by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 25, 2019 | Evangelium
Saints Timothy and Titus
Timothy and Titus were converted to Christianity by St Paul, and became his companions and helpers. He wrote them the so-called “pastoral” epistles, giving advice for pastors and people alike.
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Entrance Antiphon : Ps 95: 3-4
Tell among the nations his glory, and his wonders among all the peoples, for the Lord is great and highly to be praised.
Collect
O God, who adorned Saints Timothy and Titus with apostolic virtues, grant, through the intercession of them both, that, living justly and devoutly in this present age, we may merit to reach our heavenly homeland. 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 Timothy 1:1-8
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus in his design to promise life in Christ Jesus; to Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord. Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers; I remember your tears and long to see you again to complete my happiness. Then I am reminded of the sincere faith which you have; it came first to live in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I have no doubt that it is the same faith in you as well. That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy.
Psalm 95 (96):1-3, 7-8, 10
R/ Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
1.O sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
2.Proclaim his help day by day, tell among the nations his glory and his wonders among all the peoples.
3.Give the Lord, you families of peoples, give the Lord glory and power; give the Lord the glory of his name.
4.Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’ The world he made firm in its place; he will judge the peoples in fairness.
Gospel Acclamation: 2Co 5:19
Alleluia, alleluia!God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 3:20-21
Jesus went home, and once more such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal. When his relatives heard of this, they set out to take charge of him, convinced he was out of his mind.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O Lord, we pray, the offerings of your people, which we bring in celebration of Saints Timothy and Titus, and, in your kindness, render us fully acceptable by giving us sincerity of heart.Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Mk 16: 15; Mt 28: 20
Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel. I am with you always, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
May the Sacrament we have received, O Lord our God, nourish in us that faith taught by the preaching of the Apostles and kept safe by the labours of Saints Timothy and Titus. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Saints Timothy and Titus, whom we celebrate today, were close companions of Saint Paul. Paul ordained them as bishops and gave them a share in his missionary work. This feast can be occasion for us to reflect on the importance of parenthood, both biological and spiritual, in the transmission of the faith. Timothy received his faith from his mother, Eunice, who received it from her own mother, Lois. Paul, for his part, considered himself to be a spiritual father to Timothy and Titus, and this capacity, he wrote letters to them to encourage them in the faith and instruct them on how to organise their respective communities. Can parents and godparents of today boast of the same efforts? What do we do to help our children and godchildren grow in the faith? Let us resolve today to take our role in the spiritual growth of the children God has entrusted to us seriously.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 24, 2019 | Evangelium
The conversion of St. Paul
FEAST
Saul, the young man who looked after the cloaks of the men who were stoning St Stephen, grew into a dedicated and efficient persecutor of Christians. Today’s feast celebrates the day that Christ appeared to him in a vision as he was on the way to Damascus, reproached him for his persecutions and converted him to the true faith.
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Entrance Antiphon : 2 Tim 1: 12; 4: 8
I know the one in whom I have believed and I am sure that he, the just judge, the mighty, will keep safe what is my due until that day.
Collect
O God, who taught the whole world through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Paul, draw us, we pray, nearer to you through the example of him whose conversion we celebrate today, and so make us witnesses to your truth in the world. 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 : Acts 22:3-16
Paul said to the people, ‘I am a Jew and was born at Tarsus in Cilicia. I was brought up here in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was taught the exact observance of the Law of our ancestors. In fact, I was as full of duty towards God as you are today. I even persecuted this Way to the death, and sent women as well as men to prison in chains as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify, since they even sent me with letters to their brothers in Damascus. When I set off it was with the intention of bringing prisoners back from there to Jerusalem for punishment. ‘I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when about midday a bright light from heaven suddenly shone round me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” I answered: Who are you, Lord? and he said to me, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.” The people with me saw the light but did not hear his voice as he spoke to me. I said: What am I to do, Lord? The Lord answered, “Stand up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told what you have been appointed to do.” The light had been so dazzling that I was blind and my companions had to take me by the hand; and so I came to Damascus. ‘Someone called Ananias, a devout follower of the Law and highly thought of by all the Jews living there, came to see me; he stood beside me and said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” Instantly my sight came back and I was able to see him. Then he said, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Just One and hear his own voice speaking, because you are to be his witness before all mankind, testifying to what you have seen and heard. And now why delay? It is time you were baptised and had your sins washed away while invoking his name.”’
