by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Jan 23, 2023 | Evangelium
TUESDAY 24 January
SAINT FranCis de Sales
St Francis is the patron saint of writers and journalists, who would do well to imitate his love and his moderation: as he said, “whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love.”
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Sir 15: 5
In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory.
Collect
O God, who for the salvation of souls willed that the Bishop Saint Francis de Sales become all things to all, graciously grant that, following his example, we may always display the gentleness of your charity in the service of our neighbour. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Hebrews 10:1-10
Since the Law has no more than a reflection of these realities, and no finished picture of them, it is quite incapable of bringing the worshippers to perfection, with the same sacrifices repeatedly offered year after year. Otherwise, the offering of them would have stopped, because the worshippers, when they had been purified once, would have no awareness of sins. Instead of that, the sins are recalled year after year in the sacrifices. Bulls’ blood and goats’ blood are useless for taking away sins, and this is what he said, on coming into the world: You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation, prepared a body for me. You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin; then I said, just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book, ‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.’ Notice that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.
Psalm 39(40): 2, 4, 7-8, 10, 11
R/ Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.
I waited, I waited for the Lord and he stooped down to me; he heard my cry. He put a new song into my mouth, praise of our God.
You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and victim. Instead, here am I.
Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly. My lips I have not sealed; you know it, O Lord.
I have not hidden your justice in my heart but declared your faithful help. I have not hidden your love and your truth from the great assembly.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps 118: 135
Alleluia, alleluia! Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your decrees. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 3: 31-35
The mother and brothers of Jesus arrived and, standing outside, sent in a message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, “Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you.” He replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Through this saving sacrifice which we offer you, O Lord, kindle in our hearts that divine fire of the Holy Spirit with which you wonderfully inflamed the most gentle soul of Saint Francis de Sales. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Lk 12: 42
Behold a faithful and prudent steward to give them their allowance of food at the proper time.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that through the Sacrament we have received, we may imitate on earth the charity and meekness of Saint Francis de Sales and so attain like him the glory of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Today’s Gospel speaks to us of the condition of our belonging as brothers and sisters of Christ. If it is true that through Baptism, we become children of God, then Jesus tells us that it is by doing the Father’s will that we remain his brothers and sisters. Jesus reveals to us everything about the Father, what we must do to remain united without prejudice or discrimination, so that we can be called “brothers and sisters in Christ”. How can we recognise this will of the Father? By listening to him through the Holy Scriptures and prayer. We know that we are truly doing his will when we obey what he commands us, even without fully understanding. “Teach me, Lord, to do your will” (Ps 143:10).
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Jan 23, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
MARDI 24 JANVIER
SAINT FranÇois de Sales
évêque et Docteur de l’Église,
Ordonné prêtre, il est prédicateur du Chabbais, et ramène cette région à la foi catholique. Son zèle apostolique lui valut d’être choisi comme évêque de Genève. Il fonda, avec Sainte Jeanne de Chantal, l’Ordre de la Visitation. Directeur spirituel d’une douceur exigeante ; il rappela aux laïcs chrétiens qu’ils ont tous la vocation à la perfection évangélique. Sa parole captivait ses auditoires, et ses écrits, première grande œuvre de théologie catholique en langue française, le firent proclamer docteur de l’Eglise par Pie XI. Il est le patron des écrivains et de la presse catholique.
Antienne d’ouverture : Jr 3, 15
Ainsi parle le Seigneur Dieu : « Je vous donnerai des pasteurs selon mon cœur ; ils vous conduiront avec sagesse et ntelligence. »
Prière d’ouverture
Pour le salut des âmes, Seigneur, tu as voulu que l’évêque saint François de Sales devienne le serviteur de tous en toutes choses ; fais que, soutenus par son exemple, nous donnions une preuve de ta douce charité en nous dévouant pour nos frères. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : He 10, 1-10
Frères, la loi de Moïse ne présente que l’ébauche des biens à venir, et non pas l’expression même des réalités. Elle n’est donc jamais capable, par ses sacrifices qui sont toujours les mêmes, offerts indéfiniment chaque année, de mener à la perfection ceux qui viennent y prendre part. Si ce culte les avait purifiés une fois pour toutes, ils n’auraient plus aucun péché sur la conscience et, dans ce cas, n’aurait-on pas cessé d’offrir les sacrifices ? Mais ceux-ci, au contraire, comportent chaque année un rappel des péchés. Il est impossible, en effet, que du sang de taureaux et de boucs enlève les péchés. Aussi, en entrant dans le monde, le Christ dit : Tu n’as voulu ni sacrifice ni offrande, mais tu m’as formé un corps. Tu n’as pas agréé les holocaustes ni les sacrifices pour le péché ; alors, j’ai dit: Me voici, je suis venu, mon Dieu, pour faire ta volonté, ainsi qu’il est écrit de moi dans le Livre. Le Christ commence donc par dire : Tu n’as pas voulu ni agréé les sacrifices et les offrandes, les holocaustes et les sacrifices pour le péché, ceux que la Loi prescrit d’offrir. Puis il déclare: Me voici, je suis venu pour faire ta volonté. Ainsi, il supprime le premier état de choses pour établir le second. Et c’est grâce à cette volonté que nous sommes sanctifiés, par l’offrande que Jésus Christ a faite de son corps, une fois pour toutes.
