fluent in many languages, he was dedicated to helping the poor and most abandoned. John died on January 5, 1860 at the age of 48.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Jn 1: 1
In the beginning and before all ages, the Word was God and he humbled himself to be born the Saviour of the world.
Collect
O God, who by the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son wondrously began for your people the work of redemption, grant, we pray, to your servants such firmness of faith, that by his guidance they may attain the glorious prize you have promised. 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: 1 John 3: 11-21
This is the message as you heard it from the beginning: that we are to love one another; not to be like Cain, who belonged to the Evil One and cut his brother’s throat; cut his brother’s throat simply for this reason, that his own life was evil and his brother lived a good life. You must not be surprised, brothers, when the world hates you; we have passed out of death and into life, and of this we can be sure because we love our brothers. If you refuse to love, you must remain dead; to hate your brother is to be a murderer, and murderers, as you know, do not have eternal life in them. This has taught us love – that he gave up his life for us; and we, too, ought to give up our lives for our brothers. If a man who was rich enough in this world’s goods saw that one of his brothers was in need, but closed his heart to him, how could the love of God be living in him? My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active; only by this can we be certain that we are children of the truth and be able to quieten our conscience in his presence, whatever accusations it may raise against us, because God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything. My dear people, if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience, we need not be afraid in God’s presence.
Responsorial Psalm:
Psalm99(100)
R/ Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
- Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing for joy.
- Know that he, the Lord, is God. He made us, we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
- Go within his gates, giving thanks. Enter his courts with songs of praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.
- Indeed, how good is the Lord, eternal his merciful love. He is faithful from age to age.
Gospel Acclamation: Heb1:1-2
Alleluia, alleluia! At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 1:43-51
After Jesus had decided to leave for Galilee, he met Philip and said, “Follow me.” Philip came from the same town, Bethsaida, as Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, the one about whom the prophets wrote: he is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” “From Nazareth?” said Nathanael. “Can anything good come from that place?” “Come and see”, replied Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, “There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.” “How do you know me?” said Nathanael. “Before Philip came to call you,” said Jesus “I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.” Jesus replied, “You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” And then he added “I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive our oblation, O Lord, by which is brought about a glorious exchange, that, by offering what you have given, we may merit to receive your very self. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon
God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, by the power of these holy mysteries, our life may be constantly sustained. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The Gospel story presents Phillip as a wise person. It takes a candle to light another candle. First, he felt compelled to share his discovery of Jesus with Nathanael. Second, instead of launching into arguments on the true worth of Nazareth, he said: “Come and see”. Sometimes we erroneously think we can argue people into Christianity or even behaviour change when all it takes is to allow them to encounter Christ himself. Sometimes all it takes is to invite one to the prayer group/meeting/seminar even when they are still defiantly stuck to their unbelief and destructive addictions. Lord Jesus, help us be part of the solution, not the problem. Destroy our cynicism and empower us to be part of the solution we want to see in our society. Amen!
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 3, 2024 | Evangelium
SAinT ELIZABETH ANN SETON
(1774 – 1821)
White
She was born in New York into an Episcopalian family, who ostracized her and left her penniless when she became a Catholic in 1805. Seton was the first native born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Jn 1: 1
In the beginning and before all ages, the Word was God and he humbled himself to be born the Saviour of the world.
Collect
O God, who by the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son wondrously began for your people the work of redemption, grant, we pray, to your servants such firmness of faith, that by his guidance they may attain the glorious prize you have promised. 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: 1 John 3:7-10
My children, do not let anyone lead you astray: to live a holy life is to be holy just as he is holy; to lead a sinful life is to belong to the devil, since the devil was a sinner from the beginning. It was to undo all that the devil has done that the Son of God appeared. No one who has been begotten by God sins; because God’s seed remains inside him, he cannot sin when he has been begotten by God. In this way we distinguish the children of God from the children of the devil: anybody not living a holy life and not loving his brother is no child of God.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9
R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
- Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
- Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy before the Lord.
- The Lord comes; he comes to rule the earth; He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Gospel Acclamation: Hebrews 1:1-2
Alleluia, alleluia. At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. Alleluia
Gospel: John 1:35-42
As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God.’ Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned round, saw them following and said, ‘What do you want?’ They answered, ‘Rabbi,’ – which means Teacher – ‘where do you live?’ ‘Come and see’ he replied; so they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of that day. It was about the tenth hour. One of these two who became followers of Jesus after hearing what John had said was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Early next morning, Andrew met his brother and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ – which means the Christ – and he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked hard at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas’ – meaning Rock..
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive our oblation, O Lord, by which is brought about a glorious exchange, that, by offering what you have given, we may merit to receive your very self. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Jn 3: 16
God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, by the power of these holy mysteries, our life may be constantly sustained. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
A saying goes thus: «If you tell me your friends, I will tell you who you are.» Other amusing versions exist: «If you tell me your address, I will tell you where you live»; «If you show me what you do with your money, I’ll tell you who you are.» In today’s gospel narrative, to the question, «Rabbi… where do you live?» Jesus replied with an invitation to «come and see». They came, they saw, and they stayed. This kind of wise mind that Jesus exhibits is the hallmark of good listeners and leaders. To hear beyond what is verbalised and respond to it. Instead of rattling his address – «I stay at No. 15 Golden Street», he promptly invited them to be his guests because he was able to decipher, they were seeking friendship; they were seeking a deeper relationship. Religious Congregations have branded the initial contacts with their aspirants as a «Come-and-see experience» stemming from this encounter between Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist. Naturally, most «come-and-see experiences» end up becoming come-we-stay. Lord, may we constantly seek a deeper relationship with you, even during the hustle and bustle of daily life!
Amen!
