by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 24, 2021 | Evangelium
25
November
St. Catherine of Alexandria
(d. 305)
Green / Red
St. Catherine was very outspoken at the time of the persecutions of Christians. She even protested openly to the emperor Maxentius who had her arrested, tortured on the wheel and decapitated in 305. St Catherine’s courage is a great challenge to all African Christians in their struggle for justice and peace.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 84: 9
The Lord speaks of peace to his people and his holy ones and to those who turn to him.
Collect
Stir up the will of your faithful, we pray, O Lord, that, striving more eagerly to bring your divine work to fruitful completion, they may receive in greater measure the healing remedies your kindness bestows. 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: Daniel 6:12-28
The presidents and satraps came along in a body and found Daniel praying and pleading with God. They then came to the king and said, ‘Have you not just signed an edict forbidding any man for the next thirty days to pray to anyone, god or man, other than to yourself O king, on pain of being thrown into the lions’ den?’ ‘The decision stands,’ the king replied, ‘as befits the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.’ Then they said to the king, ‘O king, this man Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, disregards both you and the edict which you have signed: he is at his prayers three times each day.’ When the king heard these words he was deeply distressed, and determined to save Daniel; he racked his brains until sunset to find some way out. But the men came back in a body to the king and said, ‘O king, remember that in conformity with the law of the Medes and the Persians, no edict or decree can be altered when once issued by the king.’ The king then ordered Daniel to be fetched and thrown into the lion pit. The king said to Daniel, ‘Your God himself, whom you have served so faithfully, will have to save you.’ A stone was then brought and laid over the mouth of the pit; and the king sealed it with his own signet and with that of his noblemen, so that there could be no going back on the original decision about Daniel. The king returned to his palace, spent the night in fasting and refused to receive any of his concubines. Sleep eluded him, and at the first sign of dawn he was up, and hurried off to the lion pit. As he approached the pit he shouted in anguished tones, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God! Has your God, whom you serve so faithfully, been able to save you from the lions?’ Daniel replied, ‘O king, live for ever! My God sent his angel who sealed the lions’ jaws, they did me no harm, since in his sight I am blameless, and I have never done you any wrong either, O king.’ The king was overjoyed, and ordered Daniel to be released from the pit. Daniel was released from the pit, and found to be quite unhurt, because he had trusted in his God. The king sent for the men who had accused Daniel and had them thrown into the lion pit, they, their wives and their children: and they had not reached the floor of the pit before the lions had seized them and crushed their bones to pieces. King Darius then wrote to men of all nations, peoples and languages throughout the world, ‘May peace be always with you! I decree: in every kingdom of my empire let all tremble with fear before the God of Daniel: He is the living God, he endures for ever, his sovereignty will never be destroyed and his kingship never end. He saves, sets free, and works signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth; he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.’
Daniel 3:68-74
R/ Give glory and eternal praise to him!
1. Dews and sleet! bless the Lord.
2. Frost and cold! bless the Lord.
3. Ice and snow! bless the Lord.
4. Nights and days! bless the Lord.
5. Light and darkness! bless the Lord.
6. Lightning and clouds! bless the Lord.
7. Let the earth bless the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation: Mt24:42,44
Alleluia, alleluia! Stay awake and stand ready, because you do not know the hour when the Son of Man is coming. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 21:20-28
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you must realise that she will soon be laid desolate. Then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in country districts must not take refuge in it. For this is the time of vengeance when all that scripture says must be fulfilled. Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come! For great misery will descend on the land and wrath on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every pagan country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the pagans until the age of the pagans is completely over. There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, the sacred offerings which at your bidding we dedicate to your name and, in order that through these gifts we may become worthy of your love, grant us unfailing obedience to your commands. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Ps 116: 1, 2
O praise the Lord, all you nations, for his merciful love towards us is great.
