by | Jul 24, 2022 | Evangelium

Monday 25 th July 2022

 

St. James

(44)

 

He was the brother of St John and, like him, a fisherman. He was one of the witnesses of the Transfiguration and one of those who slept through most of the Agony in the Garden. He was the first of the apostles to be martyred, being beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I to please the Jewish opponents of Christianity. He was buried in Jerusalem.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Mt 4: 18, 21

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother mending their nets and he called them.

 

Collect

Almighty ever-living God, who consecrated the first fruits of your Apostles by the blood of Saint James, grant, we pray, that your Church may be strengthened by his confession of faith and constantly sustained by his protection. 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 Corinthians 4:7-15

We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you. But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in Scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke – we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.

 

Psalm 125:1-6

R/  Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

 

  1. When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs.
  2. The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels the Lord worked for them!’ What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.
  3. Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land. Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.
  4. They go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing: they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves.

 

Gospel Acclamation : cf.Jn15:16

Alleluia, alleluia! I chose you from the world to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last, says the Lord. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Matthew 20:20-28

The mother of Zebedee’s sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’ When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over  them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Cleanse us, Lord, by the saving baptism of your Son’s Passion, so that on the Feast of Saint James, whom you willed to be the first among the Apostles to drink of Christ’s chalice of suffering, we may offer a sacrifice pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon

They drank the chalice of the Lord, and became the friends of God.

 

Prayer after Communion

Help us, O Lord, we pray, through the intercession of the blessed Apostle James, on whose feast day we have received with joy your holy gifts. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Meditation

The kingdom that Jesus Christ preached is not that of prestige and pride. For Jesus’ leadership is all about service. When Jesus’ days drew near, He took the road to Jerusalem. Some of His followers started asking to know his position. Whoever wants to have a leadership position in the Kingdom of God must be able to drink the same cup that Jesus drank; the cup of suffering. The Master made Himself obedient, took the condition of a slave and ended up on the cross. How many of the followers of Christ are willing to identify themselves with the cup of salvation today? Our preachers have all turned away from the cross. Leadership has become something of gain, something that brings us wealth and a tool to maltreat others. Let us, therefore, revisit the leadership of Jesus Christ.

by | Jul 23, 2022 | Evangelium

Sunday 24 th July 2022

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalter I

 

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 67: 6-7, 36

God is in his holy place, God who unites those who dwell in his house; he himself gives might and strength to his people.

 

Collect

O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure. 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 18:20-32

The Lord said, ‘How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.’ The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, ‘Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?’ the Lord replied, ‘If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.’ Abraham replied, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.’ Again Abraham said to him, ‘Perhaps there will only be forty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the forty.’ Abraham said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the ten.’

 

Psalm 137(138):1-3,6-8

R/   On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

 

  1. I thank you, Lord, with all my heart: you have heard the words of my mouth. In the presence of the angels I will bless you. I will adore before your holy temple.
  2. I thank you for your faithfulness and love, which excel all we ever knew of you. On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul.
  3. The Lord is high yet he looks on the lowly and the haughty he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of affliction you give me life and frustrate my foes.
  4. You stretch out your hand and save me, your hand will do all things for me. Your love, O Lord, is eternal, discard not the work of your hands.

 

Second reading : Colossians 2:12-14

You have been buried with Christ, when you were baptised; and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead. You were dead, because you were sinners and had not been circumcised: he has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins. He has overridden the Law, and cancelled every record of the debt that we had to pay; he has done away with it by nailing it to the cross.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Jn1:14,12

Alleluia, alleluia! The Word was made flesh and lived among us: to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God. Alleluia!

 

 

Gospel : Luke 11:1-13

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray: ‘“Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.”’ He also said to them:  ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants. ‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Accept, O Lord, we pray, the offerings which we bring from the abundance of your gifts, that through the powerful working of your grace, these most sacred mysteries may sanctify our present way of life and lead us to eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Ps 102: 2

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all his benefits.

