by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Dec 25, 2022 | Evangelium
Monday 26 th december 2022
St. Stephen,
the first Martyr
– Feast –
Stephen is the first martyr. He was one of the deacons appointed by the Apostles to organize the distribution of food to the poor. Angry Jews fabricated false charges against him and he was stoned to death. He prayed for his persecutors as he was dying. One of them, Saul of Tarsus, was later converted and became the great missionary, St Paul.
Entrance Antiphon
The gates of heaven were opened for blessed Stephen, who was found to be first among the number of the Martyrs, and therefore is crowned triumphant in heaven.
Collect
Grant, Lord, we pray, that we may imitate what we worship, and so learn to love even our enemies, for we celebrate the heavenly birthday of a man who knew how to pray even for his persecutors. 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 : Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. They were infuriated when they heard what he said, and ground their teeth at him. But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and said aloud, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and with these words he fell asleep. Saul entirely approved of the killing.
Psalm 31
R/ Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
- Be a rock of refuge for me, a mighty stronghold to save me, for you are my rock, my stronghold. For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me
2 Into your hands I commend my spirit. It is you who will redeem me, Lord. As for me, I trust in the Lord: let me be glad and rejoice in your love.
- My life is in your hands, deliver me from the hands of those who hate me. Let your face shine on your servant. Save me in your love.
Gospel Acclamation : Ps 117: 26. 27
Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; the Lord God is our light. Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 10:17-22
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May these offerings of our devotion today, be acceptable to you, we pray, O Lord, for they are prompted by the glorious commemoration of Saint Stephen the Martyr. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Acts 7: 58
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Prayer after Communion
For the many mercies which surround us we give thanks to you, O Lord, who save us through the Nativity of your Son and gladden us with the celebration of the blessed Martyr Stephen. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Yesterday we thanked God for granting us the dignity of being called his children through Jesus Christ; today God tells us that being his children implies facing persecution. The martyrdom of Stephen shows that as children of God, we do not belong to the world. The way of Christ goes contrary to the way of the world, and consequently the world hates his followers. When we stand up for justice and honesty, and promote peace and unity, we will encounter hostility and rejection. When these moments of trial come, let us not give up or be discouraged; rather, let us remember and hold on to the words of Jesus: “The man who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Dec 24, 2022 | Agenda Biblique
Dimanche 25 decembre 2022
Nativité du seigneur
Antienne d’ouverture : Is 9, 5
Un enfant nous est né, un fils nous a été donné ; L’insigne du pouvoir est sur son épaule ; on l’appelle Messager de Dieu.
Prière d’ouverture
Père, toi qui as merveilleusement créé l’homme et plus merveilleusement encore rétabli sa dignité, Fais-nous participer à la divinité de ton Fils, puisqu’il a voulu prendre notre humanité. Lui qui.
1ère lecture : Isaie 52, 7-10
Comme ils sont beaux sur les montagnes, les pas du messager, celui qui annonce la paix, qui porte la bonne nouvelle, qui annonce le salut, et vient dire à Sion : « Il règne, ton Dieu ! » Écoutez la voix des guetteurs : ils élèvent la voix, tous ensemble ils crient de joie car, de leurs propres yeux, ils voient le Seigneur qui revient à Sion. Éclatez en cris de joie, vous, ruines de Jérusalem, car le Seigneur console son peuple, il rachète Jérusalem ! Le Seigneur a montré la sainteté de son bras aux yeux de toutes les nations. Tous les lointains de la terre ont vu le salut de notre Dieu.
Psaume : 97, 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
R/ La terre entière a vu le Sauveur que Dieu nous donne.
- Autrefois, tu as parlé à tes amis, dans une vision tu leur as dit : « J’ai trouvé David, mon serviteur, je l’ai sacré avec mon huile sainte.
- « Il me dira : Tu es mon Père, mon Dieu, mon roc et mon salut ! Et moi, j’en ferai mon fils aîné, le plus grand des rois de la terre !
- « Sans fin je lui garderai mon amour, mon alliance avec lui sera fidèle ; je fonderai sa dynastie pour toujours, son trône aussi durable que les cieux.»
