by L'équipe de publication | Oct 9, 2023 | Evangelium
SAINT Daniel Comboni
Daniel Comboni was born in Italy in 1831. He felt the call to evangelize the peoples of Central Africa. He set off to Africa and established several missions. Faithful to his motto “Africa or death” and his plan for the salvation of Africa, he lived and worked for the success of the mission until he died in Khartoum (Sudan) on 10 October 1881, at the age of fifty.
Entrance Antiphon: Est 4: 17
Within your will, O Lord, all things are established, and there is none that can resist your will. For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth, and all that is held within the circle of heaven; you are the Lord of all.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Jonah 3:1-10
The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: “Up!” he said “Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.” Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, “Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.” And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. A proclamation was then promulgated throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his ministers, as follows: “Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?” God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.
Psalm 129(130):1-4,7-8
R/ If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt: Lord, who would survive?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice! O let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading.
If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive? But with you is found forgiveness: for this we revere you.
Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption, Israel indeed he will redeem from all its iniquity. If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt: Lord, who would survive?
Gospel Acclamation : Jn 15: 15
Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 10:38-42
Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered: “Martha, Martha,” he said, “you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, we pray, the sacrifices instituted by your commands and, through the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate with dutiful service, graciously complete the sanctifying work by which you are pleased to redeem us. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Lam 3: 25
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the soul that seeks him.
Prayer after Communion
Grant us, almighty God, that we may be refreshed and nourished by the Sacrament which we have received, so as to be transformed into what we consume. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
We know the story; it has given rise to many interpretations over the centuries and each one is worth pondering. Is prayer better than action? No. Contemplative life versus active life? No. Is sitting down better than serving guests? Again, no! Jesus’ gentle reproach to Martha is about hoarding, seeking for notice. What she is doing is necessary and good, but it takes up too much of her being, making her unavailable to listen to the Word. Worry and restlessness become her masters to the point of altering her judgement and taking Jesus as judge and witness for herself. Of course, it is good to serve, but to remain free for the only Master. We are busy. Let us remain free to take the time to love and listen!
by L'équipe de publication | Oct 8, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
SAINT DENIS, Evêque,
et ses compagnons, Martyrs
SAINT JEAN LEONARDI
A ne pas confondre avec Denis que convertit saint Paul, ni avec celui qui écrivit, au 5e siècle, des œuvres mystiques longtemps attribuées à Denis l’Aréopagite. Vers 258, Denis, premier évêque de Lutèce, le futur Paris, mourut, avec le prêtre Eleuthère et le diacre Rustique sur la colline de Montmartre (mont des martyrs). La basilique où furent ensevelis les rois de France fut bâtie sur le tombeau de celui qui apporta à Paris la lumière de l’Evangile.
Antienne d’ouverture : Est 13,
Tout dépend de ta volonté, Seigneur, et rien ne peut lui résister: C’est toi qui as fait le ciel et la terre et les merveilles qu’ils contiennent. Tu es le Maître de l’univers.
