by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 13, 2023 | Evangelium
TUESday 14 MARCH
SAINT MALTIDA
IShe was the wife of King Henry I of Germany. Saint Matilda interceded with the king on behalf of criminals, nursed the sick, taught the unschooled, and was generous in almsgiving.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 16: 6, 8
To you I call, for you will surely heed me, O God; Turn your ear to me; hear my words. Guard me as the apple of your eye; In the shadow of your wings protect me.
Collect
May your grace not forsake us, O Lord, we pray, but make us dedicated to your holy service and at all times obtain for us your help. 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: Daniel 3: 25, 34-43
Azariah stood in the heart of the fire, and he began to pray: Oh! Do not abandon us for ever, for the sake of your name; do not repudiate your covenant, do not withdraw your favour from us, for the sake of Abraham, your friend, of Isaac your servant, and of Israel your holy one, to whom you promised descendants as countless as the stars of heaven and as the grains of sand on the seashore. Lord, now we are the least of all the nations, now we are despised throughout the world, today, because of our sins. We have at this time no leader, no prophet, no prince, no holocaust, no sacrifice, no oblation, no incense, no place where we can offer you the first-fruits and win your favour. But may the contrite soul, the humbled spirit be as acceptable to you as holocausts of rams and bullocks, as thousands of fattened lambs: such let our sacrifice be to you today, and may it be your will that we follow you wholeheartedly, since those who put their trust in you will not be disappointed. And now we put our whole heart into following you, into fearing you and seeking your face once more. Do not disappoint us; treat us gently, as you yourself are gentle and very merciful. Grant us deliverance worthy of your wonderful deeds, let your name win glory, Lord.
Psalm 24: 4-6, 7-9
R/Remember your mercy, Lord.
Lord, make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your paths. Make me walk in your truth, and teach me: for you are God my saviour.
In you I hope all day long because of your goodness, O Lord. Remember your mercy, Lord, and the love you have shown from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth. In your love remember me.
The Lord is good and upright. He shows the path to those who stray, He guides the humble in the right path, He teaches his way to the poor.
Gospel Acclamation: cf. Lk8:15
Glory and praise to you, O Christ! Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart, take the word of God to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance. Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
Gospel: Matthew 18: 21-35
Peter went up to Jesus and said, “Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?” Jesus answered, “Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times. And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. ‘Give me time,’ he said, ‘and I will pay the whole sum.’ And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. ‘Pay what you owe me’, he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, ‘Give me time and I will pay you.’ But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said. ‘I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?’ And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that this saving sacrifice may cleanse us of our faults and become an oblation pleasing to your almighty power. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 14: 1-2
Lord, who may abide in your tent, and dwell on your holy mountain? Whoever walks without fault and does what is just.
Prayer after Communion
May the holy partaking of this mystery give us life, O Lord, we pray, and grant us both pardon and protection. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
O God, founder and ruler of your people, drive away the sins that assail them, that they may always be pleasing to you and ever safe under your protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Meditation
Is there any limit to forgiveness? This, dear brothers and sisters, is Peter’s deep concern on this day and we should make it ours as well. Jesus’ answer disillusioned poor Peter who thought that forgiving up to seven times was already too much. The Lord suggests to us that forgiveness has no limit. We must forgive, forgive again and always forgive, no matter the gravity of the fault. The king in the Gospel cancels a great debt of sixty million silver coins to his servant. But how surprising it is that we, who implore forgiveness for our great debts and offenses, are unable to forgive the smallest wrong. Hence the challenge of Jesus on this day. It is clear, however, that if we are unable to forgive, we should not expect to be forgiven. Forgiveness liberates, reconciles and unites.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 12, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
LUNDI 13 MARS
Saint Rodrigue et saint Salomon de Cordoue.
