by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Feb 5, 2023 | Evangelium
MONday 06 febRuary
Saint Paul Miki and compagnons, Martyrs
Born in Japan, he joined the Society of Jesus. When a persecution of the Catholics arose, he was arrested together with twenty-five others, bound to crosses and speared in Nagasaki in 1597
Entrance Antiphon
The souls of the Saints are rejoicing in heaven, the Saints who followed the footsteps of Christ, and since for love of him they shed their blood, they now exult with Christ for ever.
Collect
O God, strength of all the Saints, who through the Cross were pleased to call the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life, grant, we pray, that by their intercession we may hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess. 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; Genesis 1:1-19
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God’s spirit hovered over the water. God said, “Let there be light”, and there was light. God saw that light was good, and God divided light from darkness. God called light “day”, and darkness he called “night.” Evening came and morning came: the first day. God said, “Let there be a vault in the waters to divide the waters in two.” And so it was. God made the vault, and it divided the waters above the vault from the waters under the vault. God called the vault “heaven.” Evening came and morning came: the second day. God said, “Let the waters under heaven come together into a single mass, and let dry land appear.” And so it was. God called the dry land “earth” and the mass of waters “seas”, and God saw that it was good. God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees bearing fruit with their seed inside, on the earth.” And so it was. The earth produced vegetation: plants bearing seed in their several kinds, and trees bearing fruit with their seed inside in their several kinds. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came: the third day. God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to divide day from night, and let them indicate festivals, days and years. Let them be lights in the vault of heaven to shine on the earth.” And so it was. God made the two great lights: the greater light to govern the day, the smaller light to govern the night, and the stars. God set them in the vault of heaven to shine on the earth, to govern the day and the night and to divide light from darkness. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came: the fourth day.
Psalm 103(104):1-2,5-6,10,12,24,35
R/ May the Lord rejoice in his works!
Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are, clothed in majesty and glory, wrapped in light as in a robe!
You founded the earth on its base, to stand firm from age to age. You wrapped it with the ocean like a cloak: the waters stood higher than the mountains.
You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow in between the hills. On their banks dwell the birds of heaven; from the branches they sing their song.
How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches. Bless the Lord, my soul!
Gospel Acclamation: Jn 8: 12
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!
Gospel; Mark 6: 53-56
Having made the crossing, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up. No sooner had they stepped out of the boat than people recognised him, and started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, to village, or town, or farm, they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging him to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were cured.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, holy Father, the offerings we bring in commemoration of the holy Martyrs, and grant that we, your servants, may be found steadfast in confessing your name. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Lk 22: 28-30
It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you, says the Lord, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who in your holy Martyrs have wonderfully made known the mystery of the Cross, graciously grant that, drawing strength from this sacrifice, we may cling faithfully to Christ and labour in the Church for the salvation of all. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The story of creation is lovely and follows a poetic narration. It reminds us that God is in all things. Be good stewards of the earth and all plants and animals. Your care for each other is mirrored in this. You echo God’s stewardship when you try to make the world better. The creation story is one to remember when you are careless about the earth or people. Jesus took care of people in desperate situations. In the Gospel, Jesus is popular among the ordinary people of Galilee. He attracted the sick and broken; God’s healing power worked in him. The poor and the needy were desperate to get to and connect with him. In our lives, it is in our brokenness that we seek the Lord with the greatest urgency. Something uncovers and activates our vulnerability, our weakness, our inability to cope. Then we come face to face with our limitations and frailties, we realize our need for the Lord and our dependence on him; we seek the Lord with greater energy. It is often the darker and more painful experiences of life that open us up to the Lord.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Feb 4, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
dimanche 05 FEVRIER
5ème Dimanche du Temps Ordinaire
Psautier i
Sainte Agathe de Catane, Vierge et Martyre
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 94, 6-7
Venez, inclinez-vous, prosternez-vous : adorons le Seigneur qui nous a faits : oui, il est notre Dieu.
Prière d’ouverture
Dans ton amour inlassable, Seigneur, veille sur ta famille ; Et puisque ta grâce est notre unique espoir, garde-nous sous ta constante protection. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Is 58, 7-10
Lecture du livre du prophète Isaïe. Ainsi parle le Seigneur : Partage ton pain avec celui qui a faim, accueille chez toi les pauvres sans abri, couvre celui que tu verras sans vêtement, ne te dérobe pas à ton semblable. Alors ta lumière jaillira comme l’aurore, et tes forces reviendront vite. Devant toi marchera ta justice, et la gloire du Seigneur fermera la marche. Alors, si tu appelles, le Seigneur répondra ; si tu cries, il dira: « Me voici.» Si tu fais disparaître de chez toi le joug, le geste accusateur, la parole malfaisante, si tu donnes à celui qui a faim ce que toi, tu désires, et si tu combles les désirs du malheureux, ta lumière se lèvera dans les ténèbres et ton obscurité sera lumière de midi.