Prayer after Communion
We pray, almighty God, that those to whom you give the joy of participating in divine mysteries may never be parted from you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In the letter to the Romans St. Paul says: ‘If God is for us, who will be against us’ (6:31). Beloved of the Lord, if God is on our side which enemy could touch us? If God justifies, who could accuse us? If God sanctifies, who could defile us? Daniel had faith in his God and remained faithful to tradition (praying three times a day), and God preserved him from death when he was thrown in the lion’s den. We are invited to remain faithful to the tradition of the Church, especially in these times when society presents us with values and practices which are contrary to the Christian faith. As baptised people we are ambassadors of Christ in our society and representatives of the Church of Christ.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 23, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
24
Novembre
S. André Dung-Lac, prêtre, et ses compagnons
Sainte Flora ou Flore
Rouge
André Dung-Lac et ses compagnons furent martyrs au Vietnam, † 1845-1862.Sainte Flore avec Sainte Marie, après avoir été longtemps prisonnières, elles périrent décapitées à Cordoue pour avoir refusé de devenir musulmanes.
Antienne d’ouverture
Que notre seule fierté soit la croix de notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ. Le langage de la croix est puissance de Dieu pour ceux qui vont vers leur salut.
Prière d’ouverture
Seigneur Dieu, source et origine de toute paternité, tu as donné aux saint martyrs André et ses compagnons la grâce d’être fidèles à la croix de ton Fils jusqu’à l’effusion de leur sang ; accorde-nous, par leur intercession, de propager ton amour parmi nos frères, afin de pouvoir être appelés fils de Dieu et de l’être vraiment. Par Jésus Christ.
Première lecture : Daniel 5, 1-6.13-14. 16-17.23-28
En ces jours-là, le roi Balthazar donna un somptueux festin pour les grands du royaume au nombre de mille, et il se mit à boire du vin en leur présence. Excité par le vin, il fit apporter les vases d’or et d’argent que son père Nabucodonosor avait enlevés au temple de Jérusalem ; il voulait y boire, avec ses grands, ses épouses et ses concubines. On apporta donc les vases d’or enlevés du Temple, de la maison de Dieu à Jérusalem, et le roi, ses grands, ses épouses et ses concubines s’en servirent pour boire. Après avoir bu, ils entonnèrent la louange de leurs dieux d’or et d’argent, de bronze et de fer, de bois et de pierre. Soudain on vit apparaître, en face du candélabre, les doigts d’une main d’homme qui se mirent à écrire sur la paroi de la salle du banquet royal. Lorsque le roi vit cette main qui écrivait, il changea de couleur, son esprit se troubla, il fut pris de tremblement, et ses genoux s’entrechoquèrent. On fit venir Daniel devant le roi et le roi lui dit:
« Es-tu bien Daniel, l’un de ces déportés amenés de Juda par le roi mon père ? J’ai entendu dire qu’un esprit des dieux réside en toi, et qu’on trouve chez toi une clairvoyance, une intelligence et une sagesse extraordinaires. J’ai entendu dire aussi que tu es capable de donner des interprétations et de résoudre des questions difficiles. Si tu es capable de lire cette inscription et de me l’interpréter, tu seras revêtu de pourpre, tu porteras un collier d’or et tu seras le troisième personnage du royaume. » Daniel répondit au roi : « Garde tes cadeaux, et offre à d’autres tes présents !Moi, je lirai au roi l’inscription et je lui en donnerai l’interprétation. Tu t’es élevé contre le Seigneur du ciel ; tu t’es fait apporter les vases de sa Maison et vous y avez bu du vin, toi, les grands de ton royaume, tes épouses et tes concubines ; vous avez entonné la louange de vos dieux d’or et d’argent, de bronze et de fer, de bois et de pierre, ces dieux qui ne voient pas, qui n’entendent pas, qui ne savent rien. Mais tu n’as pas rendu gloire au Dieu qui tient dans sa main ton souffle et tous tes chemins. C’est pourquoi il a envoyé cette main et fait tracer cette inscription. En voici le texte : Mené, Mené, Teqèl, Ou-Pharsine. Et voici l’interprétation de ces mots : Mené (c’est-à-dire “compté”) : Dieu a compté les jours de ton règne et y a mis fin ; Teqèl (c’est-à-dire “pesé”) : tu as été pesé dans la balance et tu as été trouvé trop léger ; Ou-Pharsine (c’est-à-dire “partagé”) : ton royaume a été partagé et donné aux Mèdes et aux Perses. »
