by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 7, 2021 | Evangelium
St. Peter Thomas (1305-1366)
Peter Thomas was born into a poor peasant family in the southern Périgord region in France. His piety and skill as a teacher attracted the attention of the Carmelite Prior of Bergérac, who invited him to join the Carmelite community there at age twenty-one. He taught in various houses of study until he was sent to a university in Paris for advanced scholarship. While his studies were still in progress, he was elected by the Order as its procurator general to the Papal Court at Avignon in 1345.
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Entrance Antiphon : Ps 111: 4
A light has risen in the darkness for the upright of heart; the Lord is generous, merciful and just.
Collect
Grant, we ask, almighty God, that the Nativity of the Saviour of the world, made known by the guidance of a star, may be revealed ever more fully to our minds. 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 John 5:5-13
Who can overcome the world? Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God: Jesus Christ who came by water and blood, not with water only, but with water and blood; with the Spirit as another witness – since the Spirit is the truth – so that there are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water and the blood, and all three of them agree. We accept the testimony of human witnesses, but God’s testimony is much greater, and this is God’s testimony, given as evidence for his Son. Everybody who believes in the Son of God has this testimony inside him; and anyone who will not believe God is making God out to be a liar, because he has not trusted the testimony God has given about his Son. This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son; anyone who has the Son has life, anyone who does not have the Son does not have life. I have written all this to you so that you who believe in the name of the Son of God may be sure that you have eternal life.
Psalm 147:12-15,19-20
R/ praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
- O praise the Lord, Jerusalem! Zion, praise your God! He has strengthened the bars of your gates he has blessed the children within you.
- He established peace on your borders, he feeds you with finest wheat. He sends out his word to the earth and swiftly runs his command.
- He makes his word known to Jacob, to Israel his laws and decrees. He has not dealt thus with other nations; he has not taught them his decrees.
Gospel Acclamation : 1Tim3:16
Alleluia, alleluia! Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the pagans; glory to you, O Christ, believed in by the world. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 5:12-16
Jesus was in one of the towns when a man appeared, covered with leprosy. Seeing Jesus he fell on his face and implored him. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once. He ordered him to tell no one. ‘But go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering for your healing as Moses prescribed it, as evidence for them.’
His reputation continued to grow, and large crowds would gather to hear him and to have their sickness cured, but he would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive with favour, O Lord, we pray, the offerings of your people, that what they profess with devotion and faith may be theirs through these heavenly mysteries. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : 1 Jn 4: 9
By this the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his Only Begotten Son into the world, so that we might have life through him.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who touch us through our partaking of your Sacrament, work, we pray, the effects of its power in our hearts, that we may be made fit to receive your gift through this very gift itself. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The leper in today’s Gospel demonstrates courage and faith. His request must be seen in connection with his gesture of courage and faith. It is on account of his faith that Jesus says, “Of course I want to! Be cured!” Jesus’ words and touch bring healing to the leper. We may not have lepers in our community, but we definitely have people whose status is similar to that of lepers at the time of Jesus. What attitude and approach do we adopt towards such people? Like Jesus, we need to adopt an attitude of compassion and healing.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 6, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
St. Raymond of Penyafort, Priest
St. Raymond of Peñafort (c.1175 – 1275) was a Spanish Dominican friar in the 13th-century, who compiled a collection of canon laws that remained a major part of Church law until the 20th century. He is the patron saint of lawyers, especially canon lawyers.
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Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Jn 1: 1
In the beginning and before all ages, the Word was God and he humbled himself to be born the Saviour of the world.
Collect
O God, who through your Son raised up your eternal light for all nations, grant that your people may come to acknowledge the full splendour of their Redeemer, that, bathed ever more in his radiance, they may reach everlasting glory. 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 John 4:19-5:4
We are to love, because God loved us first. Anyone who says, ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, is a liar, since a man who does not love the brother that he can see cannot love God, whom he has never seen. So this is the commandment that he has given us, that anyone who loves God must also love his brother. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God; and whoever loves the Father that begot him loves the child whom he begets. We can be sure that we love God’s children if we love God himself and do what he has commanded us; this is what loving God is – keeping his commandments; and his commandments are not difficult, because anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome the world; this is the victory over the world – our faith.
Psalm 71(72):1-2,14-15,17
R/ All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
- O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice and your poor in right judgement.
- From oppression he will rescue their lives, to him their blood is dear. (Long may he live, may the gold of Sheba be given him.) They shall pray for him without ceasing and bless him all the day.
- May his name be blessed for ever and endure like the sun. Every tribe shall be blessed in him, all nations bless his name.