Psaume : 39 (40), 2abc.4ab, 7-8a, 10, 11
R/ Me voici, Seigneur, je viens faire ta volonté.
D’un grand espoir, j’espérais le Seigneur : il s’est penché vers moi. Dans ma bouche il a mis un chant nouveau, une louange à notre Dieu.
Tu ne voulais ni offrande ni sacrifice, tu as ouvert mes oreilles ; tu ne demandais ni holocauste ni victime, alors j’ai dit : « Voici, je viens. »
J’annonce la justice dans la grande assemblée ; vois, je ne retiens pas mes lèvres, Seigneur, tu le sais.
Je n’ai pas enfoui ta justice au fond de mon cœur, je n’ai pas caché ta fidélité, ton salut ; j’ai dit ton amour et ta vérité à la grande assemblée.
Acclamation
Alléluia, alléluia ! Tu es béni, Père, Seigneur du ciel et de la terre, tu as révélé aux tout-petits les mystères du Royaume. Alléluia. (2 cf. Mt 11, 25)
Évangile : Marc 3,31-35
En ce temps-là, arrivent sa mère et ses frères. Restant au-dehors, ils le font appeler. Une foule était assise autour de lui ; et on lui dit: « Voici que ta mère et tes frères sont là dehors : ils te cherchent. » Mais il leur répond : « Qui est ma mère ? Qui sont mes frères ? » Et parcourant du regard ceux qui étaient assis en cercle autour de lui, il dit : « Voici ma mère et mes frères. Celui qui fait la volonté de Dieu, celui-là est pour moi un frère, une sœur, une mère. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Grâce au sacrifice que nous t’offrons, Seigneur, allume en nous le feu de l’Esprit qui brûlait d’amour le cœur de saint François. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Jn 13, 35
« Ce qui montrera à tous les hommes que vous êtes mes disciples, dit le Seigneur, c’est l’amour que vous aurez les uns pour les autres. »
Prière après la communion
Accorde-nous par cette communion, Dieu tout-puissant, d’imiter la douceur et la charité de saint François, pour obtenir avec lui la gloire du ciel. Par Jésus.
Méditation
L’Évangile de ce jour nous parle de la condition de notre appartenance comme frères et sœurs du Christ. S’il est vrai que par le Baptême nous devenons enfants de Dieu, c’est bien en faisant la volonté du Père, nous dit Jésus, que nous demeurons ses frères et sœurs. Jésus nous révèle tout du Père, ce qu’il faut faire pour que nous restions unis sans préjudice ni discrimination, pour pouvoir être appelés mutuellement « frères et sœurs dans le Christ ». Comment reconnaître cette volonté du Père ? C’est en l’écoutant à travers les Saintes Ecritures et la prière. Nous saurons que nous faisons vraiment sa volonté quand nous obéirons à ce qu’il nous commande, même sans pleinement comprendre. « Enseignes moi Seigneur à faire ta volonté » (Ps 143 :10)
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Jan 22, 2023 | Evangelium
MONDAY 23 January
SAINT ILDEPHONSUS
St. Ildephonsus is highly regarded in Spain and closely associated with devotion to the Blessed Virgin which he fostered by his famous work concerning her perpetual virginity.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 95: 1, 6
O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works. 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 9: 15, 24-28
Christ brings a new covenant, as the mediator, only so that the people who were called to an eternal inheritance may actually receive what was promised: his death took place to cancel the sins that infringed the earlier covenant. It is not as though Christ had entered a man-made sanctuary which was only modelled on the real one; but it was heaven itself, so that he could appear in the actual presence of God on our behalf. And he does not have to offer himself again and again, like the high priest going into the sanctuary year after year with the blood that is not his own, or else he would have had to suffer over and over again since the world began. Instead of that, he has made his appearance once and for all, now at the end of the last age, to do away with sin by sacrificing himself. Since men only die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ, too, offers himself only once to take the faults of many on himself, and when he appears a second time, it will not be to deal with sin but to reward with salvation those who are waiting for him.