Cantique : Daniel 3, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
R/ À lui, haute gloire, louange éternelle ! (Dn 3, 57)
1. Et vous, le soleil et la lune, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
2. Et vous, les astres du ciel, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
3. Vous toutes, pluies et rosées, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
4. Vous tous, souffles et vents, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
5. Et vous, le feu et la chaleur, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
6. Et vous, la fraîcheur et le froid, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Sois fidèle jusqu’à la mort, dit le Seigneur, et je te donnerai la couronne de la vie. Alléluia. (Ap 2, 10)
Évangile : Luc 21, 12-19
En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à ses disciples : « On portera la main sur vous et l’on vous persécutera ; on vous livrera aux synagogues et aux prisons, on vous fera comparaître devant des rois et des gouverneurs, à cause de mon nom. Cela vous amènera à rendre témoignage. Mettez-vous donc dans l’esprit que vous n’avez pas à vous préoccuper de votre défense. C’est moi qui vous donnerai un langage et une sagesse laquelle tous vos adversaires ne pourront ni résister ni s’opposer. Vous serez livrés même par vos parents, vos frères, votre famille et vos amis et ils feront mettre à mort certains d’entre vous. Vous serez détestés de tous, à cause de mon nom. Mais pas un cheveu de votre tête ne sera perdu. C’est par votre persévérance que vous garderez votre vie. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Reçois, Père très saint, les offrandes que nous te présentons en célébrant les saints martyrs du Vietnam, pour qu’au milieu des difficultés de notre vie nous puissions être trouvés toujours fidèles et nous offrir à toi en sacrifice qui te plaise. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion
Heureux ceux qui sont persécutés pour la justice, car le Royaume des cieux est à eux.
Prière après la communion
Nourris et fortifiés par un même pain en la fête de tes saints martyrs André et ses compagnons, nous te supplions, Seigneur : garde-nous unis dans ton amour, afin que nous obtenions la récompense éternelle, promise à ceux qui souffrent pour toi. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Notre Dieu est Dieu jaloux, qui ne partage sa gloire (Deutéronome 6,15). Dans la première lecture, le Roi Balthazar désacralise les vases consacrés uniquement à Yaweh. Pour cela il est rejeté par Dieu et son royaume partagé. Nous sommes invités à abandonner nos différentes divinités et se tourner vers le seul et l’unique vrai Dieu : Le Dieu de Jésus Christ il n’abandonne jamais les siens mêmes pendant les moments troubles, sa houlette et son bâton nous rassure. Jésus dit qu’il est le chemin la vérité et la vie (Jean 14, 6). Nous sommes appelés à vivre de sa vie, à témoigner de sa vérité en marchant sur son chemin. De ce fait, il prendra notre défense face à l’adversité. C’est cette vérité que Saint André Dung et ses compagnons ont défendue jusqu’aux sacrifices de leur vies. Et comme récompense ils partagent la gloire du Christ dans son royaume.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 23, 2021 | Evangelium
24
November
SS Andrew Dũng-Lac and his Companions, Martyrs
(d. 1839)
Red
Andrew Dung Lac was born in Vietnam in 1785. He became a Catholic priest. He was beheaded on 21st December 1839 in Hanoi, Vietnam, for the offense of being a priest. Many martyrs died at the hands of religious persecutors following Andrew’s death. We remember them all today.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Gal 6: 14; cf. 1 Cor 1: 18
May we never boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the word of the Cross is the power of God to us who have been saved.