Gospel Acclamation : Lk7:16
Alleluia, alleluia! A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 4:14-22
Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him. He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written: The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour. He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’ And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive our oblation, O Lord, by which is brought about a glorious exchange, that, by offering what you have given, we may merit to receive your very self. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Jn 3: 16
God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, by the power of these holy mysteries, our life may be constantly sustained. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Just as Jesus was anointed Priest, Prophet and King, we too were anointed at the time of our baptism. With this anointing, God also sends us out to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to free the downtrodden, and to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour. Do we recognise this mission that has been entrusted to us by God Himself? How have we been faithful to this mission?
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 6, 2021 | Evangelium
St. Raymond of Penyafort, Priest
St. Raymond of Peñafort (c.1175 – 1275) was a Spanish Dominican friar in the 13th-century, who compiled a collection of canon laws that remained a major part of Church law until the 20th century. He is the patron saint of lawyers, especially canon lawyers.
White
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Jn 1: 1
In the beginning and before all ages, the Word was God and he humbled himself to be born the Saviour of the world.
Collect
O God, who through your Son raised up your eternal light for all nations, grant that your people may come to acknowledge the full splendour of their Redeemer, that, bathed ever more in his radiance, they may reach everlasting glory. 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 John 4:19-5:4
We are to love, because God loved us first. Anyone who says, ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, is a liar, since a man who does not love the brother that he can see cannot love God, whom he has never seen. So this is the commandment that he has given us, that anyone who loves God must also love his brother. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God; and whoever loves the Father that begot him loves the child whom he begets. We can be sure that we love God’s children if we love God himself and do what he has commanded us; this is what loving God is – keeping his commandments; and his commandments are not difficult, because anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome the world; this is the victory over the world – our faith.
Psalm 71(72):1-2,14-15,17
R/ All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
- O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice and your poor in right judgement.
- From oppression he will rescue their lives, to him their blood is dear. (Long may he live, may the gold of Sheba be given him.) They shall pray for him without ceasing and bless him all the day.
- May his name be blessed for ever and endure like the sun. Every tribe shall be blessed in him, all nations bless his name.
Gospel Acclamation : Lk7:16
Alleluia, alleluia! A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 4:14-22
Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him. He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written: The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour. He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’ And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive our oblation, O Lord, by which is brought about a glorious exchange, that, by offering what you have given, we may merit to receive your very self. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Jn 3: 16
God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, by the power of these holy mysteries, our life may be constantly sustained. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Just as Jesus was anointed Priest, Prophet and King, we too were anointed at the time of our baptism. With this anointing, God also sends us out to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to free the downtrodden, and to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour. Do we recognise this mission that has been entrusted to us by God Himself? How have we been faithful to this mission?
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 6, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
Saint Raymond de Penyafort, Prêtre Dominicain Catalan (1175-1275)
Maître général des Dominicains. Il fut l’un des grands maîtres de la théologie morale et du droit canonique. Il rédige, à la demande du pape Grégoire IX, une « Somme des cas pénitentiaux » et les « Décrétales » qui serviront de Code de Droit canonique à l’Église jusqu’en 1917. Il fut canonisé en 1601 par Clément VIII
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Au commencement et avant le temps le Verbe était Dieu : c’est lui qui a voulu naître dans le temps des hommes et devenir le Sauveur du monde.
Seigneur, avec ton Fils bien-aimé, l’aurore de ton jour éternel s’est levée sur toutes les nations : accepte à ton peuple de reconnaître la gloire de son Rédempteur et de parvenir à la lumière qui ne s’éteint pas. Par Jésus Christ.
Première lecture : 1 Jean 4, 19 – 5, 4
Bien-aimés, nous aimons parce que Dieu lui-même nous a aimés le premier. Si quelqu’un dit : « J’aime Dieu», alors qu’il a de la haine contre son frère, c’est un menteur. En effet, celui qui n’aime pas son frère, qu’il voit, est incapable d’aimer Dieu, qu’il ne voit pas. Et voici le commandement que nous tenons de lui : celui qui aime Dieu, qu’il aime aussi son frère. Celui qui croit que Jésus est le Christ, celui-là est né de Dieu ; celui qui aime le Père qui a engendré aime aussi le Fils qui est né de lui. Voici comment nous reconnaissons que nous aimons les enfants de Dieu : lorsque nous aimons Dieu et que nous accomplissons ses commandements. Car tel est l’amour de Dieu : garder ses commandements; et ses commandements ne sont pas un fardeau, puisque tout être qui est né de Dieu est vainqueur du monde. Or la victoire remportée sur le monde, c’est notre foi.
