by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 19, 2022 | Evangelium

Sunday 20 March 2022

3^rd Sunday of Lent,

Psalter III

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 24: 15-16

My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues my feet from the snare. Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and poor.

Collect

O God, author of every mercy and of all goodness, who in fasting, prayer and almsgiving, have shown us a remedy for sin, look graciously on this confession of our lowliness, that we, who are bowed down by our conscience, may always be lifted up by your mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

First reading : Exodus 3:1-8,13-15

Moses was looking after the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law priest of Midian. He led his flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the shape of a flame of fire, coming from the middle of a bush. Moses looked; there was the bush blazing but it was not being burnt up. ‘I must go and look at this strange sight,’ Moses said, ‘and see why the bush is not burnt.’ Now the Lord saw him go forward to look, and God called to him from the middle of the bush. ‘Moses, Moses!’ he said. ‘Here I am,’ Moses answered. ‘Come no nearer,’ he said. ‘Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers,’ he said, ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this Moses covered his face, afraid to look at God. And the Lord said, ‘I have seen the miserable state of my people in Egypt. I have heard their appeal to be free of their slave-drivers. Yes, I am well aware of their sufferings. I mean to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians and bring them up out of that land to a land rich and broad, a land where milk and honey flow, the home of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.’ Then Moses said to God, ‘I am to go, then, to the sons of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” But if they ask me what his name is, what am I to tell them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I Am who I Am. This’ he added ‘is what you must say to the sons of Israel: “I Am has sent me to you.”’ And God also said to Moses, ‘You are to say to the sons of Israel: “The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name for all time; by this name I shall be invoked for all generations to come.’

Psalm 102(103):1-4,6-8,11

R/   The Lord is compassion and love.

1. 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.
2. 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,
3. The Lord does deeds of justice, gives judgement for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses and his deeds to Israel’s sons.
4. The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. For as the heavens are high above the earth so strong is his love for those who fear him.

Second reading : 1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12

I want to remind you, brothers, how our fathers were all guided by a cloud above them and how they all passed through the sea. They were all baptised into Moses in this cloud and in this sea; all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink, since they all drank from the spiritual rock that followed them as they went, and that rock was Christ. In spite of this, most of them failed to please God and their corpses littered the desert. These things all happened as warnings for us, not to have the wicked lusts for forbidden things that they had. You must never complain: some of them did, and they were killed by the Destroyer. All this happened to them as a warning, and it was written down to be a lesson for us who are living at the end of the age. The man who thinks he is safe must be careful that he does not fall.

Gospel Acclamation : Mt4:17

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

Gospel : Luke 13:1-9

Some people arrived and told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices. At this he said to them, ‘Do you suppose these Galileans who suffered like that were greater sinners than any other Galileans? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell and killed them? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.’ He told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to the man who looked after the vineyard, “Look here, for three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?” “Sir,” the man replied “leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.”’

Prayer over the Offerings

Be pleased, O Lord, with these sacrificial offerings, and grant that we who beseech pardon For our own sins, may take care to forgive our neighbour. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon

The sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for her young: By your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, forever singing your praise.

Prayer after Communion

As we receive the pledge of things yet hidden in heaven and are nourished while still on earth with the Bread that comes from on high, we humbly entreat you, O Lord, that what is being brought about in us in mystery may come to true completion. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

The fate of the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with that of their sacrifices, like that of those who perished in the fall of the tower of Siloam, becomes a symbol for the coming fate of all who will not repent. Therefore, more important than the timing or cause of death is this only repentance can change death from a tragic end into a bridge to a new kind of life. The events show life’s fragility and that disaster looms for the unresponsive. The fig-tree parable identifies Jesus’ hearers as being in the last opportunity to change their ways. There is need for repentance and a strict limit to the time available for repentance. God is willing to show us His patience (2 Pet 3:9) but judgement draws near unless we repent and bear fruits of love and mercy.

by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 18, 2022 | Evangelium

Saturday 19 March 2022

St. Joseph

husband of the blessed virgin mary

He was a carpenter. He accepted the will of God and supported Mary and brought up Jesus. He is widely venerated as a patron of artisans and of workers in general.

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Lk 12: 42

Behold, a faithful and prudent steward, whom the Lord set over his household.

Collect    

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that by Saint Joseph’s intercession, your Church may constantly watch over the unfolding of the mysteries of human salvation, whose beginnings you entrusted to his faithful care. 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 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14,16

The word of the Lord came to Nathan: ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: “When your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.) I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Yet I will not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

Psalm 88:2-5,27,29

R/  His dynasty shall last for ever.

