He was a Jesuit of Italy. St. Bernardino won widespread recognition as a result of his ceaseless apostolic labors. He was a model confessor, a powerful preacher, a diligent teacher of the Faith to the young, a dedicated shepherd of souls. His kindness brought about the end of vendettas and public scandals that cropped up from time to time.
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 21:5,8-20
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham gave a great banquet on the day Isaac was weaned. Now Sarah watched the son that Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. ‘Drive away that slave-girl and her son,’ she said to Abraham; ‘this slave-girl’s son is not to share the inheritance with my son Isaac.’ This greatly distressed Abraham because of his son, but God said to him, ‘Do not distress yourself on account of the boy and your slave-girl. Grant Sarah all she asks of you, for it is through Isaac that your name will be carried on. But the slave-girl’s son I will also make into a nation, for he is your child too.’ Rising early next morning Abraham took some bread and a skin of water and, giving them to Hagar, he put the child on her shoulder and sent her away. She wandered off into the wilderness of Beersheba. When the skin of water was finished she abandoned the child under a bush. Then she went and sat down at a distance, about a bowshot away, saying to herself, ‘I cannot see the child die.’ So she sat at a distance; and the child wailed and wept. But God heard the boy wailing, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. ‘What is wrong, Hagar?’ he asked. ‘Do not be afraid, for God has heard the boy’s cry where he lies. Come, pick up the boy and hold him safe, for I will make him into a great nation.’ Then God opened Hagar’s eyes and she saw a well, so she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy. He grew up and made his home in the wilderness, and he became a bowman.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33(34):7-8,10-13
R/ The poor man called; the Lord heard him.
This poor man called, the Lord heard himand rescued him from all his distress.The angel of the Lord is encampedaround those who revere him, to rescue them.
Revere the Lord, you his saints. They lack nothing, those who revere him.Strong lions suffer want and go hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.
Come, children, and hear me that I may teach you the fear of the Lord.Who is he who longs for life and many days, to enjoy his prosperity?
Gospel Acclamation: Jn14:6
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord; No one can come to the Father except through me.Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34
When Jesus reached the country of the Gadarenes on the other side of the lake, two demoniacs came towards him out of the tombs – creatures so fierce that no one could pass that way. They stood there shouting, ‘What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the time?’ Now some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding, and the devils pleaded with Jesus, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’ And he said to them, ‘Go then’, and they came out and made for the pigs; and at that the whole herd charged down the cliff into the lake and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off and made for the town, where they told the whole story, including what had happened to the demoniacs. At this the whole town set out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw him they implored him to leave the neighbourhood.
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 forever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Today’s gospel reading presents the reality of the presence of evil spirits. In it, we witness the absolute power of Jesus over demons, a power that can be manifested in our lives in numerous ways, if we allow Him the opportunity to act. Jesus also shows kindness towards the evil spirits by granting them their wish not to be tormented, but instead to be sent into the herd of swine. This act prompts reflection on our own kindness towards others. However, it is astonishing to note the negative reaction of the Gadarenes populace. They ask Jesus to leave their district, demonstrating a blindness to spiritual good akin to what many of us experience. They place more worth on their swine (material possessions) than on the restored lives of the two demoniacs that Jesus has healed.
Journée du 30 juin 2025 – Vᵉ Assemblée ordinaire de la Délégation Indépendante du Cameroun
La journée du 30 juin s’est ouverte dès 7h par un intense moment d’Adoration du Très Saint Sacrement, suivi de la prière solennelle des Laudes. Dans cette atmosphère de recueillement, le diacre Hugues Rostand LIMALEBA, cmf, a remis entre les mains du Seigneur le bon déroulement des travaux de la Vᵉ Assemblée ordinaire, articulée autour du thème : « Missionnaires, pèlerins d’espérance, construire ensemble une Délégation fraternelle, réconciliée et en marche vers la Paix ». Après le petit-déjeuner, la récollection s’est déroulée dans un climat de profonde écoute. Elle a été prêchée par le Père Vital NKENLIFACK, Supérieur général des Missionnaires de Cana, qui a centré sa méditation sur la spiritualité de communion, telle que présentée dans Novo Millennio Ineunte (n°42-44), comprise comme la matrice indispensable à toute vie communautaire authentique.
