by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 30, 2020 | Evangelium
friday 31 JANUARY 2020
St. John Bosco, Priest (1815 – 1888)
He was born in Piedmont of a peasant family, and he was brought up by his widowed mother. He became a priest, and his particular concern was for the young.
White
Entrance Antiphon Cf. Ps 131: 9
Your priests, O Lord, shall be clothed with justice; your holy ones shall ring out their joy.
Collect
O God, who raised up the Priest, St. John Bosco, as a father and teacher of the young, grant, we pray, that, aflame with the same fire of love, we may seek out souls and serve you alone. 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 : 2 Samuel 11:1-4,5-10,13-17
At the turn of the year, the time when kings go campaigning, David sent Joab and with him his own guards and the whole of Israel. They massacred the Ammonites and laid siege to Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem. It happened towards evening when David had risen from his couch and was strolling on the palace roof, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David made inquiries about this woman and was told, ‘Why, that is Bathsheba, Eliam’s daughter, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ Then David sent messengers and had her brought. She came to him, and he slept with her. She then went home again. The woman conceived and sent word to David; ‘I am with child.’ Then David sent Joab a message, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite’, whereupon Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came into his presence, David asked after Joab and the army and how the war was going. David then said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and enjoy yourself. Uriah left the palace, and was followed by a present from the king’s table. Uriah however slept by the palace door with his master’s bodyguard and did not go down to his house. This was reported to David; ‘Uriah’ they said ‘did not go down to his house.’ The next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.
Psalm 50(51):3-7,10-11
R/ Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.
- Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offence. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
- My offences truly I know them; my sin is always before me Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done.
- That you may be justified when you give sentence and be without reproach when you judge, O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner was I conceived.
- Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may thrill. From my sins turn away your face and blot out all my guilt.
Gospel Acclamation : Ps118:27
Alleluia, alleluia! Make me grasp the way of your precepts, and I will muse on your wonders. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 4:26-34
Jesus said to the crowds: ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’ He also said, ‘What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’ Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O Lord, we pray, the offerings placed on your altar in commemoration of St. John Bosco, so that, as you brought him glory, you may, through these sacred mysteries, grant to us your pardon. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Cf. Mt 24: 46-47
Blessed is the servant whom the Lord finds watching when he comes. Amen I say to you: He will put that servant in charge of all his property.
Prayer after Communion
May partaking at the heavenly table, almighty God, confirm and increase strength from on high in all who celebrate the feast day of St. John Bosco, that we may preserve in integrity the gift of faith, and walk in the path of salvation you trace for us. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus speaks of the seed being planted and sprouting without further care, and He implies that this is how it is with us. We know that there is much more involved. Even if the farmer does not understand exactly how and why a plant grows, he does know that he needs to do more than simply throw the seed onto the ground. A farmer chooses his land and clears it, maybe fences it to keep out browsing animals. God has chosen us, has placed us in a Christian family, and has given us the rudiments of the faith. We must grow and be shelters for all the children of God.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 29, 2020 | Evangelium
thursday 30 JANUARY 2020
Saint Aedan of Ferns (c.550 – 632)
He was the son of an Irish tribal chieftain and studied under St Finian and St David. He was the first bishop of Ferns, in Ireland, and founded many churches and monasteries.
Green
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 95: 1, 6
O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son, we may abound in good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 2 Sam 7:18-19,24-29
After Nathan had spoken to him, King David went in and, seated before the Lord, said: ‘Who am I, O Lord, and what is my House, that you have led me as far as this? Yet in your sight, O Lord, this is still not far enough, and you make your promises extend to the House of your servant for a far-distant future. You have constituted your people Israel to be your own people for ever; and you, Lord, have become their God. ‘Now, O Lord, always keep the promise you have made your servant and his House, and do as you have said. Your name will be exalted forever and men will say, “The Lord of Hosts is God over Israel.” The House of your servant David will be made secure in your presence, since you yourself, Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, “I will build you a House”; hence your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to you. Yes, Lord, you are God indeed, your words are true and you have made this fair promise to your servant. Be pleased, then, to bless the House of your servant, that it may continue forever in your presence; for you, Lord, have spoken; and with your blessing the House of your servant will be forever blessed.’
Psalm 131(132):1-5,11-14
R/ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
- O Lord, remember David and all the many hardships he endured, the oath he swore to the Lord, his vow to the Strong One of Jacob.