Ils étaient trois frères vivant à Cordoue sous la domination musulmane. Deux étaient chrétiens et le troisième était musulman. Un jour que Rodrigue descendait en ville, son frère musulman le reconnut et chercha à le convertir à l’Islam. Devant son refus, il l’accusa devant les tribunaux pour apostasie. Ce qui lui valut la condamnation à mort. En prison, il fit la connaissance d’un autre chrétien, Salomon, lui aussi condamné à mort. Ils furent tous deux décapités en 857.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 83, 3
Mon âme s’épuise à désirer ta présence, Seigneur. Mon cœur et ma chair sont un cri vers toi, ô Dieu vivant.
Prière d’ouverture
Ne relâche pas ton amour, Seigneur, purifie ton Eglise et protège-là ; sans toi elle ne peut être en sûreté : que ta grâce la gouverne toujours. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : 2 R 5, 1-15a
En ces jours-là, Naaman, général de l’armée du roi d’Aram, était un homme de grande valeur et hautement estimé par son maître, car c’est par lui que le Seigneur avait donné la victoire au royaume d’Aram. Or, ce vaillant guerrier était lépreux. Des Araméens, au cours d’une expédition en terre d’Israël, avaient fait prisonnière une fillette qui fut mise au service de la femme de Naaman. Elle dit à sa maîtresse : « Ah! si mon maître s’adressait au prophète qui est à Samarie, celui-ci le délivrerait de sa lèpre.» Naaman alla auprès du roi et lui dit : « Voilà ce que la jeune fille d’Israël a déclaré. » Le roi d’Aram lui répondit : « Va, mets-toi en route. J’envoie une lettre au roi d’Israël. » Naaman partit donc ; il emportait dix lingots d’argent, six mille pièces d’or et dix vêtements de fête. Il remit la lettre au roi d’Israël. Celle-ci portait : « En même temps que te parvient cette lettre, je t’envoie Naaman mon serviteur, pour que tu le délivres de sa lèpre. » Quand le roi d’Israël lut ce message, il déchira ses vêtements et s’écria : « Est-ce que je suis Dieu, maître de la vie et de la mort? Ce roi m’envoie un homme pour que je le délivre de sa lèpre ! Vous le voyez bien : c’est une provocation ! » Quand Élisée, l’homme de Dieu, apprit que le roi d’Israël avait déchiré ses vêtements, il lui fit dire : « Pourquoi as- tu déchiré tes vêtements? Que cet homme vienne à moi, et il saura qu’il y a un prophète en Israël. » Naaman arriva avec ses chevaux et son char, et s’arrêta à la porte de la maison d’Élisée. Élisée envoya un messager lui dire: « Va te baigner sept fois dans le Jourdain, et ta chair redeviendra nette, tu seras purifié.» Naaman se mit en colère et s’éloigna en disant : « Je m’étais dit : Sûrement il va sortir, et se tenir debout pour invoquer le nom du Seigneur son Dieu; puis il agitera sa main au-dessus de l’endroit malade et guérira ma lèpre. Est-ce que les fleuves de Damas, l’Abana et le Parpar, ne valent pas mieux que toutes les eaux d’Israël? Si je m’y baignais, est-ce que je ne serais pas purifié ? » Il tourna bride et partit en colère. Mais ses serviteurs s’approchèrent pour lui dire: « Père ! Si le prophète t’avait ordonné quelque chose de difficile, tu l’aurais fait, n’est-ce pas ? Combien plus, lorsqu’il te dit : “Baigne-toi, et tu seras purifié.” » Il descendit jusqu’au Jourdain et s’y plongea sept fois, pour obéir à la parole de l’homme de Dieu ; alors sa chair redevint semblable à celle d’un petit enfant : il était purifié ! Il retourna chez l’homme de Dieu avec toute son escorte ; il entra, se présenta devant lui et déclara : « Désormais, je le sais: il n’y a pas d’autre Dieu, sur toute la terre, que celui d’Israël ! »
Psaume : 41 (42), 2, 3 ; 42 (43), 3, 4
R/ Mon âme a soif de Dieu, le Dieu vivant.
Comme un cerf altéré cherche l’eau vive, ainsi mon âme te cherche, toi, mon Dieu.