2ème lecture : He 1, 1-6
Souvent, dans le passé, Dieu a parlé à nos pères par les prophètes sous des formes fragmentaires et variées ; mais, dans les derniers temps, dans ces jours où nous sommes, il nous a parlé par ce Fils qu’il a établi héritier de toutes choses et par qui il a créé les mondes. Reflet resplendissant de la gloire du Père, expression parfaite de son être, ce Fils, qui porte toutes choses par sa parole puissante, après avoir accompli la purification des péchés, s’est assis à la droite de la Majesté divine au plus haut des cieux ; et il est placé bien au-dessus des anges, car il possède par héritage un nom bien plus grand que les leurs. En effet, Dieu n’ a jamais dit à un ange : « Tu es mon fils, aujourd’hui je t’ai engendré. » Ou bien encore : « je serai pour lui un père, il sera pour moi un fils.» Au contraire, au moment d’introduire le Premier-né dans le monde à venir, il dit : «Que tous les anges de Dieu se prosterne devant lui. »
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia Viens, Soleil levant, splendeur de justice et lumière éternelle! Illumine ceux qui habitent les ténèbres et l’ombre de la mort. Alléluia.
Évangile : Jn 1, 1-18
Au commencement était le Verbe, la Parole de Dieu, et le Verbe était auprès de Dieu, et le Verbe était Dieu. Il était au commencement auprès de Dieu. Par lui, tout s’est fait, et rien de ce qui s’est fait ne s’est fait sans lui. En lui était la vie, et la vie était la lumière des hommes ; la lumière brille dans les ténèbres, et les ténèbres ne l’ont pas arrêtée. Il y eut un homme envoyé par Dieu. Son nom était Jean. Il était venu comme témoin, pour rendre témoignage à la Lumière, afin que tous croient par lui. Cet homme n’était pas la Lumière, mais il était là pour lui rendre témoignage. Le Verbe était la vraie Lumière, qui éclaire tout homme en venant dans le monde. Il était dans le monde, lui par qui le monde s’était fait, mais le monde ne l’a pas reconnu. Il est venu chez les siens, et les siens ne l’ont pas reçu. Mais tous ceux qui l’ont reçu, ceux qui croient en son nom, il leur a donné de pouvoir devenir enfants de Dieu. Ils ne sont pas nés de la chair et du sang, ni d’une volonté charnelle, ni d’une volonté d’homme : ils sont nés de Dieu. Et le Verbe s’est fait chair, il a habité parmi nous, et nous avons vu sa gloire, la gloire qui tient de son Père comme Fils unique, plein de grâce et de vérité. Jean Baptiste lui rend témoignage en proclamant: « Voici celui dont j’ai dit : Lui qui vient derrière moi, il a pris place devant moi car avant moi il était. » Tous nous avons eu part à sa plénitude nous avons reçu grâce après grâce. Après avoir communiqué par Moïse, la grâce et la vérité sont venues par Jésus Christ. Dieu, personne ne l ’a jamais vu; le Fils unique, qui est dans le sein du Père, c’est lui qui a conduit à le connaître.
Prière sur les offrandes
Accepte, Seigneur, l’offrande que nous te présentons en ce jour de fête ; car elle est le sacrifice qui nous rétablit dans ton Alliance et fait monter vers toi la parfaite louange. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 97,3
Sur toute l’étendue de la terre on a vu le salut de notre Dieu.
Prière après la communion
Nous te prions, Dieu notre Père, puisque le Sauveur du monde, en naissant aujourd’hui nous a fait naître à la vie divine, qu’il nous donne aussi l’immortalité. Lui qui.