Psaume : 71 (72), 1-2, 14.15bc, 17
R/ Tous les rois se prosterneront devant lui, tous les pays le serviront. (71, 11)
1. Dieu, donne au roi tes pouvoirs, à ce fils de roi ta justice. Qu’il gouverne ton peuple avec justice, qu’il fasse droit aux malheureux !
2. Il les rachète à l’oppression, à la violence ; leur sang est d’un grand prix à ses yeux. On priera sans relâche pour lui ; tous les jours, on le bénira.
3. Que son nom dure toujours ; sous le soleil, que subsiste son nom ! En lui, que soient bénies toutes les familles de la terre; que tous les pays le disent bienheureux !
Alléluia, Alléluia. Le Seigneur m’a envoyé porter la Bonne Nouvelle aux pauvres, annoncer aux captifs leur libération. Alléluia. (Lc 4, 17)
En ce temps-là, lorsque Jésus, dans la puissance de l’Esprit, revint en Galilée, sa renommée se répandit dans toute la région. Il enseignait dans les synagogues, et tout le monde faisait son éloge. Il vint à Nazareth, où il avait été élevé. Selon son habitude, il entra dans la synagogue le jour du sabbat, et il se leva pour faire la lecture. On lui remit le livre du prophète Isaïe. Il ouvrit le livre et trouva le passage où il est écrit : L’Esprit du Seigneur est sur moi parce que le Seigneur m’a consacré par l’onction. Il m’a envoyé porter la Bonne Nouvelle aux pauvres, annoncer aux captifs leur libération, et aux aveugles qu’ils retrouveront la vue, remettre en liberté les opprimés, annoncer une année favorable accordée par le Seigneur. Jésus referma le livre, le rendit au servant et s’assit. Tous, dans la synagogue, avaient les yeux fixés sur lui. Alors il se mit à leur dire : « Aujourd’hui s’accomplit ce passage de l’Écriture que vous venez d’entendre. » Tous lui rendaient témoignage et s’étonnaient des paroles de grâce qui sortaient de sa bouche.
Accepte, Seigneur notre Dieu, ce que nous présentons pour cette Eucharistie où s’accomplit un admirable échange: en offrant ce que tu nous as donné, puissions-nous te recevoir toi-même. Par Jésus.
Dieu a tant aimé le monde qu’il a donné son Fils unique : ainsi, celui qui croit en lui ne périra pas, mais il obtiendra la vie éternelle.
Prière après la communion
Dieu tout-puissant, nous t’en prions : fais que la communion à tes mystères sacrés soutienne constamment notre vie. Par Jésus.
L’aujourd’hui de l’accomplissement de la Parole de l’Écriture dans la vie de tout croyant est fonction des différentes dispositions d’écoute. La prédisposition à accueillir en esprit et en vérité la Parole de Dieu favorise une implantation fructueuse de cette même Parole dans la vie du croyant. Faire l’expérience de l’annonce de la Bonne Nouvelle, de la libération et des bienfaits accordés par le Seigneur constitue un signe fort de l’action de Dieu dans la vie du fidèle. La réactivation de cette expérience passe sans doute par une ouverture au souffle du Saint-Esprit, Lui qui se pose sur nous et nous consacre pour sa mission.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 5, 2021 | Evangelium
St. André Bessette (1845 – 1937)
He was a lay brother of the Congregation of the Holy Cross and a significant figure of the Roman Catholic Church among French-Canadians, credited with thousands of reported miraculous healings.
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Entrance Antiphon : Is 9:1
A people who walked in darkness has seen a great light; for those dwelling in a land of deep gloom, a light has shone.
Collect
O God, who bestow light on all the nations, grant your peoples the gladness of lasting peace and pour into our hearts that brilliant light by which you purified the minds of our fathers in 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 : 1 John 4:11-18
My dear people, since God has loved us so much, we too should love one another. No one has ever seen God; but as long as we love one another God will live in us and his love will be complete in us. We can know that we are living in him and he is living in us because he lets us share his Spirit. We ourselves saw and we testify that the Father sent his Son as saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he in God. We ourselves have known and put our faith in God’s love towards ourselves. God is love and anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him. Love will come to its perfection in us when we can face the day of Judgement without fear; because even in this world we have become as he is. In love there can be no fear, but fear is driven out by perfect love: because to fear is to expect punishment, and anyone who is afraid is still imperfect in love.
Psalm 71 (72):1-2,10-13
R/ All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
- O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice and your poor in right judgement.