Collect
O God, source and origin of all fatherhood, who kept the Martyrs Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac and his companions faithful to the Cross of your Son, even to the shedding of their blood, grant, through their intercession, that, spreading your love among our brothers and sisters, we may be your children both in name and in truth. 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: Daniel 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28
King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for his noblemen; a thousand of them attended, and he drank wine in company with this thousand. As he sipped his wine, Belshazzar gave orders for the gold and silver vessels to be brought which his father Nebuchadnezzar had looted from the sanctuary in Jerusalem, so that the king, his noblemen, his wives and his singing women could drink out of them. The gold and silver vessels looted from the sanctuary of the Temple of God in Jerusalem were brought in, and the king, his noblemen, his wives and his singing women drank out of them. They drank their wine and praised their gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone. Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared, and began to write on the plaster of the palace wall, directly behind the lamp-stand; and the king could see the hand as it wrote. The king turned pale with alarm: his thigh-joints went slack and his knees began to knock. Daniel was brought into the king’s presence; the king said to Daniel, ‘Are you the Daniel who was one of the Judaean exiles brought by my father the king from Judah? I am told that the spirit of God Most Holy lives in you, and that you are known for your perception, intelligence and marvellous wisdom. As I am told that you are able to give interpretations and to unravel difficult problems, if you can read the writing and tell me what it means, you shall be dressed in purple, and have a chain of gold put round your neck, and be third in rank in the kingdom.’ Then Daniel spoke up in the presence of the king. ‘Keep your gifts for yourself,’ he said, ‘and give your rewards to others. I will read the writing to the king without them, and tell him what it means. You have defied the Lord of heaven, you have had the vessels from his Temple brought to you, and you, your noblemen, your wives and your singing women have drunk your wine out of them. You have praised gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone, which cannot either see, hear or understand; but you have given no glory to the God who holds your breath and all your fortunes in his hands. That is why he has sent the hand which, by itself, has written these words. The writing reads: Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin. The meaning of the words is this: Mene: God has measured your sovereignty and put an end to it; Tekel: you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting; Parsin: your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.’
Daniel 3:62-67
R/ Give glory and eternal praise to him!
1. Sun and moon! bless the Lord.
2. Stars of heaven! bless the Lord.
3. Showers and dews! all bless the Lord.
4. Winds! all bless the Lord.
5. Fire and heat! bless the Lord.
6. Cold and heat! bless the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation: Lk21:36
Alleluia, alleluia! Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of Man. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 21:12-19
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name – and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O holy Father, the offerings we bring as we venerate the passion of the holy Martyrs, so that amid the trials of this life we may always be found faithful and may offer ourselves to you as an acceptable sacrifice. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Mt 5: 10
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer after Communion
Renewed by the one Bread as we commemorate the holy Martyrs, we humbly beseech you, O Lord, that, abiding as one in your love, we may merit, by endurance, an eternal prize. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Our God is a jealous God who does not share his glory (Dt 6:15). In the first reading, King Balthazar desecrates the vases dedicated solely to Yahweh. For this, God rejects him. We have to abandon our different divinities and turn to the one and only true God: The God of Jesus Christ. He never abandons his own during troubled moments because his rod and his staff reassure us. Jesus says he is the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14:6). We are to live by his life and to witness to his truth by walking on his way and he will defend us against adversity. It is this truth that St. Andrew Dũng-Lac and his companions defended to the point of laying down their lives. And as a reward, they share the glory of Christ in his Kingdom.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 22, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
23
Novembre
Saint Clément 1er, pape et martyr
Vert/ Blanc / Rouge
Vers 95, Clément, troisième successeur de Pierre à Rome, écrit à l’Eglise de Corinthe, avec l’autorité déjà reconnue au Siège apostolique, pour rétablir l’unité et rappeler les exigences de la charité chrétienne. D’après des textes du 4e siècle, Clément, exilé en Chersonèse (mer Noire), aurait été jeté à la mer.
Antienne d’ouverture
Le Seigneur annonce la paix pour son peuple et ses fidèles, et pour ceux qui reviennent vers lui.
Prière d’ouverture
Réveille, Seigneur, le courage de tes fidèles : Qu’ils soient plus ardents à profiter de tes grâces, pour obtenir de toi de plus puissants secours. Par Jésus.
