by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Oct 5, 2021 | Evangelium
06
October
St. Bruno
(c.1033 – 1101)
Green / White
He was born at Cologne and educated partly at Reims. He was head of the episcopal school there for almost 20 years. In 1075 he was appointed chancellor of the church of Reims and had to devote himself to the administration of the diocese. The bishop at that time, Manasses de Gournai, was impious, corrupt, and violent. Through the intervention of Bruno and others, the Council of Autun suspended Manasses, who retaliated by demolishing the houses of their accusers and confiscating their goods. In 1080 a final decision of the Pope, together with a popular uprising, deposed Manasses.
Entrance Antiphon: Est 4: 17
Within your will, O Lord, all things are established, and there is none that can resist your will. For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth, and all that is held within the circle of heaven; you are the Lord of all.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. 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 : Jonah 4:1-11
Jonah was very indignant; he fell into a rage. He prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Ah, Lord, is not this just as I said would happen when I was still at home? That was why I went and fled to Tarshish: I knew that you were a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness, relenting from evil. So now, Lord, please take away my life, for I might as well be dead as go on living.’ The Lord replied, ‘Are you right to be angry?’ Jonah then went out of the city and sat down to the east of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God arranged that a castor-oil plant should grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head and soothe his ill-humour; Jonah was delighted with the castor-oil plant. But at dawn the next day, God arranged that a worm should attack the castor-oil plant – and it withered. Next, when the sun rose, God arranged that there should be a scorching east wind; the sun beat down so hard on Jonah’s head that he was overcome and begged for death, saying, ‘I might as well be dead as go on living.’ God said to Jonah, ‘Are you right to be angry about the castor-oil plant?’ He replied, ‘I have every right to be angry, to the point of death.’ The Lord replied, ‘You are only upset about a castor-oil plant which cost you no labour, which you did not make grow, which sprouted in a night and has perished in a night. And am I not to feel sorry for Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, to say nothing of all the animals?’
Psalm 85(86):3-6,9-10
R/ You, O Lord, have mercy and compassion.
1. You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord, for I cry to you all the day long. Give joy to your servant, O Lord, for to you I lift up my soul.
2. O Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of love to all who call. Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my voice.
3. All the nations shall come to adore you and glorify your name, O Lord: for you are great and do marvellous deeds, you who alone are God.
Gospel Acclamation : Ps118:24
Alleluia, alleluia! Train me, Lord, to observe your law, to keep it with my heart. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 11:1-4
Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray: “Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.”’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, we pray, the sacrifices instituted by your commands and, through the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate with dutiful service, graciously complete the sanctifying work by which you are pleased to redeem us. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Lam 3: 25
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the soul that seeks him.
Prayer after Communion
Grant us, almighty God, that we may be refreshed and nourished by the Sacrament which we have received, so as to be transformed into what we consume. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus underlines how we ought to pray. Our prayers should be a prayer of worship, contrition, reliance, submission and perseverance. We are called today to be persistent in prayer as a means of a better communion with God, a means of waiting on God to realise and fulfil his plans in us. His love for us is sure, and he will give us what is good for us at the right time. Thus, we need to trust, hope and have faith in God, and above all, love him more.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Oct 5, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
06
Octobre
Saint Bruno, Prêtre
Vert / Blanc
Chanoine de Cologne, maître en théologie à Reims, Bruno (vers 1035-1101) a cinquante ans quand il se retire dans la solitude de la Chartreuse pour ‘’chercher Dieu assidûment, le trouver promptement, le posséder pleinement’’. Il donne cet idéal de contemplation pure à ses fils, les Chartreux, qui, par leur prière et leur pénitence, doivent féconder le labeur des apôtres dans le monde.
Antienne d’ouverture : Est 13, 9. 10-11
Tout dépend de ta volonté, Seigneur, et rien ne peut lui résister: C’est toi qui as fait le ciel et la terre et les merveilles qu’ils contiennent. Tu es le Maître de l’univers.