Il a rappelé que l’Église, selon l’ecclésiologie du synode Ecclesia in Africa, est appelée à être une véritable famille de Dieu, témoin de la diversité, du dialogue fécond et du service désintéressé. À cet effet, il a présenté les clés du mystère pascal :
La conversion comme recréation, chemin vers la nouveauté de Dieu ;
La médiation comme libération, engagement au service des frères ;
Le témoignage comme expiation, accueil humble du dessein divin pour l’autre ;
L’effusion de l’Esprit comme purification, force pour proclamer vérité et justice.
Il a aussi insisté sur l’harmonie entre les signes extérieurs de la consécration – tel l’habit religieux – et la cohérence d’une vie fraternelle fondée sur la miséricorde et la reconstruction des liens.
Sur le plan institutionnel, l’Assemblée a débuté formellement par l’intronisation solennelle de la Parole de Dieu, conformément à notre charisme, qui invite à commencer et à conclure toute action par l’écoute de l’Écriture. Ensuite, le président de l’Assemblée, le Très Révérend Père Manuel TAMARGO, cmf, a donné la parole au Supérieur majeur de la Délégation, le Révérend Père Jude Thaddeus LANGEH, cmf. Ce dernier a adressé un mot de bienvenue à tous les participants, saluant en particulier la présence du visiteur canonique, le Père TAMARGO lui-même, représentant du Supérieur Général, à qui il a confié que la Délégation, fidèle à ses rêves, aspire toujours à grandir et à devenir province. Reprenant la parole, le président a exprimé sa gratitude envers les confrères, soulignant, en tant que témoin privilégié, les pas franchis par la Délégation depuis sa création et l’importance de cette Assemblée comme étape de maturité.
Par la suite, les articles 127 des Constitutions et 466 du Directoire ont été lus à haute voix, soulignant la vocation des Assemblées ordinaires comme lieux de discernement, de coresponsabilité et d’orientation communautaire. L’horaire général a été présenté, ajusté pour répondre aux objectifs fixés par le président. La méthodologie a ensuite été précisée, incluant un sondage pour la désignation de deux modérateurs et de trois confrères chargés de la synthèse finale des travaux.
La lecture solennelle de la lettre du Supérieur Général a suivi. Elle exhortait la Délégation à prendre conscience de sa mission historique, en soulignant son potentiel missionnaire, son rôle formateur en Afrique francophone et son appel à la maturité malgré les tensions récemment traversées. Elle insistait : « à celui à qui on a beaucoup donné, il sera beaucoup demandé ».
Cette lettre a été ensuite méditée en groupes de quatre confrères, chacun étant invité à dégager deux points saillants, pour alimenter la réflexion communautaire à venir. À 18h, la journée a trouvé son sommet dans la célébration eucharistique, présidée par Mgr Michael BIBI, évêque de Buea. Dans son homélie, il a salué la mission des Clarétains dans son diocèse et au Cameroun en général. S’appuyant sur le thème de l’Assemblée, il a exhorté à un engagement renouvelé dans l’annonce du Christ, à travers une lecture fervente et transformatrice de la Parole. Il a conclu par un appel à l’espérance, rappelant la pertinence du témoignage missionnaire dans l’Église et dans le monde. La journée s’est achevée autour du repas fraternel, avant que chacun ne rejoigne ses quartiers pour le repos.
DAY 1, June 30, 2025 – 5ᵗʰ Ordinary Assembly of the Independent Delegation of Cameroon
The day of June 30 began at 7:00 a.m. with a solemn moment of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by the prayer of Lauds. In this spiritual atmosphere, Deacon Hugues Rostand LIMALEBA, cmf, entrusted to the Lord the proceedings of the 5ᵗʰ Ordinary Assembly, held under the theme: “Missionaries, pilgrims of hope, building together a fraternal Delegation, reconciled and journeying toward Peace.” After breakfast, the day continued with a recollection aligned with the assembly’s theme, led by Father Vital NKENLIFACK, Superior General of the Missionaries of Cana. His meditation focused on the spirituality of communion as outlined in Novo Millennio Ineunte (nos. 42–44), understood as the essential foundation of fraternal life and unity in diversity. He recalled that the Church, as presented in the ecclesiology of the Ecclesia in Africa synod, is called to be a true family of God—a witness of diversity, dialogue, and service in Africa. In this light, he presented the keys to the paschal mystery:
Conversion as re-creation, an invitation to God’s newness;
Mediation as liberation, service in support of our brothers;
Witness as expiation, welcoming God’s design for the other;
Outpouring of the Spirit as purification, a force to proclaim truth and justice.
