by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Apr 3, 2020 | Evangelium
saturday 04 April 2020
St Isidore of Servile
He was born in Spain in c. 560. As Archbishop of Seville, he was prolific in his writings and diligent in governing the Church, Isidore did not neglect the service of those in need. He was one of the eminent scholars of the Church; “School Master of the Middle Ages”. He died on April 4 of the year 636.
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Violet
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 21: 20, 7
O Lord, do not stay afar off; my strength, make haste to help me! For I am a worm and no man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
Collect
O God, who have made all those reborn in Christ a chosen race and a royal priesthood, grant us, we pray, the grace to will and to do what you command, that the people called to eternal life may be one in the faith of their hearts and the homage of their deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Ezekiel 37:21-28
The Lord says this: ‘I am going to take the sons of Israel from the nations where they have gone. I shall gather them together from everywhere and bring them home to their own soil. I shall make them into one nation in my own land and on the mountains of Israel, and one king is to be king of them all; they will no longer form two nations, nor be two separate kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and their filthy practices and all their sins. I shall rescue them from all the betrayals they have been guilty of; I shall cleanse them; they shall be my people and I will be their God. My servant David will reign over them, one shepherd for all; they will follow my observances, respect my laws and practise them. They will live in the land that I gave my servant Jacob, the land in which your ancestors lived. They will live in it, they, their children, their children’s children, for ever. David my servant is to be their prince for ever. I shall make a covenant of peace with them, an eternal covenant with them. I shall resettle them and increase them; I shall settle my sanctuary among them for ever. I shall make my home above them; I will be their God, they shall be my people. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord, the sanctifier of Israel, when my sanctuary is with them for ever.’
Jeremiah 31:10-13
R/ The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
- O nations, hear the word of the Lord, proclaim it to the far-off coasts. Say: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him and guard him as a shepherd guards his flock.’
- For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, has saved him from an overpowering hand. They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion, they will stream to the blessings of the Lord.
- Then the young girls will rejoice and dance, the men, young and old, will be glad. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will console them, give gladness for grief.
Gospel Acclamation: Ezk 18:31
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! Shake off all your sins – it is the Lord who speaks – and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Gospel: John 11:45-56
Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did believed in him, but some of them went to tell the Pharisees what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting. ‘Here is this man working all these signs’ they said ‘and what action are we taking? If we let him go on in this way everybody will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy the Holy Place and our nation.’ One of them, Caiaphas, the high priest that year, said, ‘You do not seem to have grasped the situation at all; you fail to see that it is better for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be destroyed.’ He did not speak in his own person, it was as high priest that he made this prophecy that Jesus was to die for the nation – and not for the nation only, but to gather together in unity the scattered children of God. From that day they were determined to kill him. So Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews, but left the district for a town called Ephraim, in the country bordering on the desert, and stayed there with his disciples. The Jewish Passover drew near, and many of the country people who had gone up to Jerusalem to purify themselves looked out for Jesus, saying to one another as they stood about in the Temple, ‘What do you think? Will he come to the festival or not?’
Prayer over the Offerings
May the gifts we offer from our fasting be acceptable to you, O Lord, we pray, and, as an expiation for our sins, may they make us worthy of your grace and lead us to what you promise for eternity. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Jn 11: 52
Christ was handed over, to gather into one the scattered children of God.
Prayer after Communion
We entreat your majesty most humbly, O Lord, that, as you feed us with the nourishment which comes from the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, so you may make us sharers of his divine nature. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Meditation
The Children of Israel were stubborn and fell out of God’s favour but Yahweh in the First reading this day wants to gather them back in order to show that He alone is Lord and Master. We can never outsmart God. Some of us think that because we do certain things and get away with them, then we will always have our way out of every situation. But God’s time is always the best and no one can know when God is going to strike and when He will let his will be established. If only we all understood that we were all created by God for a purpose, our lives would be different. But we tend to go our way and imagine that things will go the way we plan. In the Gospel, the Jews sought to kill Jesus because of the good things that he did. Evil seeks in vain to snuff out goodness and bad people want to destroy the good. But evil can never and will never triumph. God has his own ways of teaching us, but many of us are too thick headed to understand. On this day, before we enter the Holy Week, it is important for each of us to revisit our life style and make amends with our God; to turn from evil and do good. God is always ready to forgive and forget. Like prodigal children, let us throw aside our bitterness and evil intentions and come back to our God who loves us unconditionally.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Apr 2, 2020 | Evangelium
friday 03 April 2020
Saint Richard
Of English Nationality, Richard was former Chancellor of the University of Oxford who died in 1253. Although a great and towering academic, St Richard was known for his great simplicity and readiness to mix with the lowest of people. A hallmark of a truly educated person is his downright simplicity and humility, because the more we learn, the more we discover how much we do not yet know, and the humbler we should become. It is usually the “empty calabashes” which make the loudest noise.