Prière d’ouverture
Dans ton amour inépuisable, Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, tu combles ceux qui t’implorent, bien au-delà de leurs mérites et de leurs désirs. Répands sur nous ta miséricorde en délivrant notre conscience de ce qui l’inquiète et en donnant plus que nous n’osons demander. Par Jésus Christ
Première lecture : Jonas 4, 1-11
Quand il vit que Dieu pardonnait aux habitants de Ninive, Jonas trouva la chose très mauvaise et se mit en colère. Il fit cette prière au Seigneur :« Ah ! Seigneur, je l’avais bien dit lorsque j’étais encore dans mon pays! C’est pour cela que je m’étais d’abord enfui à Tarsis. Je savais bien que tu es un Dieu tendre et miséricordieux, lent à la colère et plein d’amour, renonçant au châtiment. Eh bien, Seigneur, prends ma vie ; mieux vaut pour moi mourir que vivre. » Le Seigneur lui dit :« As-tu vraiment raison de te mettre en colère ? » Jonas sortit de Ninive et s’assit à l’est de la ville. Là, il fit une hutte et s’assit dessous, à l’ombre, pour voir ce qui allait arriver dans la ville. Le Seigneur Dieu donna l’ordre à un arbuste, un ricin, de pousser au-dessus de Jonas pour donner de l’ombre à sa tête et le délivrer ainsi de sa mauvaise humeur. Jonas se réjouit d’une grande joie à cause du ricin. Mais le lendemain, à l’aube, Dieu donna l’ordre à un ver de piquer le ricin, et celui-ci se dessécha. Au lever du soleil, Dieu donna l’ordre au vent d’est de brûler ; Jonas fut frappé d’insolation. Se sentant défaillir, il demanda la mort et ajouta : « Mieux vaut pour moi mourir que vivre. » Dieu dit à Jonas : « As-tu vraiment raison de te mettre en colère au sujet de ce ricin ? » Il répondit : «Oui, j’ai bien raison de me mettre en colère jusqu’à souhaiter la mort.» Le Seigneur répliqua : « Toi, tu as pitié de ce ricin, qui ne t’a coûté aucun travail et que tu n’as pas fait grandir, qui a poussé en une nuit, et en une nuit a disparu. Et moi, comment n’aurais-je pas pitié de Ninive, la grande ville, où, sans compter une foule d’animaux, il y a plus de cent vingt mille êtres humains qui ne distinguent pas encore leur droite de leur gauche ? »
Psaume : 85 (86), 3-4, 5-6, 9-10
R/ Toi, Seigneur, Dieu de tendresse et de pitié ! (85, 15)
1. Prends pitié de moi, Seigneur, toi que j’appelle chaque jour. Seigneur, réjouis ton serviteur : vers toi, j’élève mon âme !
2. Toi qui es bon et qui pardonnes, plein d’amour pour tous ceux qui t’appellent, écoute ma prière, Seigneur, entends ma voix qui te supplie.
3. Toutes les nations, que tu as faites, viendront se prosterner devant toi et rendre gloire à ton nom, Seigneur, car tu es grand et tu fais des merveilles, toi, Dieu, le seul.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Vous avez reçu un Esprit qui fait de vous des fils ; c’est en lui que nous crions « Abba», Père. Alléluia (Rm 8, 15bc).
Évangile Luc 11, 1-4
Il arriva que Jésus, en un certain lieu, était en prière. Quand il eut terminé, un de ses disciples lui demanda : « Seigneur, apprends-nous à prier, comme Jean le Baptiste, lui aussi, l’a appris à ses disciples. » Il leur répondit: « Quand vous priez, dites: “Père, que ton nom soit sanctifié, que ton règne vienne. Donne-nous le pain dont nous avons besoin pour chaque jour Pardonne-nous nos péchés, car nous-mêmes, nous pardonnons aussi à tous ceux qui ont des torts envers nous. Et ne nous laisse pas entrer en tentation.” »
Prière sur les offrandes
Accepte, Seigneur, le sacrifice que tu nous as donné. Dans les mystères que nous célébrons pour te rendre grâce, sanctifie les hommes que tu as sauvés par ton Fils. Lui qui.
Antienne de communion : Lm 3, 25
Le Seigneur est bon pour ceux qui se tournent vers lui, pour ceux qui le recherchent.
Prière après la communion
Accorde-nous, Seigneur notre Dieu, de trouver dans cette communion notre force et notre joie, afin que nous puissions devenir ce que nous avons reçu: le corps du Christ. Lui qui.
Méditation
Tout homme est appelé à reconnaître en Dieu son origine. Dieu qui est Père est le Créateur de tous les hommes. Tout croyant doit être conscient de cette réalité divine. Le Dieu à qui il s’adresse dans la prière est le Père de l’humanité entière. On l’appelle : « Notre Père ». Il sait que les Ninivites sont ses enfants. Le Père Créateur est le « Dieu tendre et miséricordieux, lent à la colère et plein d’amour, renonçant au châtiment ». Il ne fait pas de différence entre les hommes de différentes races. La seule condition pour se faire proche de Lui est la conversion. Le prophète est aussi invité à entrer dans cette vision salvifique de Dieu.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Oct 4, 2021 | Evangelium
05
October
Saint Faustina Kowalska
(1905 – 1938)
Green
Helena Kowalska was born on the 25th August 1905 in Głogowiec, near Łódź in Poland, the third of ten children of a poor and religious family. From an early age she had a religious vocation, and she showed great determination in pursuing it despite the opposition of her parents and rejection by the first few convents to which she applied.