- ‘I will not enter the house where I live nor go to the bed where I rest. I will give no sleep to my eyes, to my eyelids I will give no slumber till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Strong One of Jacob.’
- The Lord swore an oath to David; he will not go back on this word: ‘A son, the fruit of your body, will I set upon your throne.
- ‘If they keep my covenant in truth and my laws that I have taught them, their sons also shall rule on your throne from age to age.’
- For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling: ‘This is my resting-place for ever; here have I chosen to live.
Gospel Acclamation : Ph 2: 15-16
Alleluia, alleluia! You will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 4: 21-25
Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand? For there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed, nothing kept secret except to be brought to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to this.’ He also said to them, ‘Take notice of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given – and more besides; for the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept our offerings, O Lord, we pray, and in sanctifying them, grant that they may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 33: 6
Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, receiving the grace by which you bring us to new life, we may always glory in your gift. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The First Readings of yesterday and today are centred on 2 Samuel 7. In effect, David’s decision to erect a house for God is answered by a prophetic message from Nathan that it is the Lord’s purpose to build an everlasting house. From the seed of David would come the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Though this Davidic Promise had some immediate impact on his successor to the throne, fulfilment of this promise would be found in Jesus, the King of Kings. In effect, echoes of 2 Samuel 7 reverberate throughout the Old Testament, early Judaism, and Christianity in ways that can hardly be overstated. Finally, one of the most striking usage of 2 Samuel 7 is in Lk 1:32b-33 in which the Angel Gabriel, repeated the same promise: “The Lord God will give…the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and his Kingdom will have no end”. Jesus is called the Son of David in the New Testament (Mathew 20:29 – 34 and 21:9).
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 29, 2020 | Agenda Biblique
Jeudi 30 Janvier 2020
Sainte Martine
Vert
Vierge, martyre à Rome en 226, elle fut prise en grande vénération à Rome pour y avoir subi le martyre.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 95, 1-6
Chantez au Seigneur un chant nouveau, chantez au Seigneur, terre entière: La splendeur et l’éclat, la puissance et la beauté brillent dans son Temple saint!
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, dirige notre vie selon ton amour, Afin qu’au nom de ton Fils bien-aimé, nous portions des fruits en abondance. Par Jésus Christ.
Première lecture : 2 S 7, 18-19.24-29
Lorsque le prophète Nathan eut transmis à David les promesses de Dieu, le roi David vint s’asseoir en présence du Seigneur. Il dit : « Qui suis-je donc, Seigneur, et qu’est-ce que ma maison, pour que tu m’aies conduit jusqu’ici ? Mais cela ne te paraît pas encore suffisant, Seigneur, et tu adresses une parole à la maison de ton serviteur pour un avenir lointain. Est-ce là, Seigneur Dieu, la destiné de l’homme ? Pour toi, tu as établi à jamais ton peuple Israël, et toi, Seigneur, tu es devenu son Dieu. Maintenant donc, Seigneur Dieu, la parole que tu as dite au sujet de ton serviteur et de sa maison, tiens-la pour toujours, et agis selon ce que tu as dit. Que ton nom soit exalté pour toujours ! Que l’on dise : “Le Seigneur de l’univers est le Dieu d’Israël”, et la maison de ton serviteur David sera stable en ta présence. Oui, c’est toi, Seigneur de l’univers, Dieu d’Israël, qui as fait cette révélation à ton serviteur : “Je te bâtirai une maison.” C’est pourquoi ton serviteur ose t’adresser cette prière : Seigneur, c’est toi qui es Dieu, tes paroles sont vérité, et tu as fait cette magnifique promesse à ton serviteur. Daigne bénir la maison de ton serviteur, afin qu’elle soit pour toujours en ta présence. Car toi, Seigneur Dieu, tu as parlé, et par ta bénédiction la maison de ton serviteur sera bénie pour toujours. »
Psaume: Ps 131 (132), 1-2, 3a.4a.5, 11, 12, 13-14
R/ Le Seigneur Dieu lui donnera le trône de David, son père. (Lc 1, 32)
- Souviens-toi, Seigneur, de David et de sa grande soumission quand il fit au Seigneur un serment, une promesse au Puissant de Jacob :
- « Jamais je n’entrerai sous ma tente, j’interdirai tout sommeil à mes yeux avant d’avoir trouvé un lieu pour le Seigneur, une demeure pour le Puissant de Jacob. »
- Le Seigneur l’a juré à David, et jamais il ne reprendra sa parole : « C’est un homme issu de toi que je placerai sur ton trône.
