by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 15, 2021 | Evangelium
16
November
St. Margaret of Scotland
(1046 – 1093)
St Gertrude (1256 – 1301/2)
Green / White
She was born in Hungary of Anglo-Saxon and Hungarian parents. She founded monasteries, and supported major reforms of Church life. She died in Edinburgh on 16th November 1093. She is remembered for devotion to prayer and learning, and especially for her generosity to the poor.
Entrance Antiphon: Jer 29: 11, 12, 14
The Lord said: I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction. You will call upon me, and I will answer you, and I will lead back your captives from every place.
Collect
Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to you, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the author of all that is good. 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 Maccabees 6:18-31
Eleazar, one of the foremost teachers of the Law, a man already advanced in years and of most noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth wide to swallow pig’s flesh. But he, resolving to die with honour rather than to live disgraced, went to the block of his own accord, spitting the stuff out, the plain duty of anyone with the courage to reject what it is not lawful to taste, even from a natural tenderness for his own life. Those in charge of the impious banquet, because of their long-standing friendship with him, took him aside and privately urged him to have meat brought of a kind he could properly use, prepared by himself, and only pretend to eat the portions of sacrificial meat as prescribed by the king; this action would enable him to escape death, by availing himself of an act of kindness prompted by their long friendship. But having taken a noble decision worthy of his years and the dignity of his great age and the well earned distinction of his grey hairs, worthy too of his impeccable conduct from boyhood, and above all of the holy legislation established by God himself, he publicly stated his convictions, telling them to send him at once to Hades. ‘Such pretence,’ he said, ‘does not square with our time of life; many young people would suppose that Eleazar at the age of ninety had conformed to the foreigners’ way of life, and because I had played this part for the sake of a paltry brief spell of life might themselves be led astray on my account; I should only bring defilement and disgrace on my old age. Even though for the moment I avoid execution by man, I can never, living or dead, elude the grasp of the Almighty. Therefore if I am man enough to quit this life here and now I shall prove myself worthy of my old age, and I shall have left the young a noble example of how to make a good death, eagerly and generously, for the venerable and holy laws.’ With these words he went straight to the block. His escorts, so recently well disposed towards him, turned against him after this declaration, which they regarded as sheer madness. Just before he died under the blows, he groaned aloud and said, ‘The Lord whose knowledge is holy sees clearly that, though I might have escaped death, whatever agonies of body I now endure under this bludgeoning, in my soul I am glad to suffer, because of the awe which he inspires in me.’ This was how he died, leaving his death as an example of nobility and a record of virtue not only for the young but for the great majority of the nation.
Psalm 3:2-7
R/ The Lord upholds me.
1. How many are my foes, O Lord!How many are rising up against me! How many are saying about me: ‘There is no help for him in God.’
2. But you, Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, who lift up my head. I cry aloud to the Lord. He answers from his holy mountain.
3. I lie down to rest and I sleep. I wake, for the Lord upholds me. I will not fear even thousands of people who are ranged on every side against me.
Gospel Acclamation : Ps129:5
Alleluia, alleluia! My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house,’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant, O Lord, we pray, that what we offer in the sight of your majesty may obtain for us the grace of being devoted to you and gain us the prize of everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 72: 28
To be near God is my happiness, to place my hope in God the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
We have partaken of the gifts of this sacred mystery, humbly imploring, O Lord, that what your Son commanded us to do in memory of him may bring us growth in charity. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Eleazar in his nineties gave such a bold statement: ‘Such pretence,’ he said ‘does not square with our time of life,’ Through these words, Eleazar plunges us into the deep convictions of a life of faith and full of uncertainties. Only these convictions of faith make us strong and comfortable in moments of discomfort, when we face the vice of social conformism. Christianity entails a relationship of deep love with Christ in a burning flame which becomes the good above all good. It is this good that Zacchaeus wants to discover in the Gospel beyond his financial power. He heeded to Jesus’s invitation: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today’. Zacchaeus recognised Jesus Christ as the Lord, and that is what brought him salvation. Salvation is nothing more than Jesus recognised and accepted as the presence of God. It is a presence which is offered and which materialised in unexpected meetings. Like Zacchaeus, money can become a means to bring us closer to the Kingdom of God, or better put, a source of friendship and joy with God when it becomes a chain of solidarity.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 14, 2021 | Evangelium
15
November
St. Albert the Great
(1206 – 1280)
Green / White
He was born at Lauingen on the Danube, in Germany, and studied at Padua and Paris before entering the Dominican Order. He taught in a number of places including the University of Paris, where St Thomas Aquinas studied under him. He was one of the greatest philosophers of the Middle Ages, coming at the beginning of the great flowering that came with the rediscovery of the works of Aristotle. He had a great interest in science and astronomy and his learning gave him the title, as a Doctor of the Church, of Doctor Universalis, the “Universal Doctor.”
