by L'équipe de publication | Sep 15, 2024 | Evangelium
Saints Cornelius, Pope,
and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
Red
Cornelius was made bishop of the church in Rome in the year 251. He fought against the Novatian schismatics and established his authority with the aid of Cyprian. The emperor Gallus sent him into exile, and he died at Civitavecchia in June 253. He is buried in Rome. Cyprian was born in Carthage and spent most of his life in the practice of the law. He was converted to Christianity, and was made bishop of Carthage in 249. On 14th of September he was executed.
Entrance Antiphon
The souls of the Saints are rejoicing in heaven, the Saints who followed the footsteps of Christ, and since for love of him they shed their blood, they now exult with Christ for ever.
Collect
O God, who gave Saints Cornelius and Cyprian to your people as diligent shepherds and valiant Martyrs, grant that through their intercession we may be strengthened in faith and constancy and spend ourselves without reserve for the unity of the Church. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33
On the subject of instructions, I cannot say that you have done well in holding meetings that do you more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you all come together as a community, there are separate factions among you, and I half believe it – since there must no doubt be separate groups among you, to distinguish those who are to be trusted. The point is, when you hold these meetings, it is not the Lord’s Supper that you are eating, since when the time comes to eat, everyone is in such a hurry to start his own supper that one person goes hungry while another is getting drunk. Surely you have homes for eating and drinking in? Surely you have enough respect for the community of God not to make poor people embarrassed? What am I to say to you? Congratulate you? I cannot congratulate you on this. For this is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me.’ In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’ Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death. So to sum up, my dear brothers, when you meet for the Meal, wait for one another.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 39:7-10,17
R/ Proclaim the death of the Lord, until he comes.
You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and victim. Instead, here I am .
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.
Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly. My lips I have not sealed; you know it, O Lord.
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 : Ps118:27
Alleluia, alleluia! Make me grasp the way of your precepts, and I will muse on your wonders. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 7:1-10
When Jesus had come to the end of all he wanted the people to hear, he went into Capernaum. A centurion there had a servant, a favourite of his, who was sick and near death. Having heard about Jesus he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus they pleaded earnestly with him. ‘He deserves this of you’ they said ‘because he is friendly towards our people; in fact, he is the one who built the synagogue.’ So Jesus went with them, and was not very far from the house when the centurion sent word to him by some friends: ‘Sir,’ he said ‘do not put yourself to trouble; because I am not worthy to have you under my roof; and for this same reason I did not presume to come to you myself; but give the word and let my servant be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard these words he was astonished at him and, turning round, said to the crowd following him, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found faith like this.’ And when the messengers got back to the house they found the servant in perfect health.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, we pray, O Lord, the offerings of your people in honour of the passion of your holy Martyrs Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, and may the gifts that gave them courage under persecution make us, too, steadfast in all trials. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Lk 22: 28-30
It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you, says the Lord, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.
Prayer after Communion
Through these mysteries which we have received, we humbly beseech you, O Lord, that by the example of the Martyrs Saints Cornelius and Cyprian we may be strengthened with the fortitude of your Spirit to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Faith is not believing that God can; it is knowing that He will. Faith allows God to do for us and with us what we could never do alone. The Roman soldier’s faith takes us inside true faith and shows how and what faith does. The story is significant because this was a Gentile who exercised this faith. Even Jesus remarks “not even in Israel have I found such faith.” The faith of the centurion led to the healing of his slave. He believed that Jesus Christ could heal his slave. One of the amazing testimonies in this event is that, the centurion recognized first his unworthiness to receive Jesus Christ under his roof and at the same time, he believed in the power of the “Word” of Jesus. “But say the word and let my servant be healed.” There is power in the word of Jesus. Jesus’ words are healing, they are peace, they are joy, and they are fulfilling. He is the greatest physician. He wants to heal us of our diseases; we only need to invite him to say that word of healing, that we may be healed.
by L'équipe de publication | Sep 14, 2024 | Evangelium
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 4
Our Lady of Sorrows
Green
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Sir 36: 18
Give peace, O Lord, to those who wait for you, that your prophets be found true. Hear the prayers of your servant, and of your people Israel.