- « Si tes fils gardent mon alliance, les volontés que je leur fais connaître, leurs fils, eux aussi, à tout jamais, siégeront sur le trône dressé pour toi. »
- Car le Seigneur a fait choix de Sion ; elle est le séjour qu’il désire : « Voilà mon repos à tout jamais, c’est le séjour que j’avais désiré. »
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Ta parole est la lumière de mes pas, la lampe de ma route. Alléluia. (Ps 118, 105)
Evangile: Mc 4, 21-25
En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à la foule: « Est-ce que la lampe est apportée pour être mise sous le boisseau ou sous le lit ? N’est-ce pas pour être mise sur le lampadaire ? Car rien n’est caché, sinon pour être manifesté ; rien n’a été gardé secret, sinon pour venir à la clarté. Si quelqu’un a des oreilles pour entendre, qu’il entende ! » Il leur disait encore : « Faites attention à ce que vous entendez ! La mesure que vous utilisez sera utilisée aussi pour vous, et il vous sera donné encore plus. Car celui qui a, on lui donnera ; celui qui n’a pas, on lui enlèvera même ce qu’il a. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Dans ta bonté, Seigneur, accepte notre offrande: Qu’elle soit sanctifiée et serve ainsi à notre salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 33, 6
Ensemble, approchez du Seigneur: resplendissez de sa lumière et sur votre visage il n’y aura plus d’ombre.
Prière après la communion
Permets, nous t’en prions, Dieu tout-puissant, Qu’ayant reçu de toi la grâce d’une nouvelle vie, nous puissions nous en émerveiller toujours. Par Jésus.
Méditation
L’histoire du salut nous révèle un Dieu qui a toujours été fidèle à sa parole en accomplissant les promesses faites à son peuple.
« La mesure que vous utilisez sera utilisée aussi pour vous ». Voilà aussi une promesse faite par le Christ a chacun parmi nous, promesse qui s’accomplira en son temps. La vie aujourd’hui nous donne des opportunités de choisir la mesure qui sera utilisée pour nous. Il s’agit des opportunités que nous avons de pardonner nos frères, de nous réconcilier et d’aimer le prochain d’un amour sincère. Ainsi par le choix de notre mesure le ciel peut être des maintenant être vécu sur la terre attendant d’être peaufiné le jour du jugement. Puisse le Seigneur ouvrir nos cœurs à la bonté et a la miséricorde envers tout homme et qu’il nous donne son salut.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 28, 2020 | Evangelium
wednesday 29 JANUARY 2020
Sts. Sarbelius & Barbea
Two martyrs, brother and sister, who were put to death at Edessa during the persecutions of Emperor Trajan. Sarbelius, also called Sharbel, was a high priest at Edessa, in Mesopotamia.
Green/Red
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 95: 1, 6
O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son, we may abound in good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-17
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 have never stayed in a house from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today, but have always led a wanderer’s life in a tent. In all my journeying with the whole people of Israel, did I say to any one of the judges of Israel, whom I had appointed as shepherds of Israel my people: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” This is what you must say to my servant David, “the Lord of Hosts says this: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be 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. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure forever.) I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Yet I will not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established forever.”’ Nathan related all these words to David and this whole revelation.
Psalm 88(89):4-5,27-30
R/ I will keep my love for him always.
- I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your dynasty forever and set up your throne through all ages.
- He will say to me: You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me. And I will make him my first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.
- I will keep my love for him always; with him my covenant shall last. I will establish his dynasty forever, make his throne endure as the heavens.