Entrance Antiphon:Jer 29: 11, 12, 14
The Lord said: I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction. You will call upon me, and I will answer you, and I will lead back your captives from every place.
Collect
Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to you, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the author of all that is good. 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 Maccabees 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-64
There grew a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus; once a hostage in Rome, he became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. It was then that there emerged from Israel a set of renegades who led many people astray. ‘Come,’ they said ‘let us reach an understanding with the pagans surrounding us, for since we separated ourselves from them many misfortunes have overtaken us.’ This proposal proved acceptable, and a number of the people eagerly approached the king, who authorised them to practise the pagan observances. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, such as the pagans have, disguised their circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant, submitting to the heathen rule as willing slaves of impiety. Then the king issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each renouncing his particular customs. All the pagans conformed to the king’s decree, and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the sabbath. The king erected the abomination of desolation above the altar; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah and incense offered at the doors of houses and in the streets. Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king’s decree sentenced him to death.Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food. They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, and they were executed. It was a dreadful wrath that visited Israel.
Psalm 118(119):53,61,134,150,155,158
R/ Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your will.
1. I am seized with indignation at the wicked who forsake your law. Though the nets of the wicked ensnared me I remembered your law.
2. Redeem me from man’s oppression and I will keep your precepts. Those who harm me unjustly draw near; they are far from your law.
3. Salvation is far from the wicked who are heedless of your statutes. I look at the faithless with disgust; they ignore your promise.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn8:12
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 18:35-43
As Jesus drew near to Jericho there was a blind man sitting at the side of the road begging. When he heard the crowd going past he asked what it was all about, and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by. So he called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.’ The people in front scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to him, and when he came up, asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Sir,’ he replied, ‘let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.’ And instantly his sight returned and he followed him praising God, and all the people who saw it gave praise to God for what had happened.
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant, O Lord, we pray, that what we offer in the sight of your majesty may obtain for us the grace of being devoted to you and gain us the prize of everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 72: 28
To be near God is my happiness, to place my hope in God the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
We have partaken of the gifts of this sacred mystery, humbly imploring, O Lord, that what your Son commanded us to do in memory of him may bring us growth in charity. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The blind man in our Gospel shows proof of persistent faith. His is a persistent cry from one who needs help. Despite the attempts of the crowd to stop him, he persists by crying out louder. Jesus gives kind attention to the insistent cry of the blind beggar who keeps shouting for attention. The blind beggar is confident in the power of Jesus. He demonstrates a rock-solid faith. Seeing this towering faith, Jesus grants healing to this seemingly insignificant beggar. Who is that blind man for you, if you are in the crowd saying “shhh”? If you are the blind man, are you persistent in your faith? When you encounter differences, do you remain true to your values while respecting the dignity of people you disagree with, as in the first reading? Let us keep showing signs of persistent faith amid discouragement that will come from the crowds.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 13, 2021 | Evangelium
14
November
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Psalter I
St. Dyfrig
Green
Entrance Antiphon: Jer 29: 11, 12, 14
The Lord said: I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction. You will call upon me, and I will answer you, and I will lead back your captives from every place.
Collect
Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to you, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the author of all that is good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Daniel 12:1-3
‘At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who mounts guard over your people. There is going to be a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, your own people will be spared, all those whose names are found written in the Book. Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth many will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace. The learned will shine as brightly as the vault of heaven, and those who have instructed many in virtue, as bright as stars for all eternity.’
Psalm 15(16):5,8-11
R/ Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
1. O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize. I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.
2. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my body shall rest in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay.
3. You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness for ever.
Second reading: Hebrews 10:11-14,18
All the priests stand at their duties every day, offering over and over again the same sacrifices which are quite incapable of taking sins away. He, on the other hand, has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken his place forever, at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting until his enemies are made into a footstool for him. By virtue of that one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all whom he is sanctifying. When all sins have been forgiven, there can be no more sin offerings.