Première lecture : Daniel 2, 31-45
En ces jours-là, Daniel dit à Nabucodonosor : « Ô roi, voici ta vision: une énorme statue se dressait devant toi, une grande statue, extrêmement brillante et d’un aspect terrifiant. Elle avait la tête en or fin ; la poitrine et les bras, en argent; le ventre et les cuisses, en bronze ; ses jambes étaient en fer, et ses pieds, en partie de fer, en partie d’argile. Tu étais en train de regarder: soudain une pierre se détacha d’une montagne, sans qu’on y ait touché; elle vint frapper les pieds de fer et d’argile de la statue et les pulvérisa. Alors, furent pulvérisés tout ensemble le fer et l’argile, le bronze, l’argent et l’or ; ils devinrent comme la paille qui s’envole en été au moment du battage: ils furent emportés par le vent sans laisser de traces. Quant à la pierre qui avait frappé la statue elle devint un énorme rocher qui remplit toute la terre. Voici le songe ; et maintenant, en présence du roi, nous allons en donner l’interprétation. C’est à toi, le roi des rois, que le Dieu du ciel a donné royauté, puissance, force et gloire. C’est à toi qu’il a remis les enfants des hommes, les bêtes des champs et les oiseaux du ciel, quelle que soit leur demeure ; c’est toi qu’il a rendu maître de toute chose : la tête d’or, c’est toi. Après toi s’élèvera un autre royaume, inférieur au tien, ensuite un troisième royaume, un royaume de bronze qui dominera la terre entière. Il y aura encore un quatrième royaume, dur comme le fer. De même que le fer brise et écrase tout, de même, il pulvérisera et brisera tous les royaumes. Tu as vu les pieds qui étaient en partie d’argile et en partie de fer : en effet, ce royaume sera divisé ; il aura en lui la force du fer, comme tu as vu du fer mêlé à l’argile. Ces pieds en partie de fer et en partie d’argile signifient que le royaume sera en partie fort et en partie faible. Tu as vu le fer associé à l’argile parce que les royaumes s’uniront par des mariages ;mais ils ne tiendront pas ensemble, de même que le fer n’adhère pas à l’argile. Or, au temps de ces rois, le Dieu du ciel suscitera un royaume qui ne sera jamais détruit et dont la royauté ne passera pas à un autre peuple. Ce dernier royaume pulvérisera et anéantira tous les autres, mais lui-même subsistera à jamais. C’est ainsi que tu as vu une pierre se détacher de la montagne sans qu’on y ait touché, et pulvériser le fer, le bronze, l’argile, l’argent et l’or. Le grand Dieu a fait connaître au roi ce qui doit ensuite advenir. Le songe disait vrai, l’interprétation est digne de foi. »
Cantique : Daniel 3, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61
R/ À lui, haute gloire, louange éternelle! (Dn 3, 57)
1. Toutes les œuvres du Seigneur, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
2. Vous, les anges du Seigneur, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
3. Vous, les cieux, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
4. Et vous, les eaux par-dessus le ciel, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
5. Et toutes les puissances du Seigneur, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Sois fidèle jusqu’à la mort, dit le Seigneur, et je te donnerai la couronne de la vie. Alléluia. (Ap 2, 10)
Évangile : Luc 21, 5-11
En ce temps-là, comme certains parlaient du Temple, des belles pierres et des ex-voto qui le décoraient, Jésus leur déclara : « Ce que vous contemplez, des jours viendront où il n’en restera pas pierre sur pierre : tout sera détruit. » Ils lui demandèrent : « Maître, quand cela arrivera-t-il ? Et quel sera le signe que cela est sur le point d’arriver ? » Jésus répondit : « Prenez garde de ne pas vous laisser égarer, car beaucoup viendront sous mon nom, et diront : “C’est moi”, ou encore : “Le moment est tout proche. Ne marchez pas derrière eux! Quand vous entendrez parler de guerres et de désordres, ne soyez pas terrifiés :il faut que cela arrive d’abord, mais ce ne sera pas aussitôt la fin. » Alors Jésus ajouta : « On se dressera nation contre nation, royaume contre royaume. Il y aura de grands tremblements de terre et, en divers lieux, des famines et des épidémies ; des phénomènes effrayants surviendront, et de grands signes venus du ciel. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Tu nous as demandé, Seigneur, de te consacrer ces présents : accepte-les ; et pour qu’ils nous disposent à te plaire, fais-nous garder tes commandements. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion
Louez le Seigneur, tous les peuples. Fort est son amour pour nous, pour toujours sa vérité.
