by | Mar 10, 2023 | Evangelium

sATURday  11  MARCH

SAINT AENGUS

He was born near Clonenagh, Ireland. He was first a hermit and later joined the monastery of Tallaght. He was a co-author of a martyrology written in 790. He died on 11 March 824.

Entrance Antiphon: Ps 144: 8-9

The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in mercy. How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures.

Collect

O God, who grant us by glorious healing remedies while still on earth to be partakers of the things of heaven, guide us, we pray, through this present life, and bring us to that light in which you dwell. 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: Micah 7: 14-15, 18-20

With shepherd’s crook, O Lord, lead your people to pasture, the flock that is your heritage, living confined in a forest with meadow land all around. Let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. As in the days when you came out of Egypt grant us to see wonders. What God can compare with you: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing mercy? Once more have pity on us, tread down our faults, to the bottom of the sea throw all our sins. Grant Jacob your faithfulness, and Abraham your mercy, as you swore to our fathers from the days of long ago.

Psalm 102: 1-4, 9-12

R/The Lord is compassion and love.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord; all my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings.

It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion.

His wrath will come to an end; He will not be angry forever. He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so strong is his love for those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our sins.

Gospel Acclamation: Lk 15: 18

Glory and praise to you, O Christ! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.’ Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Gospel: Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the Scribes complained. “This man”, they said, “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he spoke this parable to them: “A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery. When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.’ So he left the place and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. ‘Your brother has come,’ replied the servant, ‘and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.’ He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.’ The father said, ‘My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.’”

Prayer over the Offerings

Through these sacred gifts, we pray, O Lord, may our redemption yield its fruits,

Restraining us from unruly desires and leading us onward to the gifts of salvation. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Lk 15: 32

You must rejoice, my son, for your brother was dead and has come to life; He was lost and is found.

Prayer after Communion

May your divine Sacrament, O Lord, which we have received, fill the inner depths of our heart and, by its working mightily within us, make us partakers of its grace. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer over the People

May the ears of your mercy be open, O Lord, to the prayers of those who call upon you; and that you may grant what they desire, have them ask what is pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

The parable of the prodigal son invites us to meditate with you on the son’s return to his father’s house. Many of us experience the urge to cut off from dependency. We are often eager for freedom and autonomy. We want to stand on our own feet and is so doing, we often make decisions that take us away from others. We often feel like others are against our well-being, though this might not always be the case. But looking back is not always easy, and we only realise that we were wrong afterwards. Yet that is what we can praise in this lost son. Acknowledging our mistakes, going back to the beginning and asking forgiveness for our misbehaviour is what this prodigal son teaches us.

by | Mar 9, 2023 | Evangelium

FRIday  10  MARCH

SAINT JOHN OLIGIVE

He was born in Scotland and became a Jesuit in 1608 and returned to Scotland in disguise, saying Masses in secret. He was arrested in Glasgow in 1614, tortured, paraded through the streets, and hanged on 10 March 1615..

Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 30: 2, 5

In you, O Lord, I put my trust, let me never be put to shame; release me from the snare they have hidden for me, for you indeed are my refuge.

Collect

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, purifying us by the sacred practice of penance, you may lead us in sincerity of heart to attain the holy things to come. 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: Genesis 37: 3-4, 12-13, 17-28

Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, for he was the son of his old age, and he had a coat with long sleeves made for him. But his brothers, seeing how his father loved him more than all his other sons, came to hate him so much that they could not say a civil word to him. His brothers went to pasture their father’s flock at Shechem. Then Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers with the flock at Shechem? Come, I am going to send you to them.” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they made a plot among themselves to put him to death. “Here comes the man of dreams”, they said to one another. “Come on, let us kill him and throw him into some well; we can say that a wild beast devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams.” But Reuben heard, and he saved him from their violence. “We must not take his life”, he said. “Shed no blood,” said Reuben to them. “Throw him into this well in the wilderness, but do not lay violent hands on him.” – intending to save him from them and to restore him to his father. So, when Joseph reached his brothers, they pulled off his coat, the coat with long sleeves that he was wearing, and catching hold of him they threw him into the well, an empty well with no water in it. They then sat down to eat. Looking up they saw a group of Ishmaelites who were coming from Gilead, their camels laden with gum, tragacanth, balsam and resin, which they were taking down into Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain by killing our brother and covering up his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let us not do any harm to him. After all, he is our brother, and our own flesh.” His brothers agreed. Now some Midianite merchants were passing, and they drew Joseph up out of the well. They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty silver pieces, and these men took Joseph to Egypt.

