by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Jan 25, 2022 | Evangelium
St. Timothy and Titus
Timothy and Titus were converted to Christianity by St Paul, and became his companions and helpers. He wrote them the so-called “pastoral” epistles, giving advice for pastors and people alike.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 95: 3-4
Tell among the nations his glory, and his wonders among all the peoples, for the Lord is great and highly to be praised.
Collect
O God, who adorned Saints Timothy and Titus with apostolic virtues, grant, through the intercession of them both, that, living justly and devoutly in this present age, we may merit to reach our heavenly homeland. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 2 Timothy 1:1-8
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus in his design to promise life in Christ Jesus; to Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord. Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers; I remember your tears and long to see you again to complete my happiness. Then I am reminded of the sincere faith which you have; it came first to live in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I have no doubt that it is the same faith in you as well. That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy.
Psalm 95(96): 1-3, 7-8, 10
R/ Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
1. O sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
2. Proclaim his help day by day, tell among the nations his glory and his wonders among all the peoples.
3. Give the Lord, you families of peoples, give the Lord glory and power; give the Lord the glory of his name.
4. Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’ The world he made firm in its place; he will judge the peoples in fairness.
Gospel Acclamation : 1S3:9,Jn6:68
Alleluia, alleluia! Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 4:1-20
Jesus began to teach by the lakeside, but such a huge crowd gathered round him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there. The people were all along the shore, at the water’s edge. He taught them many things in parables, and in the course of his teaching he said to them, ‘Listen! Imagine a sower going out to sow. Now it happened that, as he sowed, some of the seed fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground where it found little soil and sprang up straightaway, because there was no depth of earth; and when the sun came up it was scorched and, not having any roots, it withered away. Some seed fell into thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it produced no crop. And some seeds fell into rich soil and, growing tall and strong, produced crop; and yielded thirty, sixty, even a hundredfold.’ And he said, ‘Listen, anyone who has ears to hear!’ When he was alone, the Twelve, together with the others who formed his company, asked what the parables meant. He told them, ‘The secret of the kingdom of God is given to you, but to those who are outside everything comes in parables, so that they may see and see again, but not perceive; may hear and hear again, but not understand; otherwise they might be converted and be forgiven.’ He said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? What the sower is sowing is the word. Those on the edge of the path where the word is sown are people who have no sooner heard it than Satan comes and carries away the word that was sown in them. Similarly, those who receive the seed on patches of rock are people who, when first they hear the word, welcome it at once with joy. But they have no root in them, they do not last; should some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, they fall away at once. Then there are others who receive the seed in thorns. These have heard the word, but the worries of this world, the lure of riches and all the other passions come in to choke the word, and so it produces nothing. And there are those who have received the seed in rich soil: they hear the word and accept it and yield a harvest, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O Lord, we pray, the offerings of your people, which we bring in celebration of Saints Timothy and Titus, and, in your kindness, render us fully acceptable by giving us sincerity of heart. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Mk 16: 15; Mt 28: 20
Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel. I am with you always, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
May the Sacrament we have received, O Lord our God, nourish in us that faith taught by the preaching of the Apostles and kept safe by the labours of Saints Timothy and Titus. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
As the sower sows the word, we observe that the seeds either fall on the path, patches of rock, thorns or rich soil and the end results differ. Our disposition and preparedness to receive the Word at each point in time could cause our hearts to be likened to a path, thorn, rock or rich soil. Social media chats and other distractions can rob us of the word being proclaimed. When the received word is not cultivated through meditation, personal reflection and application to concrete life and allowing it to provoke questions in us, then we risk abandoning it in the face of trials or pleasures of the world. When we collaborate with the Holy Spirit, the word yields harvest; sometimes huge, other times less.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Jan 25, 2022 | Agenda Biblique
SS Timothée et Tite, évêques
Bien différents l’un de l’autre, ces deux hommes furent non seulement des disciples, mais des collaborateurs et des amis très chers à l’Apôtre Paul, dont ils partagèrent les épreuves. Timothée était né à Lystres, d’un père grec et d’une mère juive ; il avait une santé fragile et un tempérament impressionnable ; mais cela ne l’empêcha pas d’exercer le ministère pastoral à Ephèse notamment.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 95, 1-6
Chantez au Seigneur un chant nouveau, chantez au Seigneur, terre entière: La splendeur et l’éclat, la puissance et la beauté brillent dans son Temple saint!