Gospel Acclamation: Mt 24:42, 44
Alleluia, alleluia! Stay awake and stand ready, because you do not know the hour when the Son of Man is coming. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 13:24-32
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In those days, after the time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven. Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that he is near, at the very gates. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant, O Lord, we pray, that what we offer in the sight of your majesty may obtain for us the grace of being devoted to you and gain us the prize of everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 72: 28
To be near God is my happiness, to place my hope in God the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
We have partaken of the gifts of this sacred mystery, humbly imploring, O Lord, that what your Son commanded us to do in memory of him may bring us growth in charity. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Today Christ invites us to meditate on the signs of the times to prepare for his coming. The fig tree is the symbol of the Word of God. When it blooms, it announces that spring is near. The image of the fig tree that buds refers to the Word of God that is at work in believers. The promise that heaven and earth will pass away, and that the Word of the Lord will not pass away, will be fulfilled when the time comes for him who knows how to wait in faith and persevere in hope. And so, we must fully maximise the time that is given to us on earth to convert people and work for the coming of the Kingdom of God. May the Virgin Mary obtain for us the grace to always be attentive to the signs of the times and to prepare well for the end of time.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 12, 2021 | Evangelium
13
November
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
(1850 – 1917)
B.V.M
Green / White
She was born in Lombardy. Because of her frail health she was refused admission to two convents. She devoted herself to teaching, and founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She founded 67 institutions across the United States, South America and Europe. She died of malaria at Chicago in 1917.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 87: 3
Let my prayer come into your presence. Incline your ear to my cry for help, O Lord.
Collect
Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep from us all adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue, in freedom of heart, the things that are yours. 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: Wisdom 18:14-16,19:6-9
When peaceful silence lay over all, and night had run the half of her swift course, down from the heavens, from the royal throne, leapt your all-powerful Word; into the heart of a doomed land the stern warrior leapt. Carrying your unambiguous command like a sharp sword, he stood, and filled the universe with death; he touched the sky, yet trod the earth. For, to keep your children from all harm, the whole creation, obedient to your commands, was once more, and newly, fashioned in its nature. Overshadowing the camp there was the cloud, where water had been, dry land was seen to rise, the Red Sea became an unimpeded way, the tempestuous flood a green plain; sheltered by your hand, the whole nation passed across, gazing at these amazing miracles. They were like horses at pasture, they skipped like lambs, singing your praises, Lord, their deliverer.
Psalm 104(105):2-3,36-37,42-43
R/ Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
1. O sing to him, sing his praise; tell all his wonderful works! Be proud of his holy name, let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
2. He struck all the first-born in their land, the finest flower of their sons. He led out Israel with silver and gold. In his tribes were none who fell behind.
3. For he remembered his holy word, which he gave to Abraham his servant. So he brought out his people with joy, his chosen ones with shouts of rejoicing.
Gospel Acclamation: Jm1:21
Alleluia, alleluia! Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls.Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town,’ he said, ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’ And the Lord said, ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
Prayer over the Offerings
Look with favour, we pray, O Lord, upon the sacrificial gifts offered here, that, celebrating in mystery the Passion of your Son, we may honour it with loving devotion. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 22: 1-2
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose, near restful waters he leads me.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished by this sacred gift, O Lord, we give you thanks and beseech your mercy, that, by the pouring forth of your Spirit, the grace of integrity may endure in those your heavenly power has entered. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Perseverance is one of the essential qualities of prayer. God answers the prayers of those who cry to him day and night. He hears the pleas of those who seek him in truth. Of course, it is easier to enter into prayer than to persevere in it, especially when the troubles of this world beset us. However, those who remain faithful to the Lord and persevere in prayer always receive the answer to their requests. For as the Holy Scriptures say, “If you, then, who are wicked, know how to give good things to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask for them?” (Mt 7:11) May the Lord strengthen us in faith and give us the grace to be constant in prayer.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 10, 2021 | Evangelium
11
Novem
St. Martin of Tours
(c.316 – 397)
White
He was born in the Roman province of Pannonia. He spent some time as a hermit on an island off the Ligurian coast and founded a monastery at Ligugé in western France. The famous story about St Martin is that while a soldier in Amiens he gave half of his military cloak to a beggar and later had a dream in which the beggar revealed himself as Christ. He died in 397.
Entrance Antiphon: 1 Sam 2: 35
I shall raise up for myself a faithful priest who will act in accord with my heart and my mind, says the Lord.
Collect
O God, who are glorified in the Bishop Saint Martin both by his life and death, make new, we pray, the wonders of your grace in our hearts, that neither death nor life may separate us from your love. 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 : Wisdom 7:22-8:1
Within Wisdom is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, active, incisive, unsullied, lucid, invulnerable, benevolent, sharp, irresistible, beneficent, loving to man, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, all-surveying, penetrating all intelligent, pure and most subtle spirits; for Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; she is so pure, she pervades and permeates all things. She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; hence nothing impure can find a way into her. She is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God’s active power, image of his goodness. Although alone, she can do all; herself unchanging, she makes all things new. In each generation she passes into holy souls, she makes them friends of God and prophets; for God loves only the man who lives with Wisdom. She is indeed more splendid than the sun, she outshines all the constellations; compared with light, she takes first place, for light must yield to night, but over Wisdom evil can never triumph. She deploys her strength from one end of the earth to the other, ordering all things for good.
