by L'équipe de publication | Jul 7, 2023 | Evangelium
SAINT Kilian
He was born in County Cavan, Ireland. He was a missionary bishop and preached the Gospel in Würzburg and converted the local Duke and much of the population. He was martyred by beheading, possibly at the behest of the Duke’s wife, possibly because she was the widow of the Duke’s brother and Kilian had declared her subsequent marriage to the Duke to be illegal.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 46: 2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!
Collect
O God, who through the grace of adoption, chose us to be children of light; grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. 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 27:1-5,15-29
Isaac had grown old, and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see. He summoned his elder son Esau, “My son!” he said to him, and the latter answered, “I am here.” Then he said, “See, I am old and do not know when I may die. Now take your weapons, your quiver and bow; go out into the country and hunt me some game. Make me the kind of savoury I like and bring it to me, so that I may eat, and give you my blessing before I die.” Rebekah happened to be listening while Isaac was talking to his son Esau. So when Esau went into the country to hunt game for his father, Rebekah took her elder son Esau’s best clothes, which she had in the house, and dressed her younger son Jacob in them, covering his arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skins of the kids. Then she handed the savoury and the bread she had made to her son Jacob. He presented himself before his father and said, “Father.” “I am here;” was the reply “who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your first-born; I have done as you told me. Please get up and take your place and eat the game I have brought and then give me your blessing.” Isaac said to his son, “How quickly you found it, my son!” “It was the Lord your God” he answered “who put it in my path.” Isaac said to Jacob, “Come here, then, and let me touch you, my son, to know if you are my son Esau or not.” Jacob came close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice but the arms are the arms of Esau!” He did not recognise him, for his arms were hairy like his brother Esau’s, and so he blessed him. He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” And he replied, “I am.” Isaac said, “Bring it here that I may eat the game my son has brought, and so may give you my blessing.” He brought it to him and he ate; he offered him wine, and he drank. His father Isaac said to him, “Come closer, and kiss me, my son.” He went closer and kissed his father, who smelled the smell of his clothes. He blessed him, saying: “Yes, the smell of my son is like the smell of a fertile field blessed by the Lord. May God give you dew from heaven, and the richness of the earth, abundance of grain and wine! May nations serve you and peoples bow down before you! Be master of your brothers; may the sons of your mother bow down before you! Cursed be he who curses you; blessed be he who blesses you!”
Psalm 134(135):1-6
R/ Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.
Praise the name of the Lord, praise him, servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the Lord for the Lord is good. Sing a psalm to his name for he is loving. For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself and Israel for his own possession.
For I know the Lord is great, that our Lord is high above all gods. The Lord does whatever he wills, in heaven, on earth, in the seas.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps118:135
Alleluia, alleluia! Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your decrees. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17
John’s disciples came to him and said, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?” Jesus replied, “Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on to an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.”
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who graciously accomplish the effects of your mysteries, grant, we pray, that the deeds by which we serve you may be worthy of these sacred gifts. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 102: 1
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me, his holy name.
Prayer after Communion
May this divine sacrifice we have offered and received fill us with life, O Lord, we pray, so that, bound to you in lasting charity, we may bear fruit that lasts for ever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Could the wedding guests then be in mourning while the bridegroom is with them?” John the Baptist’s disciples are puzzled to see Jesus’ disciples blooming and unrestricted. This seems inappropriate because they are waiting for the Messiah and the waiting period involves fasting and mortification. Later, from the depths of his cell, John the Baptist will even send a question to Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come or must we wait for another”? But the Bridegroom is already among his disciples, so why fast? Let us bring the “Joy of the Gospel” to the world. Let us be new wineskins, receptacles and bearers of the living Christ in us. Mgr. Pirenne, Cicm. Says of that: “Christ is alive and he wants us alive”.
by L'équipe de publication | Jul 7, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
SAINT Thibaut de Marly
Thibaut de Marly était moine. Dans son abbaye, il était toujours le premier levé et le dernier couché. Il balayait les couloirs, nettoyait les « retraits » sanitaires et portait la pierre aux maçons. Le roi saint Louis attribuait à ses prières le bonheur d’avoir pu fonder une famille nombreuse.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 46, 2
Tous les peuples, battez des mains, acclamez Dieu par vos cris de joie.