 

Prayer after Communion

We have consumed, O Lord, this divine Sacrament, the perpetual memorial of the Passion of your Son; grant, we pray, that this gift, which he himself gave us with love beyond all telling, may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

Jesus’prayer life inspires His apostles to ask to be taught how to pray. As practicing Jews, they knew how to pray, but Jesus prayed in a different way, and this moved them. Jesus‘ praying style teaches that we start by praising God and thanking Him for the good He has been doing for us. In the second place, we can then make our petitions after we must have confessed to Him for our wrongs. We should know that whatever measurement we measure out to our brothers and sisters, it is the same measurement we receive from God. “Forgive us our sins as we also forgive all who wrong us.” If I want to be forgiven, let me forgive the other. If I want to have, let me give to others.

by | Jul 22, 2022 | Evangelium

saturday 23 rd July 2022

 

St. Bridget

of Sweden

(1303 – 1391)

 

She was married to a nobleman and had eight children. At the age of 30 she was summoned to the court of the King of Sweden, where she served as lady-in-waiting to the queen. She tried without much success to moderate the riotous and indecent life of the royal court.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Ps 53: 6, 8

See, I have God for my help. The Lord sustains my soul. I will sacrifice to you with willing heart, and praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.

 

Collect

Show favour, O Lord, to your servants, and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace, that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity, they may be ever watchful in keeping your 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 : Jeremiah 7:1-11

The word that was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘Go and stand at the gate of the Temple of the Lord and there proclaim this message. Say, “Listen to the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who come in by these gates to worship the Lord. The Lord Sabaoth, the God of Israel, says this: Amend your behaviour and your actions and I will stay with you here in this place. Put no trust in delusive words like these: This is the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord! But if you do amend your behaviour and your actions, if you treat each other fairly, if you do not exploit the stranger, the orphan and the widow (if you do not shed innocent blood in this place), and if you do not follow alien gods, to your own ruin, then here in this place I will stay with you, in the land that long ago I gave to your fathers for ever. Yet here you are, trusting in delusive words, to no purpose! Steal, would you, murder, commit adultery, perjure yourselves, burn incense to Baal, follow alien gods that you do not know? – and then come presenting yourselves in this Temple that bears my name, saying: Now we are safe – safe to go on committing all these abominations! Do you take this Temple that bears my name for a robbers’ den? I, at any rate, am not blind – it is the Lord who speaks.”’

 

Psalm 83:3-6,8,11

R/   How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord, God of hosts.

 

  1. My soul is longing and yearning, is yearning for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my soul ring out their joy to God, the living God.
  2. The sparrow herself finds a home and the swallow a nest for her brood; she lays her young by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God.
  3. They are happy, who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise. They walk with ever-growing strength, they will see the God of gods in Zion.
  4. One day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. The threshold of the house of God I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Heb4:12

Alleluia, alleluia! The word of God is something alive and active: it can judge secret emotions and thoughts. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus put another parable before the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants went to him and said, “Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” “Some enemy has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us to go and weed it out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.”’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

O God, who in the one perfect sacrifice, brought to completion varied offerings of the law, accept, we pray, this sacrifice from your faithful servants and make it holy, as you blessed the gifts of Abel, so that what each has offered to the honour of your majesty may benefit the salvation of all. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Ps 110: 4-5

The Lord, the gracious, the merciful, has made a memorial of his wonders; he gives food to those who fear him.

 

Prayer after Communion

Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass from former ways to newness of life. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Meditation

Our world is full of evil and perpetrators of evil. Many times we question why there is much evil in the world. The existence of evil has made some to start questioning the existence of God. From the Parable of the Weeds, Jesus gives an answer to all those who are concerned about the presence of evil in the world. Good and bad are mixed in the world and they must be found in people and institutions. When the end time will come, a good selection will be made and the bad ones will be burnt in an everlasting fire. The respect God gives to His creation is that He knows they are all weak human beings open to temptation and so he does not rush to condemn us His creatures. He gives us time to discover and choose what is good. The patience of God is an opportunity for us to repent. May we find the kingdom prepared for us at the end of time. Amen.

by | Jul 21, 2022 | Evangelium

Friday 22 nd July 2022

 

St. Mary Magdalene

Mary of Magdala was healed of “seven devils” by Jesus. She ministered to him in Galilee and was present at his crucifixion. She was in the group of women who were the first to discover the empty tomb, and it was to her that the risen Jesus first appeared.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Jn 20: 17

The Lord said to Mary Magdalene: Go to my brothers and tell them: I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.