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, dirige notre vie selon ton amour, afin qu’au nom de ton Fils bien-aimé, nous portions des fruits en abondance. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : 2 Tm 1,1-8 (Ta foi sincère)
Paul, apôtre du Christ Jésus par la volonté de Dieu, selon la promesse de la vie que nous avons dans le Christ Jésus, à Timothée, mon enfant bien-aimé. À toi, la grâce, la miséricorde et la paix de la part de Dieu le Père et du Christ Jésus notre Seigneur. Je suis plein de gratitude envers Dieu, à qui je rends un culte avec une conscience pure, à la suite de mes ancêtres, je lui rends grâce en me souvenant continuellement de toi dans mes prières, nuit et jour. Me rappelant tes larmes, j’ai un très vif désir de te revoir pour être rempli de joie. J’ai souvenir de la foi sincère qui est en toi : c’était celle qui habitait d’abord Loïs, ta grand-mère, et celle d’Eunice, ta mère, et j’ai la conviction que c’est aussi la tienne. Voilà pourquoi, je te le rappelle, ravive le don gratuit de Dieu, ce don qui est en toi depuis que je t’ai imposé les mains. Car ce n’est pas un esprit de peur que Dieu nous a donné, mais un esprit de force, d’amour et de pondération. N’aie donc pas honte de rendre témoignage à notre Seigneur, et n’aie pas honte de moi, qui suis son prisonnier ; mais, avec la force de Dieu, prends ta part des souffrances liées à l’annonce de l’Évangile.
Psaume : 88 (89), 4-5, 27-28, 29-30)
R/ Sans fin je lui garderai mon amour.
1. « Avec mon élu, j’ai fait une alliance, j’ai juré à David, mon serviteur: J’établirai ta dynastie pour toujours, je te bâtis un trône pour la suite des âges.
2. « Il me dira : Tu es mon Père, mon Dieu, mon roc et mon salut ! Et moi, j’en ferai mon fils aîné, le plus grand des rois de la terre !
3. « Sans fin je lui garderai mon amour, mon alliance avec lui sera fidèle ; je fonderai sa dynastie pour toujours, son trône aussi durable que les cieux.»
Acclamation
Alléluia, alléluia! La semence est la parole de Dieu; le semeur est le Christ, celui qui le trouve demeure pour toujours. Alléluia.
Évangile : Mc 4, 1-20
En ce temps-là, Jésus se mit de nouveau à enseigner au bord de la mer de Galilée. Une foule très nombreuse se rassembla auprès de lui, si bien qu’il monta dans une barque où il s’assit. Il était sur la mer, et toute la foule était près de la mer, sur le rivage. Il leur enseignait beaucoup de choses en paraboles, et dans son enseignement il leur disait: «Écoutez! Voici que le semeur sortit pour semer. Comme il semait, du grain est tombé au bord du chemin ; les oiseaux sont venus et ils ont tout mangé. Du grain est tombé aussi sur du sol pierreux, où il n’avait pas beaucoup de terre ; il a levé aussitôt, parce que la terre était peu profonde; et lorsque le soleil s’est levé, ce grain a brûlé et, faute de racines, il a séché. Du grain est tombé aussi dans les ronces, les ronces ont poussé, l’ont étouffé, et il n’a pas donné de fruit. Mais d’autres grains sont tombés dans la bonne terre; ils ont donné du fruit en poussant et en se développant, et ils ont produit trente, soixante, cent, pour un.» Et Jésus disait: «Celui qui a des oreilles pour entendre, qu’il entende!» Quand il resta seul, ceux qui étaient autour de lui avec les Douze l’interrogeaient sur les paraboles. Il leur disait: «C’est à vous qu’est donné le mystère du royaume de Dieu; mais à ceux qui sont dehors, tout se présente sous forme de paraboles. Et ainsi, comme dit le prophète: Ils auront beau regarder de tous leurs yeux, ils ne verront pas; ils auront beau écouter de toutes leurs oreilles, ils ne comprendront pas ; sinon ils se convertiraient et recevraient le pardon.» Il leur dit encore: «Vous ne saisissez pas cette parabole? Alors, comment comprendrez-vous toutes les paraboles? Le semeur sème la Parole. Il y a ceux qui sont au bord du chemin où la Parole est semée: quand ils l’entendent, Satan vient aussitôt et enlève la Parole semée en eux. Et de même, il y a ceux qui ont reçu la semence dans les endroits pierreux: ceux-là, quand ils entendent la Parole, ils la reçoivent aussitôt avec joie; mais ils n’ont pas en eux de racine, ce sont les gens d’un moment; que vienne la détresse ou la persécution à cause de la Parole, ils trébuchent aussitôt. Et il y en a d’autres qui ont reçu la semence dans les ronces: ceux-ci entendent la Parole, mais les soucis du monde, la séduction de la richesse et toutes les autres convoitises les envahissent et étouffent la Parole, qui ne donne pas de fruit. Et il y a ceux qui ont reçu la semence dans la bonne terre: ceux-là entendent la Parole, ils l’accueillent, et ils portent du fruit : trente, soixante, cent, pour un.»