Prière d’ouverture
Tu as voulu, Seigneur, qu’en recevant ta grâce nous devenions des fils de lumière ; Ne permets pas que l’erreur nous plonge dans la nuit, mais accorde-nous d’être toujours rayonnants de ta vérité. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Gn 27, 1-5.15-29
Isaac était devenu vieux, ses yeux avaient faibli et il n’y voyait plus. Il appela Ésaü, son fils aîné : « Mon fils !» Celui-ci répondit : « Me voici. » Isaac reprit : « Tu vois : je suis devenu vieux, mais je ne sais pas le jour de ma mort. Prends donc maintenant tes armes, ton carquois et ton arc, sors dans la campagne et tue-moi du gibier. Prépare-moi un bon plat comme je les aime et apporte-le-moi pour que je mange, et que je te bénisse avant de mourir. » Pendant qu’Isaac parlait ainsi à son fils Ésaü, Rébecca écoutait. Ésaü alla donc dans la campagne chasser du gibier pour son père. Rébecca prit les meilleurs habits d’Ésaü, son fils aîné, ceux qu’elle gardait à la maison ; elle en revêtit Jacob, son fils cadet. Puis, avec des peaux de chevreau, elle lui couvrit les mains et la partie lisse du cou. Elle remit ensuite entre ses mains le plat et le pain qu’elle avait préparés. Jacob entra chez son père et dit : « Mon père!» Celui-ci répondit : « Me voici. Qui es-tu, mon fils ? » Jacob dit à son père : « Je suis Ésaü, ton premier-né; j’ai fait ce que tu m’as dit. Viens donc t’asseoir, mange de mon gibier ; alors, tu pourras me bénir.» Isaac lui dit : « Comme tu as trouvé vite, mon fils ! » Jacob répondit: « C’est que le Seigneur, ton Dieu, a favorisé ma chasse. » Isaac lui dit : « Approche donc, mon fils, que je te palpe, pour savoir si tu es bien mon fils Ésaü ! » Jacob s’approcha de son père Isaac. Celui-ci le palpa et dit : « La voix est la voix de Jacob, mais les mains sont les mains d’Ésaü. » Il ne reconnut pas Jacob car ses mains étaient velues comme celles de son frère Ésaü, et il le bénit. Il dit encore : « C’est bien toi mon fils Ésaü ? » Jacob répondit : « C’est bien moi. » Isaac reprit : « Apporte-moi le gibier, mon fils, j’en mangerai, et alors je pourrai te bénir. » Jacob le servit, et il mangea. Jacob lui présenta du vin, et il but. Son père Isaac dit alors: « Approche-toi et embrasse-moi, mon fils. » Comme Jacob s’approchait et l’embrassait, Isaac respira l’odeur de ses vêtements, et il le bénit en disant: « Voici que l’odeur de mon fils est comme l’odeur d’un champ que le Seigneur a béni. Que Dieu te donne la rosée du ciel et une terre fertile, froment et vin nouveau en abondance! Que des peuples te servent, que des nations se prosternent devant toi. Sois un chef pour tes frères, que les fils de ta mère se prosternent devant toi. Maudit soit celui qui te maudira, béni soit celui qui te bénira ! »
Psaume : 134 (135), 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R/ Louez la bonté du Seigneur, célébrez la douceur de son nom.
Ou : Alléluia !
Louez le nom du Seigneur, louez-le, serviteurs du Seigneur qui veillez dans la maison du Seigneur, dans les parvis de la maison de notre Dieu.
Louez la bonté du Seigneur, célébrez la douceur de son nom. C’est Jacob que le Seigneur a choisi, Israël dont il a fait son bien.
Je le sais, le Seigneur est grand : notre Maître est plus grand que tous les dieux. Tout ce que veut le Seigneur, il le fait au ciel et sur la terre, dans les mers et jusqu’au fond des abîmes.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Mes brebis écoutent ma voix, dit le Seigneur ; moi, je les connais, et elles me suivent. Alléluia.
Évangile : Mt 9, 14-17
En ce temps-là, les disciples de Jean le Baptiste s’approchèrent de Jésus en disant : « Pourquoi, alors que nous et les pharisiens, nous jeûnons, tes disciples ne jeûnent-ils pas ? » Jésus leur répondit: « Les invités de la noce pourraient-ils donc être en deuil pendant le temps où l’Époux est avec eux ? Mais des jours viendront où l’Époux leur sera enlevé ; alors ils jeûneront. Et personne ne pose une pièce d’étoffe neuve sur un vieux vêtement, car le morceau ajouté tire sur le vêtement, et la déchirure s’agrandit. Et on ne met pas du vin nouveau dans de vieilles outres; autrement, les outres éclatent, le vin se répand, et les outres sont perdues. Mais on met le vin nouveau dans des outres neuves, et le tout se conserve. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Dieu qui agis avec puissance dans tes sacrements, Fais que le peuple assemblé pour te servir soit accordé à la sainteté de tes propres dons. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 102, 2
Bénis le Seigneur, ô mon âme, n’oublie aucun de ses bienfaits.