He also emphasized the need for coherence between the external signs of consecration—such as the religious habit—and a life of fraternity rooted in mercy and the rebuilding of relationships.
On the institutional level, the Assembly officially began with the solemn enthronement of the Word of God, in fidelity to our charism which calls us to begin and end all action in the light of the Word. Following this, the president of the Assembly, the Very Reverend Father Manuel TAMARGO, cmf, gave the floor to the Major Superior of the Delegation, the Reverend Father Jude Thaddeus LANGEH, cmf. He warmly welcomed all participants and, in particular, the canonical visitor—Father TAMARGO himself—representative of the Superior General, to whom he expressed that the Delegation continues to dream big and aspire to become a province. Taking the floor again, the Assembly president offered words of gratitude to the confreres, noting with joy that this was his seventh visit to the Delegation and that he is a privileged witness of its growth. He underlined the importance of this meeting as a milestone in the Delegation’s development.
Next followed the reading of article 127 of the Constitutions and article 466 of the Directory, which affirm the essential role of Ordinary Assemblies as spaces for discernment, shared responsibility, and collective orientation. The general schedule of the Assembly was then presented and adjusted in line with the objectives set by the Assembly president. The working methodology was clarified, and polls were conducted to appoint two moderators and three confreres responsible for drafting the final synthesis document.
After this, the letter from the Superior General was read aloud. It invited the Delegation to a renewed awareness of its historical responsibility, highlighting its missionary potential, its formative role within Francophone Africa, and its call to maturity despite recent tensions. The letter reminded the Assembly that “to whom much is given, much will be required.”
The letter was then discussed in small groups of four, with each group identifying two key insights to enrich the upcoming community reflections. At 6:00 p.m., the day reached its spiritual culmination with the Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Bishop Michael BIBI, Bishop of Buea. In his homily, he warmly acknowledged the Claretian presence in his diocese and throughout Cameroon. Returning to the Assembly’s theme, he encouraged the missionaries to be faithful and liberating witnesses of Christ, through a devout and transformative reading of the Word. He concluded with a message of hope, underlining the vital role missionaries play in today’s Church and world. The day ended with a fraternal evening meal, after which the confreres retired for the night.
He was born on the Spanish island of Mallorca, and became a Franciscan. Over a period of fifteen years he founded nine missions with about six thousand converts. He frequently came into conflict with the authorities over their treatment of the native population, but nevertheless, when he died, he was buried with full military honours. He was beatified in 1988.
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 19:15-29
The angels urged Lot, ‘Come, take your wife and these two daughters of yours, or you will be overwhelmed in the punishment of the town.’ And as he hesitated, the men took him by the hand, and his wife and his two daughters, because of the pity the Lord felt for him. They led him out and left him outside the town. As they were leading him out he said, ‘Run for your life. Neither look behind you nor stop anywhere on the plain. Make for the hills if you would not be overwhelmed.’ ‘No, I beg you, my lord,’ Lot said to them ‘your servant has won your favour and you have shown great kindness to me in saving my life. But I could not reach the hills before this calamity overtook me, and death with it. The town over there is near enough to flee to, and is a little one. Let me make for that – is it not little? – and my life will be saved.’ He answered, ‘I grant you this favour too, and will not destroy the town you speak of. Hurry, escape to it, for I can do nothing until you reach it.’ That is why the town is named Zoar. As the sun rose over the land and Lot entered Zoar, the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord. He overthrew these towns and the whole plain, with all the inhabitants of the towns, and everything that grew there. But the wife of Lot looked back, and was turned into a pillar of salt. Rising early in the morning Abraham went to the place where he had stood before the Lord, and looking towards Sodom and Gomorrah, and across all the plain, he saw the smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. Thus it was that when God destroyed the towns of the plain, he kept Abraham in mind and rescued Lot out of disaster when he overwhelmed the towns where Lot lived.
Responsorail Psalm: Psalm 25(26):2-3,9-12
R/ Your love, O Lord, is before my eyes.
Examine me, Lord, and try me;O test my heart and my mind,for your love is before my eyesand I walk according to your truth.
Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty menin whose hands are evil plots, whose right hands are filled with gold.
As for me, I walk the path of perfection. Redeem me and show me your mercy.My foot stands on level ground: I will bless the Lord in the assembly.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps147:12,15
Alleluia, alleluia! O praise the Lord, Jerusalem! He sends out his word to the earth. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus got into the boat followed by his disciples. Without warning a storm broke over the lake, so violent that the waves were breaking right over the boat. But he was asleep. So they went to him and woke him saying, ‘Save us, Lord, we are going down!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again. The men were astounded and said, ‘Whatever kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him.’
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 forever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
While in the boat with His disciples, Jesus calms the stormy sea and their fear. He also rebukes their lack of faith. Hence, the biblical scholar Donald Arthur Carson attests that “faith drives out fear, and fear drives out faith.” Indeed, we all profess that Jesus is God, but do we live each day believing and trusting that Jesus is truly in charge of every circumstance in our lives? So often, we call to God for help in times of trouble, and if we feel that He is not responding swiftly, we tend to say, “Jesus has abandoned us”; we think that Jesus is asleep during our tribulations. Can we trust Him to guide us through every step of our life journey, much like a skilled driver who knows the best routes to take?
Thierry renonça à son mariage le jour même de sa célébration. Il se fit ordonner prêtre et fonda une abbaye qui porta plus tard son nom. Il en fut le premier abbé.
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 : Genèse 19, 15-29
En ces jours-là, les gens de Sodome avaient voulu s’en prendre aux deux voyageurs passant la nuit chez Loth. A l’aurore, les deux anges pressèrent Loth, en disant : « Debout ! Prends ta femme et tes deux filles qui se trouvent ici, et va-t’en, de peur que tu ne périsses à cause des crimes de cette ville.» Comme il s’attardait, ces hommes le saisirent par la main, ainsi que sa femme et ses deux filles, parce que le Seigneur voulait l’épargner. Ils le firent sortir et le conduisirent hors de la ville. Une fois sortis, ils dirent: « Sauve-toi si tu tiens à la vie! Ne regarde pas en arrière, ne t’arrête nulle part dans cette région, sauve-toi dans la montagne, si tu ne veux pas périr ! » Loth leur dit : « Non, je vous en prie, mes seigneurs! Votre serviteur a trouvé grâce à vos yeux, et vous m’avez fait une grande faveur en me laissant la vie. Mais je n’ai pas le temps de me sauver dans la montagne: le malheur va me rattraper et je mourrai. Voici une ville assez proche pour y fuir– elle est si petite! –Permettez que je me sauve là-bas– elle est si petite! –afin de rester en vie ! » Ils lui répondirent: « Pour te faire plaisir cette fois encore, je ne détruirai pas la ville dont tu parles. Vite, sauve-toi là- bas, car je ne puis rien faire avant que tu y sois arrivé.» C’est pour cela qu’on a donné à cette ville le nom de Soar (ce qui veut dire : Petite). Le soleil se levait sur le pays et Loth entrait à Soar, quand le Seigneur fit tomber du ciel sur Sodome et Gomorrhe une pluie de soufre et de feu venant du Seigneur. Dieu détruisit ces villes et toute la région, avec tous leurs habitants et la végétation. Or, la femme de Loth avait regardé en arrière, et elle était devenue une colonne de sel. Abraham se leva de bon matin pour se rendre à l’endroit où il s’était tenu en présence du Seigneur, et il regarda du côté de Sodome, de Gomorrhe et de toute la région : il vit monter de la terre une fumée semblable à celle d’une fournaise! Lorsque Dieu a détruit les villes de cette région, il s’est souvenu d’Abraham ; et il a fait échapper Loth au cataclysme qui a détruit les villes où il habitait.
Psaume : 25 (26), 2-3, 9-10, 11-12
R/ J’ai devant les yeux ton amour, Seigneur.
Éprouve-moi, Seigneur, scrute-moi, passe au feu mes reins et mon cœur. J’ai devant les yeux ton amour, je marche selon ta vérité.
Ne m’inflige pas le sort des pécheurs, le destin de ceux qui versent le sang : ils ont dans les mains la corruption ; leur droite est pleine de profits.