Prière d’ouverture
Dans ton amour inépuisable, Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, tu combles ceux qui t’implorent, bien au-delà de leurs mérites et de leurs désirs. Répands sur nous ta miséricorde en délivrant notre conscience de ce qui l’inquiète et en donnant plus que nous n’osons demander. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Jonas 1, 1 – 2, 1.11
La parole du Seigneur fut adressée à Jonas, fils d’Amittaï : « Lève-toi, va à Ninive, la grande ville païenne, et proclame que sa méchanceté est montée jusqu’à moi.» Jonas se leva, mais pour s’enfuir à Tarsis, loin de la face du Seigneur. Descendu à Jaffa, il trouva un navire en partance pour Tarsis. Il paya son passage et s’embarqua pour s’y rendre, loin de la face du Seigneur. Mais le Seigneur lança sur la mer un vent violent, et il s’éleva une grande tempête, au point que le navire menaçait de se briser. Les matelots prirent peur ; ils crièrent chacun vers son dieu et, pour s’alléger, lancèrent la cargaison à la mer. Or, Jonas était descendu dans la cale du navire, il s’était couché et dormait d’un sommeil mystérieux. Le capitaine alla le trouver et lui dit : «Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? Tu dors? Lève-tôt ! Invoque ton dieu. Peut-être que ce dieu s’occupera de nous pour nous empêcher de périr. » Et les matelots se disaient entre eux: «Tirons au sort pour savoir à qui nous devons ce malheur. »Ils tirèrent au sort, et le sort tomba sur Jonas. Ils lui demandèrent: « Dis-nous donc d’où nous vient ce malheur. Quel est ton métier ? D’où viens-tu ? Quel est ton pays ? De quel peuple es-tu ? » Jonas leur répondit : « Je suis hébreu, moi, je crains le Seigneur, le Dieu du ciel, qui a fait la mer et la terre ferme. » Les matelots furent saisis d’une grande peur et lui dirent : « Qu’est-ce que tu as fait là ? »Car ces hommes savaient, d’après ce qu’il leur avait dit, qu’il fuyait la face du Seigneur. Ils lui demandèrent: « Qu’est-ce que nous devons faire de toi, pour que la mer se calme autour de nous?» Car la mer était de plus en plus furieuse. Il leur répondit: « Prenez-moi, jetez-moi à la mer, pour que la mer se calme autour de vous. Car, je le reconnais, c’est à cause de moi que cette grande tempête vous assaille. » Les matelots ramèrent pour regagner la terre, mais sans y parvenir, car la mer était de plus en plus furieuse autour d’eux. Ils invoquèrent alors le Seigneur : «Ah ! Seigneur, ne nous fais pas mourir à cause de cet homme, et ne nous rends pas responsables de la mort d’un innocent, car toi, tu es le Seigneur: ce que tu as voulu, tu l’as fait.» Puis ils prirent Jonas et le jetèrent à la mer. Alors la fureur de la mer tomba. Les hommes furent saisis par la crainte du Seigneur ; ils lui offrirent un sacrifice accompagné de vœux. Le Seigneur donna l’ordre à un grand poisson d’engloutir Jonas. Jonas demeura dans les entrailles du poisson trois jours et trois nuits. Alors le Seigneur parla au poisson, et celui-ci rejeta Jonas sur la terre ferme.
Cantique : Jonas 2, 3, 4, 5, 8
R/ Tu retires ma vie de la fosse, Seigneur mon Dieu.
Dans ma détresse, je crie vers le Seigneur, et lui me répond ; du ventre des enfers j’appelle : tu écoutes ma voix.
Tu m’as jeté au plus profond du cœur des mers, et le flot m’a cerné ; tes ondes et tes vagues ensemble ont passé sur moi.
Et je dis : me voici rejeté de devant tes yeux ; pourrai-je revoir encore ton temple saint ?
Quand mon âme en moi défaillait, je me souvins du Seigneur ; et ma prière parvint jusqu’à toi dans ton temple saint.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Je vous donne un commandement nouveau, dit le Seigneur: « Aimez-vous les uns les autres, comme je vous ai aimés. » Alléluia. (cf. Jn 13, 34)
Évangile : Luc 10, 25-37
En ce temps-là, voici qu’un docteur de la Loi se leva et mit Jésus à l’épreuve en disant: « Maître, que dois-je faire pour avoir en héritage la vie éternelle?» Jésus lui demanda : « Dans la Loi, qu’y a-t-il d’écrit? Et comment lis-tu ? » L’autre répondit : «Tu aimeras le Seigneur ton Dieu de tout ton cœur, de toute ton âme, de toute ta force et de toute ton intelligence, et ton prochain comme toi-même. Jésus lui dit: « Tu as répondu correctement. Fais ainsi et tu vivras.» Mais lui, voulant se justifier, dit à Jésus : « Et qui est mon prochain?» Jésus reprit la parole : « Un homme descendait de Jérusalem à Jéricho, et il tomba sur des bandits ; ceux-ci, après l’avoir dépouillé et roué de coups, s’en allèrent, le laissant à moitié mort. Par hasard, un prêtre descendait par ce chemin ; il le vit et passa de l’autre côté. De même un lévite arriva à cet endroit ; il le vit et passa de l’autre côté. Mais un Samaritain, qui était en route, arriva près de lui ; il le vit et fut saisi de compassion. Il s’approcha, et pansa ses blessures en y versant de l’huile et du vin; puis il le chargea sur sa propre monture, le conduisit dans une auberge et prit soin de lui. Le lendemain, il sortit deux pièces d’argent, et les donna à l’aubergiste, en lui disant : “Prends soin de lui; tout ce que tu auras dépensé en plus, je te le rendrai quand je repasserai.” Lequel des trois, à ton avis, a été le prochain de l’homme tombé aux mains des bandits ? » Le docteur de la Loi répondit: « Celui qui a fait preuve de pitié envers lui. » Jésus lui dit : « Va, et toi aussi, fais de même. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Accepte, Seigneur, le sacrifice que tu nous as donné. Dans les mystères que nous célébrons pour te rendre grâce, sanctifie les hommes que tu as sauvés par ton Fils. Lui qui.