Entrance Antiphon: Est 4: 17
Within your will, O Lord, all things are established, and there is none that can resist your will. For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth, and all that is held within the circle of heaven; you are the Lord of all.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. 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: Jonah 3:1-10
The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. A proclamation was then promulgated throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his ministers, as follows: ‘Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?’ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.
Psalm 129(130):1-4,7-8
R/ The Lord keeps his covenant ever in mind.
1. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice! O let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading.
2. If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive? But with you is found forgiveness: for this we revere you.
3. Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption, Israel indeed he will redeem from all its iniquity. If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt: Lord, who would survive?
Gospel Acclamation : Jn15:15
Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 10:38-42
Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, we pray, the sacrifices instituted by your commands and, through the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate with dutiful service, graciously complete the sanctifying work by which you are pleased to redeem us. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Lam 3: 25
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the soul that seeks him.
Prayer after Communion
Grant us, almighty God, that we may be refreshed and nourished by the Sacrament which we have received, so as to be transformed into what we consume. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation The words of Christ, “Mary has chosen the better part”, do not mean Martha was doing badly by being hospitable They are invitation to always find a balance with the Lord. Attachment to God, listening and putting into practice his word attract his mercy, compassion and forgiveness, which the people of Nineveh experienced in today’s first reading. May God grant us the grace never to depart from his presence.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Oct 3, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
04
Octobre
St François d’Assise
Blanc
Fils d’un riche marchand dans un monde déchiré par les guerres, le chevalier de Dame Pauvreté apparait comme le pur reflet de l’Évangile. En se détachant systématiquement des biens terrestres et de lui-même, François Bernardone devient chantre de la création avec la fraicheur d’une enfance retrouvée. Il fonde une triple famille religieuse : Frères Mineurs, Clarisses et Tiers-Ordre.
Antienne d’ouverture : Est 13, 9. 10-11
Tout dépend de ta volonté, Seigneur, et rien ne peut lui résister: C’est toi qui as fait le ciel et la terre et les merveilles qu’ils contiennent. Tu es le Maître de l’univers.
Prière d’ouverture
Dans ton amour inépuisable, Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, tu combles ceux qui t’implorent, bien au-delà de leurs mérites et de leurs désirs. Répands sur nous ta miséricorde en délivrant notre conscience de ce qui l’inquiète et en donnant plus que nous n’osons demander. Par Jésus Christ
Première lecture : Jonas 1, 1 – 2, 1.11
La parole du Seigneur fut adressée à Jonas, fils d’Amittaï : « Lève-toi, va à Ninive, la grande ville païenne, et proclame que sa méchanceté est montée jusqu’à moi. » Jonas se leva, mais pour s’enfuir à Tarsis, loin de la face du Seigneur. Descendu à Jaffa, il trouva un navire en partance pour Tarsis. Il paya son passage et s’embarqua pour s’y rendre, loin de la face du Seigneur. Mais le Seigneur lança sur la mer un vent violent, et il s’éleva une grande tempête, au point que le navire menaçait de se briser. Les matelots prirent peur ; ils crièrent chacun vers son dieu et, pour s’alléger, lancèrent la cargaison à la mer. Or, Jonas était descendu dans la cale du navire, il s’était couché et dormait d’un sommeil mystérieux. Le capitaine alla le trouver et lui dit : «Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? Tu dors ?Lève-tôt ! Invoque ton dieu. Peut-être que ce dieu s’occupera de nous pour nous empêcher de périr.» Et les matelots se disaient entre eux: «Tirons au sort pour savoir à qui nous devons ce malheur. »Ils tirèrent au sort, et le sort tomba sur Jonas. Ils lui demandèrent: « Dis-nous donc d’où nous vient ce malheur. Quel est ton métier ? D’où viens-tu ? Quel est ton pays ? De quel peuple es-tu ? » Jonas leur répondit : « Je suis hébreu, moi, je crains le Seigneur, le Dieu du ciel, qui a fait la mer et la terre ferme. » Les matelots furent saisis d’une grande peur et lui dirent : « Qu’est-ce que tu as fait là ? »Car ces hommes savaient, d’après ce qu’il leur avait dit, qu’il fuyait la face du Seigneur. Ils lui demandèrent: « Qu’est-ce que nous devons faire de toi, pour que la mer se calme autour de nous?» Car la mer était de plus en plus furieuse. Il leur répondit: « Prenez-moi, jetez-moi à la mer, pour que la mer se calme autour de vous. Car, je le reconnais, c’est à cause de moi que cette grande tempête vous assaille. » Les matelots ramèrent pour regagner la terre, mais sans y parvenir, car la mer était de plus en plus furieuse autour d’eux. Ils invoquèrent alors le Seigneur : «Ah ! Seigneur, ne nous fais pas mourir à cause de cet homme, et ne nous rends pas responsables de la mort d’un innocent, car toi, tu es le Seigneur:ce que tu as voulu, tu l’as fait.» Puis ils prirent Jonas et le jetèrent à la mer. Alors la fureur de la mer tomba. Les hommes furent saisis par la crainte du Seigneur ; ils lui offrirent un sacrifice accompagné de vœux. Le Seigneur donna l’ordre à un grand poisson d’engloutir Jonas. Jonas demeura dans les entrailles du poisson trois jours et trois nuits. Alors le Seigneur parla au poisson, et celui-ci rejeta Jonas sur la terre ferme.
