by | Apr 24, 2022 | Evangelium

Monday  25th April 2022

 

St. Mark the Evangelist

 

He was a cousin of Barnabas and accompanied the apostle Paul on his first missionary journey; later he followed him to Rome. He is credited with founding the Church in Alexandria and writing one of the four Gospels.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Mk 16: 15

Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature, alleluia.

 

Collect

O God, who raised up Saint Mark, your Evangelist, and endowed him with the grace to preach the Gospel, grant, we pray, that we may so profit from his teaching as to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

First reading : 1 Peter 5:5-14

All wrap yourselves in humility to be servants of each other, because God refuses the proud and will always favour the humble. Bow down, then, before the power of God now, and he will raise you up on the appointed day; unload all your worries on to him, since he is looking after you. Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that your brothers all over the world are suffering the same things. You will have to suffer only for a little while: the God of all grace who called you to eternal glory in Christ will see that all is well again: he will confirm, strengthen and support you. His power lasts for ever and ever. Amen. I write these few words to you through Silvanus, who is a brother I know I can trust, to encourage you never to let go this true grace of God to which I bear witness. Your sister in Babylon, who is with you among the chosen, sends you greetings; so does my son, Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love.

 

Psalm 88:2-3,6-7,16-17

R/        I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

 

I    will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

  1. The heavens proclaim your wonders, O Lord; the assembly of your holy ones proclaims your truth. For who in the skies can compare with the Lord or who is like the Lord among the sons of God?
  2. Happy the people who acclaim such a king, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who find their joy every day in your name, who make your justice the source of their bliss.

 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia! Christ has risen and shone upon us whom he redeemed with his blood. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Mark 16:15-20

Jesus showed himself to the Eleven, and said to them: ‘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.’ And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.

 

Prayer over the Offerings

As we venerate the glory of Saint Mark, we offer you, Lord, the sacrifice of praise and humbly beseech you, that your Church may always persevere in the preaching of the Gospel. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Mt 28: 20

Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, says the Lord, alleluia.

 

Prayer after Communion

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that what we have received from your holy altar may sanctify us and make us strong in the faith of the Gospel which Saint Mark proclaimed. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

As Jesus told the Apostles, these signs will accompany those who believe: driving out of demons, speaking new languages, picking up serpents with their hands, not dying if they drink anything deadly, laying of hands on and healing of the sick, all these in His name. One way of understanding speaking in tongues is understanding the gospel being preached in one’s own language so that it makes sense to you and that once you hear it preached, you change your life in conformity to it. Then you would be speaking a new language, one of change of ideology, change of lifestyle, change of mentality, change of reaction towards people and events in favour of a laudable one, in fact, you change because of the Good News preached in the language of your locality. You and I are called to speak in a tongue of love through the preaching and teaching of the Apostles of today, just as Mark did in his days.

by | Apr 23, 2022 | Agenda Biblique

Dimanche  24 avril 2022

 

2ème Dimanche de Pâques

– Année C.

Solennité du Seigneur,

Psautier Propre

 

Antienne d’ouverture : 1 P 2, 2

Comme des enfants nouveau-nés ont soif du lait qui les nourrit, soyez avides du lait pur de la Parole, afin qu’il vous fasse grandir pour le salut, alléluia.

 

Prière d’ouverture

Dieu de miséricorde infinie, tu ranimes la foi de ton peuple par les célébrations pascales; Augmente en nous ta grâce pour que nous comprenions toujours mieux quel baptême nous a purifiés, quel Esprit nous a fait renaître, et quel sang nous a rachetés. Par Jésus Christ.

 

1ère lecture : Act 5, 12-16

À Jérusalem, par les mains des Apôtres, beaucoup de signes et de prodiges s’accomplissaient dans le peuple. Tous les croyants, d’un même cœur, se tenaient sous le portique de Salomon. Personne d’autre n’osait se joindre à eux ; cependant tout le peuple faisait leur éloge ; de plus en plus, des foules d’hommes et de femmes, en devenant croyants, s’attachaient au Seigneur. On allait jusqu’à sortir les malades sur les places, en les mettant sur des civières et des brancards: ainsi, au passage de Pierre, son ombre couvrirait l’un ou l’autre. La foule accourait aussi des villes voisines de Jérusalem, en amenant des gens malades ou tourmentés par des esprits impurs. Et tous étaient guéris. – Parole du Seigneur.