Violet
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 30: 10, 16, 18
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in distress. Deliver me from the hands of my enemies and those who pursue me. O Lord, let me never be put to shame, for I call on you.
Collect
Pardon the offences of your peoples, we pray, O Lord, and in your goodness set us free from the bonds of the sins we have committed in our weakness. 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 20:10-13
Jeremiah said: I hear so many disparaging me, ‘“Terror from every side!” Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ All those who used to be my friends watched for my downfall, ‘Perhaps he will be seduced into error. Then we will master him and take our revenge!’ But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero; my opponents will stumble, mastered, confounded by their failure; everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs. But you, O Lord of Hosts, you who probe with justice, who scrutinise the loins and heart, let me see the vengeance you will take on them, for I have committed my cause to you. Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men.
Psalm 17(18):2-7
R/ In my anguish I called to the Lord, and he heard my voice.
- I love you, Lord, my strength, my rock, my fortress, my saviour. My God is the rock where I take refuge; my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold. The Lord is worthy of all praise, when I call I am saved from my foes.
- The waves of death rose about me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the snares of the grave entangled me; the traps of death confronted me.
- In my anguish I called to the Lord; I cried to God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn 6:63, 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: John 10:31-42
The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’ The Jews answered him, ‘We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.’ Jesus answered: ‘Is it not written in your Law: I said, you are gods? So the Law uses the word gods of those to whom the word of God was addressed, and scripture cannot be rejected. Yet you say to someone the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, “You are blaspheming,” because he says, “I am the son of God.” If I am not doing my Father’s work, there is no need to believe me; but if I am doing it, then even if you refuse to believe in me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’ They wanted to arrest him then, but he eluded them. He went back again to the far side of the Jordan to stay in the district where John had once been baptising. Many people who came to him there said, ‘John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true’; and many of them believed in him.
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant, O merciful God, that we may be worthy to serve ever fittingly at your altars, and there to be saved by constant participation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: 1 Pt 2: 24
Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the cross, so that dead to sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds we have been healed.
Prayer after Communion
May the unfailing protection of the sacrifice we have received never leave us, O Lord, and may it always drive far from us all that would do us harm. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In our First Reading today, the Prophet Jeremiah sent by God to proclaim the Gospel to a people who were headstrong and apparently unrepentant, is aware of the animosity around him,, but that does not hinder him from carrying out his mission. Once we are sure of our stand and have God on our side, there is little to fear. People may intimidate, threaten and frighten us, but we need courage to stand all the time for what is correct. Jesus spoke the truth and that resulted in the Jews wanting to stone him to death. But He did not cow out of standing for the truth and that which was good. This contradicts very much the attitude and spirit of convenience by which many of us live. We are ready to go along with whoever and whatever, as long as that will be convenient for us. A Christian does not act on convenience, he operates on basic moral values which inspire us to do good and avoid evil.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Apr 1, 2020 | Evangelium
thursday 02 April 2020
St Francis of Paola (1436 – 1507)
He was born in Paola in Calabria. He founded the Order of Minims who considered themselves the least of all, and therefore are outstanding in their humility and readiness to do even the meanest job for the poorest of people. He died on Good Friday, 2 April 1507, at Plessis in France.
Violet
Entrance Antiphon: Heb 9: 15
Christ is mediator of a New Covenant, so that by means of his death, those who are called may receive the promise of an eternal inheritance.
Collect
Be near, O Lord, to those who plead before you,and look kindly on those who place their hope in your mercy, that, cleansed from the stain of their sins, they may persevere in holy living and be made full heirs of your promise. 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 17:3-9
Abram bowed to the ground and God said this to him, ‘Here now is my covenant with you: you shall become the father of a multitude of nations. You shall no longer be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I make you father of a multitude of nations. I will make you most fruitful. I will make you into nations, and your issue shall be kings. I will establish my Covenant between myself and you, and your descendants after you, generation after generation, a Covenant in perpetuity, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land you are living in, the whole land of Canaan, to own in perpetuity, and I will be your God.’