 

Collect

O God, whose Only Begotten Son entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others with announcing the great joy of the Resurrection, grant, we pray, that through her intercession and example we may proclaim the living Christ and come to see him reigning in your glory. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

First reading : Song of Songs 3:1-4

The bride says this: On my bed, at night, I sought him whom my heart loves. I sought but did not find him. So I will rise and go through the City; in the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my heart loves. I sought but did not find him. The watchmen came upon me on their rounds in the City: ‘Have you seen him whom my heart loves?’ Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my heart loves.

 

Psalm 62(63):2-6,8-9

R/ For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God.

 

  1. O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water.
  2. So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory. For your love is better than life, my lips will speak your praise.
  3. So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, my mouth shall praise you with joy.
  4. For you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice. My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast.

 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia! Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way. – The tomb the Living did enclose; I saw Christ’s glory as he rose! Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Matthew 12:1-8

It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’ Meanwhile Mary stayed outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away’ she replied ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise him. Jesus said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’ – which means Master. Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and find the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her.

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Accept, Lord, the offerings presented in commemoration of Saint Mary Magdalene, whose homage of charity was graciously accepted by your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

 

Communion Antiphon : 2 Cor 5: 14, 15

The love of Christ impels us, so that those who live may live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised.

 

Prayer after Communion

May the holy reception of your mysteries, Lord, instill in us that persevering love with which Saint Mary Magdalene clung resolutely to Christ her Master. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

 

 

Meditation

“Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father”. While on earth, Jesus had no problem about the passion of His disciples. After the resurrection, coming from the Father, there is need to go back to the Father after His glorious resurrection. One of the things we identify Jesus and the father with is that after every action, He returns to the Father in prayers. It is but normal that after the resurrection, he returns first, to the Father. He invites us to always returns to the Father from where comes our help. The love Jesus has for us is a manifestation of the Father’s love. He has showed us this love before His death and after the resurrection, He needs to get back to the father before any other thing. Let us turn to the Father before going back to whatever we are doing.

by | Jul 20, 2022 | Evangelium

Thursday 21 st July 2022

 

St. Laurence

of Brindisi

(1559 – 1619)

 

He was born in Brindisi, joined the Capuchin Friars, and studied at the University of Padua, where he learned a number of languages (including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, French, and German) and acquired a deep knowledge of the Bible. He preached all over Europe, not just to Catholics but to Protestants and to Jews.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Ps 53: 6, 8

See, I have God for my help. The Lord sustains my soul. I will sacrifice to you with willing heart, and praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.

 

Collect

Show favour, O Lord, to your servants and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace, that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity, they may be ever watchful in keeping your 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 : Jeremiah 2:1-3,7-8,12-13

The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying, ‘Go and shout this in the hearing of Jerusalem: ‘“The Lord says this: I remember the affection of your youth, the love of your bridal days: you followed me through the wilderness, through a land unsown. Israel was sacred to the Lord, the first-fruits of his harvest; anyone who ate of this had to pay for it, misfortune came to them – it is the Lord who speaks.” ‘I brought you to a fertile country to enjoy its produce and good things; but no sooner had you entered than you defiled my land, and made my heritage detestable. The priests have never asked, “Where is the Lord?” Those who administer the Law have no knowledge of me. The shepherds have rebelled against me; the prophets have prophesied in the name of Baal, following things with no power in them. ‘You heavens, stand aghast at this, stand stupefied, stand utterly appalled – it is the Lord who speaks. Since my people have committed a double crime: they have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, only to dig cisterns for themselves, leaky cisterns that hold no water.’

 

Psalm 35:6-11

R/ In you, Lord, is the source of life.