Psalm 97(98): 1-6
R/ Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders.
Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation; has shown his justice to the nations. He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth, ring out your joy.
Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp with the sound of music. With trumpets and the sound of the horn acclaim the King, the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps 24: 4, 5
Alleluia, alleluia! Teach me your paths, my God, make me walk in your truth. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 3: 22-30
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “Beelzebul is in him” and, “It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.” So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house. I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.” This was because they were saying, “An unclean spirit is in him.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept our offerings, O Lord, we pray, and in sanctifying them grant that they may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 33: 6
Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, receiving the grace by which you bring us to new life, we may always glory in your gift. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
One characteristic of the evil one, which he tries to bequeath on us, is always to devalue the good deeds of others. The Scribes allowed themselves to be overcome by this hardness of heart and spiritual short-sightedness, preventing them from seeing the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus who expels demons, forgives sins and heals the sick. Through the works of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is revealed to us as Saviour. To attribute the works of the Holy Spirit to the powers of darkness is to be an accomplice of evil and to refuse to be saved by Jesus. This blasphemy separates us from eternal grace and establishes us in eternal sin. Today offers us an opportunity to review the sins in our lives that we fear, implore for God’s mercy.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Jan 22, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
LUNDI 23 JANVIER
Saint Barnard
Originaire de la région de Lyon, il se marie et vit à la cour de l’empereur Charlemagne. En accord avec sa femme, après sept ans de vie commune il se consacre à Dieu au monastère d’Ambronay-01500, en Bresse. Il est nommé archevêque de Vienne sur le Rhône, en 810. En 837, il fonde l’abbaye de Romans où il mourut.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 95, 1-6
Chantez au Seigneur un chant nouveau, chantez au Seigneur, terre entière : La splendeur et l’éclat, la puissance et la beauté brillent dans son Temple saint !
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, dirige notre vie selon ton amour, Afin qu’au nom de ton Fils bien-aimé, nous portions des fruits en abondance. Par Jésus.
1 lecture : He 9, 15.24-28
Frères, le Christ est le médiateur d’une alliance nouvelle, d’un testament nouveau : puisque sa mort a permis le rachat des transgressions commises sous le premier Testament, ceux qui sont appelés peuvent recevoir l’héritage éternel jadis promis. Car le Christ n’est pas entré dans un sanctuaire fait de main d’homme, figure du sanctuaire véritable ; il est entré dans le ciel même, afin de se tenir maintenant pour nous devant la face de Dieu. Il n’a pas à s’offrir lui-même plusieurs fois, comme le grand prêtre qui, tous les ans, entrait dans le sanctuaire en offrant un sang qui n’était pas le sien ; car alors, le Christ aurait dû plusieurs fois souffrir la Passion depuis la fondation du monde. Mais en fait, c’est une fois pour toutes, à la fin des temps, qu’il s’est manifesté pour détruire le péché par son sacrifice. Et, comme le sort des hommes est de mourir une seule fois et puis d’être jugés, ainsi le Christ s’est- il offert une seule fois pour enlever les péchés de la multitude ; il apparaîtra une seconde fois, non plus à cause du péché, mais pour le salut de ceux qui l’attendent.
Psaume : 97 (98), 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
R/ Chantez au Seigneur un chant nouveau, car il a fait des merveilles.
Chantez au Seigneur un chant nouveau, car il a fait des merveilles; par son bras très saint, par sa main puissante, il s’est assuré la victoire.
Le Seigneur a fait connaître sa victoire et révélé sa justice aux nations ; il s’est rappelé sa fidélité, son amour, en faveur de la maison d’Israël.
La terre tout entière a vu la victoire de notre Dieu. Acclamez le Seigneur, terre entière, sonnez, chantez, jouez!
Jouez pour le Seigneur sur la cithare, sur la cithare et tous les instruments ; au son de la trompette et du cor, acclamez votre roi, le Seigneur !