Méditation
Dieu est au milieu de nous. Dieu est désormais parmi nous. Quel grand bonheur de recevoir la visite de notre Créateur et Sauveur. Noël, est la manifestation de l’Emmanuel, c’est-à-dire, Dieu avec nous. Dieu qui se fait connaître à nous dans un enfant. Qui aurait pu imaginer une telle proximité de notre Créateur de ses créatures ? « Depuis le jour où Dieu reprend contact avec l’humanité en la personne d’Abraham, jusqu’à cette jeune fille de Nazareth appelée Marie, Dieu avec patience poursuit son œuvre, prépare la venue en notre chair de son Fils unique. La généalogie rapportée par saint Matthieu est la généalogie de la fidélité de Dieu. Tous ces personnages jalonnent l’histoire d’Israël. Ils sont porteurs de la Promesse. Les infidélités de plusieurs mettent en lumière la fidélité de Dieu. C’est d’un peuple de pécheurs que surgira le Sauveur. Car c’est bien l’homme pécheur qu’il vient sauver. Homme, il est de leur race, et c’est bien de l’intérieur de leur race qu’il veut les sauver, portant leur péché sans en être atteint : Car c’est lui qui sauvera son peuple de ses péchés (Mt1, 21) » (La Bible des peuples).
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Dec 24, 2022 | Evangelium
Sunday 25 th december 2022
Christmas Day
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Is 9: 5
A child is born for us, and a son is given to us; his sceptre of power rests upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Messenger of great counsel.
Collect
O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature and still more wonderfully restored it, grant, we pray, that we may share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful on the mountains, are the feet of one who brings good news, who heralds peace, brings happiness, proclaims salvation, and tells Zion, ‘Your God is king!’ Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices, they shout for joy together, for they see the Lord face to face, as he returns to Zion. Break into shouts of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord is consoling his people, redeeming Jerusalem. The Lord bares his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Psalm 97(98):1-6
R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
- 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.
Second reading : Hebrews 1:1-6
At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything and through whom he made everything there is. He is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature, sustaining the universe by his powerful command; and now that he has destroyed the defilement of sin, he has gone to take his place in heaven at the right hand of divine Majesty. So he is now as far above the angels as the title which he has inherited is higher than their own name. God has never said to any angel: You are my Son, today I have become your father, or: I will be a father to him and he a son to me. Again, when he brings the First-born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God worship him.
Gospel Acclamation : cf.Lk24:32
Alleluia, alleluia! A hallowed day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, worship the Lord, for today, a great light has shone down upon the earth. Alleluia!
Gospel : John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower. A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light. The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world. He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself. The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. John appears as his witness. He proclaims: ‘This is the one of whom I said: He who comes after me ranks before me because he existed before me.’ Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received- yes, grace in return for grace, since, though the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Prayer over the Offerings
Make acceptable, O Lord, our oblation on this solemn day, when you manifested the reconciliation that makes us wholly pleasing in your sight and inaugurated for us the fullness of divine worship. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 97: 3
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, O merciful God, that, just as the Saviour of the world, born this day, is the author of divine generation for us, so he may be the giver even of immortality. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Meditation
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. To all who accept him, he gives power to become children of God.” These words of John’s gospel contain the central message of Christmas: God became man so that we may become like God. Jesus took our humanity in order to restore the dignity we lost as a result of sin. The celebration of Christmas is the celebration of the restoration of our dignity as children of God. Thanks to the incarnation, you are no longer an ordinary creature; you are a child of God and an heir of God’s heavenly kingdom. Praise and glorify God, for he has exalted you and given you a share in his divine life; rejoice and be glad.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Dec 23, 2022 | Agenda Biblique
Samedi 24 decembre 2022
Ste Adèle
A la mort de son époux, elle se fit religieuse et fonda l’abbaye de Pfalzel dans le diocèse de Trèves. Elle en fut l’Abbesse réputée et respectée. Elle fut aussi la grand-mère de saint Grégoire d’Utrecht qui fut l’un des plus dynamiques disciples de saint Boniface.
Antienne d’ouverture Cf. Ga 4, 4
Voici venue la plénitude de temps: Dieu a envoyé son Fils sur la terre.
Prière d’ouverture
Seigneur Jésus, hâte-toi, ne tarde plus : que ta venue réconforte et relève ceux qui ont foi dans ton amour. Toi qui règnes.