Mon âme a soif de Dieu, le Dieu vivant; quand pourrai- je m’avancer, paraître face à Dieu?
Envoie ta lumière et ta vérité : qu’elles guident mes pas et me conduisent à ta montagne sainte, jusqu’en ta demeure.
J’avancerai jusqu’à l’autel de Dieu, vers Dieu qui est toute ma joie ; je te rendrai grâce avec ma harpe, Dieu, mon Dieu !
Acclamation
Gloire au Christ, Sagesse éternelle du Dieu vivant. Gloire à toi, Seigneur. J’espère le Seigneur, et j’attends sa parole près du Seigneur est l’amour, l’abondance du rachat. Gloire au Christ, Sagesse éternelle du Dieu vivant. Gloire à toi, Seigneur.
Evangile : Lc 4, 24-30
Dans la synagogue de Nazareth, Jésus déclara : « Amen, je vous le dis : aucun prophète ne trouve un accueil favorable dans son pays. En vérité, je vous le dis : Au temps du prophète Élie, lorsque pendant trois ans et demi le ciel retint la pluie, et qu’une grande famine se produisit sur toute la terre, il y avait beaucoup de veuves en Israël ; pourtant Élie ne fut envoyé vers aucune d’entre elles, mais bien dans la ville de Sarepta, au pays de Sidon, chez une veuve étrangère. Au temps du prophète Élisée, il y avait beaucoup de lépreux en Israël ; et aucun d’eux n’a été purifié, mais bien Naaman le Syrien. » À ces mots, dans la synagogue, tous devinrent furieux. Ils se levèrent, poussèrent Jésus hors de la ville, et le menèrent jusqu’à un escarpement de la colline où leur ville est construite, pour le précipiter en bas. Mais lui, passant au milieu d’eux, allait son chemin.
Prière sur les offrandes
Ces dons que tes serviteurs te rapportent, Seigneur, pour te rendre hommage, transforme-les toi-même en sacrement de notre salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 16, 6-8
Louez le Seigneur, tous les peuples ! Qu’il est fort, son amour pour nous : le Seigneur est toujours fidèle.
Prière après la communion
Que notre communion à ton sacrement, Seigneur, purifie chacun d’entre nous, et réalise notre unité. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Bien aimés de Dieu, il nous est souvent difficile de reconnaitre, d’accepter et de valoriser les mérites d’un familier ou d’un ami. Ainsi, mépris, sabotage, calomnie, raillerie et mensonge sont, parmi tant d’autres, autant de manœuvres que nous usons souvent pour tourner en dérision le don de ce frère. Possédés par l’esprit de méchanceté et du mal, on peut même souhaiter sa disparition. Cette réalité, Jésus non seulement l’explique dans l’évangile, mais aussi la subit. Bien des fois, des étrangers profitent des dons et des talents que nos frères ont alors que nous refusons de les reconnaitre. Et cela est souvent le fruit de cette dureté de cœur qui nous rend aveugle. Prions le Seigneur en ce jour afin qu’il nous aide à reconnaitre et encourager l’éclosion des talents et mérites de nos frères pour le bien de tous.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 12, 2023 | Evangelium
MONday 13 MARCH
Blessed Agnello of Pissa
He lived from 1195-1236, he was admitted into the Franciscan Order by St. Francis himself. His reputation for sanctity and prudence stood high amongst his fellows. He served as first minister provincial in England 1224-1236
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 83: 3
My soul is longing and yearning for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out to the living God.