- The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts shall pay him tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring him gifts. Before him all kings shall fall prostrate, all nations shall serve him.
- For he shall save the poor when they cry and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak and save the lives of the poor.
Gospel Acclamation : Lk4:17
Alleluia, Alleluia! The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 6:45-52
After the five thousand had eaten and were filled, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the crowd away. After saying goodbye to them he went off into the hills to pray. When evening came, the boat was far out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. He could see they were worn out with rowing, for the wind was against them; and about the fourth watch of the night he came towards them, walking on the lake. He was going to pass them by, but when they saw him walking on the lake they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they had all seen him and were terrified. But he at once spoke to them, and said, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind dropped. They were utterly and completely dumbfounded, because they had not seen what the miracle of the loaves meant; their minds were closed.
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 : 1 Jn 1: 2
That life which was with the Father became visible, and has appeared to us.
Prayer after Communion
May your people, O Lord, whom you guide and sustain in many ways, experience, both now and in the future, the remedies which you bestow, that, with the needed solace of things that pass away, they may strive with ever deepened trust for things eternal. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The words of Jesus, “Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid,” remind his disciples of his consoling presence among them. Like the disciples, who were worn out by rowing, sometimes we too get worn out by rowing the boat of our life. This makes us feel like breaking. At this point, Jesus reminds us of his presence in our life and says, “I am here”. Our faith challenges us to remember always that just as at the presence of Jesus in the boat made the wind dropped, so too will the storm in our life drop if we allow Jesus into the boat of our life.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 5, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
Balthazar, Gaspard, Melchior
Ces noms sont donnés aux mages au VIe siècle. Les crèches les représentent en magnifiques costumes imaginés orientaux, avec des chameaux et des serviteurs. D’abord Arabes ou Persans, ils sont ensuite représentés comme appartenant à trois peuples différents ou aux trois continents alors connus : l’Asie, l’Europe et l’Asie. Ils représentent maintenant toute l’humanité.
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Le peuple qui marchait dans les ténèbres a vu se lever une grande lumière ; sur ceux qui habitaient le pays de l’ombre une lumière a resplendi.
Seigneur notre Dieu, soleil qui brille pour toutes les nations, accorde aux peuples de la terre de vivre en paix, et fais lever en nos cœurs l’admirable lumière qui a guidé les mages vers ton Fils. Lui qui.
Première lecture : 1 Jean 4, 11-18
Bien-aimés, puisque Dieu nous a tellement aimés, nous devons, nous aussi, nous aimer les uns les autres. Dieu, personne ne l’a jamais vu. Mais si nous nous aimons les uns les autres, Dieu demeure en nous, et, en nous, son amour atteint la perfection. Voici comment nous reconnaissons que nous demeurons en lui et lui en nous: il nous a donné part à son Esprit. Quant à nous, nous avons vu et nous attestons que le Père a envoyé son Fils comme Sauveur du monde. Celui qui proclame que Jésus est le Fils de Dieu, Dieu demeure en lui, et lui en Dieu. Et nous, nous avons reconnu l’amour que Dieu a pour nous, et nous y avons cru. Dieu est amour : qui demeure dans l’amour demeure en Dieu, et Dieu demeure en lui. Voici comment l’amour atteint, chez nous, sa perfection: avoir de l’assurance au jour du jugement; comme Jésus, en effet, nous ne manquons pas d’assurance en ce monde. Il n’y a pas de crainte dans l’amour, l’amour parfait bannit la crainte ; car la crainte implique un châtiment, et celui qui reste dans la crainte n’a pas atteint la perfection de l’amour.
Psaume : 71 (72), 1-2, 10-11, 12-13
R/ Tous les rois se prosterneront devant lui, tous les pays le serviront. (71, 11)
1. Dieu, donne au roi tes pouvoirs, à ce fils de roi ta justice. Qu’il gouverne ton peuple avec justice, qu’il fasse droit aux malheureux !
2. Les rois de Tarsis et des Îles apporteront des présents. Les rois de Saba et de Seba feront leur offrande. Tous les rois se prosterneront devant lui, tous les pays le serviront.
3. Il délivrera le pauvre qui appelle et le malheureux sans recours. Il aura souci du faible et du pauvre, du pauvre dont il sauve la vie.