Collect
Look upon us, O God, Creator and ruler of all things, and, that we may feel the working of your mercy, grant that we may serve you with all our heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Isaiah 50:4c–9a
The Lord God opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let that man confront me. See, the Lord God is my help; who will prove me wrong?
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116:1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 8–9
R/ I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
I love the Lord because he has heard my voice in supplication, because he has inclined his ear to me the day I called.
The cords of death encompassed me; the snares of the netherworld seized upon me; I fell into distress and sorrow, and I called upon the name of the Lord, “O Lord, save my life!”
Gracious is the Lord and just; yes, our God is merciful. The Lord keeps the little ones; I was brought low, and he saved me.
For he has freed my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
Second reading: James 2:14–18
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
Gospel Acclamation: Galatians 6:14
Alleluia, alleluia. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 8:27–35
Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Look with favour on our supplications, O Lord, and in your kindness accept these, your servants’ offerings, that what each has offered to the honour of your name may serve the salvation of all. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 35: 8
How precious is your mercy, O God! The children of men seek shelter in the shadow of your wings.
Prayer after Communion
May the working of this heavenly gift, O Lord, we pray, take possession of our minds and bodies, so that its effects, and not our own desires, may always prevail in us. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The mention of Jesus and his disciples around the villages of Caesarea Philippi makes us aware that those were the last steps of the Lord in his earthly ministry, also, the first steps towards Jerusalem where he will be crucified to win salvation for all. In this most crucial adventure, no one could bar “the Christ” from fulfilling this task, neither any man nor even close companion; not even a disciple and an apostle like Peter would do. Everything else should “get behind” Jesus Christ and God’s way so that redemption for all humankind can happen. From this Gospel, the question “who is Jesus?” is the central question and still remains as such today. It is necessary for our generation to once more listen attentively to the question of Jesus to his disciples. We, the present believers, who do we say Jesus is? The answer to this question will be our affirmation of faith, that we have faith, the same faith Peter professed when he said “you are Christ.”
by L'équipe de publication | Sep 13, 2024 | Evangelium
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Feast
Red
The important event we commemorate today is the finding in the year 326 of the relics of the cross on which Jesus was crucified by St Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Gal 6: 14
We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered.
Collect
O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth, may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven. 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
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.
Responsorial Psalm:
Psalm 77: 1-2.34-38
R/ Never forget the deeds of the Lord
Give heed, my people, to my teaching; turn your ear to the words of my mouth I will open my mouth in a parable and reveal hidden lessons of the past.
When he slew them then they would seek his return and seek him in earnesty. They would remember that God was their rock God the Most High their redeemer.
But the words they spoke were mere flattery they lied to him with their lips For their hearts were not truly with him they were not faithful to his covenant.
Yet he who is full of compassion forgave their sin and spared them So often he held back his ange when he might have stirred up his rage.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you; because by your cross you have redeemed the world. Alleluia!
Gospel : John 3:13-17
Jesus said to Nicodemus ‘No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven the Son of Man who is in heaven and the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world but so that through him the world might be saved.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May this oblation, O Lord, which on the altar of the Cross, cancelled the offence of the whole world, cleanse us, we pray, of all our sins. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Jn 12: 32
When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Having been nourished by your holy banquet, we beseech you, Lord Jesus Christ, to bring those you have redeemed by the wood of your life-giving Cross to the glory of the resurrection. Who live and reign for ever and ever.
Meditation
Today the sign of the cross has become a universal Christian symbol. When people sneeze and cross themselves or athletes make a sign of the cross before or during play, we recognize them immediately as Christians. Ornamental crosses are fashionable today in the form of necklaces, broaches, earings, and the like. A crucifix in a church, home or school identifies such a place as a Christian environment. It is a constant witness and reminder of our faith in Christ who died on the cross to set us free. The cross is not just a piece of wood. It is a symbolic summary of the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ by which we have been redeemed. In the exaltation of the cross, we rejoice that something so terrible should have been transformed into a means of redemption for the whole human race. We remind ourselves of our history. Take away that history – take away the Cross – and Christianity is nonsense.
by L'équipe de publication | Sep 12, 2024 | Evangelium
Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor (349 – 407)
White
He was born in Antioch. After a thorough education, he took up the ascetic life. He was ordained to the priesthood and became a fruitful and effective preacher. The term Chrysostom meaning “golden-mouthed” was given because of his great eloquence.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Dn 12: 3
Those who are wise will shine brightly like the splendour of the firmament and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars for ever.