Collect
May your unfailing compassion, O Lord, cleanse and protect your Church, and, since without you she cannot stand secure, may she be always governed by your grace. 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: 2 Kings 5: 1- 15
Naaman, army commander to the king of Aram, was a man who enjoyed his master’s respect and favour, since through him the Lord had granted victory to the Aramaeans. But the man was a leper. Now on one of their raids, the Aramaeans had carried off from the land of Israel a little girl who had become a servant of Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would approach the prophet of Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.” Naaman went and told his master. “This and this”, he reported, “is what the girl from the land of Israel said.” “Go by all means,” said the king of Aram. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten festal robes. He presented the letter to the king of Israel. It read: “With this letter, I am sending my servant Naaman to you for you to cure him of his leprosy.” When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his garments. “Am I a god to give death and life,” he said, “that he sends a man to me and asks me to cure him of his leprosy? Listen to this, and take note of it and see how he intends to pick a quarrel with me.” When Elisha heard that the king of Israel had torn his garments, he sent word to the king, “Why did you tear your garments? Let him come to me, and he will find there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his team and chariot and drew up at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent him a messenger to say, “Go and bathe seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will become clean once more.” But Naaman was indignant and went off, saying, “Here was I thinking he would be sure to come out to me, and stand there, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the spot and cure the leprous part. Surely Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, are better than any water in Israel? Could I not bathe in them and become clean?” And he turned round and went off in a rage. But his servants approached him and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? All the more reason, then, when he says to you, bathe, and you will become clean.” So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, as Elisha had told him to do. And his flesh became clean once more like the flesh of a little child. Returning to Elisha with his whole escort, he went in and stood before him. “Now I know”, he said, “that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.”
Psalm 41: 2 – 3, 42: 3 – 4
R/ My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life: when can I enter and see the face of God?
Like the deer that yearns for running streams, So my soul is yearning for you, my God. My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life; When can I enter and see the face of God?
O send forth your light and your truth; Let these be my guide. Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
And I will come to the altar of God, the God of my joy. My redeemer, I will thank you on the harp, O God, my God.
Gospel Acclamation: 2 Co: 6 – 2
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! Now is the favourable time: This is the day of salvation. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
Gospel: Luke 4, 24-30
Jesus came to Nazara and spoke to the people in the synagogue: “I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country. There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah’s day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land, but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to a widow at Zarephath, a Sidonian town. And in the prophet Elisha’s time there were many lepers in Israel, but none of these was cured, except the Syrian, Naaman.” When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged. They sprang to their feet and hustled him out of the town; and they took him up to the brow of the hill their town was built on, intending to throw him down the cliff, but he slipped through the crowd and walked away.
Prayer over the Offerings
May what we offer you, O Lord, in token of our service, be transformed by you into the sacrament of salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon
O praise the Lord, all you nations, for his merciful love towards us is great.
Prayer after Communion