Psalm 104: 16-21

R/ Remember the wonders the Lord has done.

The Lord called down a famine on the land. He broke the staff that supported them. He had sent man before them, Joseph, sold as a slave.

His feet were put in chains, his neck was bound with iron, until what he said came to pass and the word of the Lord proved him true.

Then the King sent and released him, the ruler of the people set him free, making him master of his house and ruler of all he possessed.

Gospel Acclamation: Jn3:16

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son: everyone who believes in him has eternal life. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Gospel: Matthew 21: 33-43, 45-46

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, “Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next, he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son’, he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance.’ So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They answered, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: It was the stone rejected by the builders That became the keystone. This was the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see?’ I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” When they heard his parables, the chief priests and the Scribes realized he was speaking about them, but though they would have liked to arrest him they were afraid of the crowds, who looked on him as a prophet.

Prayer over the Offerings

May your merciful grace prepare your servants, O God, for the worthy celebration of these mysteries, and lead them to it by a devout way of life. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: 1 Jn 4: 10

God loved us, and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

Prayer after Communion

Having received this pledge of eternal salvation, we pray, O Lord, that we may set our course so well as to attain the redemption you promise. Through Christ our Lord.

Mediation

On this day, the Lord exposes the poor quality of our hearts and the intentions that often drive us in the responsibilities entrusted to us. We often forget that we are mere stewards of all we have in our command, be they people or goods. And this forgetfulness often leads us to the mistaken thought that we are the owners or the all-powerful. Such confusion, amongst other things, is the source of all the abuses we commit against our fellow humans. Today, the Lord warns us and makes us understand that we will be deposed if we do not take our responsibilities seriously. That is why we must implore the Lord for the grace of good stewardship of the goods and people over whom God has placed us.

by | Mar 8, 2023 | Evangelium

THURsday  09 MARCH

SAINT FRANCES OF ROME

She was born in Rome in 1384 and was married at the age of 13. She distributed gifts to the poor and ministered to the sick. After her husband’s death she retired to a convent she had founded.

Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 138: 23-24

Test me, O God, and know my thoughts. See that my path is not wicked, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Collect

O God, who delight in innocence and restore it, direct the hearts of your servants to yourself, That, caught up in the fire of your Spirit, we may be found steadfast in faith and effective in works. 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: Jeremiah 17:5-10

The Lord says this: “A curse on the man who puts his trust in man, who relies on things of flesh, whose heart turns from the Lord. He is like dry scrub in the wastelands: if good comes, he has no eyes for it, he settles in the parched places of the wilderness, a salt land, uninhabited. A blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord, with the Lord for his hope. He is like a tree by the waterside that thrusts its roots to the stream: When the heat comes it feels no alarm, its foliage stays green; It has no worries in a year of drought, and never ceases to bear fruit. The heart is more devious than any other thing, perverse too: who can pierce its secrets? I, the Lord, search to the heart, I probe the loins, to give each man what his conduct and his actions deserve.”

Psalm 1:1-4,6

R/Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

Happy indeed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked; nor lingers in the way of sinners nor sits in the company of scorners, but whose delight is the law of the Lord and who ponders his law day and night.

He is like a tree that is planted beside the flowing waters, that yields its fruit in due season and whose leaves shall never fade; And all that he does shall prosper.

Not so are the wicked, not so! For they like winnowed chaff shall be driven away by the wind. For the Lord guards the way of the just but the way of the wicked leads to doom.

Gospel Acclamation: Lk 15: 18

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.’ Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!

Gospel: Luke 16: 19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees, “There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’ ‘My son,’ Abraham replied, ‘remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.’ ‘The rich man replied, ‘Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.’ ‘They have Moses and the prophets,’ said Abraham, ‘let them listen to them.’ ‘Ah no, father Abraham,’ said the rich man, ‘but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Prayer over the Offerings

By this present sacrifice, we pray, O Lord, sanctify our observance, that what Lenten discipline outwardly declares, it may inwardly bring about. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Ps 118: 1

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the Lord.