Psaume : 112, 4-5, 6-7, 8a.9
R/ Lumière des cœurs droits, le juste s’est levé dans les ténèbres.
Ou : Alléluia !
Lumière des cœurs droits, il s’est levé dans les ténèbres, homme de justice, de tendresse et de pitié. L’homme de bien a pitié, il partage ; il mène ses affaires avec droiture.
Cet homme jamais ne tombera; toujours on fera mémoire du juste. Il ne craint pas l’annonce d’un malheur : le cœur ferme, il s’appuie sur le Seigneur.
Son cœur est confiant, il ne craint pas. À pleines mains, il donne au pauvre ; à jamais se maintiendra sa justice, sa puissance grandira, et sa gloire!
Deuxième lecture : 1 Co 2, 1-5
Frères, quand je suis venu chez vous, je ne suis pas venu vous annoncer le mystère de Dieu avec le prestige du langage ou de la sagesse. Parmi vous, je n’ai rien voulu connaître d’autre que Jésus Christ, ce Messie crucifié. Et c’est dans la faiblesse, craintif et tout tremblant, que je me suis présenté à vous. Mon langage, ma proclamation de l’Évangile, n’avaient rien d’un langage de sagesse qui veut convaincre ; mais c’est l’Esprit et sa puissance qui se manifestaient,pour que votre foi repose, non pas sur la sagesse des hommes, mais sur la puissance de Dieu.
Acclamation
Alléluia, alléluia ! Moi, je suis la lumière du monde, dit le Seigneur. Celui qui me suit aura la lumière de la vie. Alléluia. (cf. Jn 8, 12)
Évangile : Mt 5, 13-16
En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à ses disciples : « Vous êtes le sel de la terre. Mais si le sel devient fade, comment lui rendre de la saveur ? Il ne vaut plus rien : on le jette dehors et il est piétiné par les gens. Vous êtes la lumière du monde. Une ville située sur une montagne ne peut être cachée. Et l’on n’allume pas une lampe pour la mettre sous le boisseau ; on la met sur le lampadaire, et elle brille pour tous ceux qui sont dans la maison. De même, que votre lumière brille devant les hommes: alors, voyant ce que vous faites de bien, ils rendront gloire à votre Père qui est aux cieux. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Seigneur notre Dieu, tu as voulu choisir dans ta création le pain et le vin qui refont chaque jour nos forces : Fais qu’ils deviennent aussi pour nous le sacrement de la vie éternelle. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ps 106, 8-9
Proclamons l’amour du Seigneur, ses merveilles pour les hommes : Il a rassasié ceux qui avaient faim, et désaltéré ceux qui avaient soif.
Prière après la communion
Tu as voulu, Seigneur, que nous partagions un même pain et que nous buvions à la même coupe: Accorde-nous de vivre tellement unis dans le Christ que nous portions du fruit pour le salut du monde. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Nous chrétiens sommes sel et lumière du monde. Nous sommes appelés à être pour ce monde des signes de jugement, c’est-à-dire de remise en question par notre manière de vivre. Le sel étant aussi utilisé pour conserver sains les aliments, c’est à nous de garder et de défendre ce qui est sain, saint, bien et pur. C’est à nous d’affermir les autres dans tout ce qui est vertueux. Dans la tradition biblique, la lumière quant à elle renvoie au témoignage de la foi et de la charité par lequel le croyant doit briller. Si le boisseau ici renvoie à l’attrait des biens matériels de ce monde, c’est donc que la séduction et la quête des richesses terrestres ne doivent pas nous empêcher de rendre témoignage. Que la lumière de la vérité dissipe en nous les ténèbres de ce monde.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Feb 4, 2023 | Evangelium
SUNday 05 febRuary
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Psalter week I
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 94: 6-7
O come, let us worship God and bow low before the God who made us, for he is the Lord our God.
Collect
Keep your family safe, O Lord, with unfailing care, that, relying solely on the hope of heavenly grace, they may be defended always by your protection. 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: Isaiah 58: 7-10
Thus says the Lord: Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, clothe the man you see to be naked and do not turn from your own kin. Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you. Cry, and the Lord will answer; call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’ If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.