1. I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.
2. I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your dynasty for ever and set up your throne through all ages.
3. ‘He will say to me: “You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me.” I will keep my love for him always; with him my covenant shall last.’

Second reading: Romans 4:13,16-18,22

The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us. As Scripture says: I have made you the ancestor of many nations – Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist. Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised: Your descendants will be as many as the stars. This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying him.’

Gospel Acclamation : Ps83:5

Glory and praise to you, O Christ. They are happy who dwell in your house, O Lord, for ever singing your praise. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

Gospel : Matthew 1:16,18-21,24

Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ. This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child  through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.

Prayer over the Offerings

We pray, O Lord, that, just as Saint Joseph served with loving care your Only Begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary, so we may be worthy to minister with a pure heart at your altar. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon : Mt 25: 21

Well done, good and faithful servant. Come, share your master’s joy.

Prayer after Communion

Defend with unfailing protection, O Lord, we pray, the family you have nourished with food from this altar, as they rejoice at the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, and graciously keep safe your gifts among them. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

Hearing that Mary is pregnant, Joseph has a difficult decision to make. As he is a good man, grounded by his virtuous conscience, he intends to divorce her quietly. When God reveals the truth to Joseph, he immediately believes and obeys God’s will. We sometimes find ourselves in difficult circumstances without a clear path forward. Do we strive to make a decision by using our intellect, emotions, and will, or do we first seek and are open to heavenly advice?  Joseph teaches us that commitment to God must be above our honour. We must trust God to obey Him even when we do not understand. Such obedience is costly, often requiring us to change our plan for God’s.

by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 17, 2022 | Evangelium

Friday 18 March 2022

St. Cyril

of Jerusalem

(315 – 386)

He was born in 315 and became bishop of Jerusalem in 348. He was active in the Arian controversy. He is respected by both the Catholics and the Orthodox, and he was declared a Doctor of the Church by the Pope in 1883.

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Meditation

In today’s Gospel, Jesus borrows the imagery of Isaiah (5:1-7), and adapts it so that the primary evildoers represent not Israel as a whole, but its leaders. Israel was unprepared for its Master because Israel’s leaders failed in their stewardship to acknowledge the true Lord. However, when the cat is gone, the mice will play, but a day of reckoning is coming. This threat from Jesus’ day also provides a warning for Christian leaders in Matthew’s day and in our time. The Church and many of her leaders have repeated Israel’s disobedience enough in history and, to a great extent, continue to do so today. Many ministers and leaders regard the Church as “our” field of ministry rather than keeping in mind who our Lord is. The Gospel has a repeated emphasis on the need to produce and offer the fruits God requires. Only people that perform deeds of justice and mercy expected by God will inherit the Kingdom.

by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 16, 2022 | Evangelium

Thursday 17 March 2022

St. Patrick

(385 – 461)

He was born in Roman Britain around the end of the 4th century, and died in Ireland about the middle of the 5th century. He is remembered for his simplicity and pastoral care of people.

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 : Lk4:17

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.

Meditation

Reading through our Gospel today, one can be tempted to say that all rich people are condemned to hell and all poor people will go to heaven. That will be a very bad way to interpret the great story of the rich man and Lazarus. There is no harm in being rich. Dives was not condemned because of his riches. He might have gained his riches through honest means. Why then was he condemned? First of all he was overtaken by the disease of egocentricism which prevented him from seeing poor Lazarus. He was too much absorbed in himself and was unable to see the beggar at his doorstep. Secondly, Dives’ selfishness caused him to lose the capacity to sympathise with his poor neighbour. The moral of the story is that we must develop a “fraternal openness that allows us to acknowledge, appreciate and love each person, regardless of physical proximity, regardless of where he or she was born or lives” (Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, 1)

by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 15, 2022 | Evangelium

Wednesday 16 March 2022

St. Abban

Born in Ireland, Abban resided in Abingdon, England before the era of St. Patrick. Abban is part of the great panorama of early Irish Christians who served as models for European monasticism and faith.

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 37: 22-23

Forsake me not, O Lord! My God, be not far from me! Make haste and come to my help, O Lord, my strong salvation!

Collect

Keep your family, O Lord, schooled always in good works, and so comfort them with your protection here as to lead them graciously to gifts on high. 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 18:18-20

‘Come on,’ they said, ‘let us concoct a plot against Jeremiah; the priest will not run short of instruction without him, nor the sage of advice, nor the prophet of the word. Come on, let us hit at him with his own tongue; let us listen carefully to every word he says.’Listen to me, O Lord, Hear what my adversaries are saying. Should evil be returned for good? For they are digging a pit for me. Remember how I stood in your presence to plead on their behalf,  to turn your wrath away from them.