Prière sur les offrandes
Dans ta bonté, Seigneur, accepte notre offrande: Qu’elle soit sanctifiée et serve ainsi à notre salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ps 33, 6
Ensemble, approchez du Seigneur: resplendissez de sa lumière et sur votre visage il n’y aura plus d’ombre.
Prière après la communion
Permets, nous t’en prions, Dieu tout-puissant, Qu’ayant reçu de toi la grâce d’une nouvelle vie, nous puissions nous en émerveiller toujours. Par Jésus.
Méditation
C’est une méditation intelligente et savoureuse que de contempler, des yeux de l’esprit et du cœur, la fécondité de la Parole tombée dans la bonne terre. II y a chaque jour des millions de pensées justes, d’actes de détachement courageux, de gestes d’amour multiformes, et ainsi de suite, qui naissent directement de la Parole comprise et obéie. A nous donc de regarder celle-ci fructifier en nous et autour de nous, de découvrir et de recenser tout ce qui en naît de beau. Il y a des millions de « Notre Père » et de « Je vous salue Marie » récités d’un cœur beau et bon par des enfants généreux, des vieillards tout simplifiés, des mères de famille infatigables, des apôtres ardents… Mais à quoi bon multiplier les exemples et les adjectifs ? Une fois lancé sur cette voie, on n’a qu’à se laisser porter. Et le fruit ultime qui germera de la Parole, à travers une telle méditation, sera un des plus parfaits que notre terre puisse offrir à Dieu : l’action de grâces.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Jan 24, 2022 | Evangelium
The Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle – Feast
St. Peter Thomas
Peter was born in Gascony in France and joined the Carmelites while still a young man. He was a strong defender of the church against the muslim Turks.
Entrance Antiphon : 2 Tim 1: 12; 4: 8
I know the one in whom I have believed and I am sure that he, the just judge, the mighty, will keep safe what is my due until that day.
Collect
O God, who taught the whole world through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Paul, draw us, we pray, nearer to you through the example of him whose conversion we celebrate today, and so make us witnesses to your truth in the world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Acts 22:3-16
Paul said to the people, ‘I am a Jew and was born at Tarsus in Cilicia. I was brought up here in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was taught the exact observance of the Law of our ancestors. In fact, I was as full of duty towards God as you are today. I even persecuted this Way to the death, and sent women as well as men to prison in chains as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify, since they even sent me with letters to their brothers in Damascus. When I set off it was with the intention of bringing prisoners back from there to Jerusalem for punishment. ‘I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when about midday a bright light from heaven suddenly shone round me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” I answered: Who are you, Lord? and he said to me, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.” The people with me saw the light but did not hear his voice as he spoke to me. I said: What am I to do, Lord? The Lord answered, “Stand up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told what you have been appointed to do.” The light had been so dazzling that I was blind and my companions had to take me by the hand; and so I came to Damascus. ‘Someone called Ananias, a devout follower of the Law and highly thought of by all the Jews living there, came to see me; he stood beside me and said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” Instantly my sight came back and I was able to see him. Then he said, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Just One and hear his own voice speaking, because you are to be his witness before all mankind, testifying to what you have seen and heard. And now why delay? It is time you were baptised and had your sins washed away while invoking his name.”’
Psalm 116(117)
R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
1. O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him all you peoples! Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
2. Strong is his love for us; he is faithful forever. Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
Gospel Acclamation : cf.Jn15:16
Alleluia, alleluia! I chose you from the world to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last, says the Lord.Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 16:15-18
Jesus 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.’
Prayer over the Offerings
As we celebrate the divine mysteries, O Lord, we pray, may the Spirit fill us with that light of faith with which he constantly enlightened the blessed Apostle Paul for the spreading of your glory. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Gal 2: 20
I live by faith in the Son of God, who has loved me and given himself up for me.