Antienne de communion : Lm 3, 25
Le Seigneur est bon pour ceux qui se tournent vers lui, pour ceux qui le recherchent.
Prière après la communion
Accorde-nous, Seigneur notre Dieu, de trouver dans cette communion notre force et notre joie, afin que nous puissions devenir ce que nous avons reçu : le corps du Christ. Lui qui.
Méditation
« Maître, que dois-je faire pour avoir part à la vie éternelle ? » La question est celle de la vie, la réponse celle de l’amour : « Tu aimeras le Seigneur ton Dieu de tout ton cœur… et ton prochain comme toi-même. » La vie et l’amour sont intimement liés. L’amour est plus qu’un commandement : il est source de vie pour celui qui aime et est aimé, il transforme la vie de l’un comme de l’autre. L’amour peut certes se traduire par des sentiments, si beaux et nobles soient-ils. Mais l’amour vrai implique les actes et pratiques. « Fais ainsi et tu auras la vie. » Le bon Samaritain a sauvé la vie de l’homme et sa propre vie s’en est trouvée transformée. L’amour du prochain n’est pas une option facultative ; il ne fait qu’un avec le commandement de l’amour de Dieu : « Celui qui n’aime pas son frère qu’il voit, ne peut aimer Dieu qu’il ne voit pas. » Si nous voulons avoir part à la Vie éternelle, il nous faut apprendre à nous arrêter au bord de la route et à devenir les « prochains » des uns pour les autres.
by L'équipe de publication | Oct 8, 2023 | Evangelium
Blessed John Henry Newman
Born in London in 1801, he was for over twenty years an Anglican clergyman. His studies of the early Church led him progressively towards Catholicism, and in 1845 he embraced “the one true fold of the Redeemer”. He was a prolific and influential writer on a variety of subjects. In 1879 he was created Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII. He died in Birmingham on 11 August 1890.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Est 4: 17
Within your will, O Lord, all things are established, and there is none that can resist your will. For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth, and all that is held within the circle of heaven; you are the Lord of all.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Jonah 1:1-2:1,11
The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah son of Amittai: “Up!” he said. “Go to Nineveh, the great city, and inform them that their wickedness has become known to me.” Jonah decided to run away from the Lord, and to go to Tarshish. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish; he paid his fare and went aboard, to go with them to Tarshish, to get away from the Lord. But the Lord unleashed a violent wind on the sea, and there was such a great storm at sea that the ship threatened to break up. The sailors took fright, and each of them called on his own god, and to lighten the ship they threw the cargo overboard. Jonah, however, had gone below and lain down in the hold and fallen fast asleep. The boatswain came upon him and said, “What do you mean by sleeping? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps he will spare us a thought, and not leave us to die.” Then they said to each other, “Come on, let us draw lots to find out who is responsible for bringing this evil on us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell to Jonah. Then they said to him, “Tell us, what is your business? Where do you come from? What is your country? What is your nationality?” He replied, “I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” The sailors were seized with terror at this and said, “What have you done?” They knew that he was trying to escape from the Lord, because he had told them so. They then said, “What are we to do with you, to make the sea grow calm for us?” For the sea was growing rougher and rougher. He replied, “Take me and throw me into the sea, and then it will grow calm for you. For I can see it is my fault this violent storm has happened to you.” The sailors rowed hard in an effort to reach the shore, but in vain, since the sea grew still rougher for them. They then called on the Lord and said, “O Lord, do not let us perish for taking this man’s life; do not hold us guilty of innocent blood; for you, the Lord, have acted as you have thought right.” And taking hold of Jonah they threw him into the sea; and the sea grew calm again. At this the men were seized with dread of the Lord; they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. The Lord had arranged that a great fish should be there to swallow Jonah; and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. The Lord spoke to the fish, which then vomited Jonah on to the shore.