Psalm 111(112): 4-9
R/ The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.
He is a light in the darkness for the upright: he is generous, merciful and just. The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honour.
The just man will never waver: he will be remembered for ever. He has no fear of evil news; with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
With a steadfast heart he will not fear; open-handed, he gives to the poor; his justice
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5
When I came to you, brothers, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn 8: 12
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 5: 13-16
Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.”
Prayer over the Offerings
O Lord, our God, who once established these created things to sustain us in our frailty,
grant, we pray, that they may become for us now the Sacrament of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 106: 8-9
Let them thank the Lord for his mercy, his wonders for the children of men, for he satisfies the thirsty soul, and the hungry he fills with good things.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who have willed that we be partakers in the one Bread and the one Chalice, grant us, we pray, so to live that, made one in Christ, we may joyfully bear fruit for the salvation of the world. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus brought his disciples up to a high mountain; he was like Moses appearing again to the people. In his teachings, Jesus does not tell us what we could become but who we are. Take note, Jesus did not say, “you are like the salt of the earth.” No, he said, “you are the salt of the earth.” He is giving a big compliment to his listeners and disciples. It is an appropriate one, too, for fishers who salted fish. “You are the light of the world.” In the time of Christ, oil lamps were the electricity of their day. They need oil. No oil, no light. Jesus tells his listeners that the lamp of God’s love burns in this world only with the oil of our good lives. Light is a bi-product of good deeds.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Feb 3, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
samedi 04 FEVRIER
SAINTE Véronique
Son nom, en grec, vera icona, veut dire « l’icône authentique ». Les Saintes Écritures évoquent le souvenir de cette femme qui aurait bravé la foule hostile pour essuyer le visage du Christ pendant sa Passion, recueillant ainsi sur son linge la sainte Face. Plusieurs légendes sont à l’origine de ce récit.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 105, 47
Sauve-nous, Seigneur notre Dieu; rassemble tes enfants dispersés. Nous rendrons grâce à ton saint nom, nous te bénirons dans la joie.
Prière d’ouverture
Accorde-nous, Seigneur, de pouvoir t’adorer sans partage, et d’avoir pour tout homme une vraie charité. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Hb 13, 15-17. 20-21
Frères, en toute circonstance, offrons à Dieu, par Jésus, un sacrifice de louange, c’est-à-dire les paroles de nos lèvres qui proclament son nom. N’oubliez pas d’être généreux et de partager. C’est par de tels sacrifices que l’on plaît à Dieu. Faites confiance à ceux qui vous dirigent et soyez-leur soumis ; en effet, ils sont là pour veiller sur vos âmes, ce dont ils auront à rendre compte. Ainsi, ils accompliront leur tâche avec joie, sans avoir à se plaindre, ce qui ne vous serait d’aucun profit. Que le Dieu de la paix, lui qui a fait remonter d’entre les morts, grâce au sang de l’Alliance éternelle, le berger des brebis, le Pasteur par excellence, notre Seigneur Jésus, que ce Dieu vous forme en tout ce qui est bon pour accomplir sa volonté, qu’il réalise en nous ce qui est agréable à ses yeux, par Jésus Christ, à qui appartient la gloire pour les siècles des siècles. Amen.
Psaume : 22 (23), 1-2ab, 2c- 3, 4, 5, 6
R/ Le Seigneur est mon berger : rien ne saurait me manquer.
Le Seigneur est mon berger : je ne manque de rien. Sur des prés d’herbe fraîche, il me fait reposer.
Il me mène vers les eaux tranquilles et me fait revivre; il me conduit par le juste cheminpour l’honneur de son nom.
Si je traverse les ravins de la mort, je ne crains aucun mal, car tu es avec moi : ton bâton me guide et me rassure.
Tu prépares la table pour moi devant mes ennemis ; tu répands le parfum sur ma tête, ma coupe est débordante.
Grâce et bonheur m’accompagnent tous les jours de ma vie; j’habiterai la maison du Seigneurpour la durée de mes jours.