Alléluia. Alléluia. Louange à toi, Jésus Christ, manifesté dans la chair, proclamé parmi les nations, reconnu dans le monde. Alléluia. (cf. 1 Tm 3, 16)
Aussitôt après avoir nourri les cinq mille hommes, Jésus obligea ses disciples à monter dans la barque et à le précéder sur l’autre rive, vers Bethsaïde, pendant que lui-même renvoyait la foule. Quand il les eut congédiés, il s’en alla sur la montagne pour prier. Le soir venu, la barque était au milieu de la mer et lui, tout seul, à terre. Voyant qu’ils peinaient à ramer, car le vent leur était contraire, il vient à eux vers la fin de la nuit en marchant sur la mer, et il voulait les dépasser. En le voyant marcher sur la mer, les disciples pensèrent que c’était un fantôme et ils se mirent à pousser des cris. Tous, en effet, l’avaient vu et ils étaient bouleversés. Mais aussitôt Jésus parla avec eux et leur dit : « Confiance ! c’est moi ; n’ayez pas peur! » Il monta ensuite avec eux dans la barque et le vent tomba ; et en eux-mêmes ils étaient au comble de la stupeur, car ils n’avaient rien compris au sujet des pains : leur cœur était endurci.
Dieu qui donnes la grâce de te servir avec droiture et de chercher la paix, fais que cette offrande puisse te glorifier, et que notre participation à l’Eucharistie renforce les liens de notre unité. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : 1 Jean 1, 2
La Vie, qui était auprès du Père, s’est manifestée, elle nous est apparue.
Prière après la communion
Ton peuple, Seigneur, a besoin de multiples secours pour sa traversée d’ici-bas, que ta bonté les lui donne aujourd’hui et demain : trouvant alors la force nécessaire dans les biens qui passent, il recherchera les biens éternels avec plus de confiance. Par Jésus.
« Il monta ensuite avec eux dans la barque et le vent tomba ». La vie d’un fidèle du Christ se consolide lorsque nous donnons la possibilité à Jésus-Christ d’entrer dans la barque de notre existence pour que « tombe » le vent. Combien de situations de la vie peuvent en effet nous faire peur, nous déstabiliser et nous démotiver? Plusieurs certainement. Voilà pourquoi, apprendre à monter avec Jésus dans la barque de la vie est une école de spiritualité libératrice. Toute vie voulant évacuer Dieu de son existence trouve dans son déploiement désastre et désolation. Par contre, la vie en contact avec la présence de Jésus-Christ garantit nos choix et nos options.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 4, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
Saint Edouard le confesseur,
Saint Jean Neumann,
Prince de la maison de Wessex. Il règne sur le royaume d’Angleterre de 1042 jusqu’à sa mort. Son règne est marqué par la paix et la prospérité. Sa grande piété lui vaut son surnom et le fait d’être ensuite canonisé en 1161. Trente-six ans après sa mort, on aurait ouvert son tombeau sans constater la moindre trace de décomposition du corps.
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Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 117, 26-27
Béni soit au nom du Seigneur celui qui vient : Dieu le Seigneur, nous donne sa lumière.
Dieu éternel, c’est dans la réalité de notre chair que ton Fils unique est apparu. Puisque nous reconnaissons que son humanité fut semblable à la nôtre, donne-nous d’être transformés par lui au plus intime de notre cœur. Par Jésus, le Christ, notre Seigneur.
Première lecture : 1 Jean 4, 7-10
Bien-aimés, aimons-nous les uns les autres, puisque l’amour vient de Dieu. Celui qui aime est né de Dieu et connaît Dieu. Celui qui n’aime pas n’a pas connu Dieu, car Dieu est amour. Voici comment l’amour de Dieu s’est manifesté parmi nous : Dieu a envoyé son Fils unique dans le monde pour que nous vivions par lui. Voici en quoi consiste l’amour : ce n’est pas nous qui avons aimé Dieu, c’est lui qui nous a aimés, et il a envoyé son Fils en sacrifice de pardon pour nos péchés.
Psaume : 71 (72), 1-2, 3-4, 7-8
R/ Tous les rois se prosterneront devant lui, tous les pays le serviront. 71, 11
1. Dieu, donne au roi tes pouvoirs, à ce fils de roi ta justice. Qu’il gouverne ton peuple avec justice, qu’il fasse droit aux malheureux !
2. Montagnes, portez au peuple la paix, collines, portez-lui la justice ! Qu’il fasse droit aux malheureux de son peuple, qu’il sauve les pauvres gens, qu’il écrase l’oppresseur !
3. En ces jours-là, fleurira la justice, grande paix jusqu’à la fin des lunes ! Qu’il domine de la mer à la mer, et du Fleuve jusqu’au bout de la terre !