Prière après la communion
Nous t’en supplions, Dieu tout-puissant : ne permets pas que soient jamais séparés de toi ceux que tu fais communier à la joie du ciel. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Nous avons souvent tendance à plus admirer ou soigner notre extérieur que l’intérieur. Ceci c’est parce que nous oublions que l’extérieur ne doit être que le reflet de l’intérieur. Dans cette péricope, Jésus attire notre attention sur le fait que l’église faite de pierres que nous bâtissons doit être le reflet de la vie spirituelle de chaque chrétien. Comme dit Saint Paul, notre corps est le temple du saint esprit (1 Corinthiens 6,19). Par conséquent nous devons prendre soin de notre vie spirituelle et non se laisser distraire par des loups voraces qui s’autoproclament “Messie’’. Le Christ n’est présent nulle part ailleurs que dans le Saint Sacrement où il s’est fait prisonnier dans le tabernacle pour nous. Nous te bénissons Seigneur pour cette merveille.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Nov 22, 2021 | Evangelium
23
November
Pope St Clement I
St. Columbanus
Green / White / Red
Clement was the fourth Bishop of Rome after Peter, Linus and Cletus. Clement’s letter to the Corinthian church has survived. It is the first known Patristic document, and exhorts them to peace and brotherly harmony.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 84: 9
The Lord speaks of peace to his people and his holy ones and to those who turn to him.
Collect
Stir up the will of your faithful, we pray, O Lord, that, striving more eagerly to bring your divine work to fruitful completion, they may receive in greater measure the healing remedies your kindness bestows. 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: Daniel 2:31-45
Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, ‘You have had a vision, O king; this is what you saw: a statue, a great statue of extreme brightness, stood before you, terrible to see. The head of this statue was of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet part iron, part earthenware. While you were gazing, a stone broke away, untouched by any hand, and struck the statue, struck its feet of iron and earthenware and shattered them. And then, iron and earthenware, bronze, silver, gold all broke into small pieces as fine as chaff on the threshing-floor in summer. The wind blew them away, leaving not a trace behind. And the stone that had struck the statue grew into a great mountain, filling the whole earth. This was the dream; now we will explain to the king what it means. You, O king, king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength and glory – the sons of men, the beasts of the field, the birds of heaven, wherever they live, he has entrusted to your rule, making you king of them all – you are the golden head. And after you another kingdom will rise, not so great as you, and then a third, of bronze, which will rule the whole world. There will be a fourth kingdom, hard as iron, as iron that shatters and crushes all. Like iron that breaks everything to pieces, it will crush and break all the earlier kingdoms. The feet you saw, part earthenware, part iron, are a kingdom which will be split in two, but which will retain something of the strength of iron, just as you saw the iron and the clay of the earthenware mixed together. The feet were part iron, part earthenware: the kingdom will be partly strong and partly weak. And just as you saw the iron and the clay of the earthenware mixed together, so the two will be mixed together in the seed of man; but they will not hold together any more than iron will blend with earthenware. In the time of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not pass into the hands of another race: it will shatter and absorb all the previous kingdoms, and itself last for ever – just as you saw the stone untouched by hand break from the mountain and shatter iron, bronze, earthenware, silver and gold. The great God has shown the king what is to take place. The dream is true, the interpretation exact.’
Daniel 3:57-61
R/ Give glory and eternal praise to him!
1. All things the Lord has made, bless the Lord.
2. Angels of the Lord! all bless the Lord.
3. Heavens! bless the Lord.
4. Waters above the heavens! bless the Lord.
5. Powers of the Lord! all bless the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation : Lk21:28
Alleluia, alleluia! Stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 21:5-11
When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All these things you are staring at now – the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.’ And they put to him this question: ‘Master,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?’ ‘Take care not to be deceived,’ he said, ‘because many will come using my name and saying, “I am he,” and, “The time is near at hand.” Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not so soon.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, the sacred offerings which at your bidding we dedicate to your name and, in order that through these gifts we may become worthy of your love, grant us unfailing obedience to your commands. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Ps 116: 1, 2
O praise the Lord, all you nations, for his merciful love towards us is great.
Prayer after Communion
We pray, almighty God, that those to whom you give the joy of participating in divine mysteries may never be parted from you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
We often admire or care more about our exterior than the interior forgetting that the outside must only be a reflection of the inside. In this lights, Jesus draws our attention to the fact that the Church made of stones that we build must reflect the spiritual life of every Christian. As St. Paul says, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). Therefore, we must take care of our spiritual life and not let ourselves be distracted by greedy wolves who proclaim themselves “Messiah”. Christ is present in the Blessed Sacrament where he became a prisoner in the tabernacle for us. We bless you, Lord, for this marvel.