Oui, j’ai marché sans faillir : libère-moi ! prends pitié de moi! Sous mes pieds le terrain est sûr; dans l’assemblée je bénirai le Seigneur.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. J’espère le Seigneur, et j’attends sa parole. Alléluia. (cf. Ps 129, 5)
Évangile : Mt 8, 23-27
En ce temps-là, comme Jésus montait dans la barque, ses disciples le suivirent. Et voici que la mer devint tellement agitée que la barque était recouverte par les vagues. Mais lui dormait. Les disciples s’approchèrent et le réveillèrent en disant : « Seigneur, sauve-nous! Nous sommes perdus.» Mais il leur dit : « Pourquoi êtes- vous si craintifs, hommes de peu de foi?» Alors, Jésus, debout, menaça les vents et la mer, et il se fit un grand calme. Les gens furent saisis d’étonnement et disaient: «Quel est donc celui-ci, pour que même les vents et la mer lui obéissent ? »
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
Lorsque les Apôtres avaient senti le danger, lors de la traversée du lac, ils avaient adressé au Seigneur un cri de détresse qui leur est reproché. Jésus leur dit : Hommes de peu de foi ! Mais Jésus comprend leur angoisse, et il exauce leur prière malgré leur manque de foi. Le plus grand miracle, ce n’est pas d’apaiser la mer, c’est de leur redonner confiance, au moment même où ils avaient la certitude d’être perdus. Le danger est toujours présent, mais nous n’en avons pas conscience. Lorsque nous nous sentons forts, pleins d’assurance, Jésus n’est pas tranquille : il cherche à réveiller notre attention. Mais lorsque nous sentons la pirogue secouée par les vagues, que nous avons conscience de ne plus avoir d’autre secours que lui, alors il est tranquille, il peut dormir. La prière, c’est toujours de sentir au plus profond de nous-mêmes que nous avons besoin de lui, que lui seul peut nous secourir. Tant que nous comptons sur nous-mêmes ou sur autre chose que lui, nous ne prions pas vraiment, nous mendions.
When the city of Rome had been devastated by fire in the year 64, the Emperor Nero launched a persecution against the Christians, who were thrown to the wild beasts in the arena or soaked in tar and used as living torches. Their deaths are documented in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus and in Pope St Clement’s letter to the Corinthians.
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 18:16-33
From Mamre the men set out and arrived within sight of Sodom, with Abraham accompanying them to show them the way. Now the Lord had wondered, ‘Shall I conceal from Abraham what I am going to do, seeing that Abraham will become a great nation with all the nations of the earth blessing themselves by him? For I have singled him out to command his sons and his household after him to maintain the way of the Lord by just and upright living. In this way the Lord will carry out for Abraham what he has promised him.’ Then the Lord said, ‘How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.’ The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, ‘Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?’ the Lord replied, ‘If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.’ Abraham replied, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.’ Again Abraham said to him, ‘Perhaps there will only be forty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the forty.’ Abraham said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the ten.’ When he had finished talking to Abraham the Lord went away, and Abraham returned home.
Psalm 102(103):1-4,8-11
R/ The Lord is compassion and love.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord all my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings.
It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion.
The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. His wrath will come to an end; he will not be angry for ever.
He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults. For as the heavens are high above the earth so strong is his love for those who fear him.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn8:12
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw the great crowds all about him he gave orders to leave for the other side. One of the scribes then came up and said to him, ‘Master, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ Another man, one of his disciples, said to him, ‘Sir, let me go and bury my father first.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.’
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 Lord is compassion and love.” God, being love, is inherently compassionate. Despite our waywardness, He is always ready to forgive us and offer us second chances. Abraham’s dialogue with God vividly illustrates this fact. Sodom and Gomorrah had become notorious for their sinfulness, and Abraham appealed to God’s justice, urging Him not to destroy the just along with the sinful. God’s response was not one of justice alone but of mercy. If he found as few as ten righteous men in those cities, He would spare not only the righteous men but the entire cities. If God was willing to show mercy to Sodom and Gomorrah, why do we sometimes believe that certain sins are beyond His forgiveness? Why do we condemn certain individuals, assuming that their sins are too great for God’s mercy? God’s mercy knows no bounds; there is no sin that He cannot forgive. All we need to do is ask with sincerity. Let us regularly seek God’s mercy through the sacrament of Reconciliation, and, like Abraham, intercede for others, invoking God’s mercy upon them.