Prayer after Communion

May this sacrifice, O God, remain active in its effects and work ever more strongly within us. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer over the People

Abide with your servants, O Lord, who implore the help of your grace, that they may receive from you the support and guidance of your protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Meditation

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus challenges and invites us to practice charity. The problem of the rich and the poor is a living reality in our societies and in our families, and a major challenge to us all. Faced with so much inequality and injustice, we must ask ourselves why our humanity is going so badly. And today’s Gospel makes us understand that the world is like this because man has shut himself away from charity. If there are many “Lazarus” in the world and in our families today, it is because we, the rich of this time, refuse to share. Each of us has received freely from the Lord; a gift, a talent or a special faculty to put to the service of all. Every time we close our eyes to the sufferings of others, we are lacking in charity. We must practice it today because tomorrow it will be too late.

by | Mar 6, 2023 | Evangelium

Tuesday  07 MARCH

SAINTS PERPETUA AND FELICITY

They were martyred at Carthage in 203 during the persecution of Septimius Severus. Devotion to them spread rapidly and they are mentioned in the Roman Canon of the Mass.

Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 12: 4-5

Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death, lest my enemy say: I have overcome him.

Collect

Guard your Church, we pray, O Lord, in your unceasing mercy, and, since without you mortal humanity is sure to fall, may we be kept by your constant helps from all harm and directed to all that brings salvation. 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 1:10, 16-20

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the command of our God, You people of Gomorrah. “Wash, make yourselves clean. Take your wrong-doing Out of my sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us talk this over, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they Shall be like wool. If you are willing to obey, you shall eat the good things of the earth. But if you persist in rebellion, the sword shall eat you instead.”

Psalm 49: 8-9, 16-17, 21, 23

R/ I will show God’s salvation to the upright.

I find no fault with your sacrifices; your offerings are always before me. I do not ask more bullocks from your farms, Nor goats from among your herds.

But how can you recite my commandments and take my covenant on your lips, you who despise my law and throw my words to the winds.

You do this, and should I keep silence? Do you think that I am like you? A sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me And I will show God’s salvation to the upright.

Gospel Acclamation: Mt 4: 17

Glory and praise to you, O Christ! Repent, says the Lord, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Gospel: Matthew 23: 1-12

Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, “The Scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi. You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Prayer over the Offerings

Be pleased to work your sanctification within us by means of these mysteries, O Lord, and by it, may we be cleansed of earthly faults and led to the gifts of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Ps 9: 2-3

I will recount all your wonders. I will rejoice in you and be glad, and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.

Prayer after Communion

May the refreshment of this sacred table, O Lord, we pray, bring us an increase in devoutness of life and the constant help of your work of conciliation. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer over the People

Graciously hear the cries of your faithful, O Lord, and relieve the weariness of their soul, that, having received your forgiveness, they may ever rejoice in your blessing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Meditation

Hypocrisy is a vice that undermines and tempts people throughout the ages. We are often like the Scribes and Pharisees whom Jesus castigates in today’s Gospel. Many times, we only pretend to be good. Rotten on the inside, we often make others believe that we are saints. The “cult of appearances” is so widespread today that there is a total mismatch between what we say and what we do almost everywhere. The Lord invites us this day to be genuine and authentic people. Therefore, let us strive to avoid any attitude that leads us to pride and to the thought or believe that we are above others. Let us be humble and true in our lives.

by | Mar 5, 2023 | Evangelium

MONday  06 MARCH

SAINT COLLETTE

Born on January 13, she was orphaned at seventeen. She distributed her inheritance to the poor and became a Franciscan sister. She was renowned for her sanctity, ecstasies, and visions of the Passion.

Entrance Antiphon: Ps 25: 11-12

Redeem me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. My foot stands on level ground; I will bless the Lord in the assembly.

Collect

O God, who have taught us to chasten our bodies for the healing of our souls, enable us, we pray, to abstain from all sins, and strengthen our hearts to carry out your loving commands. 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:  Daniel 9: 4-10

O Lord, God great and to be feared, you keep the covenant and have kindness for those who love you and keep your commandments: we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly, we have betrayed your commandments and your ordinances and turned away from them. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. Integrity, Lord, is yours; ours the look of shame we wear today, we, the people of Judah, the citizens of Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in every country to which you have dispersed us because of the treason we have committed against you. To us, Lord, the look of shame belongs, to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God mercy and pardon belong, because we have betrayed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God nor followed the laws he has given us through his servants the prophets.