1ère lecture : 2 Samuel 7, 1-5.8b- 12.14a.16
Le roi David habitait enfin dans sa maison. Le Seigneur lui avait accordé la tranquillité en le délivrant de tous les ennemis qui l’entouraient. Le roi dit alors au prophète Nathan : « Regarde! J’habite dans une maison de cèdre, et l’arche de Dieu habite sous un abri de toile ! » Nathan répondit au roi : « Tout ce que tu as l’intention de faire, fais- le, car le Seigneur est avec toi. » Mais, cette nuit- là, la parole du Seigneur fut adressée à Nathan : « Va dire à mon serviteur David : Ainsi parle le Seigneur: Est- ce toi qui me bâtiras une maison pour que j’y habite ? C’est moi qui t’ai pris au pâturage, derrière le troupeau, pour que tu sois le chef de mon peuple Israël. J’ai été avec toi partout où tu es allé, j’ai abattu devant toi tous tes ennemis. Je t’ai fait un nom aussi grand que celui des plus grands de la terre. Je fixerai en ce lieu mon peuple Israël, je l’y planterai, il s’y établira et ne tremblera plus, et les méchants ne viendront plus l’humilier, comme ils l’ont fait autrefois, depuis le jour où j’ai institué des juges pour conduire mon peuple Israël. Oui, je t’ai accordé la tranquillité en te délivrant de tous tes ennemis. Le Seigneur t’annonce qu’il te fera lui- même une maison. Quand tes jours seront accomplis et que tu reposeras auprès de tes pères, je te susciterai dans ta descendance un successeur, qui naîtra de toi, et je rendrai stable sa royauté. Moi, je serai pour lui un père ; et lui sera pour moi un fils. Ta maison et ta royauté subsisteront toujours devant moi, ton trône sera stable pour toujours. »
Psaume : 88 (89), 2-3, 4-5, 27.29
R/ Ton amour, Seigneur, sans fin je le chante ! cf. 88, 2a
- L’amour du Seigneur, sans fin je le chante ; ta fidélité, je l’annonce d’âge en âge. Je le dis : C’est un amour bâti pour toujours ; ta fidélité est plus stable que les cieux.
- « Avec mon élu, j’ai fait une alliance, j’ai juré à David, mon serviteur : j’établirai ta dynastie pour toujours, je te bâtis un trône pour la suite des âges.
- « Il me dira : “Tu es mon Père, mon Dieu, mon roc et mon salut !” Sans fin je lui garderai mon amour, mon alliance avec lui sera fidèle. »
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia Viens, Soleil levant, splendeur de justice et lumière éternelle! Illumine ceux qui habitent les ténèbres et l’ombre de la mort. Alléluia.
Évangile : Luc 1, 67-79
En ce temps- là, à la naissance de Jean Baptiste, Zacharie, son père, fut rempli d’Esprit Saint et prononça ces paroles prophétiques : « Béni soit le Seigneur, le Dieu d’Israël, qui visite et rachète son peuple. Il a fait surgir la force qui nous sauve dans la maison de David, son serviteur, comme il l’avait dit par la bouche des saints, par ses prophètes, depuis les temps anciens : salut qui nous arrache à l’ennemi, à la main de tous nos oppresseurs, amour qu’il montre envers nos pères, mémoire de son alliance sainte ; serment juré à notre père Abraham de nous rendre sans crainte,afin que, délivrés de la main des ennemis, nous le servions dans la justice et la sainteté, en sa présence, tout au long de nos jours. Toi aussi, petit enfant, tu seras appelé prophète du Très- Haut; tu marcheras devant, à la face du Seigneur, et tu prépareras ses chemins, pour donner à son peuple de connaître le salut par la rémission de ses péchés, grâce à la tendresse, à l’amour de notre Dieu, quand nous visite l’astre d’en haut, pour illuminer ceux qui habitent les ténèbres et l’ombre de la mort, pour conduire nos pas au chemin de la paix. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Dans ta bonté, Seigneur, accepte ces dons, pour qu’ils deviennent la nourriture qui nous libère de nos péchés et prépare nos cœurs a la venue glorieuse de ton Fils. Lui qui
Antienne de la communion : Lc 1, 68
Béni soit le Seigneur Dieu d’Israël : il visite et rachète son peuple.