Cantique : Jonas 2, 3, 4, 5, 8
R/ Tu retires ma vie de la fosse, Seigneur mon Dieu. Jon 2, 7
1. Dans ma détresse, je crie vers le Seigneur, et lui me répond ; du ventre des enfers j’appelle : tu écoutes ma voix.
2. Tu m’as jeté au plus profond du cœur des mers, et le flot m’a cerné ; tes ondes et tes vagues ensemble ont passé sur moi.
3. Et je dis : me voici rejeté de devant tes yeux ; pourrai-je revoir encore ton temple saint ?
4. Quand mon âme en moi défaillait, je me souvins du Seigneur ; et ma prière parvint jusqu’à toi dans ton temple saint.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Je vous donne un commandement nouveau, dit le Seigneur: « Aimez-vous les uns les autres, comme je vous ai aimés. » Alléluia. (cf. Jn 13, 34)
Évangile : Luc 10, 25-37
En ce temps-là, voici qu’un docteur de la Loi se leva et mit Jésus à l’épreuve en disant: « Maître, que dois-je faire pour avoir en héritage la vie éternelle?» Jésus lui demanda : « Dans la Loi, qu’y a-t-il d’écrit? Et comment lis-tu ? » L’autre répondit : «Tu aimeras le Seigneur ton Dieu de tout ton cœur, de toute ton âme, de toute ta force et de toute ton intelligence, et ton prochain comme toi-même. Jésus lui dit : « Tu as répondu correctement. Fais ainsi et tu vivras.» Mais lui, voulant se justifier, dit à Jésus : « Et qui est mon prochain?» Jésus reprit la parole : « Un homme descendait de Jérusalem à Jéricho, et il tomba sur des bandits ; ceux-ci, après l’avoir dépouillé et roué de coups, s’en allèrent, le laissant à moitié mort. Par hasard, un prêtre descendait par ce chemin ; il le vit et passa de l’autre côté. De même un lévite arriva à cet endroit ; il le vit et passa de l’autre côté. Mais un Samaritain, qui était en route, arriva près de lui ; il le vit et fut saisi de compassion. Il s’approcha, et pansa ses blessures en y versant de l’huile et du vin; puis il le chargea sur sa propre monture, le conduisit dans une auberge et prit soin de lui. Le lendemain, il sortit deux pièces d’argent, et les donna à l’aubergiste, en lui disant : “Prends soin de lui ;tout ce que tu auras dépensé en plus, je te le rendrai quand je repasserai.” Lequel des trois, à ton avis, a été le prochain de l’homme tombé aux mains des bandits ? » Le docteur de la Loi répondit : « Celui qui a fait preuve de pitié envers lui. » Jésus lui dit : « Va, et toi aussi, fais de même. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Accepte, Seigneur, le sacrifice que tu nous as donné. Dans les mystères que nous célébrons pour te rendre grâce, sanctifie les hommes que tu as sauvés par ton Fils. Lui qui.
Antienne de communion : Lm 3, 25
Le Seigneur est bon pour ceux qui se tournent vers lui, pour ceux qui le recherchent.
Prière après la communion
Accorde-nous, Seigneur notre Dieu, de trouver dans cette communion notre force et notre joie, afin que nous puissions devenir ce que nous avons reçu : le corps du Christ. Lui qui.