Prière après la communion
Que le corps et le sang de Jésus Christ, offert en sacrifice et reçu en communion, nous donnent la vie, Seigneur: Reliés à toi par une charité qui ne passera jamais, nous porterons des fruits qui demeurent. Par Jésus.
Méditation
« Les invités de la noces pourraient-ils donc être en deuil pendant le temps que l’Époux est avec eux ? » Les disciples de Jean Baptiste sont intrigués de voir ceux de Jésus épanouis et sans restriction aucune. Pourtant, eux, sont dans l’attente du messie et la période d’attente implique jeûne et mortifications. Plus tard, du fond de sa cellule, Jean Baptiste enverra même poser une question à Jésus : « es-tu celui qui doit venir ou devons-nous en attendre un autre ? ». Hors l’Époux est déjà parmi ses disciples, alors pourquoi jeûner ? Portons la “Joie de l’Évangile” au monde. Soyons ces outres neuves réceptacles et porteurs du Christ vivant en nous. Mgr Pirenne, cicm le répète très souvent : « le Christ est vivant et il nous veut vivant ».
by L'équipe de publication | Jul 6, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
SAINT Raoul
Ralph Miler, de son vrai nom, était un laboureur illettré. Son compagnon Roger Dickenson, prêtre, et lui furent pendu. Le premier pour avoir célébré la Messe et le second pour y avoir participé..
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 46, 2
Tous les peuples, battez des mains, acclamez Dieu par vos cris de joie.
Prière d’ouverture
Tu as voulu, Seigneur, qu’en recevant ta grâce nous devenions des fils de lumière; Ne permets pas que l’erreur nous plonge dans la nuit, mais accorde-nous d’être toujours rayonnants de ta vérité. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Gn 23, 1-4.19 ; 24, 1-8.62-67
Sara vécut cent vingt-sept ans. Elle mourut à Kiriath-Arba, c’est-à-dire à Hébron, dans le pays de Canaan. Abraham s’y rendit pour le deuil et les lamentations. Puis il laissa le corps pour aller parler aux Hittites qui habitaient le pays : « Je ne suis qu’un immigré, un hôte, parmi vous ; accordez-moi d’acquérir chez vous une propriété funéraire où je pourrai enterrer cette morte. » Abraham ensevelit sa femme Sara dans la caverne du champ de Macpéla, qui est en face de Mambré, c’est-à-dire à Hébron, dans le pays de Canaan. Abraham était vieux, avancé en âge, et le Seigneur l’avait béni en toute chose. Abraham dit au plus ancien serviteur de sa maison, l’intendant de tous ses biens : « Je te fais prêter serment par le Seigneur, Dieu du ciel et Dieu de la terre : tu ne prendras pas pour mon fils une épouse parmi les filles des Cananéens au milieu desquels j’habite. Mais tu iras dans mon pays, dans ma parenté, chercher une épouse pour mon fils Isaac. » Le serviteur lui demanda : « Et si cette femme ne consent pas à me suivre pour venir ici? Devrai-je alors ramener ton fils dans le pays d’où tu es sorti ? » Abraham lui répondit : « Garde- toi d’y ramener mon fils ! Le Seigneur, le Dieu du ciel, lui qui m’a pris de la maison de mon père et du pays de ma parenté, m’a déclaré avec serment : “À ta descendance je donnerai le pays que voici.” C’est lui qui enverra son ange devant toi, et tu prendras là-bas une épouse pour mon fils. Si cette femme ne consent pas à te suivre, tu seras dégagé du serment que je t’impose. Mais, en tout cas, tu n’y ramèneras pas mon fils. » Un jour, Isaac s’en revenait du puits de Lahaï-Roï. Il habitait alors le Néguev. Il était sorti à la tombée du jour, pour se promener dans la campagne, lorsque, levant les yeux, il vit arriver des chameaux. Rébecca, levant les yeux elle aussi, vit Isaac. Elle sauta à bas de son chameau et dit au serviteur : « Quel est cet homme qui vient dans la campagne à notre rencontre? » Le serviteur répondit : « C’est mon maître. » Alors elle prit son voile et s’en couvrit. Le serviteur raconta à Isaac tout ce qu’il avait fait. Isaac introduisit Rébecca dans la tente de sa mère Sara; il l’épousa, elle devint sa femme, et il l’aima. Et Isaac se consola de la mort de sa mère.
Psaume : 105 (106), 1-2, 3-4ab, 4c- 5
R/ Rendez grâce au Seigneur : Il est bon !
Ou : Alléluia !