 

Psaume Ps 117 (118), 2-4, 22-24, 25-27a

R/ Rendez grâce au Seigneur : Il est bon ! Éternel est son amour ! Ou: Alléluia ! (117, 1)

 

  1. Oui, que le dise Israël: Éternel est son amour! Oui, que le dise la maison d’Aaron: Éternel est son amour ! Qu’ils le disent, ceux qui craignent le Seigneur: Éternel est son amour !
  2. La pierre qu’ont rejetée les bâtisseurs est devenue la pierre d’angle : c’est là l’œuvre du Seigneur, la merveille devant nos yeux. Voici le jour que fit le Seigneur, qu’il soit pour nous jour de fête et de joie !
  3. Donne, Seigneur, donne le salut ! Donne, Seigneur, donne la victoire! Béni soit au nom du Seigneur celui qui vient ! De la maison du Seigneur, nous vous bénissons! Dieu, le Seigneur, nous illumine.

 

2ème lecture : Apocalypse 1, 9-11a.12-13.17-19

Moi, Jean, votre frère, partageant avec vous la détresse, la royauté et la persévérance en Jésus, je me trouvai dans l’île de Patmos à cause de la parole de Dieu et du témoignage de Jésus. Je fus saisi en esprit, le jour du Seigneur, et j’entendis derrière moi une voix forte, pareille au son d’une trompette. Elle disait : « Ce que tu vois, écris-le dans un livre et envoie-le aux sept Églises : à Éphèse, Smyrne, Pergame, Thyatire, Sardes, Philadelphie et Laodicée. » Je me retournai pour regarder quelle était cette voix qui me parlait. M’étant retourné, j’ai vu sept chandeliers d’or, et au milieu des chandeliers un être qui semblait un Fils d’homme, revêtu d’une longue tunique, une ceinture d’or à hauteur de poitrine. Quand je le vis, je tombai à ses pieds comme mort, mais il posa sur moi sa main droite, en disant : « Ne crains pas. Moi, je suis le Premier et le Dernier, le Vivant : j’étais mort, et me voilà vivant pour les siècles des siècles ; je détiens les clés de la mort et du séjour des morts. Écris donc ce que tu as vu, ce qui est, ce qui va ensuite advenir. »

 

Acclamation

Alléluia. Alléluia. Thomas parce que tu m’as vu, tu crois, dit le Seigneur. Heureux ceux qui croient sans avoir vu!  Alléluia. (Jn 20, 29)

 

Évangile : Jean 20, 19-31

C’était après la mort de Jésus. Le soir venu, en ce premier jour de la semaine, alors que les portes du lieu où se trouvaient les disciples étaient verrouillées par crainte des Juifs, Jésus vint, et il était là au milieu d’eux. Il leur dit: «La paix soit avec vous ! » Après cette parole, il leur montra ses mains et son côté. Les disciples furent remplis de joie en voyant le Seigneur. Jésus leur dit de nouveau : « La paix soit avec vous ! De même que le Père m’a envoyé, moi aussi, je vous envoie. » Ayant ainsi parlé, il souffla sur eux et il leur dit : « Recevez l’Esprit Saint. À qui vous remettrez ses péchés, ils seront remis ; à qui vous maintiendrez ses péchés, ils seront maintenus. » Or, l’un des Douze, Thomas, appelé Didyme (c’est-à-dire Jumeau), n’était pas avec eux quand Jésus était venu. Les autres disciples lui disaient : « Nous avons vu le Seigneur ! » Mais il leur déclara : «Si je ne vois pas dans ses mains la marque des clous, si je ne mets pas mon doigt dans la marque des clous, si je ne mets pas la main dans son côté, non, je ne croirai pas ! » Huit jours plus tard, les disciples se trouvaient de nouveau dans la maison, et Thomas était avec eux. Jésus vient, alors que les portes étaient verrouillées, et il était là au milieu d’eux. Il dit: « La paix soit avec vous ! » Puis il dit à Thomas: « Avance ton doigt ici, et vois mes mains ; avance ta main, et mets-la dans mon côté : cesse d’être incrédule, sois croyant. » Alors Thomas lui dit : « Mon Seigneur et mon Dieu!» Jésus lui dit : « Parce que tu m’as vu, tu crois. Heureux ceux qui croient sans avoir vu. » Il y a encore beaucoup d’autres signes que Jésus a faits en présence des disciples et qui ne sont pas écrits dans ce livre. Mais ceux-là ont été écrits pour que vous croyiez que Jésus est le Christ, le Fils de Dieu, et pour qu’en croyant, vous ayez la vie en son nom.

Prière sur les offrandes

Accueille avec bonté, Seigneur, les offrandes de tes fidèles (et de tous ceux qui viennent de renaître dans le Christ); Renouvelés par la foi et le baptême, qu´ils parviennent au bonheur sans fin. Par Jésus.