Psalm: 78(79): 8-9, 11, 13

R/ Do not treat us according to our sins, O Lord.

Do not hold the guilt of our fathers against us. Let your compassion hasten to meet us; we are left in the depths of distress.

O God our saviour, come to our help. Come for the sake of the glory of your name. O Lord our God, forgive us our sins; rescue us for the sake of your name.

Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; let your strong-arm reprieve those condemned to die. But we, your people, the flock of your pasture, will give you thanks for ever and ever. We will tell your praise from age to age.

Gospel Acclamation

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower; whoever finds this seed will remain for ever. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Gospel: Luke 6: 36-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.”

Prayer over the Offerings

Accept in your goodness these our prayers, O Lord, and set free from worldly attractions those you allow to serve the heavenly mysteries. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon:  Lk 6: 36

Be merciful, as your Father is merciful, says the Lord.

Prayer after Communion

May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us of wrongdoing and make us heirs to the joy of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer over the People

Confirm the hearts of your faithful, O Lord, we pray, and strengthen them by the power of your grace, that they may be constant in making supplication to you and sincere in love for one another. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

On this day, Christ Jesus, our Lord, invites us to be merciful and compassionate Having a good heart is not an easy thing these days. We are often very hard on others in our judgement; we are very unforgiving and forget that we are subject to the same acts, the same mistakes, the same sins. We demand and expect others to treat us differently than we treat them. So the Lord warns us about the way we treat others. We cannot mistreat others and expect them to throw flowers at us. In inviting us to be merciful on this day, the Lord expects us to know how to look at others as God looks at us despite our shortcomings and sins.

by | Mar 4, 2023 | Evangelium

SUNday  05 MARCH

2nd Sunday of Lent,

Psalter week II

Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 26: 8-9

Of you my heart has spoken, Seek his face. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face from me.

Collect

O God, who have commanded us to listen to your beloved Son, be pleased, we pray, to nourish us inwardly by your word, that, with spiritual sight made pure, we may rejoice to behold your 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: Genesis 12: 1-4   

The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing. I will bless those who bless you: I will curse those who slight you. All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you.” So Abram went as the Lord told him.

Psalm 32(33): 4-5, 18-20, 22

R/ May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

The word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted. The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love.

The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love, to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul is waiting for the Lord. The Lord is our help and our shield. May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

Second reading: 2 Timothy 1: 8-10

With me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy – not because of anything we ourselves have done but for his own purpose and by his own grace. This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death, and he has proclaimed life and immortality through the Good News.

Gospel Acclamation: Mt 17: 5 

Glory and praise to you, O Christ! From the bright cloud the Father’s voice was heard: ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. “Lord,” he said, “it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.” When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. “Stand up,” he said, “do not be afraid.” And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.  As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, “Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”

Prayer over the Offerings

May this sacrifice, O Lord, we pray, cleanse us of our faults and sanctify your faithful in body and mind for the celebration of the paschal festivities. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Mt 17: 5

This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.

Prayer after Communion

As we receive these glorious mysteries, we make thanksgiving to you, O Lord, for allowing us while still on earth to be partakers even now of the things of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer over the People

Bless your faithful, we pray, O Lord, with a blessing that endures for ever, and keep them faithful to the Gospel of your Only Begotten Son, so that they may always desire and at last attain that glory whose beauty he showed in his own Body, to the amazement of his Apostles. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Meditation

The Lord invites us this Sunday to step out of our comfort zone. He invites us to a commitment of faith. In the first reading, he asks Abram to leave the land of his fathers and let himself be led into an unknown land; in the second reading, he asks us not to be afraid of the service of proclaiming the Gospel and calls us to be witnesses of his love. But we find that we do not like to set out to do this. Like Peter in today’s Gospel, we often want to put up tents and sleep in our comfort zone. However, the Lord makes us understand that his glory is to be proclaimed after the resurrection. So we must first go through the Friday of the trial. On this Sunday, let us follow the example of the commitment of Abram, our father in faith. Let us trust in God, and we will never be disappointed.