Rendez grâce au Seigneur : Il est bon ! Éternel est son amour ! Qui dira les hauts faits du Seigneur, qui célébrera ses louanges ?
Heureux qui pratique la justice, qui observe le droit en tout temps! Souviens- toi de moi, Seigneur, dans ta bienveillance pour ton peuple.
Toi qui le sauves, visite-moi : que je voie le bonheur de tes élus ; que j’aie part à la joie de ton peuple, à la fierté de ton héritage.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Venez à moi, vous tous qui peinez sous le poids du fardeau, dit le Seigneur, et moi, je vous procurerai le repos. Alléluia. (Mt 11, 28)
Évangile : Mt 9, 9-13
En ce temps-là, Jésus vit, en passant, un homme, du nom de Matthieu, assis à son bureau de collecteur d’impôt. Il lui dit : « Suis-moi. » L’homme se leva et le suivit. Comme Jésus était à table à la maison, voici que beaucoup de publicains (c’est-à-dire des collecteurs d’impôts) et beaucoup de pécheurs vinrent prendre place avec lui et ses disciples. Voyant cela, les pharisiens disaient à ses disciples : « Pourquoi votre maître mange-t-il avec les publicains et les pécheurs ? » Jésus, qui avait entendu, déclara : « Ce ne sont pas les gens bien portants qui ont besoin du médecin, mais les malades. Allez apprendre ce que signifie : Je veux la miséricorde, non le sacrifice. En effet, je ne suis pas venu appeler des justes, mais des pécheurs. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Dieu qui agis avec puissance dans tes sacrements, Fais que le peuple assemblé pour te servir soit accordé à la sainteté de tes propres dons. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 102, 2
Bénis le Seigneur, ô mon âme, n’oublie aucun de ses bienfaits.
Prière après la communion
Que le corps et le sang de Jésus Christ, offert en sacrifice et reçu en communion, nous donnent la vie, Seigneur: Reliés à toi par une charité qui ne passera jamais, nous porterons des fruits qui demeurent. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Jésus appelle Matthieu, le collecteur d’impôts. Il nous appelle tous, chacun assis dans son confort de péché. Plus loin, il mange avec les publicains à la grande indignation des pharisiens : « Pourquoi votre maître mange-t-il avec les publicains et les pécheurs ? » et à Jésus de répondre « je ne suis pas venu appeler les justes, mais les pécheurs ». En effet, dans nos obscurités, ne nous sentons pas indignes de la miséricorde divine. Comme Matthieu, répondons avec promptitude. Reposons sur Jésus notre lourd fardeau de péchés parfois immondes, Il est venu nous en soulager. Prions donc pour notre conversion personnelle et celle de nos frères et sœurs.
by L'équipe de publication | Jul 6, 2023 | Evangelium
SAINT Maelruain
In 769 he founded the monastery at Tallaght, in County Dublin, Ireland. Together with St Aengus he wrote a detailed Rule for the community, which is an important document in the history of early monasticism.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 46: 2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!
Collect
O God, who through the grace of adoption, chose us to be children of light; grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. 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 23:1-4,19,24:1-8,62-67
The length of Sarah’s life was a hundred and twenty-seven years. She died at Kiriath-arba, or Hebron, in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn and grieve for her. Then leaving his dead, Abraham spoke to the sons of Heth: “I am a stranger and a settler among you,” he said. “Let me own a burial-plot among you, so that I may take my dead wife and bury her.” After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah opposite Mamre, in the country of Canaan. By now Abraham was an old man well on in years, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. Abraham said to the eldest servant of his household, the steward of all his property, “Place your hand under my thigh, I would have you swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live. Instead, go to my own land and my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son Isaac.” The servant asked him, “What if the woman does not want to come with me to this country? Must I take your son back to the country from which you came?” Abraham answered, “On no account take my son back there. The Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, took me from my father’s home, and from the land of my kinsfolk, and he swore to me that he would give this country to my descendants. He will now send his angel ahead of you, so that you may choose a wife for my son there. And if the woman does not want to come with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” Isaac, who lived in the Negeb, had meanwhile come into the wilderness of the well of Lahai Roi. Now Isaac went walking in the fields as evening fell, and looking up saw camels approaching. And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel, and asked the servant, “Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?” The servant replied, “That is my master”; then she took her veil and hid her face. The servant told Isaac the whole story, and Isaac led Rebekah into his tent and made her his wife; and he loved her. And so Isaac was consoled for the loss of his mother.
Psalm 105(106):1-5
R/ O give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love endures for ever. Who can tell the Lord’s mighty deeds? Who can recount all his praise?