Prayer after Communion
May the Sacrament we have received, O Lord our God, stir up in us that fire of charity with which the blessed Apostle Paul burned ardently as he bore his concern for all the Churches. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
On this day we celebrate the feast of the conversion of Saint Paul. We hear the risen Christ send out His apostles (the Eleven) to continue His work, proclaiming the Good News to all creation. In a similar way, Christ commissions us to proclaim Him wherever we are. Saint Paul is a vivid example of the response that Christ expects from us. Christ invites us to witness by words and deeds to His death and resurrection. It is a task that demands that we first be configured to Christ (Gal 2:20) so that the Good News we proclaim by words accords with our way of life. In this way, those who meet us encounter Christ who has the Word of Life (cf. John 6:68).
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Jan 24, 2022 | Agenda Biblique
Conversion de St. Paul Apôtre,
Fête
St. Ananie
Originaire de Perse, il y fut arrêté pour sa foi au Christ et fut soumis à de terribles supplices. A l’époque de la persécution du roi Sapor II, sur l’ordre de l’Archimage Arssag, il fut arrêté et par trois fois roué de coups de bâton av20ec une telle cruauté que les bourreaux, jugeant qu’il était déjà mort, le laissèrent gisant sur place. La nuit suivante, des chrétiens le portèrent dans sa maison, où il rendit l’âme. C’était en 345.
Antienne d’ouverture : 2 Tim 1, 12; 4, 8
«Je sais à qui j ’ai fais confiance; et je suis sûr que le Seigneur, le juste Juge, me donnera la récompense, au jour de sa Venue.»
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu qui a instruit le monde entier par la parole de l ’Apôtre Saint Paul dont nous célébrons aujourd’hui la conversion, accordes-nous d ’aller vers toi en cherchant à l ui ressembler, et d ’être, dans le monde, les témoins de ton Évangile. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : Ac 22, 3-16
En ces jours-là, Paul dit au peuple: «Je suis Juif, né à Tarse en Cilicie, mais élevé ici dans cette ville, où, à l’école de Gamaliel, j’ai reçu une éducation strictement conforme à la Loi de nos pères; j’avais pour Dieu une ardeur jalouse, comme vous tous aujourd’hui. J’ai persécuté à mort ceux qui suivent le Chemin du Seigneur Jésus; j’arrêtais hommes et femmes, et les jetais en prison; le grand prêtre et tout le collège des anciens peuvent en témoigner. Ces derniers m’avaient donné des lettres pour nos frères de Damas où je me rendais: je devais ramener à Jérusalem, ceux de là-bas, enchaînés, pour qu’ils subissent leur châtiment. Donc, comme j’étais en route et que j’approchais de Damas, soudain vers midi, une grande lumière venant du ciel m’enveloppa de sa clarté. Je tombai sur le sol, et j’entendis une voix me dire: ‘Saul, Saul, pourquoi me persécuter?’ Et moi je répondis: ‘Qui es-tu, Seigneur? – Je suis Jésus le Nazaréen, celui que tu persécutes.’ Ceux qui étaient avec moi virent la lumière, mais n’entendirent pas la voix de celui qui me parlait. Alors je dis: ‘Que dois-je faire, Seigneur?’ Le Seigneur me répondit: ‘Relève-toi, va jusqu’à Damas, et là on te dira tout ce qu’il t’est prescrit de faire.’ Comme je n’y voyais plus rien, à cause de l’éclat de cette lumière, je me rendis à Damas, conduit par la main de mes compagnons. Or, Ananie, un homme religieux selon la Loi, à qui tous les Juifs résidant là rendaient un bon témoignage, vint se placer près de moi et me dit : ‘Saul, mon frère, retrouve la vue.’ Et moi, au même instant, je retrouvai la vue, et je le vis. Il me dit encore: ‘Le Dieu de nos pères t’a destiné à connaître sa volonté, à voir celui qui est le Juste et à entendre la voix qui sort de sa bouche. Car tu seras pour lui, devant tous les hommes, le témoin de ce que tu as vu et entendu. Et maintenant, pourquoi tarder? Lève-toi et reçois le baptême, sois lavé de tes péchés en invoquant son nom.’
Psaume : 116 (117), 1, 2
R/ Allez dans le monde entier. Proclamez l’Évangile
1. Louez le Seigneur, tous les peuples ; fêtez-le, tous les pays!
2. Son amour envers nous s’est montré le plus fort ; éternelle est la fidélité du Seigneur!
Acclamation
Alléluia, alléluia! C’est moi qui vous ai choisis du milieu du monde, afin que vous alliez, que vous portiez du fruit, et que votre fruit demeure, dit le Seigneur. Alléluia. (cf. Jn 15, 16)
Évangile : Mc 16, 15-18
En ce temps-là, Jésus ressuscité dit aux onze Apôtres: «Allez dans le monde entier. Proclamez l’Évangile à toute la création. Celui qui croira et sera baptisé sera sauvé; celui qui refusera de croire sera condamné. Voici les signes qui accompagneront ceux qui deviendront croyants: en mon nom, ils expulseront les démons; ils parleront en langues nouvelles; ils prendront des serpents dans leurs mains et, s’ils boivent un poison mortel, il ne leur fera pas de mal; ils imposeront les mains aux malades, et les malades s’en trouveront bien.»