Psalm 104(105):4-9
R/ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
- Consider the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, the judgements he spoke.
- O children of Abraham, his servant, O sons of the Jacob he chose. He, the Lord, is our God: his judgements prevail in all the earth.
- He remembers his covenant for ever, his promise for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn 6:63, 68
Glory and praise to you, O Christ! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life. Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
Gospel: John 8:51-59
Jesus said to the Jews: ‘I tell you most solemnly, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’ The Jews said, ‘Now we know for certain that you are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet you say, “Whoever keeps my word will never know the taste of death.” Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are you claiming to be?’ Jesus answered: ‘If I were to seek my own glory that would be no glory at all; my glory is conferred by the Father, by the one of whom you say, “He is our God” although you do not know him. But I know him, and if I were to say: I do not know him, I should be a liar, as you are liars yourselves. But I do know him, and I faithfully keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad.’ The Jews then said, ‘You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!’ Jesus replied: ‘I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I Am.’ At this they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.
Prayer over the Offerings
Look with favour, Lord, we pray, on these sacrificial offerings, that they may profit our conversion and the salvation of all the world. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Rm 8: 32
God did not spare his own Son, but handed him over for us all; with him, he has given us all things.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished by your saving gifts, we beseech your mercy, Lord,that by this same Sacrament, with which you feed us in the present age, you may make us partakers of life eternal. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In our First Reading, Yahweh changed the name of Abram to Abraham, the father of a multitude of peoples. This was a reward for Abram’s patience and continuous trust in God even when it seemed hopeless to do so. With God, nothing is impossible. God has no time since he acts always in an eternal NOW, so if we trust in Him, even when it seems humanly impossible, God will act to show us that He alone is Lord and Master of all creation. Many of us easily give up when things do not go our way. We need to learn from Abram to continue trusting. God’s ways are not our ways; and that is why we sometimes find it difficult to understand Him. The Jews in the Gospel today did not accept or understand the fact that Jesus was God-made-Man, hence the conflict that arose between them and him. If we learn to see reality from the perspective of God, we will never have some of the problems that we have today.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Mar 31, 2020 | Evangelium
Wednesday 01 April 2020
St Ceallach (1080 – 1129)
He became hereditary bishop of Armagh in 1105 and made many reforms; not least on his deathbed, when he abolished the hereditary principle by appointing St Malachy as his successor.
Violet
Entrance Antiphon: cf. Ps 17: 48-49
My deliverer from angry nations, you set me above my assailants; you saved me from the violent man, O Lord.
Collect
Enlighten, O God of compassion, the hearts of your children, sanctified by penance, and in your kindness grant those you stir to a sense of devotion a gracious hearing when they cry out to you. 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 3:14-20,24-25,28
King Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods, and that you refuse to worship the golden statue I have erected? When you hear the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, or any other instrument, are you prepared to prostrate yourselves and worship the statue I have made? If you refuse to worship it, you must be thrown straight away into the burning fiery furnace; and where is the god who could save you from my power?’ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘Your question hardly requires an answer: if our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, O king, he will save us; and even if he does not, then you must know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have erected.’ These words infuriated King Nebuchadnezzar; his expression was very different now as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He gave orders for the furnace to be made seven times hotter than usual, and commanded certain stalwarts from his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sprang to his feet in amazement. He said to his advisers, ‘Did we not have these three men thrown bound into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, O king.’ ‘But,’ he went on ‘I can see four men walking about freely in the heart of the fire without coming to any harm. And the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’ Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: he has sent his angel to rescue the servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their own.’
Canticle: Daniel 3:52-56
You are blest, Lord God of our fathers
To you glory and praise for evermore.
Blest your glorious holy name.
To you glory and praise for evermore.
You are blest in the temple of your glory.
To you glory and praise for evermore
You are blest on the throne of your kingdom.
To you glory and praise for evermore.
You are blest who gaze into the depths.
To you glory and praise for evermore.