Acclamation
Alléluia, alléluia ! Mes brebis écoutent ma voix, dit le Seigneur; moi, je les connais, et elles me suivent. Alléluia. (Jn 10, 27)
Évangile : Marc 6, 30-34
En ce temps- là, les Apôtres se réunirent auprès de Jésus, et lui annoncèrent tout ce qu’ils avaient fait et enseigné Il leur dit: « Venez à l’écart dans un endroit désert, et reposez-vous un peu.» De fait, ceux qui arrivaient et ceux qui partaient étaient nombreux, et l’on n’avait même pas le temps de manger. Alors, ils partirent en barque pour un endroit désert, à l’écart. Les gens les virent s’éloigner, et beaucoup comprirent leur intention. Alors, à pied, de toutes les villes, ils coururent là-bas et arrivèrent avant eux. En débarquant, Jésus vit une grande foule. Il fut saisi de compassion envers eux, parce qu’ils étaient comme des brebis sans berger. Alors, il se mit à les enseigner longuement.
Prière sur les offrandes
Que ton Esprit, Seigneur notre Dieu, nous donne, dans cette eucharistie, la lumière de la foi qui éclairait l’Apôtre Paul quand il annonçait ta gloire aux nations païennes. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion :
« Je vis dans la foi au Fils de Dieu qui m’a aimé et qui s’est livré pour moi »
Prière après la communion
Que cette communion, Seigneur notre Dieu, entretienne en nous la charité qui brûlait au cœur de l’Apôtre Paul et lui donnait un souci passionné de toutes les Eglises. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Jésus Christ connaît la nécessité et la valeur du repos après d’intenses activités. Il amène ses disciples à l’écart, pour un repos bien mérité et corrige cet activisme qui empêche de contempler l’œuvre accomplie dans le repos et la prière. Gardons-nous en. Remarquons cependant que le repos de Jésus avec ses disciples ne l’a pas empêché de manifester sa sollicitude pastorale avec ceux-là qui les avaient précédés à leur lieu de retraite. Ainsi, la conscience de la lourde charge de berger responsable des autres doit amener, non pas à se plaindre de la pénibilité de la tâche, mais à faire un effort supplémentaire pour eux, par un souci pastoral, tel que celui du bon Berger pour ses brebis. Puissent l’amour des autres en nos cœurs, et le soutien de la grâce de Dieu, nous porter au don de nous-mêmes, au service des autres.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Feb 3, 2023 | Evangelium
SATURday 04 febRuary
SAINT GIBLBERT OF SEPRIGHAM
He was born at Sempringham, he founded an order of monks and nuns, known as the GIlbertines. He died at Sempringham in 1190, at the age of 106.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 105: 47
Save us, O Lord our God! And gather us from the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, and make it our glory to praise you.
Collect
Grant us, Lord our God, that we may honour you with all our mind, and love everyone in truth of heart. 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: Hebrews 13: 15-17, 20-21
Through Christ, let us offer God an unending sacrifice of praise, a verbal sacrifice that is offered every time we acknowledge his name. Keep doing good works and sharing your resources, for these are sacrifices that please God. Obey your leaders and do as they tell you, because they must give an account of the way they look after your souls; make this a joy for them to do, and not a grief – you yourselves would be the losers. I pray that the God of peace, who brought our Lord Jesus back from the dead to become the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood that sealed an eternal covenant, may make you ready to do his will in any kind of good action; and turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.
Psalm 22(23)
R/ The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose. Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit.
He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name. If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort.
You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life. In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn10: 27
Alleluia, alleluia! The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 6: 30-34
The apostles re-joined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, “You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while” for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.
Prayer over the Offerings
O Lord, we bring to your altar these offerings of our service: be pleased to receive them, we pray, and transform them into the Sacrament of our redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 30: 17-18
Let your face shine on your servant. Save me in your merciful love. O Lord, let me never be put to shame, for I call on you.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished by these redeeming gifts, we pray, O Lord, that through this help to eternal salvation true faith may ever increase. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Shepherding was one of the oldest callings in Israel, even before farming; the Chosen People travelled from place to place, living in tents and driving their flocks from one pasture to another. Looking after sheep was not an easy calling. It required great skill and courage. Herds were quite large, in thousands or even tens of thousands. Strayed sheep had to be found and brought back to the flock. Since hyenas, jackals, wolves, and even bears frequently attacked and fed on the sheep, shepherds had to fight these wild and dangerous beasts. A shepherd put his life at risk to defend his sheep. The harassed and dejected people who came to Jesus were a manifestation of how Church and political leaders had neglected their duty of sanctifying and administering to them; they could easily go astray or be devoured by those who proposed death traps in the guise of “better lives”. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, willing to lay down his life for his sheep (Mt 18:12, Lk 15:4, Jn 10). Listen keenly to his voice, and do not be afraid of following him.
