by | Aug 24, 2022 | Evangelium

Thursday 25 th august 2022

 

St. Joseph

of Calasanz

(1557 – 1648)

 

He was born in Aragón, received an excellent education and was ordained priest. After working in his own country for some time he went to Rome where he worked for the education of the poor and founded a religious congregation for that purpose. His idea was that every child should receive an education. He died in Rome in 1648.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 85: 1-3

Turn your ear, O Lord, and answer me; save the servant who trusts in you, my God. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long.

 

Collect

O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. 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 Corinthians 1:1-9

I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle, together with brother Sosthenes, send greetings to the Church of God in Corinth, to the holy people of Jesus Christ, who are called to take their place among all the saints everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ; for he is their Lord no less than ours. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace. I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.

 

Psalm 144:2-7

R/ I will bless your name for ever, O Lord.

 

  1. I will bless you day after day and praise your name for ever. The Lord is great, highly to be praised, his greatness cannot be measured.
  2. Age to age shall proclaim your works, shall declare your mighty deeds, shall speak of your splendour and glory, tell the tale of your wonderful works.
  3. They will speak of your terrible deeds, recount your greatness and might. They will recall your abundant goodness; age to age shall ring out your justice.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Jn15:15

Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Matthew 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. ‘What sort of servant, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their food at the proper time? ‘Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you solemnly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the dishonest servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time,” and sets about beating his fellow servants and eating and drinking with drunkards, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

O Lord, who gained for yourself a people by adoption through the one sacrifice offered once for all, bestow graciously on us, we pray, the gifts of unity and peace in your Church. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 103: 13-15

The earth is replete with the fruits of your work, O Lord; you bring forth bread from the earth and wine to cheer the heart.

 

Prayer after Communion

Complete within us, O Lord, we pray, the healing work of your mercy and graciously perfect and sustain us, so that in all things we may please you. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Meditation

Jesus tells a parable about a servant who has a choice between two attitudes in the absence of his master. He can either faithfully carry out his task towards the other servants, or he can let his mind be seduced by the idea that the master is delaying because he will not return. The idea is dangerous because it implies that the servant is no longer accountable to anyone and that his master’s property is now his own. This is an abuse of power, for in ancient times, only the master had the right to beat his servants. Here, our man believes himself to be invested with the powers of his master, showing us clearly that his idea of his master’s return guides his way of life, his choice to do good or evil.

 

by | Aug 23, 2022 | Evangelium

Wednesday 24 th august 2022

 

St. Bartholomew,

Apostle

 

He was born in Cana and brought by the Apostle Philip to meet Jesus. Nothing further is known for certain. Eusebius speaks of him in India, but the Roman Martyrology has him martyred in Armenia, skinned alive according to the Persian custom. He is a patron saint of the sick.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 95: 2-3

Proclaim the salvation of God day by day; tell among the nations his glory.

 

Collect

Strengthen in us, O Lord, the faith, by which the blessed Apostle Bartholomew clung wholeheartedly to your Son, and grant that through the help of his prayers, your Church may become for all the nations, the sacrament of 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 : Apocalypse 21:9-14

The angel came to speak to me, and said, ‘Come here and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has married.’ In the spirit, he took me to the top of an enormous high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. It had all the radiant glory of God and glittered like some precious jewel of crystal-clear diamond. The walls of it were of a great height, and had twelve gates; at each of the twelve gates there was an angel, and over the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; on the east there were three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

 

Psalm 144:10-13,17-18

R/  Your friends, O Lord, make known the glorious splendour of your reign.

 

  1. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing. They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God.
  2. They make known to men your mighty deeds and the glorious splendour of your reign. Yours is an everlasting kingdom; your rule lasts from age to age.
  3. The Lord is just in all his ways and loving in all his deeds. He is close to all who call him, who call on him from their hearts.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Jn1:49

Alleluia, alleluia! Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : John 1:45-51

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. so 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

As we celebrate anew the feast day of Saint Bartholomew, O Lord, we pray that we may obtain your help through the intercession of the Apostle, in whose honour we bring you this sacrifice of praise. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Lk 22: 29-30

I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, says the Lord.

 

Prayer after Communion

As we celebrate the feast day of the blessed Apostle Bartholomew, we have received the pledge of eternal salvation, O Lord, and we pray that it may be of help to us, both now and for the life to come. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Meditation

Bartholomew or Nathnael, he gives us an example of the deep and original relationship between the disciple and the teacher. It manifests itself to us with great modesty, by a simple suggestion. It manifests itself to us through a reciprocal recognition, that of two people who have known each other, who have loved each other, who have sought each other out. Jesus is the first to recognise his disciple: “There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.” The disciple is taken aback. He immediately felt challenged: “How do you know me?” Jesus then discreetly gave him a clue; – he evoked a shared moment: “I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael’s reaction is immediate: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God”. He recognises the Lord. The apostle recognises the one he met under the fig tree, that is, the one who revealed himself to him during his meditation on Scripture.