Méditation
Celui qui croit en Dieu et qui rejette son prochain est un croyant qui lit mal et qui comprend de travers la Parole de Dieu. Jonas n’accueillait pas à sa juste valeur l’étranger. Il ne voulait pas aller à Ninive. Pourtant la foi en Dieu le Créateur tient intégralement à cette attache interpersonnelle. La mer et la terre se remuent quand un croyant se ferme à l’homme parce qu’il est de race étrangère. La foi combat les divisions, la haine et les inimitiés. Dieu attend de tout croyant une ouverture sans limite à l’humanité. « Va, et aussi, fais de même ». Car on ne peut pas voir Dieu, si on néglige l’homme. Un chrétien fait de tout homme son prochain, quelle que soit son origine.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Oct 3, 2021 | Evangelium
04
October
St. Francis of Assisi
(1181 – 1226)
White
Francis was the son of a prosperous cloth merchant in Assisi. When his father objected to having his goods sold without his consent to pay for the restoration of a church, the bishop commanded Francis to repay the money. He did. He also renounced his father and gave back everything he had ever been given, even his garments.
Entrance Antiphon
Francis, the man of God, left his home behind, abandoned his inheritance and became poor and penniless, but the Lord raised him up.
Collect
O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility, grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps, we may follow your Son, and, through joyful charity, come to be united with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
First reading: Jonah 1:1-2:1,11
The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and inform them that their wickedness has become known to me.’ Jonah decided to run away from the Lord, and to go to Tarshish. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish; he paid his fare and went aboard, to go with them to Tarshish, to get away from the Lord. But the Lord unleashed a violent wind on the sea, and there was such a great storm at sea that the ship threatened to break up. The sailors took fright, and each of them called on his own god, and to lighten the ship they threw the cargo overboard. Jonah, however, had gone below and lain down in the hold and fallen fast asleep. The boatswain came upon him and said, ‘What do you mean by sleeping? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps he will spare us a thought, and not leave us to die.’ Then they said to each other, ‘Come on, let us draw lots to find out who is responsible for bringing this evil on us.’ So they cast lots, and the lot fell to Jonah. Then they said to him, ‘Tell us, what is your business? Where do you come from? What is your country? What is your nationality?’ He replied, ‘I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.’ The sailors were seized with terror at this and said, ‘What have you done?’ They knew that he was trying to escape from the Lord, because he had told them so. They then said, ‘What are we to do with you, to make the sea grow calm for us?’ For the sea was growing rougher and rougher. He replied, ‘Take me and throw me into the sea, and then it will grow calm for you. For I can see it is my fault this violent storm has happened to you.’ The sailors rowed hard in an effort to reach the shore, but in vain, since the sea grew still rougher for them. They then called on the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, do not let us perish for taking this man’s life; do not hold us guilty of innocent blood; for you, the Lord, have acted as you have thought right.’ And taking hold of Jonah they threw him into the sea; and the sea grew calm again. At this the men were seized with dread of the Lord; they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. The Lord had arranged that a great fish should be there to swallow Jonah; and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. The Lord spoke to the fish, which then vomited Jonah on to the shore.
Jonah 2:3-5,8
R/ You lifted my life from the pit, O Lord.
1. Out of my distress I cried to the Lord and he answered me; from the belly of Sheol I cried, and you have heard my voice.
2. You cast me into the abyss, into the heart of the sea, and the flood surrounded me. All your waves, your billows, washed over me.
3. And I said: I am cast out from your sight. How shall I ever look again on your holy Temple?
4. While my soul was fainting within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came before you
into your holy Temple.
Gospel Acclamation: cf.Jn6:63,68
Alleluia, alleluia! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 10:25-37
There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? What do you read there?’ He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘You have answered right,’ said Jesus ‘do this and life is yours.’ But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands‘ hands?’ ‘The one who took pity on him,’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’
Prayer over the Offerings
As we bring you these offerings, O Lord, we pray that we may be rightly disposed for the celebration of the mystery of the Cross, which Saint Francis so ardently embraced. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt 5: 3
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer after Communion
Grant us, we pray, O Lord, through these holy gifts which we have received, that, imitating the charity and apostolic zeal of Saint Francis, we may experience the effects of your love and spread them everywhere for the salvation of all. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The readings invite us to be selfless in our actions. Christ uses the story of the Good Samaritan who went out of himself and chose mercy and compassion over societial norms, prejudices, opinion, time, and money, to teach us that love for God is expressed in kindness to enemies and strangers. May we respond faithfully to this call for mercy and compassion towards those suffering in our world.