May communion in this your Sacrament, we pray, O Lord, bring with it purification and the unity that is your gift. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
May your right hand, we ask, O Lord, protect this people that makes entreaty to you: graciously purify them and give them instruction, that, finding solace in this life, they may reach the good things to come. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Meditation
Beloved of God, it is often difficult for us to recognize, accept and value the merits of a family member or friend. Thus contempt, sabotage, slander, mockery and lies are, among many others, manoeuvres that we often use to make a mockery of their gift. Possessed by the spirit of wickedness and evil, we may even wish for its disappearance. Not only does Jesus explain this reality in the Gospel, but he also experiences it. Many times, strangers take advantage of the gifts and talents that our brothers and sisters have while we refuse to recognize them. And this is often the fruit of the hardness of heart that makes us blind. Let us pray to the Lord this day that he may help us to recognize and encourage the blossoming of the talents and merits of our brethren for the good of all.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 11, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
DIMANCHE 12 MARS
3ème Dimanche de Carême
1er Scrutin
Psautier iii
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 24, 15-16
J’ai toujours les yeux sur le Seigneur, lui qui dégage mes pieds du filet : Regarde, Seigneur, et prends pitié de moi, car je suis seul et misérable
Prière d’ouverture
Tu es la source de toute bonté, Seigneur, et toute miséricorde vient de toi ; tu nous as dit comment guérir du péché par le jeûne, la prière et le partage ; écoute l’aveu de notre faiblesse : nous avons conscience de nos fautes, patiemment, relève-nous avec amour. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Ex 17, 3-7
En ces jours-là, dans le désert, le peuple, manquant d’eau, souffrit de la soif. Il récrimina contre Moïse et dit : « Pourquoi nous as-tu fait monter d’Égypte ? Était-ce pour nous faire mourir de soif avec nos fils et nos troupeaux? » Moïse cria vers le Seigneur: « Que vais-je faire de ce peuple ? Encore un peu, et ils me lapideront ! » Le Seigneur dit à Moïse : « Passe devant le peuple, emmène avec toi plusieurs des anciens d’Israël, prends en main le bâton avec lequel tu as frappé le Nil, et va ! Moi, je serai là, devant toi, sur le rocher du mont Horeb. Tu frapperas le rocher, il en sortira de l’eau, et le peuple boira ! » Et Moïse fit ainsi sous les yeux des anciens d’Israël. Il donna à ce lieu le nom de Massa (c’est-à-dire : Épreuve) et Mériba (c’est-à-dire : Querelle), parce que les fils d’Israël avaient cherché querelle au Seigneur, et parce qu’ils l’avaient mis à l’épreuve, en disant : « Le Seigneur est-il au milieu de nous, oui ou non ? »
Psaume : 94 (95), 1-2, 6-7ab, 7d-8a.9
R/ Aujourd’hui, ne fermez pas votre cœur, mais écoutez la voix du Seigneur !
Venez, crions de joie pour le Seigneur, acclamons notre Rocher, notre salut ! Allons jusqu’à lui en rendant grâce, par nos hymnes de fête acclamons-le !
Entrez, inclinez-vous, prosternez-vous, adorons le Seigneur qui nous a faits. Oui, il est notre Dieu ; nous sommes le peuple qu’il conduit.
Aujourd’hui écouterez-vous sa parole? « Ne fermez pas votre cœur comme au désert, où vos pères m’ont tenté et provoqué, et pourtant ils avaient vu mon exploit. »
Deuxième lecture : Rm 5, 1-2.5-8
Frères, nous qui sommes devenus justes par la foi, nous voici en paix avec Dieu par notre Seigneur Jésus Christ, lui qui nous a donné, par la foi, l’accès à cette grâce dans laquelle nous sommes établis ; et nous mettons notre fierté dans l’espérance d’avoir part à la gloire de Dieu. Et l’espérance ne déçoit pas, puisque l’amour de Dieu a été répandu dans nos cœurs par l’Esprit Saint qui nous a été donné. Alors que nous n’étions encore capables de rien, le Christ, au temps fixé par Dieu, est mort pour les impies que nous étions. Accepter de mourir pour un homme juste, c’est déjà difficile ; peut-être quelqu’un s’exposerait-il à mourir pour un homme de bien. Or, la preuve que Dieu nous aime, c’est que le Christ est mort pour nous, alors que nous étions encore pécheurs.
Acclamation
Gloire au Christ, Sagesse éternelle du Dieu vivant. Gloire à toi, Seigneur. Tu es vraiment le Sauveur du monde, Seigneur ! Donne-moi de l’eau vive : que je n’aie plus soif. Gloire au Christ, Sagesse éternelle du Dieu vivant. Gloire à toi, Seigneur.