They are happy who do what is right, who at all times do what is just. O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.
Come to me, Lord, with your help that I may see the joy of your chosen ones and may rejoice in the gladness of your nation and share the glory of your people.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps24:4,5
Alleluia, alleluia! Teach me your paths, my God, make me walk in your truth. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When he heard this he replied, “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.”
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who graciously accomplish the effects of your mysteries, grant, we pray, that the deeds by which we serve you may be worthy of these sacred gifts. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 102: 1
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me, his holy name.
Prayer after Communion
May this divine sacrifice we have offered and received fill us with life, O Lord, we pray, so that, bound to you in lasting charity, we may bear fruit that lasts for ever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus calls Matthew, the tax collector. He calls all of us, each sitting in his own sinful comfort. Further on, he eats with the tax collectors to the great indignation of the Pharisees: “Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus replies: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”. Indeed, in our darkness, let us not feel unworthy of divine mercy. Like Matthew, let us respond promptly. Let us rest our heavy burden of sin on Jesus; He has come to relieve us of them. Let us pray for our personal conversion and that of our brothers and sisters.
by L'équipe de publication | Jul 5, 2023 | Evangelium
SAINT Maria Goretti
Maria Goretti was an 11years old girl from a poor peasant family in Italy. She was naturally pious, kind, helpful and beautiful. In 1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbour, Alexander, tried to rape her. When Maria resisted, Alexander stabbed her 14 times. She forgave her murderer on her dead bed and died in the afternoon of 6th July, 1902.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 46: 2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!
Collect
O God, who through the grace of adoption, chose us to be children of light; grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. 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 22:1-19
God put Abraham to the test. “Abraham, Abraham” he called. “Here I am” he replied. “Take your son,” God said “your only child Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him as a burnt offering, on a mountain I will point out to you.” Rising early next morning Abraham saddled his ass and took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. He chopped wood for the burnt offering and started on his journey to the place God had pointed out to him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. Then Abraham said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there; we will worship and come back to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering, loaded it on Isaac, and carried in his own hands the fire and the knife. Then the two of them set out together. Isaac spoke to his father Abraham, “Father” he said. “Yes, my son” he replied. “Look,” he said “here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “My son, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.” Then the two of them went on together. When they arrived at the place God had pointed out to him, Abraham built an altar there, and arranged the wood. Then he bound his son Isaac and put him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and seized the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven. “Abraham, Abraham” he said. “I am here” he replied. “Do not raise your hand against the boy” the angel said. “Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God. You have not refused me your son, your only son.” Then looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt-offering in place of his son. Abraham called this place “The Lord Provides”, and hence the saying today: On the mountain the Lord provides. The angel of the Lord called Abraham a second time from heaven. “I swear by my own self – it is the Lord who speaks – because you have done this, because you have not refused me your son, your only son, I will shower blessings on you, I will make your descendants as many as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants shall gain possession of the gates of their enemies. All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants, as a reward for your obedience.” Abraham went back to his servants, and together they set out for Beersheba, and he settled in Beersheba.
Psalm 114(116):1-6,8-9
R/ I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal; for he turned his ear to me in the day when I called him.
They surrounded me, the snares of death, with the anguish of the tomb; they caught me, sorrow and distress. I called on the Lord’s name. O Lord, my God, deliver me!
How gracious is the Lord, and just; our God has compassion. The Lord protects the simple hearts; I was helpless so he saved me.
He has kept my soul from death, my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling. I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
Gospel Acclamation: Mt11:25
Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8
Jesus got in the boat, crossed the water and came to his own town. Then some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.” And at this some scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, “Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” – he said to the paralytic – “get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.” And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for giving such power to men.
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who graciously accomplish the effects of your mysteries, grant, we pray, that the deeds by which we serve you may be worthy of these sacred gifts. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 102: 1
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me, his holy name.
Prayer after Communion
May this divine sacrifice we have offered and received fill us with life, O Lord, we pray, so that, bound to you in lasting charity, we may bear fruit that lasts for ever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The texts of this day edify us on the strength of the faith of others, and more so on the power of intercessory prayer. The faith of Abraham, from the very beginning, brought God’s blessing on his descendants. The paralyzed man in the Gospel is saved by the faith of the people who bring him to Jesus. Praying for one another and participating in common prayer (like the Eucharist for example), brings grace to those whose intentions we bring to the altar. Furthermore, the healing that Jesus offers is integral and touches the very root of evil that is sin. “Have faith, my child, your sins are forgiven”. Thus, to benefit from peace of body and soul requires the identification of the root of our handicap. Is it jealousy? Is it power? Money? Hatred?