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 2, 2024 | Evangelium
SAinT GEnEviEvE
White
Saint. Genevieve was born about the year 422, at Nanterre near Paris. The life of St. Genevieve was one of great austerity, constant prayer, and works of charity. She died in the year 512.
Entrance Antiphon: Is 9:1
A people who walked in darkness has seen a great light; for those dwelling in a land of deep gloom, a light has shone.
Collect
Grant us, almighty God, that the bringer of your salvation, who for the world’s redemption came forth with newness of heavenly light, may dawn afresh in our hearts and bring us constant renewal. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 1 John 2:29-3:6
You know that God is righteous – then you must recognise that everyone whose life is righteous has been begotten by him. Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are. Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us. My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ. Anyone who sins at all breaks the law, because to sin is to break the law. Now you know that he appeared in order to abolish sin, and that in him there is no sin; anyone who lives in God does not sin, and anyone who sins has never seen him or known him.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97(98):1,3-6
R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
- Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation.
- All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth, ring out your joy.
- Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp with the sound of music. With trumpets and the sound of the horn acclaim the King, the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! A hallowed day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, worship the Lord, for today a great light has shone down upon the earth. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 1:29-34
Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.’ John also declared, ‘I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.” Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.’
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who give us the gift of true prayer and of peace, graciously grant that, through this offering, we may do fitting homage to your divine majesty and, by partaking of the sacred mystery, we may be faithfully united in mind and heart. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: 1 Jn 1: 2
That life which was with the Father became visible, and has appeared to us.
Prayer after Communion
May your people, O Lord, whom you guide and sustain in many ways, experience, both now and in the future, the remedies which you bestow, that, with the needed solace of things that pass away, they may strive with ever deepened trust for things eternal. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Today, John the Baptist introduced Jesus Christ to his disciples and the world as the sin remover. Sometimes we see him as the prophet who wore the hat so tight in terms of his strictness and moral resoluteness. But rather than scolding John the Baptist for being too strict and uncompromising in interpreting his mandate to preach the baptism of repentance, it is essential that we individually recognise our failings and sins. The clarion call: “BLook, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world,” calls our attention to the essential work of Jesus – he saved/saves us from sin and eternal damnation. As we fight the structures of sin embedded in our society, we must recognise the personal structures of sin in our lives. Being mindful of one’s sinfulness humbles one and makes one easily receptive and forgiving to others in their weaknesses, failings, and sins. This is one of the hallmarks of a serious Catholic. Lord, give us a humble heart to recognise our sinfulness so that we may come to you in repentance and be forgiven. Amen!
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 1, 2024 | Evangelium
Psalter: week 1
SAinT BASil THE GREAT (330 – 379),
SAinT GREGORY nAziAnzEn (330 – 389)
White
Basil became bishop of Caesarea in 370. He fought against the Arians and was generous to the poor. Nazianzen was elected Bishop of Constantinople in 381 where he died on 25 January 389. He is known as “Gregory the Theologian” in honour of his learning and eloquence.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Sir 44: 15, 14
Let the peoples recount the wisdom of the Saints, and let the Church proclaim their praise. Their names will live on and on.
Collect
O God, who were pleased to give light to your Church by the example and teaching of the Bishops Saints Basil and Gregory, grant, we pray, that in humility we may learn your truth and practice it faithfully in charity. 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: 1 John 2: 22-28
The man who denies that Jesus is the Christ – he is the liar, he is Antichrist; and he is denying the Father as well as the Son, because no one who has the Father can deny the Son, and to acknowledge the Son is to have the Father as well. Keep alive in yourselves what you were taught in the beginning: as long as what you were taught in the beginning is alive in you, you will live in the Son and in the Father; and what is promised to you by his own promise is eternal life. This is all that I am writing to you about the people who are trying to lead you astray. But you have not lost the anointing that he gave you, and you do not need anyone to teach you; the anointing he gave teaches you everything; you are anointed with truth, not with a lie, and as it has taught you, so you must stay in him. Live in Christ, then, my children, so that if he appears, we may have full confidence, and not turn from him in shame at his coming.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97(98): 1-4
R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 1. Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation.
- The Lord has made known his salvation; has shown his justice to the nations. He has remembered his truth and love for the house of
Israel.
- All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth, ring out your joy.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn1: 14,12
Alleluia, alleluia! The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. To all who received him he gave power to become children of God. Alleluia! for today a great light has shone down upon the earth. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 1: 19-28
This is how John appeared as a witness. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ he not only declared, but he declared quite openly, ‘I am not the Christ.’ ‘Well then,’ they asked ‘are you Elijah?’ ‘I am not’ he said. ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?’ So John said, ‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied: a voice that cries in the wilderness: Make a straight way for the Lord.’ Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees, and they put this further question to him, ‘Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the prophet?’ John replied, ‘I baptise with water; but there stands among you – unknown to you – the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap.’ This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept this sacrifice from your people, we pray, O Lord, and make what is offered for your glory, in honour of Saints Basil and Gregory, a means to our eternal salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. 1 Cor 1: 23-24
We proclaim Christ crucified; Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Prayer after Communion
May partaking at the heavenly table, almighty God, confirm and increase strength from on high in all who celebrate the feast day of Saints Basil and Gregory, that we may preserve in integrity the gift of faith and walk in the path of salvation you trace for us. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Many are so “title-crazy” and crave to be recognised and called – Chief, Doctor, Professor, Honourable, you name it. To the question, Who are you? John never responded by flaunting titles but answered in terms of his vocation – his purpose of being – “a voice that cries in the wilderness: Make a straight way for the Lord.” Sometimes we use our Christianity for show instead of the tasking labour of love and service. Lord, grant us all who go by the name Christian the grace to reject what is contrary to the name and shine the light of Christ through the life we lead. Amen!