You are blest in the firmament of heaven
Gospel Acclamation: Mt 4:4
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
Gospel: John 8:31-42
To the Jews who believed in him Jesus said: ‘If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free.’ They answered, ‘We are descended from Abraham and we have never been the slaves of anyone; what do you mean, “You will be made free”?’ Jesus replied: ‘I tell you most solemnly, everyone who commits sin is a slave. Now the slave’s place in the house is not assured, but the son’s place is assured. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descended from Abraham; but in spite of that you want to kill me because nothing I say has penetrated into you. What I, for my part, speak of is what I have seen with my Father; but you, you put into action the lessons learnt from your father.’ They repeated, ‘Our father is Abraham.’ Jesus said to them: ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would do a Abraham did. As it is, you want to kill me when I tell you the truth as I have learnt it from God; that is not what Abraham did. What you are doing is what your father does.’ ‘We were not born of prostitution,’ they went on ‘we have one father: God.’ Jesus answered: ‘If God were your father, you would love me, since I have come here from God; yes, I have come from him; not that I came because I chose, no, I was sent, and by him.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive back, O Lord, these sacrificial offerings, which you have given to be offered to the honour of your name, and grant that they may become remedies for our healing.
Communion Antiphon: Col 1: 13-14
God has brought us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption through his Blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Prayer after Communion
May the mysteries we have received, O Lord, bring us heavenly medicine, that they may purge all evil from our heart and strengthen us with eternal protection. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Dear brothers and sisters, today all over the world, we celebrate April Fool’s Day, also called All Fools Day, an annual celebration when we are allowed to make practical jokes and deceive our friends from morning till midday. Although common to all countries, its origin is a source of great debate and it is not a public holiday in any country. April Fool’s Day has been very popular since the 19th century. So, we watch out today so that no one fools us! In our First Reading, the King Nebuchadnezzer, known for his tyranny and unbending authority, is surprised that some young men dare to disobey his orders. But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were expressing their loyalty to Yahweh rather than to a human being. They were not scared by the threats of the King because they put their trust in God, who in the end vindicated them. Many of us know what is right to do, but we lack both the courage and trust in God to stand by the truth and defend it to the end. These three young men should act as role models for our youth today. In the midst of corruption, fear and godlessness, we find in these youngsters what we are called, as Christians, to do. We must be ready to face the ordeal if we are to become true witnesses of Christ. Many people will denounce Christ, as his own people did in the Gospel of today, but we must be ready to proclaim Him in and out of season, accepted or rejected. But we must be ready for the consequences of standing for Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Mar 30, 2020 | Evangelium
tuesday 31 March 2020
St. Benjamin
St. Benjamin was a saint of great faith and trust in the Lord, and one of the first Christian martyrs. St. Benjamin is a great example of having courage in declaring one’s faith, and is the patron saint of deacons.
Violet
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 26: 14
Wait for the Lord; be strong; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!
Collect
Grant us, we pray, O Lord, perseverance in obeying your will, that in our days the people dedicated to your service may grow in both merit and number. 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: Numbers 21:4-9
The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt the land of Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’ At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.
Psalm 101(102):2-3,16-21
R/ O Lord, listen to my prayer and let my cry for help reach you.
- O Lord, listen to my prayer and let my cry for help reach you. Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear towards me and answer me quickly when I call.
- The nations shall fear the name of the Lord and all the earth’s kings your glory, when the Lord shall build up Zion again and appear in all his glory. Then he will turn to the prayers of the helpless; he will not despise their prayers.
- Let this be written for ages to come that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord; for the Lord leaned down from his sanctuary on high. He looked down from heaven to the earth that he might hear the groans of the prisoners and free those condemned to die.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn 8:12
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Gospel: John 8:21-30
Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘I am going away; you will look for me and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come. The Jews said to one another, ‘Will he kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ Jesus went on: ‘You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I have told you already: You will die in your sins. Yes, if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus answered: ‘What I have told you from the outset. About you I have much to say and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is truthful, and what I have learnt from him I declare to the world. They failed to understand that he was talking to them about the Father. So Jesus said: ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing of myself: what the Father has taught me is what I preach; he who sent me is with me, and has not left me to myself, for I always do what pleases him.’ As he was saying this, many came to believe in him.