Canticle: Jonah 2:3-5,8
R/ You lifted my life from the pit, O Lord.
Out of my distress I cried to the Lord and he answered me; from the belly of Sheol I cried,
and you have heard my voice.
You cast me into the abyss, into the heart of the sea, and the flood surrounded me. All your waves, your billows, washed over me.
And I said: I am cast out from your sight. How shall I ever look again on your holy Temple?
While my soul was fainting within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came before you
into your holy Temple.
Gospel Acclamation: cf. Jn 6: 63, 68
Alleluia, alleluia! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 10:25-37
There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, “Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? What do you read there?” He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” “You have answered right,” said Jesus. “Do this and life is yours.” But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” Jesus replied, “A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands’ hands?” “The one who took pity on him”, he replied. Jesus said to him, “Go, and do the same yourself.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, we pray, the sacrifices instituted by your commands and, through the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate with dutiful service, graciously complete the sanctifying work by which you are pleased to redeem us. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Lam 3: 25
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the soul that seeks him.
Prayer after Communion
Grant us, almighty God, that we may be refreshed and nourished by the Sacrament which we have received, so as to be transformed into what we consume. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Master, what must I do to share in eternal life?” The question is focused on life; the answer rather focused on love: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… and your neighbour as yourself.” Life and love are intimately linked. Love is more than a commandment: it is a source of life for the one who loves and is loved, it transforms the life of both. Love can certainly be expressed in feelings, however beautiful and noble they may be. But true love is first and foremost translated into action, into practice. “Do this and you will have life.” This is what Jesus teaches in the parable of the Good Samaritan: the Good Samaritan saved the man’s life and his own life was transformed. Let us ask for the grace to love God through our neighbour.
by L'équipe de publication | Oct 7, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
27ème DIMANCHE DU TEMPS ORDINAIRE
Psautier III
SAINTE PELAGIE
Antienne d’ouverture : Est 13,
Tout dépend de ta volonté, Seigneur, et rien ne peut lui résister: C’est toi qui as fait le ciel et la terre et les merveilles qu’ils contiennent. Tu es le Maître de l’univers.
Prière d’ouverture
Dans ton amour inépuisable, Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, tu combles ceux qui t’implorent, bien au-delà de leurs mérites et de leurs désirs. Répands sur nous ta miséricorde en délivrant notre conscience de ce qui l’inquiète et en donnant plus que nous n’osons demander. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Is 5, 1-7
Je veux chanter pour mon ami le chant du bien-aimé à sa vigne. Mon ami avait une vigne sur un coteau fertile. Il en retourna la terre, en retira les pierres, pour y mettre un plant de qualité. Au milieu, il bâtit une tour de garde et creusa aussi un pressoir. Il en attendait de beaux raisins, mais elle en donna de mauvais. Et maintenant, habitants de Jérusalem, hommes de Juda, soyez donc juges entre moi et ma vigne! Pouvais-je faire pour ma vigne plus que je n’ai fait ? J’attendais de beaux raisins, pourquoi en a-t-elle donné de mauvais ? Eh bien, je vais vous apprendre ce que je ferai de ma vigne : enlever sa clôture pour qu’elle soit dévorée par les animaux, ouvrir une brèche dans son mur pour qu’elle soit piétinée. J’en ferai une pente désolée ; elle ne sera ni taillée ni sarclée, il y poussera des épines et des ronces ; j’interdirai aux nuages d’y faire tomber la pluie. La vigne du Seigneur de l’univers, c’est la maison d’Israël. Le plant qu’il chérissait, ce sont les hommes de Juda. Il en attendait le droit, et voici le crime ; il en attendait la justice, et voici les cris.