Psalm 116 (117):1-2
R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
1. O praise the Lord, all you nations, acclaim him all you peoples!
2. Strong is his love for us; he is faithful for ever.
Gospel Acclamation : cf. Jn 15:16
Alleluia, alleluia!I chose you from the world to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last, says the Lord. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 16:15-18
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’
Prayer over the Offerings
As we celebrate the divine mysteries, O Lord, we pray, may the Spirit fill us with that light of faith with which he constantly enlightened the blessed Apostle Paul for the spreading of your glory. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Gal 2: 20
I live by faith in the Son of God, who has loved me and given himself up for me.
Prayer after Communion
May the Sacrament we have received, O Lord our God, stir up in us that fire of charity with which the blessed Apostle Paul burned ardently as he bore his concern for all the Churches. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The conversion of St. Paul is an event of great significance in the history of the Church, because through this act, God gave to the Church one of her greatest missionaries. Paul stands out in his faithfulness to the command which Jesus gave to the Church after his resurrection: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.” In obedience to this command, he spread the Gospel all over the Eastern Mediterranean and in Rome. Through his letters, he continues to evangelise today. In a very special way, he reminds us that the Church is missionary by her very essence. We have a duty to preach the Good News, to make Jesus known wherever we find ourselves. May he obtain for us the grace to preach the crucified Christ by our words and our actions.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 23, 2019 | Evangelium
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor, (1567 – 1622)
St Francis is the patron saint of writers and journalists, who would do well to imitate his love and his moderation: as he said, “Whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love.”
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Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Sir 15: 5
In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory.
Collect
O God, who for the salvation of souls willed that the Bishop Saint Francis de Sales become all things to all, graciously grant that, following his example, we may always display the gentleness of your charity in the service of our neighbour. 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: Hebrews 7:25-8:6
The power of Jesus to save is utterly certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through him. To suit us, the ideal high priest would have to be holy, innocent and uncontaminated, beyond the influence of sinners, and raised up above the heavens; one who would not need to offer sacrifices every day, as the other high priests do for their own sins and then for those of the people, because he has done this once and for all by offering himself. The Law appoints high priests who are men subject to weakness; but the promise on oath, which came after the Law, appointed the Son who is made perfect for ever. The great point of all that we have said is that we have a high priest of exactly this kind. He has his place at the right of the throne of divine Majesty in the heavens, and he is the minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tent of Meeting which the Lord, and not any man, set up. It is the duty of every high priest to offer gifts and sacrifices, and so this one too must have something to offer. In fact, if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are others who make the offerings laid down by the Law and these only maintain the service of a model or a reflection of the heavenly realities. For Moses, when he had the Tent to build, was warned by God who said: See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. We have seen that he has been given a ministry of a far higher order, and to the same degree it is a better covenant of which he is the mediator, founded on better promises.
Psalm 39 (40):7-10,17
R/ Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.
1. You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and victim. Instead, here am I.
2. In the scroll of the book it stands written that I should do your will. My God, I delight in your law in the depth of my heart.
3. Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly. My lips I have not sealed; you know it, O Lord.
4.O let there be rejoicing and gladness for all who seek you. Let them ever say: ‘The Lord is great’, who love your saving help.
Gospel Acclamation : cf.Jn6:63,68
Alleluia, alleluia!Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 3:7-12
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lakeside, and great crowds from Galilee followed him. From Judaea, Jerusalem, Idumaea, Transjordania and the region of Tyre and Sidon, great numbers who had heard of all he was doing came to him. And he asked his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, to keep him from being crushed. For he had cured so many that all who were afflicted in any way were crowding forward to touch him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and shout, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he warned them strongly not to make him known.
Prayer over the Offerings
Through this saving sacrifice which we offer you, O Lord, kindle in our hearts that divine fire of the Holy Spirit with which you wonderfully inflamed the most gentle soul of Saint Francis de Sales. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Cf. Lk 12: 42
Behold a faithful and prudent steward to give them their allowance of food at the proper time.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that through the Sacrament we have received, we may imitate on earth the charity and meekness of Saint Francis de Sales and so attain like him the glory of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Crowds flock to Jesus to receive his healing. They go to him because they see that he has the power to deliver them from their suffering and solve their problems. But it is the same crowd that will shout later, “Crucify him!” How can we explain such a change of attitude towards Jesus? It can only mean that these people, for the most part, were only interested in the miraculous power of Jesus and his ability to solve their immediate worries. They had no real faith in him. We too are like them. Jesus interests us insofar as he can solve our problems. We pray to him only when we have difficulties; we hawk for churches where we can obtain miracles. May we, like the psalmist, go to Jesus not just to ask for healing and solutions, but more especially to submit ourselves to his will and to obey his commandments.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 22, 2019 | Evangelium
ST. ILDEPHONSUS
St. Ildephonsus is highly regarded in Spain and closely associated with devotion to the Blessed Virgin which he fostered by his famous work concerning her perpetual virginity.