Collect
O God, strength of those who hope in you, who willed that the Bishop Saint John Chrysostom should be illustrious by his wonderful eloquence and his experience of suffering, grant us, we pray, that, instructed by his teachings, we may be strengthened through the example of his invincible patience. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-27
I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands. Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me. So though I am not a slave of any man I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could. I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost; and I still do this, for the sake of the gospel, to have a share in its blessings. All the runners at the stadium are trying to win, but only one of them gets the prize. You must run in the same way, meaning to win. All the fighters at the games go into strict training; they do this just to win a wreath that will wither away, but we do it for a wreath that will never wither. That is how I run, intent on winning; that is how I fight, not beating the air. I treat my body hard and make it obey me, for, having been an announcer myself, I should not want to be disqualified.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
83(84):3-6,12
R/ How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord, God of hosts.
My soul is longing and yearning, is yearning for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my soul ring out their joy to God, the living God.
The sparrow herself finds a home and the swallow a nest for her brood; she lays her young by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God.
They are happy, who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise. They are happy, whose strength is in you, in whose hearts are the roads to Zion.
For the Lord God is a rampart, a shield; he will give us his favour and glory. The Lord will not refuse any good to those who walk without blame.
Gospel Acclamation: John 17:17b, 17a
Alleluia, alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel : Luke 6:39-42
Jesus told a parable to the disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May the sacrifice which we gladly present in commemoration of Saint John Chrysostom be pleasing to you, O God, for, taught by him, we, too, give ourselves entirely to you in praise. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. 1 Cor 1: 23-24
We proclaim Christ crucified; Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, O merciful God, that these mysteries we have received as we commemorate Saint John Chrysostom, may confirm us in your love and enable us to be faithful in confessing your truth. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Passing of Judgment has become a common phenomenon these days. With the internet, facebook, twitter, billboards, TVs and other forms of social media at our beck and call, posting of comments, likes and dislikes have become an everyday affair. Nothing is private anymore and everyone has comment about everything and everyone. But while we are too quick to notice what everyone else is doing, very seldom do we notice or critique ourselves. We often forget that we all ‘live in a glass house and should never keep stones close by’. The next time we have to make comments in the form of a judgment about others, we need to take a good look at ourselves in the mirror then we can see more clearly and speak more wisely.
by L'équipe de publication | Sep 11, 2024 | Evangelium
Saint Ailbe
Green
He founded the monastery and Diocese of Emly. A ninth-century Rule bears his name. He was a disciple of St Patrick and ordained by him. He may have died in 528 or in 541.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 118: 137, 124
You are just, O Lord, and your judgement is right; treat your servant in accord with your merciful love.
Collect
O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption, look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters, that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading:1 Corinthians 8:1-7,11-13
Now about food sacrificed to idols. ‘We all have knowledge’; yes, that is so, but knowledge gives self-importance – it is love that makes the building grow. A man may imagine he understands something, but still not understand anything in the way that he ought to. But any man who loves God is known by him. Well then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: we know that idols do not really exist in the world and that there is no god but the One. And even if there were things called gods, either in the sky or on earth – where there certainly seem to be ‘gods’ and ‘lords’ in plenty – still for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come and through whom we exist. Some people, however, do not have this knowledge. There are some who have been so long used to idols that they eat this food as though it really had been sacrificed to the idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled by it. In this way your knowledge could become the ruin of someone weak, of a brother for whom Christ died. By sinning in this way against your brothers, and injuring their weak consciences, it would be Christ against whom you sinned. That is why, since food can be the occasion of my brother’s downfall, I shall never eat meat again in case I am the cause of a brother’s downfall.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-3,13-14,23-24
R/ Lead me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal.
O Lord, you search me and you know me, you know my resting and my rising, you discern my purpose from afar. You mark when I walk or lie down, all my ways lie open to you.
For it was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonders of all your creation.