Alléluia. Alléluia. Le Seigneur m’a envoyé porter la Bonne Nouvelle aux pauvres, annoncer aux captifs leur libération. Alléluia. (Lc 4, 18cd)
En ce temps-là, Jésus vit une grande foule. Il fut saisi de compassion envers eux, parce qu’ils étaient comme des brebis sans berger. Alors, il se mit à les enseigner longuement. Déjà l’heure était avancée ; s’étant approchés de lui, ses disciples disaient : « L’endroit est désert et déjà l’heure est tardive. Renvoie-les : qu’ils aillent dans les campagnes et les villages des environs s’acheter de quoi manger. » Il leur répondit: « Donnez-leur vous-mêmes à manger. » Ils répliquent : « Irons-nous dépenser le salaire de deux cents journées pour acheter des pains et leur donner à manger ?» Jésus leur demande : « Combien de pains avez-vous ? Allez voir. » S’étant informés, ils lui disent : « Cinq, et deux poissons. » Il leur ordonna de les faire tous asseoir par groupes sur l’herbe verte. Ils se disposèrent par carrés de cent et de cinquante. Jésus prit les cinq pains et les deux poissons, et, levant les yeux au ciel, il prononça la bénédiction et rompit les pains; il les donnait aux disciples pour qu’ils les distribuent à la foule. Il partagea aussi les deux poissons entre eux tous. Ils mangèrent tous et ils furent rassasiés. Et l’on ramassa les morceaux de pain qui restaient, de quoi remplir douze paniers, ainsi que les restes des poissons. Ceux qui avaient mangé les pains étaient au nombre de cinq mille hommes.
Reçois favorablement, Seigneur, les offrandes de ton peuple, pour qu’il obtienne dans le mystère eucharistique les biens auxquels il croit de tout son cœur. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ephésiens 2, 4
A cause du grand amour dont il nous a aimés, Dieu a envoyé son Fis partager notre condition humaine en toute chose, excepte le péché.
Prière après la communion
Quand nous participons à ton Eucharistie, Seigneur, c’est toi qui viens à notre rencontre ; produis en nos cœurs le fruit de ce sacrement, car seule ta grâce peut nous préparer à recevoir tes grâces. Par Jésus.
Dans l’Évangile, Jésus nous apprend un modèle de gestion des situations-limites. Ayant demandé à ses disciples de rassembler ce qu’ils ont, il prit les cinq pains et les deux poissons, et levant les yeux au ciel, il prononça la bénédiction et rompit les pains. Lever les yeux au ciel est un acte qui attire la faveur de Dieu sur ses bienaimés. La conséquence horizontale d’une telle action verticale est sans doute le fait de rompre le peu de biens que nous avons et de prendre le risque de le partager avec nos semblables. Nos yeux levés vers le Seigneur appellent le courage de la rupture de nos biens limités et à leur partage avec nos frères et sœurs. En cela, s’actualise le miracle.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 4, 2021 | Evangelium
St. John Neumann
This American saint was born in Bohemia in 1811. John was appointed bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. Fluent in many languages, he was dedicated to helping the poor and most abandoned. John died on 5th January, 1860 at the age of 48.
White
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 117: 26-27
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord: The Lord is God and has given us light.
Collect
O God, whose Only Begotten Son has appeared in our very flesh, grant, we pray, that we may be inwardly transformed through him whom we recognize as outwardly like ourselves. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 1 John 4:7-10
My dear people, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love. God’s love for us was revealed when God sent into the world his only Son so that we could have life through him; this is the love I mean: not our love for God, but God’s love for us when he sent his Son to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away.
Psalm 71(72):1-4,7-8
R/ All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
- O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice and your poor in right judgement.
- May the mountains bring forth peace for the people and the hills, justice. May he defend the poor of the people and save the children of the needy.
- In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails. He shall rule from sea to sea, from the Great River to earth’s bounds.
Gospel Acclamation : Mt 4:23
Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom and cured all kinds of diseases among the people. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 6:34-44
As Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length. By now it was getting very late, and his disciples came up to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place and it is getting very late. So send them away, and they can go to the farms and villages round about, to buy themselves something to eat.’ He replied, ‘Give them something to eat yourselves.’ They answered, ‘Are we to go and spend two hundred denarii on bread for them to eat?’ ‘How many loaves have you?’ he asked. ‘Go and see.’ And when they had found out they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ Then he ordered them to get all the people together in groups on the green grass, and they sat down on the ground in squares of hundreds and fifties. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing; then he broke the loaves and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the people. He also shared out the two fish among them all. They all ate as much as they wanted. They collected twelve basketfuls of scraps of bread and pieces of fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive with favour, O Lord, we pray, the offerings of your people, that what they profess with devotion and faith may be theirs through these heavenly mysteries. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Eph 2: 4; Rm 8: 3
Because of that great love of his with which God loved us, he sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who touch us through our partaking of your Sacrament, work, we pray, the effects of its power in our hearts, that we may be made fit to receive your gift through this very gift itself. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In the face of a sure lack of food and worry, Jesus gives the disciples a strange response: “Give them something to eat yourselves” (Mark 6:37). In other words, be generous enough to share the little you have with others. The disciples, like any normal person, wondered how a multitude of people could eat five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus blessed the little food and it was more than enough for the multitude and the disciples. This tells us that when we are generous with the little we have God blesses and multiplies it for us.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 3, 2021 | Evangelium
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774 – 1821)
She was born in New York into an Episcopalian family, who ostracised her and left her penniless when she became a Catholic in 1805. Seton was the first native-born American to be canonised by the Catholic Church.