 

Antienne de la communion ; Jn 20, 27

Jésus dit à Thomas : « Avance ta main, touche du doigt l´endroit des clous; ne sois pas incrédule, sois croyant », alléluia.

 

Prière après la communion

Nous t´en prions, Dieu tout-puissant: Que le mystère pascal accueilli dans cette communion ne cesse jamais d´agir en nos cœurs. Par Jésus.

 

 

Méditation

« Nous avons vu le Seigneur ! » Aujourd’hui comme hier, la foi des chrétiens reposent sur la confiance accordée à des témoins, jugés dignes de foi.  Devrions-nous être des « Thomas », exigeant de vérifier par nous-mêmes, ou par la raison et la science que le crucifier est vivant. Faut-il se laisser enfermer dans le doute et l’incrédulité? La pédagogie du Christ est ici louable. Dans sa magnificence, Jésus vient à la rencontre de Thomas, il le rejoint dans son monde, et le conduit à la foi. « Heureux ceux qui croient sans avoir vu ! » cette béatitude s’adresse à toutes les générations chrétiennes d’aujourd’hui. Croire ce n’est pas une affaire de sciences. Croire, c’est prendre une décision existentielle, qui ouvre à la vie surabondante de Dieu. Les récits évangéliques sont là pour susciter la foi au Ressuscité « pour qu’en croyant, vous ayez la vie en son nom ».

by | Apr 23, 2022 | Evangelium

Sunday  24th April 2022

 

Divine Mercy Sunday

(2nd Sunday of Easter)

 

 

Entrance Antiphon : 1 Pt 2: 2

Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk, that in him you may grow to salvation, alleluia.

 

Collect

God of everlasting mercy, who in the very recurrence of the paschal feast, kindle the faith of the people you have made your own, increase, we pray, the grace you have bestowed, that all may grasp and rightly understand in what font they have been washed, by whose Spirit they have been reborn, by whose Blood they have been redeemed. 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 5:12-16

The faithful all used to meet by common consent in the Portico of Solomon. No one else ever dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. So many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles that the sick were even taken out into the streets and laid on beds and sleeping-mats in the hope that at least the shadow of Peter might fall across some of them as he went past. People even came crowding in from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing with them their sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.

 

Psalm 117(118):2-4,22-27

R/   Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.

 

  1. Let the sons of Israel say: ‘His love has no end.’ Let the sons of Aaron say: ‘His love has no end.’ Let those who fear the Lord say: ‘His love has no end.’
  2. The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad.
  3. O Lord, grant us salvation; O Lord, grant success. Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes. We bless you from the house of the Lord; the Lord God is our light.

 

Second reading : Apocalypse 1:9-13, 17-19

My name is John, and through our union in Jesus I am your brother and share your sufferings, your kingdom, and all you endure. I was on the island of Patmos for having preached God’s word and witnessed for Jesus; it was the Lord’s day and the Spirit possessed me, and I heard a voice behind me, shouting like a trumpet, ‘Write down all that you see in a book.’ I turned round to see who had spoken to me, and when I turned I saw seven golden lamp-stands and, surrounded by them, a figure like a Son of man, dressed in a long robe tied at the waist with a golden girdle. When I saw him, I fell in a dead faint at his feet, but he touched me with his right hand and said, ‘Do not be afraid; it is I, the First and the Last; I am the Living One, I was dead and now I am to live for ever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of the underworld. Now write down all that you see of present happenings and things that are still to come.’

 

Gospel Acclamation : Jn 20:29

Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus said: ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’ Alleluia!

 

Gospel : John 20:19-31

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.’ As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’ Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’ There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Accept, O Lord, we pray, the oblations of your people, that, renewed by confession of your name and by Baptism, they may attain unending happiness. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Cf. Jn 20: 27

Bring your hand and feel the place of the nails, and do not be unbelieving but believing, alleluia.

 

Prayer after Communion

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that our reception of this paschal Sacrament may have a continuing effect in our minds and hearts. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

Sometimes, we doubt because we do not want to be cheated or deceived since we are cheats and deceivers ourselves. How can you steal from a thief? We lack trust in one another. We would trust Christ and His mystery of the resurrection much less. Like Thomas, we must learn to question things; questions that seek Christ – the Truth. But If we do not question sometimes, we do not learn anything new. Most of us do not ask our parish priests or any priest around us questions as simple as ‘what is the meaning of the sign of the cross?’ We just sit, fold our arms and are satisfied. With being called ‘Christians’. We think that because we are so-called, we would automatically understand. Questioning opens us up for a positive line of action. The more we question, the more we learn and know, and the more we know, the better it gets.

by | Apr 22, 2022 | Agenda Biblique

Samedi  23 avril 2022

 

  1. Georges, martyr

 

Celui que les Orientaux appellent ‘’le grand martyr’’ fut décapité à Lydda (Lod) en Palestine, vers 303. Sa légende le montre triomphant d’un dragon et en fait le type du chevalier affrontant les forces du mal. Il est le patron de l’Angleterre depuis le temps des Croisades.