Already you knew my soul, O search me, God, and know my heart. O test me and know my thoughts. See that I follow not the wrong path and lead me in the path of life eternal.
Gospel AcclamationJm1:21
Alleluia, alleluia! Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who give us the gift of true prayer and of peace, graciously grant that through this offering, we may do fitting homage to your divine majesty and, by partaking of the sacred mystery, we may be faithfully united in mind and heart. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 41: 2-3
Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God; my soul is thirsting for God, the living God.
Prayer after Communion
Grant that your faithful, O Lord, whom you nourish and endow with life through the food of your Word and heavenly Sacrament, may so benefit from your beloved Son’s great gifts that we may merit an eternal share in his life. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Meditation
There are many things in the Bible people do not agree with. Take for example in this world where each person wants to retaliate, Jesus tells us to love our enemy, to show the other cheek to the one who slaps us and to be companionate to people. Let us take for example the law concerning turning one’s cheek. Someone from one of the rough neighbourhoods heard of this injunction of Jesus to turn the other cheek and responded that Jesus could not possibly say that if he were familiar with his neighbourhood, for, says the young man, if Jesus lived in his neighbourhood and chose to turn the other cheek whenever he was slapped, that he would have been slapped so often and so hard that he would soon enough have no more cheeks to offer. Humanly speaking, it is simply very difficult to live these precepts, but with God all things are possible. The Christian is not to seek revenge when harm is done to him. That is the great revolution in Christianity brought by Jesus. Lord, help us to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us.
by L'équipe de publication | Sep 10, 2024 | Evangelium
Saint Deiniol (- 584)
Green
He was the first Bishop of Bangor. He may have been consecrated in 545 by St David.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 118: 137, 124
You are just, O Lord, and your judgment is right; treat your servant in accord with your merciful love.
Collect
O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption, look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters, that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance. 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 Corinthians 7:25-31
About remaining celibate, I have no directions from the Lord but give my own opinion as one who, by the Lord’s mercy, has stayed faithful. Well then, I believe that in these present times of stress this is right: that it is good for a man to stay as he is. If you are tied to a wife, do not look for freedom; if you are free of a wife, then do not look for one. But if you marry, it is no sin, and it is not a sin for a young girl to get married. They will have their troubles, though, in their married life, and I should like to spare you that. Brothers, this is what I mean: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 44:11-12,14-17
R/ Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words: forget your own people and your father’s house. So will the king desire your beauty: He is your lord, pay homage to him.
The daughter of the king is clothed with splendour, her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold. She is led to the king with her maiden companions.
They are escorted amid gladness and joy; they pass within the palace of the king. Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers: you will make them princes over all the earth.
Gospel Acclamation : 1Jn2:5
Alleluia, alleluia! Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has said, God’s love comes to perfection in him.Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 6:20-26
Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said: ‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God. Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied. Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh. Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.’But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now. Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry. Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep. Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who give us the gift of true prayer and of peace, graciously grant that through this offering, we may do fitting homage to your divine majesty and, by partaking of the sacred mystery, we may be faithfully united in mind and heart. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 41: 2-3
Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God; my soul is thirsting for God, the living God.
Prayer after Communion
Grant that your faithful, O Lord, whom you nourish and endow with life through the food of your Word and heavenly Sacrament, may so benefit from your beloved Son’s great gifts that we may merit an eternal share in his life. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Meditation
Today’s gospel occurs just after Jesus picks his team. The challenge for us is to discover what his game plan is. The woes pronounced may frighten one. The beatitudes do not provide us with any clear cut answers. The twelve whom Jesus picked do not give us any easy clues to his game plan. However the gospel is striking in a significant way in that the beatitudes are clearly addressed to the disciples. Jesus makes reference to difficult situations in which people find themselves as desirable, when most of us would think them undesirable. From this we can understand that the chosen apostles had in fact experienced poverty, hunger, mourning, oppression, abuse, and hatred. However, these experiences were going to be transformed on “account of the Son of Man.” Part of Jesus’ game plan was that he was going to transform the very experiences which most people find undesirable into something which would bring real happiness. Jesus picked such an ordinary group of people. This gives all of us confidence that no matter how small we think our contribution is, Jesus is going to transform it into something beautiful if we put it at his service.