Prayer over the Offerings
We offer you, O Lord, the sacrifice of conciliation, that, being moved to compassion, you may both pardon our offences and direct our wavering hearts. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Jn 12: 32
When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, ever seeking what is divine, we may always be worthy to approach these heavenly gifts. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In what seems to be Jesus’ final statement to the Pharisees, he seems to insist on the mandate given to Him by the Father. He questions their unbelieving attitude. After hearing all that we have about Jesus do we still wallow in the theatre of unbelief? Do we still feel that the hour to turn to the Lord is not yet at hand? Jesus is insisting on saving us, and He will never give up on us until he has claimed us all for His glory. As we prepare to enter into the experience of the saving passion of Jesus, are you convinced of your need for repentance? Many heard Jesus today and believed that He proclaimed the truth. The truth is that we need His salvation. Turn to the Lord and you will be saved.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Mar 29, 2020 | Evangelium
monday 30 March 2020
St. Peter Regulatus
He was a Franciscan reformer born in Valladolid, Spain into a wealthy family. In his convent he lived a life of prayer and poverty. Thirty-six years after his death his body was found untouched by nature.
Violet
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 55: 2
Have mercy on me, O God, for people assail me; they fight me all day long and oppress me.
Collect
O God, by whose wondrous grace we are enriched with every blessing, grant us so to pass from former ways to newness of life, that we may be made ready for the glory of the heavenly Kingdom. 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 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62 (Shorter Reading: Daniel 13:41-62)
Susanna was condemned to death. She cried out as loud as she could, ‘Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before it happens; you know that they have given false evidence against me. And now have I to die, innocent as I am of everything their malice has invented against me?’ The Lord heard her cry and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy named Daniel who began to shout, ‘I am innocent of this woman’s death!’ At which all the people turned to him and asked, ‘What do you mean by these words?’ Standing in the middle of the crowd he replied, ‘Are you so stupid, sons of Israel, as to condemn a daughter of Israel unheard, and without troubling to find out the truth? Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against her.’ All the people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel, ‘Come and sit with us and tell us what you mean, since God has given you the gifts that elders have.’ Daniel said, ‘Keep the men well apart from each other for I want to question them.’ When the men had been separated, Daniel had one of them brought to him. ‘You have grown old in wickedness,’ he said ‘and now the sins of your earlier days have overtaken you, you with your unjust judgements, your condemnation of the innocent, your acquittal of guilty men, when the Lord has said, “You must not put the innocent and the just to death.” Now then, since you saw her so clearly, tell me what tree you saw them lying under?’ He replied, ‘Under a mastic tree.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God has already received your sentence from him and will slash you in half.’ He dismissed the man, ordered the other to be brought and said to him, ‘Spawn of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart astray! This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel and they were too frightened to resist; but here is a daughter of Judah who could not stomach your wickedness! Now then, tell me what tree you surprised them under?’ He replied, ‘Under a holm oak.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God is waiting, with a sword to drive home and split you, and destroy the pair of you.’ Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the saviour of those who trust in him. And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their own mouths. As prescribed in the Law of Moses, they sentenced them to the same punishment as they had intended to inflict on their neighbour. They put them to death; the life of an innocent woman was spared that day.
Psalm 22(23)
R/ If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.
- 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, to revive my drooping spirit.
- He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name. If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort.
- You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.
- Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life. In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.
Gospel Acclamation: 2Co6:2
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! Now is the favourable time: this is the day of salvation. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Gospel: John 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that, preparing to celebrate the holy mysteries, we may bring before you as the fruit of bodily penance a joyful purity of heart. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon
Has no one condemned you, woman? No one, Lord. Neither shall I condemn you. From now on, sin no more.
Prayer after Communion
Strengthened by the blessing of your Sacraments, we pray, O Lord, that through them we may constantly be cleansed of our faults and, by following Christ, hasten our steps upward toward you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The stories in the fist reading and the gospel of today presents us with women who were condemned. The first, Susanna was innocent but condemned to die and the second was caught in the act of adultery and condemned to die. In the eyes of their judges they were to die while nothing was mentioned about the men. Both are rescued by the saving power of God from the hands of human Judges. The hypocrisy of humanity has made us to condemn others for offences we are also guilty of but may have not been exposed. Jesus teaches us today that if God should look at our guilt no one would survive. Let us cease passing judgement on others but instead pray, love and help others to grow, that we may share in such opportunities of grace when our moments of failure comes.