Prière après la communion
Tu nous as renouvelés, Seigneur par cette communion, et nous te supplions encore : Alors que nous célébrons déjà l’adorable naissance de ton Fils, donne-nous d’accueillir dans la joie le présent de ton Royaume. Lui qui
Méditation
Zacharie le père de Jean Baptiste entrevoit l’accomplissement de la promesse faite à David à la naissance de son fils. Il le salue en ces termes : « Il a fait surgir la force qui nous sauve dans la maison de David son serviteur. Comme il avait promis par la bouche des saints, par ses prophètes depuis les temps anciens ». Son benedictus est un cantique d’action de grâce comme celui de la Vierge Marie (Lc 1, 46-56) et celui Anne, mère de Samuel (1 Sam 2, 1-11). Il voit en son fils, l’accomplissement de l’annonce prophétique de Malachie du retour d’Elie : « Et toi, petit enfant, tu seras appelé prophète du Très-Haut, toi qui passeras en avant du Seigneur pour préparer ses chemins, pour dire à son peuple ce que sera le salut : ils recevront le pardon de leurs péchés, fruit de la miséricorde de notre Dieu ». Zacharie est passé des profondeurs du doute et du mutisme au sommet de la foi et de la contemplation. Il évalue l’intervention de Dieu dans l’histoire de son peuple et par ricochet dans sa propre vie. En cette veille de la nativité du Messie Sauveur, dans la simplicité et la pauvreté, comme Zacharie, rendons-nous assez humbles et pauvres de cœur pour reconnaître et accueillir le Messie dans nos cœurs.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Dec 23, 2022 | Evangelium
Saturday 24 th december 2022
St. Adele
St. Adele was a widow. A daughter of King Dagobert II of Germany, St. Adele became a nun upon the death of her husband. After a devout life filled with good works and communion with God, she passed on to her heavenly reward in 730.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Gal 4: 4
Behold, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son into the world.
Collect
Come quickly, we pray, Lord Jesus, and do not delay, that those who trust in your compassion may find solace and relief in your coming. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First Reading : 2 Samuel 7:1-5. 8-12.14.16
Once David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go and do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.’ But that very night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be a leader of my people Israel; I have been with you on all your expeditions I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did, in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House. And when your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. I will be a father to him and he a son to me. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever”.
Psalm 88(89):2-5,27,29
R/ I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
- I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.
- ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant; I will establish your dynasty for ever and set up your throne through all ages.’
- He will say to me: ‘You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me.’ I will keep my love for him always; for him my covenant shall endure.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Morning star, Radiance of eternal light, Sun of justice, come and enlighten those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 1:67-79
John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited his people, he has come to their rescue and he has raised up for us a power for salvation in the House of his servant David, even as he proclaimed, by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times, that he would save us from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us. Thus he shows mercy to our ancestors, thus he remembers his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham that he would grant us, free from fear, to be delivered from the hands of our enemies, to serve him in holiness and virtue in his presence, all our days. And you, little child, you shall be called Prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for him. To give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins; this by the tender mercy of our God who from on high will bring the rising Sun to visit us, to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Graciously make your own, O Lord, the offerings which we bring, that, partaking of them, we be cleansed of our sins and merit to stand ready with pure hearts for the coming in glory of your Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Communion Antiphon : Lk 1: 68
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them.
Prayer after Communion
Grant to us who find new vigour, O Lord, in these your wondrous gifts, that, as we prepare to celebrate in adoration the festivities of your Son’s Nativity, so we may possess in gladness his everlasting rewards. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Meditation
Through the prophet Nathan, God promised David that his descendants would always reign over Israel. In the Gospel, Zechariah announces that in keeping with this promise, God has raised up a descendant of David to save the Israelites from their enemies and make them a holy people who will serve God. This Saviour is Jesus Christ, whose birth we will celebrate tomorrow. We are the new Israel, and Jesus has come to free us from our enemy, Satan, who leads us into sin, and to teach us how to serve God all the days of our lives. Let us accept Jesus in our lives and allow him to make us children of God, who love and serve him alone.