Gospel Acclamation : 1 S 3:9, Jn 6:68
Alleluia, alleluia! Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 4:1-20
Jesus began to teach by the lakeside, but such a huge crowd gathered round him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there. The people were all along the shore, at the water’s edge. He taught them many things in parables, and in the course of his teaching he said to them, ‘Listen! Imagine a sower going out to sow. Now it happened that, as he sowed, some of the seed fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground where it found little soil and sprang up straightaway, because there was no depth of earth; and when the sun came up it was scorched and, not having any roots, it withered away. Some seed fell into thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it produced no crop. And some seeds fell into rich soil and, growing tall and strong, produced crop; and yielded thirty, sixty, even a hundredfold.’ And he said, ‘Listen, anyone who has ears to hear!’ When he was alone, the Twelve, together with the others who formed his company, asked what the parables meant. He told them, ‘The secret of the kingdom of God is given to you, but to those who are outside everything comes in parables, so that they may see and see again, but not perceive; may hear and hear again, but not understand; otherwise they might be converted and be forgiven.’ He said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? What the sower is sowing is the word. Those on the edge of the path where the word is sown are people who have no sooner heard it than Satan comes and carries away the word that was sown in them. Similarly, those who receive the seed on patches of rock are people who, when first they hear the word, welcome it at once with joy. But they have no root in them, they do not last; should some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, they fall away at once. Then there are others who receive the seed in thorns. These have heard the word, but the worries of this world, the lure of riches and all the other passions come in to choke the word, and so it produces nothing. And there are those who have received the seed in rich soil: they hear the word and accept it and yield a harvest, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept our offerings, O Lord, we pray, and in sanctifying them, grant that they may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 33: 6
Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, receiving the grace by which you bring us to new life, we may always glory in your gift. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus gave the explanation of the Gospel already! The word of God is here and readily accessible, but how many people think about it seriously? Lots of people go to church. Lots of people say they are Christian, but how many are living the Christian life and acting on the word of God? Too often the word is like the seed in the first three circumstances. People go to church, but as soon as they leave, the words are gone. They don’t think about it again until next week. They get too busy with their day to day lives, and religion is choked out. Their good intentions are eaten up by materialism, or choked out by their daily lives, or their intentions don’t have roots and don’t survive in the outside world. It is not enough to hear the word of God, we must live it. We can’t let the faith and fervour we feel at church wither up and die outside the church walls. We need to hear the word of God, really listen, think about it, understand it, and live it. We need to be the rich soil in which God’s word can take root and thrive. It’s easy to let evil or apathy take over. It’s hard to have conviction and live God’s word, but the harvest will be amazing.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 28, 2020 | Agenda Biblique
Mercredi 29 Janvier 2020
Saint Gildas ; saint Valère
Vert
Saint Gildas, dit « le sage », est né dans l’île de Bretagne ; il a reçu son éducation dans le Sud-est du pays de Galles actuel. Il s’établit sur le continent y fonda avec quelques compagnons l’abbaye de Rhuys, où il mourut en 570. L’abbaye de Rhuys a conservé son tombeau et développé son culte… Saint Gildas est connu sous les formes bretonnes de Sant Veltas ou Saint Gueltas.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 95, 1-6
Chantez au Seigneur un chant nouveau, chantez au Seigneur, terre entière: La splendeur et l’éclat, la puissance et la beauté brillent dans son Temple saint!
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, dirige notre vie selon ton amour, afin qu’au nom de ton Fils bien-aimé, nous portions des fruits en abondance. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : 2 S 7, 4-17
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? Depuis le jour où j’ai fait monter d’Égypte les fils d’Israël et jusqu’à ce jour, je n’ai jamais habité dans une maison ; j’ai été comme un voyageur, sous la tente qui était ma demeure. Pendant tout le temps où j’étais comme un voyageur parmi tous les fils d’Israël, ai-je demandé à un seul des juges que j’avais institués pasteurs de mon peuple Israël: “Pourquoi ne m’avez-vous pas bâti une maison de cèdre?” Tu diras donc à mon serviteur David: Ainsi parle le Seigneur de l’univers: 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. C’est lui qui bâtira une maison pour mon nom, et je rendrai stable pour toujours son trône royal. Moi, je serai pour lui un père; et lui sera pour moi un fils. S’il fait le mal, je le corrigerai avec le bâton, à la manière humaine, je le frapperai comme font les hommes. Mais ma fidélité ne lui sera pas retirée, comme je l’ai retirée à Saül que j’ai écarté de devant toi. Ta maison et ta royauté subsisteront toujours devant moi, ton trône sera stable pour toujours.» Toutes ces paroles, toute cette vision, Nathan les rapporta fidèlement à David.