White
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Prv 14:1-2
A holy day has dawned upon us: Come, you nations, and adore the Lord, for a great light has come down upon the earth.
O God, whose eternal Word adorns the face of the heavens yet accepted from the Virgin Mary the frailty of our flesh, grant, we pray,
that he who appeared among us as the splendour of truth may go forth in the fullness of power for the redemption of the world. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 1 John 3:22-4:6
Whatever we ask God, we shall receive, because we keep his commandments and live the kind of life that he wants. His commandments are these: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another as he told us to. Whoever keeps his commandments lives in God and God lives in him. We know that he lives in us by the Spirit that he has given us. It is not every spirit, my dear people, that you can trust; test them, to see if they come from God, there are many false prophets, now, in the world. You can tell the spirits that come from God by this: every spirit which acknowledges that Jesus the Christ has come in the flesh is from God; but any spirit which will not say this of Jesus is not from God, but is the spirit of Antichrist, whose coming you were warned about. Well, now he is here, in the world. Children, you have already overcome these false prophets, because you are from God and you have in you one who is greater than anyone in this world; as for them, they are of the world, and so they speak the language of the world and the world listens to them. But we are children of God, and those who know God listen to us; those who are not of God refuse to listen to us. This is how we can tell the spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood.
R/ will give you the nations for your heritage.
1. The Lord said to me: ‘You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day. Ask and I shall bequeath you the nations, put the ends of the earth in your possession.’
2. Now, O kings, understand, take warning, rulers of the earth; serve the Lord with awe and trembling, pay him your homage.
Gospel Acclamation : Mt4:16
Alleluia, alleluia! The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned. Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 4:12-17,23-25
Hearing that John had been arrested, Jesus went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled: ‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations! The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned. From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’ He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people. His fame spread throughout Syria, and those who were suffering from diseases and painful complaints of one kind or another, the possessed, epileptics, the paralysed, were all brought to him, and he cured them. Large crowds followed him, coming from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea and Transjordania.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive our oblation, O Lord, by which is brought about a glorious exchange, that, by offering what you have given, we may merit to receive your very self. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Jn 1: 14
We have seen his glory, the glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with grace and truth.
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, by the power of these holy mysteries, our life may be constantly sustained. Through Christ our Lord.
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand” (Matthew 4:17). These words constitute Jesus’ core message to the Galileans and is still valid today. Each of us knows the situation in which we live. There are attitudes in our lives that need to be corrected; they concern others and consequently, our relationship with God. Sometimes we give a thought to them. At other times we simply neglect them and life continues as if it does not matter whether we repent or not. Jesus calls you and me by name to repent.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 3, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
Sainte Dorothée (5e siècle) ;
Sainte Angèle.
Romaine d’origine, Dorothée s’appelait en réalité Apollinaire. La tradition dit qu’elle appartint à la famille impériale et qu’elle affranchit ses enclaves et distribua ses biens personnels pour se retirer au désert en Egypte, accompagné d’un vieux serviteur. Se faisant passer pour eunuque, elle entra au monastère de Scété où elle persévéra dans le jeûne et la prière. Son secret ne fut découvert qu’après sa mort.
Blanc
Un jour très saint, a brillé à nos yeux: que toutes les nations viennent, qu’elles adorent le Seigneur : une grande lumière est descendue sur la terre.
Seigneur, nous t’en prions, éclaire nos cœurs de ta lumière souveraine: nous trouverons alors la force d’avancer dans un monde obscur pour atteindre le pays du jour sans déclin.