Green/Red/White
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 65: 4
All the earth shall bow down before you, O God, and shall sing to you, shall sing to your name, O Most High!
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the pleading of your people and bestow your peace on our times. 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 Hebrews 7:1-3,15-17
You remember that Melchizedek, king of Salem, a priest of God Most High, went to meet Abraham who was on his way back after defeating the kings, and blessed him; and also that it was to him that Abraham gave a tenth of all that he had. By the interpretation of his name, he is, first, ‘king of righteousness’ and also king of Salem, that is, ‘king of peace’; he has no father, mother or ancestry, and his life has no beginning or ending; he is like the Son of God. He remains a priest for ever.This becomes even more clearly evident when there appears a second Melchizedek, who is a priest not by virtue of a law about physical descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it was about him that the prophecy was made: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.
Psalm 109 (110):1-4
R/ You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
1. The Lord’s revelation to my Master: ‘Sit on my right: your foes I will put beneath your feet.’
2. The Lord will wield from Zion your sceptre of power: rule in the midst of all your foes.
3. A prince from the day of your birth on the holy mountains; from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
4. The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change. ‘You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.’
Gospel Acclamation : Heb 4:12
Alleluia, alleluia!The word of God is something alive and active: it can judge secret emotions and thoughts. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 3:1-6
Jesus went again into a synagogue, and there was a man there who had a withered hand. And they were watching him to see if he would cure him on the sabbath day, hoping for something to use against him. He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up out in the middle!’ Then he said to them, ‘Is it against the law on the sabbath day to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to kill?’ But they said nothing. Then, grieved to find them so obstinate, he looked angrily round at them, and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out and his hand was better. The Pharisees went out and at once began to plot with the Herodians against him, discussing how to destroy him.
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that we may participate worthily in these mysteries, for whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated the work of our redemption is accomplished. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 22: 5
You have prepared a table before me, and how precious is the chalice that quenches my thirst.
Prayer after Communion
Pour on us, O Lord, the Spirit of your love, and in your kindness make those you have nourished by this one heavenly Bread one in mind and heart. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus the true Melchizedek, King and eternal Priest, condemns the formalism of the law and invites us to the comprehension of the spirit of the law. Indeed, he enlarged the rule, which made it possible for Pharisees to bypass the Sabbath rest in order to save somebody in danger of death. However, because of pride and concern of the letters of the Law, these Masters of religious observance (Pharisees) refuse to recognise in the act of Jesus the perfection of the law itself; they seek to eliminate him. Nowadays, it is not rare to see people habitually fight those who denounce the injustices they practice or proclaim a truth, which disturbs them. The imitation of Christ will set
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 21, 2019 | Evangelium
SAINT VINCENT, DEACON, MARTYR (-304)
He was born in Huesca and became a deacon of the church of Saragossa (Zaragoza). He was tortured to death in Valencia, during the persecution of Diocletian. After his death, his cult spread rapidly through the Roman Empire
Green/Red
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 65: 4
All the earth shall bow down before you, O God, and shall sing to you, shall sing to your name, O Most High!
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the pleading of your people and bestow your peace on our times. 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: Hebrews 6:10-20
God would not be so unjust as to forget all you have done, the love that you have for his name or the services you have done, and are still doing, for the saints. Our one desire is that every one of you should go on showing the same earnestness to the end, to the perfect fulfilment of our hopes, never growing careless, but imitating those who have the faith and the perseverance to inherit the promises. When God made the promise to Abraham, he swore by his own self, since it was impossible for him to swear by anyone greater: I will shower blessings on you and give you many descendants. Because of that, Abraham persevered and saw the promise fulfilled. Men, of course, swear an oath by something greater than themselves, and between men, confirmation by an oath puts an end to all dispute. In the same way, when God wanted to make the heirs to the promise thoroughly realise that his purpose was unalterable, he conveyed this by an oath; so that there would be two unalterable things in which it was impossible for God to be lying, and so that we, now we have found safety, should have a strong encouragement to take a firm grip on the hope that is held out to us. Here we have an anchor for our soul, as sure as it is firm, and reaching right through beyond the veil where Jesus has entered before us and on our behalf, to become a high priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.
Psalm 110 (111) :1-2, 4-5, 9, 10
R/ The Lord keeps his covenant ever in mind.
1.I will thank the Lord with all my heart in the meeting of the just and their assembly. Great are the works of the Lord, to be pondered by all who love them.