 

Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 104, 43

Le Seigneur a fait sortir son peuple en grande liesse, et ses élus poussaient des cris de joie, alléluia.

 

Prière d’ouverture

Dieu qui donnes sans cesse ta grâce pour augmenter le nombre de tes enfants, veille sur ceux que tu viens d’agréger à ton peuple; ils ont pris naissance dans le baptême : qu’ils soient revêtus de l’immortalité du Christ, pour se présenter à la table de ses noces. Lui qui règne.

 

1ère lecture : Act 4, 13-21

En ces jours-là, les chefs du peuple, les Anciens et les scribes constataient l’assurance de Pierre et de Jean et, se rendant compte que c’était des hommes sans culture et de simples particuliers, ils étaient surpris ; d’autre part, ils reconnaissaient en eux ceux qui étaient avec Jésus. Mais comme ils voyaient, debout avec eux, l’homme qui avait été guéri, ils ne trouvaient rien à redire. Après leur avoir ordonné de quitter la salle du Conseil suprême, ils se mirent à discuter entre eux. Ils disaient: «Qu’allons-nous faire de ces gens-là ? Il est notoire, en effet, qu’ils ont opéré un miracle; cela fut manifeste pour tous les habitants de Jérusalem, et nous ne pouvons pas le nier. Mais pour en limiter la diffusion dans le peuple, nous allons les menacer afin qu’ils ne parlent plus à personne en ce nom-là. » Ayant rappelé Pierre et Jean, ils leur interdirent formellement de parler ou d’enseigner au nom de Jésus. Ceux-ci leur répliquèrent: « Est-il juste devant Dieu de vous écouter, plutôt que d’écouter Dieu? À vous de juger. Quant à nous, il nous est impossible de nous taire sur ce que nous avons vu et entendu. » Après de nouvelles menaces, ils les relâchèrent, faute d’avoir trouvé le moyen de les punir: c’était à cause du peuple, car tout le monde rendait gloire à Dieu pour ce qui était arrivé.

 

Psaume 117 (118), 1.14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21

R/ Seigneur, je te rends grâce, car tu m’as exaucé. ou : Alléluia! cf. 117,21

 

  1. Rendez grâce au Seigneur : Il est bon ! Éternel est son amour! Ma force et mon chant, c’est le Seigneur ; il est pour moi le salut. Clameurs de joie et de victoire sous les tentes des justes
  2. « Le bras du Seigneur se lève, le bras du Seigneur est fort ! » Non, je ne mourrai pas, je vivrai pour annoncer les actions du Seigneur: il m’a frappé, le Seigneur, il m’a frappé, mais sans me livrer à la mort.
  3. Ouvrez-moi les portes de justice: j’entrerai, je rendrai grâce au Seigneur. « C’est ici la porte du Seigneur: qu’ils entrent, les justes!» Je te rends grâce car tu m’as exaucé: tu es pour moi le salut.

 

Acclamation

Alléluia. Alléluia. Voici le jour que fit le Seigneur, qu’il soit pour nous jour de fête et de joie !  Alléluia. (Ps 117, 24)

 

Évangile :  Marc 16, 9-15

Ressuscité le matin, le premier jour de la semaine, Jésus apparut d’abord à Marie Madeleine, de laquelle il avait expulsé sept démons. Celle-ci partit annoncer la nouvelle à ceux qui, ayant vécu avec lui, s’affligeaient et pleuraient. Quand ils entendirent que Jésus était vivant et qu’elle l’avait vu, ils refusèrent de croire. Après cela, il se manifesta sous un autre aspect à deux d’entre eux qui étaient en chemin pour aller à la campagne. Ceux-ci revinrent l’annoncer aux autres, qui ne les crurent pas non plus. Enfin, il se manifesta aux Onze eux-mêmes pendant qu’ils étaient à table : il leur reprocha leur manque de foi et la dureté de leurs cœurs parce qu’ils n’avaient pas cru ceux qui l’avaient contemplé ressuscité. Puis il leur dit : « Allez dans le monde entier. Proclamez l’Évangile : à toute la création. »

 

Prière sur les offrandes

Donne-nous, Seigneur, de te rendre grâce toujours par ces mystères de Pâques ; ils continuent en nous ton œuvre de rédemption, qu’ils nous soient une source intarissable de joie. Par Jésus.