 

by | Aug 22, 2022 | Evangelium

Tuesday 23 rd august 2022

 

St. Rose of Lima

(1586 – 1617)

 

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 85: 1-3

Turn your ear, O Lord, and answer me; save the servant who trusts in you, my God. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long.

 

Collect

O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. 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 : 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17

To turn, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived. Never let anyone deceive you in this way. It cannot happen until the Great Revolt has taken place and the Rebel, the Lost One, has appeared. Through the Good News that we brought he called you to this so that you should share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand firm, then, brothers, and keep the traditions that we taught you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who has given us his love and, through his grace, such inexhaustible comfort and such sure hope, comfort you and strengthen you in everything good that you do or say.

 

Psalm 95:10-13

R/ The Lord comes to rule the earth.

 

  1. Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’ The world he made firm in its place; he will judge the peoples in fairness.
  2. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad, let the sea and all within it thunder praise, let the land and all it bears rejoice, all the trees of the wood shout for joy at the presence of the Lord for he comes, he comes to rule the earth.
  3. With justice he will rule the world, he will judge the peoples with his truth.

 

Gospel Acclamation : cf.Ac16:14

Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Matthew 23:23-26

Jesus said, ‘Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who pay your tithe of mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law – justice, mercy, good faith! These you should have practised, without neglecting the others. You blind guides! Straining out gnats and swallowing camels! ‘Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that the outside may become clean as well.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

O Lord, who gained for yourself a people by adoption through the one sacrifice offered once for all, bestow graciously on us, we pray, the gifts of unity and peace in your Church. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 103: 13-15

The earth is replete with the fruits of your work, O Lord; you bring forth bread from the earth and wine to cheer the heart.

 

Prayer after Communion

Complete within us, O Lord, we pray, the healing work of your mercy and graciously perfect and sustain us, so that in all things we may please you. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Meditation

Today’s Gospel invites the Christian community and its leaders to examine their consciences. Do we respect the core values of our faith? Do we value standards more than people? Are we imposing on others what we ourselves cannot live up to? Do we speak with the superiority of our knowledge or with the humility of our heart? As Helder Camara said: “I would like to be a pool of water to reflect the sky”. Do the faithful see in their pastors men of God, who know the difference between the superfluous and the fundamental? Weakness leads to understanding, hypocrisy to refusal.

by | Aug 21, 2022 | Evangelium

Monday 22 th august 2022

 

Our Lady, Mother and Queen

(1835 – 1914)

 

Queen of Heaven is a title given to the Virgin Mary, by Christians. The title is a consequence of the First Council of Ephesus in the fifth century, in which Mary was proclaimed “Theotokos”, in English “Mother of God”. The Catholic teaching on this subject states that Mary is called Queen of Heaven because her son, Jesus Christ, is the king of Israel and the heavenly king of the universe.

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 44: 10

At your right stands the queen in robes of gold, finely arrayed.

 

Collect

O God, who made the Mother of your Son to be our Mother and our Queen, graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession, we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom the glory promised to your children. 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 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12

From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We feel we must be continually thanking God for you, brothers; quite rightly, because your faith is growing so wonderfully and the love that you have for one another never stops increasing; and among the Churches of God we can take special pride in you for your constancy and faith under all the persecutions and troubles you have to bear. It all shows that God’s judgement is just, and the purpose of it is that you may be found worthy of the kingdom of God; it is for the sake of this that you are suffering now. Knowing this, we pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Psalm 95:1-5

R/  Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

 

  1. O sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
  2. Proclaim his help day by day, tell among the nations his glory and his wonders among all the peoples.
  3. The Lord is great and worthy of praise, to be feared above all gods; the gods of the heathens are naught.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Jn17:17

Alleluia, alleluia! Your word is truth, O Lord: consecrate us in the truth. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus said, ‘Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to. ‘Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are. ‘Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Or else, “If a man swears by the altar it has no force; but if a man swears by the offering that is on the altar, he is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there. ’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

As we observe this Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we bring you our offerings, O Lord, praying to be given strength by the humanity of Christ, who offered himself to you on the Cross as the unblemished oblation. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

 

Communion Antiphon : Cf. Lk 1: 45

Blessed are you who have believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord will be fulfilled.

 

Prayer after Communion

Having received this heavenly Sacrament, we humbly pray, O Lord, that we, who reverently celebrate the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may merit to be partakers at your eternal banquet. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Meditation

Today the Lord is angry with the guides who lead their fellow men astray, robbing them of the will to live and, finally, even of life: “Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are” The Pharisees indeed pursue individuals, “hunting them down” to lead them to their own religious conviction – not God’s, but their own. They turn people not into sons of God, but of hell. Their pride does not lead to heaven, or even to life, but to a fatal destiny: doom.

 

by | Aug 20, 2022 | Evangelium

Sunday 21 St august 2022

 

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalter I

 

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 85: 1-3

Turn your ear, O Lord, and answer me; save the servant who trusts in you, my God. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long.