Évangile : Jn 4, 5-15.19b-26.39a.40-42
En ce temps-là, Jésus arriva à une ville de Samarie, appelée Sykar, près du terrain que Jacob avait donné à son fils Joseph. Là se trouvait le puits de Jacob. Jésus, fatigué par la route, s’était donc assis près de la source. C’était la sixième heure, environ midi. Arrive une femme de Samarie, qui venait puiser de l’eau. Jésus lui dit : « Donne-moi à boire.» – En effet, ses disciples étaient partis à la ville pour acheter des provisions. La Samaritaine lui dit : « Comment ! Toi, un Juif, tu me demandes à boire, à moi, une Samaritaine ? » – En effet, les Juifs ne fréquentent pas les Samaritains. Jésus lui répondit : « Si tu savais le don de Dieu et qui est celui qui te dit : ‘Donne-moi à boire’, c’est toi qui lui aurais demandé, et il t’aurait donné de l’eau vive. » Elle lui dit : « Seigneur, tu n’as rien pour puiser, et le puits est profond. D’où as-tu donc cette eau vive ? Serais-tu plus grand que notre père Jacob qui nous a donné ce puits, et qui en a bu lui-même, avec ses fils et ses bêtes ? » Jésus lui répondit : « Quiconque boit de cette eau aura de nouveau soif ; mais celui qui boira de l’eau que moi je lui donnerai n’aura plus jamais soif ; et l’eau que je lui donnerai deviendra en lui une source d’eau jaillissant pour la vie éternelle. » La femme lui dit : « Seigneur, donne-moi de cette eau, que je n’aie plus soif, et que je n’aie plus à venir ici pour puiser. Je vois que tu es un prophète !… Eh bien ! Nos pères ont adoré sur la montagne qui est là, et vous, les Juifs, vous dites que le lieu où il faut adorer est à Jérusalem. » Jésus lui dit : « Femme, crois-moi : l’heure vient où vous n’irez plus ni sur cette montagne ni à Jérusalem pour adorer le Père. Vous, vous adorez ce que vous ne connaissez pas ; nous, nous adorons ce que nous connaissons, car le salut vient des Juifs. Mais l’heure vient – et c’est maintenant – où les vrais adorateurs adoreront le Père en esprit et vérité : tels sont les adorateurs que recherche le Père. Dieu est esprit, et ceux qui l’adorent, c’est en esprit et vérité qu’ils doivent l’adorer. » La femme lui dit : « Je sais qu’il vient, le Messie, celui qu’on appelle Christ. Quand il viendra, c’est lui qui nous fera connaître toutes choses. » Jésus lui dit : « Je le suis, moi qui te parle. » Beaucoup de Samaritains de cette ville crurent en Jésus. Lorsqu’ils arrivèrent auprès de lui, ils l’invitèrent à demeurer chez eux. Il y demeura deux jours. Ils furent encore beaucoup plus nombreux à croire à cause de sa parole à lui, et ils disaient à la femme: « Ce n’est plus à cause de ce que tu nous as dit que nous croyons : nous-mêmes, nous l’avons entendu, et nous savons que c’est vraiment lui le Sauveur du monde. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Que cette eucharistie nous obtienne, Seigneur, à nous qui implorons ton pardon, la grâce de savoir pardonner à nos frères. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 16, 6-8
« Qui boira de l’eau que je lui donnerai n’aura plus jamais soif, dit le Seigneur ; cette eau deviendra en lui source jaillissante pour la vie éternelle. »
Prière après la communion
Nous avons reçu de toi, Seigneur, un avant-goût du ciel en mangeant dès ici-bas le pain du Royaume, et nous te supplions encore : fais-nous manifester par toute notre vie ce que le sacrement vient d’accomplir en nous. Par Jésus.
Méditation Frères et Sœurs, en ce troisième dimanche de carême, la rencontre de Jésus avec la samaritaine au puits de Jacob nous invite à nous défaire des préjugés nourris en nous. Cette rencontre nous invite à assainir les rapports et les considérations que nous entretenons les uns les autres. Purifier son regard et voir en l’autre un frère permet de briser les barrières des différences raciales, culturelles, religieuses ou tribales. Cela nous permet de découvrir que l’autre n’est pas un ennemi à combattre ou à éviter, mais ce frère à rencontrer qui peut désaltérer nos vies arides de cette eau vive de la joie et du salut qui vient de Dieu. La samaritaine et les samaritains l’ont compris et ont expérimenté en Jésus la joie de cette vraie rencontre avec l’autre. Que le Seigneur nous accorde cette même grâce pour l’avènement de la paix entre les hommes.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Mar 11, 2023 | Evangelium
SUNday 12 MARCH
3rd Sunday of Lent,
Psalter week III
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 24: 15-16
My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues my feet from the snare. Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and poor.