Psalm 118(119):89-91,130,135,175
R/ Your word, O Lord, stands for ever.
1. Your word, O Lord, for ever stands firm in the heavens: your truth lasts from age to age, like the earth you created.
2. By your decree it endures to this day; for all things serve you. The unfolding of your word gives light and teaches the simple.
3. Let your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees. Give life to my soul that I may praise you. Let your decrees give me help.
Gospel Acclamation: 1P1:25
Alleluia, alleluia! The word of the Lord remains for ever: What is this word? It is the Good News that has been brought to you. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 17:20-25
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’ He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Sanctify these offerings, we pray, Lord God, which we joyfully present in honour of Saint Martin, so that through them our life may always be directed whether in tribulation or in prosperity. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt 25: 40
Amen, I say to you: Whatever you did for one of the least of my brethren, you did it for me, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Grant to us who have been restored by this Sacrament of unity, O Lord, perfect harmony with your will in all things, that, just as Saint Martin submitted himself entirely to you, so we, too, may glory in being truly yours. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Today’s Gospel calls for prudence and discernment so that we are not led astray by those who call themselves messiahs. Christ is the only true Messiah. His Kingdom is the heart of man. The Kingdom of God is already there because, in Jesus Christ, God wants to dwell among us and share our human condition in everything except sin. He chose to come to this world in the most austere simplicity to enrich us with his poverty. The Kingdom of heaven is in us, for we are the people of God. For God is in us; but are we also his? Are we aware of his presence in us? May Mary, our Mother teach us to welcome God into our lives and to bear witness to God’s Kingdom through our words and actions.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 9, 2021 | Evangelium
10
November
Pope St. Leo the Great
(c. 400 – 461)
White
He was born in Etruria and became Pope in 440. He was a true shepherd and father of souls. He constantly strove to keep the faith whole and strenuously defended the unity of the Church. He left many doctrinal and spiritual writings behind and a number of them are included in the Office of Readings to this day. He died in 461.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Sir 45: 30
The Lord established for him a covenant of peace, and made him the prince, that he might have the dignity of the priesthood for ever.
Collect
O God, who never allow the gates of hell to prevail against your Church, firmly founded on the apostolic rock, grant her, we pray, that through the intercession of Pope Saint Leo, she may stand firm in your truth and know the protection of lasting peace. 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: Wisdom 6:1-11
Listen, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning; hear this, you who have thousands under your rule, who boast of your hordes of subjects. For power is a gift to you from the Lord, sovereignty is from the Most High; he himself will probe your acts and scrutinise your intentions. If, as administrators of his kingdom, you have not governed justly nor observed the law, nor behaved as God would have you behave, he will fall on you swiftly and terribly. Ruthless judgement is reserved for the high and mighty; the lowly will be compassionately pardoned, the mighty will be mightily punished. For the Lord of All does not cower before a personage, he does not stand in awe of greatness, since he himself has made small and great and provides for all alike; but strict scrutiny awaits those in power. Yes, despots, my words are for you, that you may learn what wisdom is and not transgress; for they who observe holy things holily will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in them. Look forward, therefore, to my words; yearn for them, and they will instruct you.
Psalm 81(82):3-4,6-7
R/ Arise, O God, to judge the earth.
1. Do justice for the weak and the orphan, defend the afflicted and the needy. Rescue the weak and the poor; set them free from the hand of the wicked.
2. I have said to you: “You are gods and all of you, sons of the Most High.” And yet, you shall die like men, you shall fall like any of the princes.’
Gospel Acclamation : 2Th2:14
Alleluia, alleluia! Through the Good News God called usto share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Through the offerings made here, we pray, O Lord, graciously shed light on your Church, so that your flock may everywhere prosper and that under your governance the shepherds may become pleasing to your name. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Mt 16: 16,18
Peter said to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus replied: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.
Prayer after Communion
Be pleased, O Lord, we pray, to govern the Church you have nourished by this holy meal, so that, firmly directed, she may enjoy ever greater freedom and persevere in integrity of religion. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
As in the days of old, Christ still passes through our living and working environments today to heal us of our illnesses and help us find a way out of all our problems. We are all sinners who need divine mercy. However, the question that arises is whether we are ready to throw ourselves at the feet of Jesus and implore his grace. The story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus tells us that it is not enough just to run to God to ask him to intervene in our different situations. It is also necessary that once our request is granted, we return to him to thank him for all his benefits. Grant us Lord to be ever grateful to you and to all who do us good.