Première lecture : Jean 3, 22 – 4, 6
Bien-aimés, quoi que nous demandions à Dieu, nous le recevons de lui, parce que nous gardons ses commandements, et que nous faisons ce qui est agréable à ses yeux. Or, voici son commandement: mettre notre foi dans le nom de son Fils Jésus Christ, et nous aimer les uns les autres comme il nous l’a commandé. Celui qui garde ses commandements demeure en Dieu, et Dieu en lui ; et voilà comment nous reconnaissons qu’il demeure en nous, puisqu’il nous a donné part à son Esprit. Bien-aimés, ne vous fiez pas à n’importe quelle inspiration, mais examinez les esprits pour voir s’ils sont de Dieu, car beaucoup de faux prophètes se sont répandus dans le monde. Voici comment vous reconnaîtrez l’Esprit de Dieu : tout esprit qui proclame que Jésus Christ est venu dans la chair, celui-là est de Dieu. Tout esprit qui refuse de proclamer Jésus, celui-là n’est pas de Dieu : c’est l’esprit de l’anti-Christ, dont on vous a annoncé la venue et qui, dès maintenant, est déjà dans le monde. Vous, petits-enfants, vous êtes de Dieu, et vous avez vaincu ces gens-là ; car Celui qui est en vous est plus grand que celui qui est dans le monde. Eux, ils sont du monde ; voilà pourquoi ils parlent le langage du monde, et le monde les écoute. Nous, nous sommes de Dieu; celui qui connaît Dieu nous écoute ; celui qui n’est pas de Dieu ne nous écoute pas. C’est ainsi que nous reconnaissons l’esprit de la vérité et l’esprit de l’erreur.
R/ Tu es mon fils ; je te donne en héritage les nations. (cf. 2, 7b.8a)
1. Le Seigneur m’a dit : « Tu es mon fils; moi, aujourd’hui, je t’ai engendré. Demande, et je te donne en héritage les nations, pour domaine la terre tout entière. »
2. Maintenant, rois, comprenez, reprenez-vous, juges de la terre. Servez le Seigneur avec crainte, rendez-lui votre hommage en tremblant.
Alléluia, Alléluia. Jésus proclamait l’Évangile du Royaume, et guérissait toute maladie dans le peuple. Alléluia. (cf. Mt 4, 23)
Évangile : Matthieu 4, 12-17.23-25
En ce temps-là, quand Jésus apprit l’arrestation de Jean le Baptiste, il se retira en Galilée. Il quitta Nazareth et vint habiter à Capharnaüm, ville située au bord de la mer de Galilée, dans les territoires de Zabulon et de Nephtali. C’était pour que soit accomplie la parole prononcée par le prophète Isaïe : Pays de Zabulon et pays de Nephtali, route de la mer et pays au-delà du Jourdain, Galilée des nations ! Le peuple qui habitait dans les ténèbres a vu une grande lumière. Sur ceux qui habitaient dans le pays et l’ombre de la mort, une lumière s’est levée. À partir de ce moment, Jésus commença à proclamer : « Convertissez-vous, car le royaume des Cieux est tout proche. » Jésus parcourait toute la Galilée ; il enseignait dans leurs synagogues, proclamait l’Évangile du Royaume, guérissait toute maladie et toute infirmité dans le peuple. Sa renommée se répandit dans toute la Syrie. On lui amena tous ceux qui souffraient, atteints de maladies et de tourments de toutes sortes : possédés, épileptiques, paralysés. Et il les guérit. De grandes foules le suivirent, venues de la Galilée, de la Décapole, de Jérusalem, de la Judée, et de l’autre côté du Jourdain.
Accepte, Seigneur notre Dieu, ce que nous présentons pour cette eucharistie où s’accomplit un admirable échange : En offrant ce que tu nous as donné, puissions-nous te recevoir toi-même. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Jean 1, 14
Nous avons vu la gloire du Verbe fait chair, la gloire qu’il tient de son Père comme Fils unique, plein de grâce et de vérité
Prière après la communion
Dieu tout-puissant, nous t’en prions : fais que la communion à tes mystères sacrés soutienne constamment notre vie. Par Jésus.
À partir de ce moment, Jésus commença à proclamer : « Convertissez-vous, car le royaume des Cieux est tout proche ». En précisant ce fait, Matthieu l’évangéliste situe les débuts de la mission du Christ dans le contexte précis de l’appel à la conversion. La Bonne Nouvelle du Royaume de Dieu requiert des terres fertiles à son accueil. Voilà pourquoi par la suite, en parcourant toute la Galilée, Jésus enseigne, proclame l’Évangile du Royaume et guérit toute maladie et toute infirmité dans le peuple. Il est important de situer les actions thérapeutiques du Christ comme un couronnement de son appel à la conversion et de l’urgence d’un enseignement solide.