Acclamation
Alléluia, alléluia ! Notre Sauveur, le Christ Jésus, a détruit la mort ; il a fait resplendir la vie par l’Évangile Alléluia. (2 Tm 1, 10)
Évangile : Mc 3, 22-30
En ce temps-là, les scribes, qui étaient descendus de Jérusalem, disaient : « Ce Jésus est possédé par Béelzéboul ; c’est par le chef des démons qu’il expulse les démons. » Les appelant près de lui, Jésus leur dit en parabole : « Comment Satan peut-il expulser Satan ? Si un royaume est divisé contre lui-même, ce royaume ne peut pas tenir. Si les gens d’une même maison se divisent entre eux, ces gens ne pourront pas tenir. Si Satan s’est dressé contre lui-même, s’il est divisé, il ne peut pas tenir ; c’en est fini de lui. Mais personne ne peut entrer dans la maison d’un homme fort et piller ses biens, s’il ne l’a d’abord ligoté. Alors seulement il pillera sa maison. Amen, je vous le dis : Tout sera pardonné aux enfants des hommes : leurs péchés et les blasphèmes qu’ils auront proférés. Mais si quelqu’un blasphème contre l’Esprit Saint, il n’aura jamais de pardon. Il est coupable d’un péché pour toujours. » Jésus parla ainsi parce qu’ils avaient dit : « Il est possédé par un esprit impur. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Dans ta bonté, Seigneur, accepte notre offrande: Qu’elle soit sanctifiée et serve ainsi à notre salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ps 33, 6
Ensemble, approchez du Seigneur: resplendissez de sa lumière et sur votre visage il n’y aura plus d’ombre.
Prière après la communion
Permets, nous t’en prions, Dieu tout-puissant, qu’ayant reçu de toi la grâce d’une nouvelle vie, nous puissions nous en émerveiller toujours. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Une des caractéristiques du malin à laquelle il veut nous entraîner c’est de toujours dévaloriser les bonnes actions des autres. Les Scribes se sont laissés envahir par cette dureté de cœur et cette myopie spirituelle leur empêchant alors de voir l’œuvre de l’Esprit Saint à travers Jésus qui expulse les démons, pardonne les péchés et guérit les malades. C’est par les œuvres de l’Esprit Saint que Jésus nous est révélé comme Sauveur. Or, attribuer les œuvres de l’Esprit Saint aux puissances des ténèbres c’est être complice du mal et refuser d’être sauvé par Jésus. Ce blasphème nous sépare de la Grâce éternelle et nous établit dans le péché éternel. C’est ici l’occasion pour nous de revoir dans nos vies les péchés que nous redoutons le pardon et implorons la miséricorde de Dieu.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Jan 21, 2023 | Evangelium
SUNDAY 22 January
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday of the Word of God
Psalter iii
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 95: 1, 6
O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works. 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 8:23-9:3
In days past the Lord humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in days to come he will confer glory on the Way of the Sea on the far side of Jordan, province of the nations.
The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone. You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time, as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils. For the yoke that was weighing on him, the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor – these you break as on the day of Midian.
Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14
R/ The Lord is my light and my help.
The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?
There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long, to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to savour the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple.
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17
I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing among yourselves, to be united again in your belief and practice. From what Chloe’s people have been telling me, my dear brothers, it is clear that there are serious differences among you. What I mean are all these slogans that you have, like: “I am for Paul”, “I am for Apollos”, “I am for Cephas”, “I am for Christ.” Has Christ been parcelled out? Was it Paul that was crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul? For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed.
Gospel Acclamation: cf. Mt 4:23
Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom and cured all kinds of sickness among the people. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23
Hearing that John had been arrested, Jesus went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations! The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned. From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” And they left their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him. He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept our offerings, O Lord, we pray, and in sanctifying them grant that they may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 33: 6
Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, receiving the grace by which you bring us to new life, we may always glory in your gift. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The arrest of John the Baptist is a transition that coincides with the choice of the first disciples of Jesus. It is also a continuity in the proclamation of the message of conversion when Jesus, in turn, proclaims: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” This is the background on which Jesus calls his first disciples, two brothers and fishermen, Simon and Andrew, by the Sea of Galilee. He chooses them to become “fishers of men”, meaning those who are responsible for gathering people from all over the world into Christ. Paul confirms this unifying mission by exhorting us to greater unity, to perfect harmony of thought and feeling. Thus, through the preaching of our Lord and his Apostles, we who were then in the darkness of division can bear witness to the presence of the Kingdom of heaven.