Psaume : 79 (80), 9-12, 13-14, 15-16a, 19-20)
R/ La vigne du Seigneur de l’univers, c’est la maison d’Israël.
La vigne que tu as prise à l’Égypte, tu la replantes en chassant des nations.
Elle étendait ses sarments jusqu’à la mer, et ses rejets, jusqu’au Fleuve.Pourquoi as-tu percé sa clôture ?
Tous les passants y grappillent en chemin; le sanglier des forêts la ravage et les bêtes des champs la broutent.
Dieu de l’univers, reviens ! Du haut des cieux, regarde et vois : visite cette vigne, protège-la, celle qu’a plantée ta main puissante.
Jamais plus nous n’irons loin de toi : fais-nous vivre et invoquer ton nom ! Seigneur, Dieu de l’univers, fais-nous revenir; que ton visage s’éclaire, et nous serons sauvés.
2ème lecture: Ph 4, 6-9
Frères, ne soyez inquiets de rien, mais, en toute circonstance, priez et suppliez, tout en rendant grâce, pour faire connaître à Dieu vos demandes. Et la paix de Dieu, qui dépasse tout ce qu’on peut concevoir, gardera vos cœurs et vos pensées dans le Christ Jésus. Enfin, mes frères, tout ce qui est vrai et noble, tout ce qui est juste et pur, tout ce qui est digne d’être aimé et honoré, tout ce qui s’appelle vertu et qui mérite des éloges, tout cela, prenez-le en compte. Ce que vous avez appris et reçu, ce que vous avez vu et entendu de moi, mettez-le en pratique. Et le Dieu de la paix sera avec vous.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. C’est moi qui vous ai choisis, afin que vous alliez, que vous portiez du fruit, et que votre fruit demeure, dit le Seigneur. Alléluia. (cf. Jn 15, 16)
Évangile : Mt 21, 33-43
En ce temps-là, Jésus disait aux grands prêtres et aux anciens du peuple: « Écoutez cette parabole : Un homme était propriétaire d’un domaine ; il planta une vigne, l’entoura d’une clôture, y creusa un pressoir et bâtit une tour de garde. Puis il loua cette vigne à des vignerons, et partit en voyage. Quand arriva le temps des fruits, il envoya ses serviteurs auprès des vignerons pour se faire remettre le produit de sa vigne. Mais les vignerons se saisirent des serviteurs, frappèrent l’un, tuèrent l’autre, lapidèrent le troisième. De nouveau, le propriétaire envoya d’autres serviteurs plus nombreux que les premiers; mais on les traita de la même façon. Finalement, il leur envoya son fils, en se disant : ‘Ils respecteront mon fils.’ Mais, voyant le fils, les vignerons se dirent entre eux : ‘Voici l’héritier : venez! tuons-le, nous aurons son héritage !’ Ils se saisirent de lui, le jetèrent hors de la vigne et le tuèrent. Eh bien ! quand le maître de la vigne viendra, que fera-t-il à ces vignerons? » On lui répond : « Ces misérables, il les fera périr misérablement. Il louera la vigne à d’autres vignerons, qui lui en remettront le produit en temps voulu. » Jésus leur dit : « N’avez-vous jamais lu dans les Écritures : La pierre qu’ont rejetée les bâtisseurs est devenue la pierre d’angle : c’est là l’œuvre du Seigneur, la merveille devant nos yeux ! Aussi, je vous le dis : Le royaume de Dieu vous sera enlevé pour être donné à une nation qui lui fera produire ses fruits. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Accepte, Seigneur, le sacrifice que tu nous as donné. Dans les mystères que nous célébrons pour te rendre grâce, sanctifie les hommes que tu as sauvés par ton Fils. Lui qui.