Psalm 30:5-6,14-16

R/  Save me in your love, O Lord.

1. Release me from the snares they have hidden for you are my refuge, Lord. Into your hands I commend my spirit. It is you who will redeem me, Lord.
2. I have heard the slander of the crowd, Fear is all around me, As they plot together against me, As they plan to take my life.
3. But as for me, I trust in you, Lord; I say: ‘You are my God. My life is in your hands, deliver me From the hands of those who hate me.

Gospel Acclamation : cf.Jn6:63,68

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! Your words are spirit, Lord, and They are life; You have the message of eternal life. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Gospel : Matthew 20:17-28

Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, and on the way he took the Twelve to one side and said to them, ‘Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise again.’ Then 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

Look with favour, Lord, on the sacrificial gifts we offer you, And by this holy exchange, undo the bonds of our sins. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon : Mt 20: 28

The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, And to give his life as a ransom for many.

Prayer after Communion

Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that what you have given us as the pledge of immortality may work for our eternal salvation. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

The request made on behalf of James and John reflects the depth of fallen human state, wherein the greatest good appears to be that which serves the self, that is, honour, position, glory, and prestige. It is the perception that dominates the pagan world and its powerful rulers and seems to be dominating our Christian community today. The kingdom brought by Jesus defines greatness in an entirely opposite way, in terms of servanthood. This way is foreign to the world and to our human nature. Yet it is the way of Jesus, and it is, thus, the way of His disciples. The disciples are to be marked by the humility, servanthood, and obedience to death that characterised Jesus, in the knowledge that to suffer with Him may mean to drink the cup that He drank before ultimately reigning with Him. Proper Christian ethics is summarised by “to serve is to reign” (servire est regnare).

by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 15, 2022 | Evangelium

Wednesday 16 March 2022

St. Abban

Born in Ireland, Abban resided in Abingdon, England before the era of St. Patrick. Abban is part of the great panorama of early Irish Christians who served as models for European monasticism and faith.

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 37: 22-23

Forsake me not, O Lord! My God, be not far from me! Make haste and come to my help, O Lord, my strong salvation!

Collect

Keep your family, O Lord, schooled always in good works, and so comfort them with your protection here as to lead them graciously to gifts on high. 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 18:18-20

‘Come on,’ they said, ‘let us concoct a plot against Jeremiah; the priest will not run short of instruction without him, nor the sage of advice, nor the prophet of the word. Come on, let us hit at him with his own tongue; let us listen carefully to every word he says.’Listen to me, O Lord, Hear what my adversaries are saying. Should evil be returned for good? For they are digging a pit for me. Remember how I stood in your presence to plead on their behalf,  to turn your wrath away from them.

Psalm 30:5-6,14-16

R/  Save me in your love, O Lord.

1. Release me from the snares they have hidden for you are my refuge, Lord. Into your hands I commend my spirit. It is you who will redeem me, Lord.
2. I have heard the slander of the crowd, Fear is all around me, As they plot together against me, As they plan to take my life.
3. But as for me, I trust in you, Lord; I say: ‘You are my God. My life is in your hands, deliver me From the hands of those who hate me.

Gospel Acclamation : cf.Jn6:63,68

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! Your words are spirit, Lord, and They are life; You have the message of eternal life. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Gospel : Matthew 20:17-28

Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, and on the way he took the Twelve to one side and said to them, ‘Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise again.’ Then 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

Look with favour, Lord, on the sacrificial gifts we offer you, And by this holy exchange, undo the bonds of our sins. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon : Mt 20: 28

The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, And to give his life as a ransom for many.

Prayer after Communion

Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that what you have given us as the pledge of immortality may work for our eternal salvation. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

The request made on behalf of James and John reflects the depth of fallen human state, wherein the greatest good appears to be that which serves the self, that is, honour, position, glory, and prestige. It is the perception that dominates the pagan world and its powerful rulers and seems to be dominating our Christian community today. The kingdom brought by Jesus defines greatness in an entirely opposite way, in terms of servanthood. This way is foreign to the world and to our human nature. Yet it is the way of Jesus, and it is, thus, the way of His disciples. The disciples are to be marked by the humility, servanthood, and obedience to death that characterised Jesus, in the knowledge that to suffer with Him may mean to drink the cup that He drank before ultimately reigning with Him. Proper Christian ethics is summarised by “to serve is to reign” (servire est regnare).