 

Collect

O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. 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 66:18-21

The Lord says this: I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory. I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Moshech, Rosh, Tubal, and Javan, to the distant islands that have never heard of me or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory to the nations. As an offering to the Lord they will bring all your brothers, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, on dromedaries, from all the nations to my holy mountain in Jerusalem, says the Lord, like Israelites bringing oblations in clean vessels to the Temple of the Lord. And of some of them I will make priests and Levites, says the Lord.

 

Psalm 116(117)

R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.

 

  1. O praise the Lord, all you nations, acclaim him all you peoples!
  2. Strong is his love for us; he is faithful for ever.

 

Second reading : Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13

Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. So hold up your limp arms and steady your trembling knees and smooth out the path you tread; then the injured limb will not be wrenched, it will grow strong again.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Jn14:23

Alleluia, alleluia! If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him,  and we shall come to him. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Luke 13:22-30

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.  ‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”  ‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. ‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

O Lord, who gained for yourself a people by adoption through the one sacrifice offered once for all, bestow graciously on us, we pray, the gifts of unity and peace in your Church. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 103: 13-15

The earth is replete with the fruits of your work, O Lord; you bring forth bread from the earth and wine to cheer the heart.

 

Prayer after Communion

Complete within us, O Lord, we pray, the healing work of your mercy and graciously perfect and sustain us, so that in all things we may please you. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

In our Gospel from Luke 13:22-30, someone tries to make Jesus determine the QUANTITY of those who will be saved. To this, Jesus responds “Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed”. Meanwhile, quoting the book of Revelation, chapters 7 and 14, some people propose that 144000 people will be saved. They forget that the apostle John saw a “great multitude, which no man can number” out of every nation. These too were redeemed individuals whose robes had been made white in the Lamb’s blood (7:14). Our first reading today makes us understand that Salvation is for every nation: “I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory” (Isaiah 66:18-21). It is consoling to hear that everyone has the chance to be among the few who will pass through the narrow gate. Before leaving this world, Jesus encourages the apostles to “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News” (cf. Mark 15:16 and Mathew 28:19-20. In effect, Psalm 116:1-2 enjoins ALL NATIONS to praise the name of the Lord. The salvation of God knows no boundaries. It is the wish of God that ALL people be saved.

 

 

by | Aug 19, 2022 | Evangelium

Saturday 20 th august 2022

 

St. Bernard

of Clairvaux

(1090 – 1153)

 

He was born in France. In 1112 he joined the new monastery at Cîteaux. Within three years he had been sent out to found a new monastery at Clairvaux, in Champagne, where he remained abbot for the rest of his life. By the time of his death, the Cistercian Order had grown from one house to 343, of which 68 were daughter houses of Clairvaux itself.

 

Entrance Antiphon

Filled by the Lord with a spirit of understanding, blessed Bernard ministered streams of clear teaching to the people of God.

 

Collect

O God, who made of the Abbot Saint Bernard a man consumed with zeal for your house and a light shining and burning in your Church, grant, through his intercession, that we may be on fire with the same spirit and walk always as children of light. 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 : Ezekiel 43:1-7

The angel took me to the gate, the one facing east. I saw the glory of the God of Israel approaching from the east. A sound came with it, like the sound of the ocean, and the earth shone with his glory. This vision was like the one I had seen when I had come for the destruction of the city, and like the one I had seen on the bank of the river Chebar. Then I prostrated myself. The glory of the Lord arrived at the Temple by the east gate. The spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; I saw the glory of the Lord fill the Temple. And I heard someone speaking to me from the Temple while the man stood beside me. The voice said, ‘Son of man, this is the dais of my throne, the step on which I rest my feet. I shall live here among the sons of Israel for ever.’

 

 

 

Psalm 84:9-14

R/  The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

 

  1. I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace, peace for his people and his friends. His help is near for those who fear him and his glory will dwell in our land.
  2. Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced. Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven.
  3. The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit. Justice shall march before him and peace shall follow his steps.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Ps118:36,29

Alleluia, alleluia! Bend my heart to your will, O Lord, and teach me your law. Alleluia!

 

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

We offer to your majesty, O Lord, the Sacrament of unity and peace, as we celebrate the Memorial of the Abbot Saint Bernard, a man outstanding in word and deed, who strove to bring order and concord to your Church. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Jn 15: 9

As the Father loves me, so I also love you; remain in my love, says the Lord.

 

Prayer after Communion

May the food we have received, O Lord, as we honour Saint Bernard, work its effect in us, so that, strengthened by his example and instructed by his teaching, we may be caught up in love of your incarnate Word. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

 

 

Meditation

The issue of humility is clearly presented at the end of the text. Christ describes societal gestures that we find very normal and that we can easily classify as acts of politeness. Giving a place of honour; what could be more normal in a society as stratified as ours? One would start by noticing that even in our churches, seats are often offered according to the posture of the person, on pain committing a crime of lèse majesté. The reverse is also true. When men of the Church are in administrative services, they want politeness to be returned to them and, above all, they want to be served with the utmost diligence. We want our titles (Father, Master, Lord) to suffer no diminution. And God only knows how much more the counter-testimony marks consciences, while wanting to engrave itself in a definitive way.