Collect
O God, author of every mercy and of all goodness, who in fasting, prayer and almsgiving, have shown us a remedy for sin, look graciously on this confession of our lowliness, that we, who are bowed down by our conscience, may always be lifted up by your mercy. 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: Exodus 17: 3-7
Tormented by thirst, the people complained against Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt?” they said. “Was it so that I should die of thirst, my children too, and my cattle?” Moses appealed to the Lord. “How am I to deal with this people?” he said. “A little more and they will stone me!” the Lord said to Moses, “Take with you some of the elders of Israel and move on to the forefront of the people; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the river, and go. I shall be standing before you there on the rock, at Horeb. You must strike the rock, and water will flow from it for the people to drink.” This is what Moses did, in the sight of the elders of Israel. The place was named Massah and Meribah because of the grumbling of the sons of Israel and because they put the Lord to the test by saying, “Is the Lord with us, or not?”
Psalm 94(95): 1-2, 6-9
R/ O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’
Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the rock who saves us. Let us come before him, giving thanks, with songs let us hail the Lord.
Come in; let us bow and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us: for he is our God and we the people who belong to his pasture, the flock that is led by his hand.
O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the desert when your fathers put me to the test; when they tried me, though they saw my work.
Second reading: Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God’s glory. And this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man – though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die – but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn 4: 42, 15
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! Lord, you are really the saviour of the world: give me the living water, so that I may never get thirsty. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Gospel: John 4: 5-42
Jesus came to the Samaritan town called Sychar, near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well is there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat straight down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘What? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan, for a drink?’ – Jews, in fact, do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus replied: ‘If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying to you: Give me a drink, you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you living water.’ ‘You have no bucket, sir,’ she answered ‘and the well is deep: how could you get this living water? Are you a greater man than our father Jacob who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his sons and his cattle?’ Jesus replied: ‘Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again; but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life.’ ‘Sir,’ said the woman ‘give me some of that water, so that I may never get thirsty and never have to come here again to draw water. I see you are a prophet, sir. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, while you say that Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.’ Jesus said: ‘Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know: for salvation comes from the Jews. But the hour will come – in fact it is here already – when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: that is the kind of worshipper the Father wants. God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah – that is, Christ – is coming; and when he comes he will tell us everything.’ ‘I who am speaking to you,’ said Jesus ‘I am he.’ Many Samaritans of that town had believed in him on the strength of the woman’s testimony when she said, ‘He told me all I have ever done’, so, when the Samaritans came up to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed for two days, and when he spoke to them many more came to believe; and they said to the woman, ‘Now we no longer believe because of what you told us; we have heard him ourselves and we know that he really is the saviour of the world.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Be pleased, O Lord, with these sacrificial offerings, and grant that we who beseech pardon for our own sins, may take care to forgive our neighbour. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon
For anyone who drinks it, says the Lord, the water I shall give will become in him a spring welling up to eternal life.
Prayer after Communion
As we receive the pledge of things yet hidden in heaven and are nourished while still on earth with the Bread that comes from on high, we humbly entreat you, O Lord, that what is being brought about in us in mystery may come to true completion. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
Direct, O Lord, we pray, the hearts of your faithful, and in your kindness, grant your servants this grace: that, abiding in the love of you and their neighbour, they may fulfil the whole of your commands. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Meditation
Brothers and sisters, on this third Sunday of Lent, Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well invites us to get rid of the prejudices that we hold within ourselves. This encounter invites us to clean up our relationships with, and our considerations of one another. Cleansing our eyes and seeing the other as a brother or sister allows us to break down the barriers of racial, cultural, religious or tribal differences. It allows us to discover that the other is not an enemy to be fought or avoided, but a brother to be met who can quench our dry lives with the living water of joy and salvation that comes from God. The Samaritan woman and the Samaritans understood this, and so they experienced in Jesus the joy of this true encounter. May the Lord grant us this same grace for the advent of peace among men.