Psaume :88 (89), 4-5, 27-28, 29-30)
R/ Sans fin je lui garderai mon amour.
- «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 ! 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.»
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. La semence est la parole de Dieu; le semeur est le Christ, celui qui le trouve demeure pour toujours. Alléluia.
Évangile : Mc 4, 1-20
En ce temps-là, Jésus se mit de nouveau à enseigner au bord de la mer de Galilée. Une foule très nombreuse se rassembla auprès de lui, si bien qu’il monta dans une barque où il s’assit. Il était sur la mer, et toute la foule était près de la mer, sur le rivage. Il leur enseignait beaucoup de choses en paraboles, et dans son enseignement il leur disait: «Écoutez! Voici que le semeur sortit pour semer. Comme il semait, du grain est tombé au bord du chemin ; les oiseaux sont venus et ils ont tout mangé. Du grain est tombé aussi sur du sol pierreux, où il n’avait pas beaucoup de terre ; il a levé aussitôt, parce que la terre était peu profonde; et lorsque le soleil s’est levé, ce grain a brûlé et, faute de racines, il a séché. Du grain est tombé aussi dans les ronces, les ronces ont poussé, l’ont étouffé, et il n’a pas donné de fruit. Mais d’autres grains sont tombés dans la bonne terre; ils ont donné du fruit en poussant et en se développant, et ils ont produit trente, soixante, cent, pour un.» Et Jésus disait: «Celui qui a des oreilles pour entendre, qu’il entende!» Quand il resta seul, ceux qui étaient autour de lui avec les Douze l’interrogeaient sur les paraboles. Il leur disait: «C’est à vous qu’est donné le mystère du royaume de Dieu; mais à ceux qui sont dehors, tout se présente sous forme de paraboles. Et ainsi, comme dit le prophète: Ils auront beau regarder de tous leurs yeux, ils ne verront pas; ils auront beau écouter de toutes leurs oreilles, ils ne comprendront pas ; sinon ils se convertiraient et recevraient le pardon.» Il leur dit encore: «Vous ne saisissez pas cette parabole? Alors, comment comprendrez-vous toutes les paraboles? Le semeur sème la Parole. Il y a ceux qui sont au bord du chemin où la Parole est semée: quand ils l’entendent, Satan vient aussitôt et enlève la Parole semée en eux. Et de même, il y a ceux qui ont reçu la semence dans les endroits pierreux: ceux-là, quand ils entendent la Parole, ils la reçoivent aussitôt avec joie; mais ils n’ont pas en eux de racine, ce sont les gens d’un moment; que vienne la détresse ou la persécution à cause de la Parole, ils trébuchent aussitôt. Et il y en a d’autres qui ont reçu la semence dans les ronces: ceux-ci entendent la Parole, mais les soucis du monde, la séduction de la richesse et toutes les autres convoitises les envahissent et étouffent la Parole, qui ne donne pas de fruit. Et il y a ceux qui ont reçu la semence dans la bonne terre: ceux-là entendent la Parole, ils l’accueillent, et ils portent du fruit : trente, soixante, cent, pour un.»
Prière sur les offrandes
Dans ta bonté, Seigneur, accepte notre offrande: Qu’elle soit sanctifiée et serve ainsi à notre salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 33, 6
Ensemble, approchez du Seigneur: resplendissez de sa lumière et sur votre visage il n’y aura plus d’ombre.
Prière après la communion
Permets, nous t’en prions, Dieu tout-puissant, Qu’ayant reçu de toi la grâce d’une nouvelle vie, nous puissions nous en émerveiller toujours. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Dieu est un semeur prodigue. Il laisse tomber la graine précieuse dans toute terre, parce qu’il offre à chacun la possibilité d’accueillir le salut. Le royaume de Dieu est universel dans ce sens qu’il s’adresse à toute personne, indépendamment de son histoire, de son degré de foi, de son origine. Dieu n’abandonne jamais l’homme au pouvoir de la mort et ne se fatigue jamais de lui offrir son salut. Par ailleurs, l’homme n’est jamais une fois pour toutes un type de terre déterminé. En fonction des circonstances, il peut être le bord du chemin, le sol pierreux, les ronces et la bonne terre. Le plus important consiste alors à accueillir la parole de Dieu dans sa vie et de se laisser transformer par elle pour porter des fruits.