2.He makes us remember his wonders. The Lord is compassion and love. He gives food to those who fear him; keeps his covenant ever in mind.
3.He has sent deliverance to his people and established his covenant for ever. Holy his name, to be feared. His praise shall last for ever!
Gospel Acclamation : Ps 118:18
Alleluia, alleluia!Open my eyes, O Lord, that I may consider the wonders of your law. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 2:23-28
One sabbath day Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples began to pick ears of corn as they went along. And the Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing something on the sabbath day that is forbidden?’ And he replied, ‘Did you never read what David did in his time of need when he and his followers were hungry – how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the loaves of offering which only the priests are allowed to eat, and how he also gave some to the men with him?’ And he said to them, ‘The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; the Son of Man is master even of the sabbath.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that we may participate worthily in these mysteries, for whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated the work of our redemption is accomplished. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 22: 5
You have prepared a table before me, and how precious is the chalice that quenches my thirst.
Prayer after Communion
Pour on us, O Lord, the Spirit of your love, and in your kindness make those you have nourished by this one heavenly Bread one in mind and heart. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Among the Jewish people, the priest was the representative of the people before God. He offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people, in order to obtain for them God’s forgiveness and blessings. Melchisedek was a priest of God, and he blessed Abraham. Jesus is the high priest par excellence, who intercedes for us at God’s right hand and obtains for us the fullness of God’s blessings. In today’s Gospel, he gives healing to a sick man. We all are priests by virtue of our baptism. We too should intercede for those around us. We should offer prayers for them to obtain forgiveness and blessings for them. We should make them experience God’s love and healing by our availability, sympathy, willingness to help and thirst for justice
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 20, 2019 | Evangelium
SAINT AGNES, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
As with so many of the early Roman martyrs, very little is now known about Agnes’ life. Agnes was filled with the love of God from an early age, vowed herself to celibacy, and when the opportunity of martyrdom arose, she did not hide away but stepped forward and took it.
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Entrance Antiphon
Behold, now she follows the Lamb who was crucified for us, powerful in virginity, modesty her offering, a sacrifice on the altar of chastity.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who choose what is weak in the world to confound the strong, mercifully grant, that we, who celebrate the heavenly birthday of your Martyr Saint Agnes, may follow her constancy in the faith. 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: Hebrews 5:1-10
Every high priest has been taken out of mankind and is appointed to act for men in their relations with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; and so he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honour on himself, but each one is called by God, as Aaron was. Nor did Christ give himself the glory of becoming high priest, but he had it from the one who said to him: You are my son, today I have become your father, and in another text: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever. During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation and was acclaimed by God with the title of high priest of the order of Melchizedek.
Psalm 109 (110) :1-4
R/ You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
1.The Lord’s revelation to my Master: ‘Sit on my right: your foes I will put beneath your feet.’
2.The Lord will wield from Zion your sceptre of power: rule in the midst of all your foes.
3.A prince from the day of your birth on the holy mountains; from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
4.The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change. ‘You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.’
Gospel Acclamation : cf. 1 Th 2:13
Alleluia, alleluia!Accept God’s message for what it really is: God’s message, and not some human thinking. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 2:18-22
One day when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Why is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of fasting while the bridegroom is still with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they could not think of fasting. But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then, on that day, they will fast. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak; if he does, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. And nobody puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins too. No! New wine, fresh skins!’
Prayer over the Offerings
May the offerings we bring in celebration of saint Agnes win your gracious acceptance, O Lord, we pray, just as the struggle of her suffering and passion was pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Rv 7: 17
The Lamb who is at the center of the throne will lead them to the springs of the waters of life.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who bestowed on saint Agnes a crown among the Saints for her twofold triumph of virginity and martyrdom, grant, we pray, through the power of this Sacrament, that, bravely overcoming every evil, we may attain the glory of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Christianity is a religion of joy. We Christians should be joyful people, because we have been saved from sin and death and made children of God. We therefore have no reason to be sad. We are united to God through Jesus; why then should we be sad? This is why Jesus says that the guests at a wedding feast do not fast when the groom is with them. Jesus, our groom is with us! But our groom is no longer physically present with us in this world. He has been taken away from us; he is with us in spirit, not in the body. We long for the day when he will come again and we will be united to him forever. For this reason, during our earthly lives we fast. Our fasting and other acts of piety should therefore take on a new meaning; they should help us to overcome all that separate us from God and make us love our neighbour more and more. They should take us closer to Jesus and hasten the coming of his kingdom, so that when he comes again our happiness will be complete.