 

  1. Your love, Lord, reaches to heaven; your truth to the skies. Your justice is like God’s mountain, your judgements like the deep.
  2. O Lord, how precious is your love. My God, the sons of men find refuge in the shelter of your wings. They feast on the riches of your house; they drink from the stream of your delight.
  3. In you is the source of life and in your light we see light. Keep on loving those who know you, doing justice for upright hearts.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Ps94:8

Alleluia, alleluia! Harden not your hearts today, but listen to the voice of the Lord. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Matthew 13:10-17

The disciples went up to Jesus and asked, ‘Why do you talk to them in parables?’ ‘Because’ he replied, ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled: You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive. For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed by me. ‘But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

O God, who in the one perfect sacrifice, brought to completion varied offerings of the law, accept, we pray, this sacrifice from your faithful servants and make it holy as you blessed the gifts of Abel, so that what each has offered to the honour of your majesty may benefit the salvation of all. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Ps 110: 4-5

The Lord, the gracious, the merciful, has made a memorial of his wonders; he gives food to those who fear him.

 

Prayer after Communion

Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass from former ways to newness of life. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

The secret about the Word of God that Jesus presents to us is that it is sweet in the mouth and bitter when it is consumed. This explains why Jesus first speaks to His disciples in parables and only explains to those who show interest to follow Him and be part of His disciples. Anyone, therefore, who wants to get a taste of the message of Jesus Christ must be part of His flock. The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. The disciples have decided to follow Him and that is why the mysteries of the kingdom are revealed to them. Therefore, brethren, whoever has taken the firm decision to be a co-worker of Christ, the Father will reveal His secrets to him.

 

by | Jul 19, 2022 | Evangelium

wednesday 20 th July 2022

 

St. Apollinaris, Bishop,

Martyr

 

He was bishop of Ravenna, probably in the late second century, and was probably martyred there. Devotion to him was already common in the seventh century.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Ps 53: 6, 8

See, I have God for my help. The Lord sustains my soul. I will sacrifice to you with willing heart, and praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.

 

Collect

Show favour, O Lord, to your servants and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace, that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity, they may be ever watchful in keeping your 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 : Jeremiah 1:1,4-10 

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, of a priestly family living at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you as prophet to the nations.’ I said, ‘Ah, Lord; look, I do not know how to speak: I am a child!’ But the Lord replied, ‘Do not say, “I am a child.” Go now to those to whom I send you and, say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to protect you – it is the Lord who speaks!’ Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me: ‘There! I am putting my words into your mouth. Look, today I am setting you over nations and over kingdoms, to tear up and to knock down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.’

Psalm 70(71):1-6,15,17

R/ My lips will tell of your help.

 

  1. In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, free me: pay heed to me and save me.
  2. Be a rock where I can take refuge, a mighty stronghold to save me; for you are my rock, my stronghold. Free me from the hand of the wicked.
  3. It is you, O Lord, who are my hope, my trust, O Lord, since my youth. On you I have leaned from my birth, from my mother’s womb you have been my help.
  4. My lips will tell of your justice and day by day of your help. O God, you have taught me from my youth and I proclaim your wonders still.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Ps118:36,29

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

 

Gospel : Matthew 13:1-9

Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables. He said, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

O God, who in the one perfect sacrifice, brought to completion varied offerings of the law, accept, we pray, this sacrifice from your faithful servants and make it holy as you blessed the gifts of Abel, so that what each has offered to the honour of your majesty may benefit the salvation of all. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Ps 110: 4-5

The Lord, the gracious, the merciful, has made a memorial of his wonders; he gives food to those who fear him.

 

Prayer after Communion

Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass from former ways to newness of life. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

In the first reading, which tells us about the calling of the Prophet Jeremiah, we realise how little the prophet says about his vocation. The most important thing is the message he reveals. This is to let us know that vocation or the call of God is from the interior. A prophet is the messenger of God. The words of a prophets are the interpretation of the mission God sends to His people. A true prophet understands the mission of God and so interprets it directly. In the Gospel, Jesus uses parables to bring the message of the kingdom of God to the people. The use of parables is to awaken in listeners the awareness of their present situation and to invite them to make decisions.