 

Antienne de la communion : Ga 3, 27

Vous tous qui avez été baptisés dans le Christ, vous avez revêtu le Christ. Alléluia.

 

Prière après la communion

Regarde avec bonté, Seigneur, le peuple que tu as rénové par tes sacrements ; accorde-nous de parvenir à la résurrection bienheureuse, toi qui nous as destinés à connaître ta gloire. Par Jésus.

 

 

Méditation

L’espérance pascale de Marie va grandir avec Jésus. Ceci non sans mal, car tout comme une fleur doit se faner, ou s’ouvrir pour laisser mûrir le fruit, ainsi Marie est passée par tous les détachements qui sont la rançon d’une vie de pèlerin. Son espérance a constitué son tourment avec la mort de Jésus. Mais notre espérance doit arriver à vaincre notre désespoir. Restons donc en communion avec Jésus, jusqu’à ce que jaillisse la grande espérance de Pâques.

 

by | Apr 22, 2022 | Evangelium

Saturday 23rd April 2022

 

St. George

(- c.303)

 

He was martyred at Lydda (now in Israel) in about 303, during the persecution of Diocletian. Like so many saints of that period, the only fact that we can be certain of is his martyrdom. His cult spread quickly through both the East and the West, and the legend of St George and the Dragon only appeared some time afterwards.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Ps 104: 43

The Lord led his people in hope, while the sea engulfed their foes, alleluia.

 

Collect

O God, who by the abundance of your grace, give increase to the peoples who believe in you, look with favour on those you have chosen and clothe with blessed immortality those reborn through the Sacrament of Baptism. 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 4:13-21

The rulers, elders and scribes were astonished at the assurance shown by Peter and John, considering they were uneducated laymen; and they recognised them as associates of Jesus; but when they saw the man who had been cured standing by their side, they could find no answer. So they ordered them to stand outside while the Sanhedrin had a private discussion. ‘What are we going to do with these men?’ they asked. ‘It is obvious to everybody in Jerusalem that a miracle has been worked through them in public, and we cannot deny it. But to stop the whole thing spreading any further among the people, let us caution them never to speak to anyone in this name again.’ So they called them in and gave them a warning on no account to make statements or to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John retorted, ‘You must judge whether in God’s eyes it is right to listen to you and not to God. We cannot promise to stop proclaiming what we have seen and heard.’ The court repeated the warnings and then released them; they could not think of any way to punish them, since all the people were giving glory to God for what had happened.

 

Psalm 117:1,14-21

R/   I will thank you, Lord, for you have given answer.

 

  1. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end. The Lord is my strength and my song; he was my saviour. There are shouts of joy and victory in the tents of the just.
  2. The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; his right hand raised me up. I shall not die, I shall live and recount his deeds. I was punished, I was punished by the Lord, but not doomed to die.
  3. Open to me the gates of holiness: I will enter and give thanks. This is the Lord’s own gate where the just may enter. I will thank you for you have answered and you are my saviour.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Ps117:24

Alleluia, alleluia! This day was made by the Lord: we rejoice and are glad. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Mark 16:9-15

Having risen in the morning on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared first to Mary of Magdala from whom he had cast out seven devils. She then went to those who had been his companions, and who were mourning and in tears, and told them. But they did not believe her when they heard her say that he was alive and that she had seen him. After this, he showed himself under another form to two of them as they were on their way into the country. These went back and told the others, who did not believe them either. Lastly, he showed himself to the Eleven themselves while they were at table. He reproached them for their incredulity and obstinacy, because they had refused to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to them, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may always find delight in these paschal mysteries, so that the renewal constantly at work within us may be the cause of our unending joy. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Gal 3: 27

All of you who have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ, alleluia.

 

Prayer after Communion

Look with kindness upon your people, O Lord, and grant, we pray, that those you were pleased to renew by eternal mysteries may attain in their flesh the incorruptible glory of the resurrection. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

We may be so lacking in faith in Jesus that our lives seem to be in complete darkness and confusion. We may not even be able to pray. When at prayer, we may lack words. At other times, we use more words than are necessary, wearing out ourselves with confusion. But Jesus understands us. With these irregularities of our lives, though we think we are not worthy, Jesus continues to send us to help the unbelief and insufficient faith of others. Whether they believe us or not, our duty is to carry out the mandate: ‘Go out to the whole world, Proclaim the Good News’. We are now the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.