Antienne de communion : Lm 3, 25
Le Seigneur est bon pour ceux qui se tournent vers lui, pour ceux qui le recherchent.
Prière après la communion
Accorde-nous, Seigneur notre Dieu, de trouver dans cette communion notre force et notre joie, afin que nous puissions devenir ce que nous avons reçu: le corps du Christ. Lui qui.
Méditation
Cette parabole résume de façon émouvante toute l’histoire du salut : Dieu le Père, propriétaire de la vigne d’Israël, qui désire à tout prix sauver l’humanité, fût-ce au prix de la vie de son fils bien aimé. Jésus reproche aux pharisiens le fait de se croire propriétaires de la promesse, comme les mauvais vignerons cherchant à s’accaparer le fruit de la vigne, sans vouloir en rendre compte au propriétaire. Du coup ils tuent et méprisent les serviteurs envoyés par le maître, les différents prophètes d’Israël. Mais Dieu, dans son infinie bonté, ne peut contraindre les hommes dans leur liberté de lui rendre hommage et de respecter ses envoyés. Le royaume de Dieu sera confié à un autre peuple qui lui fera produire son fruit et les premiers propriétaires seront déchus de leur charge : c’est le jugement contenu dans cette parabole par rapport à la pierre angulaire qu’est le Christ. C’est aussi la promesse et l’espérance que le peuple de la nouvelle Alliance, l’Eglise, porte du fruit en abondance.
by L'équipe de publication | Oct 7, 2023 | Evangelium
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Psalter week III
Entrance Antiphon: Est 4: 17
Within your will, O Lord, all things are established, and there is none that can resist your will. For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth, and all that is held within the circle of heaven; you are the Lord of all.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Isaiah 5: 1-7
Let me sing to my friend the song of his love for his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug the soil, cleared it of stones and planted choice vines in it. In the middle he built a tower, he dug a press there too. He expected it to yield grapes, but sour grapes were all that it gave. And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I ask you to judge between my vineyard and me. What could I have done for my vineyard that I have not done? I expected it to yield grapes. Why did it yield sour grapes instead? Very well, I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge for it to be grazed on, and knock down its wall for it to be trampled on. I will lay it waste, unpruned, undug; overgrown by the briar and the thorn. I will command the clouds to rain no rain on it. Yes, the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah that chosen plant. He expected justice, but found bloodshed, integrity, but only a cry of distress.
Psalm 79 (80): 9, 12-16, 19-20
R/ The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
You brought a vine out of Egypt; to plant it you drove out the nations. It stretched out its branches to the sea, to the Great River it stretched out its shoots.
Then why have you broken down its walls? It is plucked by all who pass by. It is ravaged by the boar of the forest, devoured by the beasts of the field.
God of hosts, turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see. Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted.
And we shall never forsake you again; give us life that we may call upon your name. God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Second reading: Philippians 4:6-9
There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn15:15
Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, “Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son’ he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance.’ So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They answered, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone. This was the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see? I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, we pray, the sacrifices instituted by your commands and, through the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate with dutiful service, graciously complete the sanctifying work by which you are pleased to redeem us. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Lam 3: 25
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the soul that seeks him.
Prayer after Communion
Grant us, almighty God, that we may be refreshed and nourished by the Sacrament which we have received, so as to be transformed into what we consume. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The parable of the homicidal vinedressers is a moving summary of the whole history of salvation, from the point of view of God the Father, owner of the vineyard of Israel, who desires at all costs to save humanity, even at the cost of the life of his beloved Son. Jesus reproaches his Pharisee interlocutors for thinking of themselves as the owners of the promise, of the Covenant, just as the bad vinedressers seek to monopolize the fruit of the vineyard, without wanting to account for it to the master of the vineyard. The servants whom the master sends, representing the different prophets of Israel, are despised and put to death. But God, in his infinite goodness, cannot bend men against their freedom to pay him homage and respect his envoys. From then on, the kingdom of God will be entrusted to another people who will make it produce its fruit.