Prière sur les offrandes
Alors que nous célébrons tes mystères, Seigneur, fais que l’Esprit Saint communique à notre foi cette lumière dont il a éclairé saint Paul pour l’extension de ta gloire dans le monde. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ga 2, 20
Je vis dans la foi au Fils de Dieu qui m’a aimé et qui s’est livré pour moi.
Prière après la communion
Que cette communion, Seigneur notre Dieu, entretienne en nous la charité qui brûlait au cœur de l’Apôtre Paul et lui donnait un souci pas.
Méditation
La finale de l’évangile selon saint Marc convient à merveille pour la fête de la conversion de saint Paul : « Celui qui croira et sera baptisé sera sauvé ; celui qui refusera de croire sera condamné ». Sur le chemin de Damas, Saul fait l’expérience radicale de la rencontre du Christ. Lui, le persécuteur acharné des premiers chrétiens, est saisi et sauvé par le Christ. Mais cette rencontre est un don de Dieu, elle fait aussi de Saul un « ambassadeur ». Saul devient Paul, l’apôtre des nations. Le crucifié-ressuscité le revêt de sa puissance et de son esprit pour poursuivre son œuvre. Désormais, tout homme qui met sa foi dans le Seigneur est envoyé dans le monde « comme un agneau au milieu des loups ». Il ne craint aucun mal, car le Christ, le vrai berger, est avec lui.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Jan 23, 2022 | Evangelium
St. Francis de Sales
(1567 – 1622)
St Francis is the patron saint of writers and journalists, who would do well to imitate his love and his moderation: as he said, “whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love.”
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Sir 15: 5
In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory.
Collect
O God, who for the salvation of souls willed that the Bishop Saint Francis de Sales become all things to all, graciously grant that, following his example, we may always display the gentleness of your charity in the service of our neighbour. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 2 Samuel 5:1-7,10
All the tribes of Israel then came to David at Hebron. ‘Look’ they said ‘we are your own flesh and blood. In days past when Saul was our king, it was you who led Israel in all their exploits; and the Lord said to you, “You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you shall be the leader of Israel.”’ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a pact with them at Hebron in the presence of the Lord, and they anointed David king of Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years. He reigned in Hebron over Judah for seven years and six months; then he reigned in Jerusalem overall Israel and Judah for thirty-three years. David and his men marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites living there. These said to David, ‘You will not get in here. The blind and the lame will hold you off.’ (That is to say: David will never get in here.) But David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the Citadel of David. David grew greater and greater, and the Lord, the God of Hosts, was with him.
Psalm 88(89): 20-22, 25-26
R/ My truth and my love shall be with him.
1. Of old you spoke in a vision. To your friends the prophets you said: ‘I have set the crown on a warrior, I have exalted one chosen from the people.
2. I have found David my servant and with my holy oil anointed him. My hand shall always be with him and my arm shall make him strong.
3. My truth and my love shall be with him; by my name his might shall be exalted. I will stretch out his hand to the Sea and his right hand as far as the River.
Gospel Acclamation : Ps24:4,5
Alleluia, alleluia! Teach me your paths, my God, make me walk in your truth. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 3:22-30
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house. ‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Through this saving sacrifice which we offer you, O Lord, kindle in our hearts that divine fire of the Holy Spirit with which you wonderfully inflamed the most gentle soul of Saint Francis de Sales. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Lk 12: 42
Behold a faithful and prudent steward to give them their allowance of food at the proper time.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that through the Sacrament we have received, we may imitate on earth the charity and meekness of Saint Francis de Sales and so attain like him the glory of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Those who were not pleased by the ministry of Jesus continue picking holes in His words and activities. This time their illogical accusation is met with a common-sense response from Jesus. While underlining the incoherence in their argument, He speaks about the gravity of blasphemy. Instead of perceiving in His works, the inauguration of the reign of God, they choose to see them negatively attributing His powers to the prince of devils. Prompted by negative sentiments towards a person, we are likely to perceive the person and all his activities negatively. It might be important to ask if our evaluations are objective, inspired by love and do not cross limits.
