by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 17, 2020 | Evangelium
saturday 18 JANUARY 2020
St. Volusian
BVM
He was bishop of Tours in France. A senator at Tours, he was initially married, supposedly to a most unpleasant wife. Named bishop of the city in 488, he was forced to leave the see in 496 by the Arian Visigoths, and went to Spain. He died perhaps in Toulouse, or in Spain, possibly as a martyr.
Green/White
Entrance Antiphon
Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold him, the name of whose empire is eternal.
Collect
Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen. 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: 1 Samuel 9:1-4,17-19,10:1
Among the men of Benjamin there was a man named Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah; a Benjaminite and a man of rank. He had a son named Saul, a handsome man in the prime of life. Of all the Israelites there was no one more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders taller than the rest of the people. Now some of the she-donkeys of Saul’s father Kish had strayed, so Kish said to Saul, ‘My son, take one of the servants with you and be off; go and look for the she-donkeys.’ They passed through the highlands of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but did not find them; they passed through the land of Shaalim, they were not there; they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them. When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, ‘That is the man of whom I told you; he shall rule my people.’ Saul accosted Samuel in the gateway and said, ‘Tell me, please, where the seer’s house is?’ Samuel replied to Saul, ‘I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place. You are to eat with me today. In the morning I shall take leave of you and tell you all that is in your heart. Samuel took a phial of oil and poured it on Saul’s head; then he kissed him, saying, ‘Has not the Lord anointed you prince over his people Israel? You are the man who must rule the Lord’s people, and who must save them from the power of the enemies surrounding them.’
Psalm 20(21):2-7
R/ O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.
- O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king; how your saving help makes him glad! You have granted him his heart’s desire; you have not refused the prayer of his lips.
- You came to meet him with the blessings of success, you have set on his head a crown of pure gold He asked you for life and this you have given, days that will last from age to age.
- Your saving help has given him glory. You have laid upon him majesty and splendour, you have granted your blessings to him forever. You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.
Gospel Acclamation Ps 118:36,29
Alleluia, alleluia! Bend my heart to your will, O Lord, and teach me your law. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 2:13-17
Jesus went out to the shore of the lake; and all the people came to him, and he taught them. As he was walking on he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus, sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. When Jesus was at dinner in his house, a number of tax collectors and sinners were also sitting at the table with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many of them among his followers. When the scribes of the Pharisee party saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard this he said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May your people’s oblation, O Lord, find favour with you, we pray, that it may restore them to holiness and obtain what they devoutly entreat. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 22: 5
With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.
Prayer after Communion
Humbly we ask you, almighty God, be graciously pleased to grant that those you renew with your Sacraments may also serve with lives pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The choice of Saul as leader of Israel was not by accident. It was God’s response to the plea of the people of Israel. It was God who chose Saul as King. Saul is described as being outwardly more handsome and taller than any other Israelite. But behind his outward beauty lay character. God gave Saul ‘power’ to govern his people. How was Saul going to use this power? Time would tell. It is only God who knows why he chose Saul. His ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts. That is why when we pray that God may give us a leader in any sphere of life, we must trust that it is ultimately God who is in control. For his own divine purposes, he chooses certain persons to occupy certain positions in life.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 17, 2020 | Agenda Biblique
Samedi 18Janvier 2020
Bienheureuse Marguerite de Hongrie
Vert/Blanc
Princesse hongroise, moniale dominicaine. Elle vivait le plus pauvrement possible et donnait aux pauvres tout l’argent que lui donnait son frère, le roi Etienne V. A l’intérieur du monastère, elle cherchait les tâches les plus rudes et les plus humbles. Eprise d’ascèse, elle infligeait son corps de toutes les façons, non par fidélité à la règle dominicaine qui n’en demandait pas tant, mais de sa propre initiative.
Antienne d’ouverture
Portons notre regard vers l’homme à qui le ciel est donné pour trône; la foule des anges l’adore en chantant d’une seule voix: « Voici Celui dont le pouvoir subsiste pour les siècles ».
Prière d’ouverture
Aux appels de ton peuple en prière, réponds, Seigneur, en ta bonté: Donne à chacun la claire vision de ce qu’il doit faire et la force de l’accomplir. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : 1 S 9, 1-4.10c.17-19 ; 10, 1
Il y avait dans la tribu de Benjamin un homme appelé Kish. C’était un homme de valeur. Il avait un fils appelé Saül, qui était jeune et beau. Aucun fils d’Israël n’était plus beau que lui, et il dépassait tout le monde de plus d’une tête. Les ânesses appartenant à Kish, père de Saül, s’étaient égarées. Kish dit à son fils Saül: « Prends donc avec toi l’un des serviteurs, et pars à la recherche des ânesses.» Ils traversèrent la montagne d’Éphraïm, ils traversèrent le pays de Shalisha sans les trouver; ils traversèrent le pays de Shaalim: elles n’y étaient pas; ils traversèrent le pays de Benjamin sans les trouver. Alors ils allèrent à la ville où se trouvait l’homme de Dieu. Quand Samuel aperçut Saül, le Seigneur l’avertit: « Voilà l’homme dont je t’ai parlé; c’est lui qui exercera le pouvoir sur mon peuple.» Saül aborda Samuel à l’entrée de la ville et lui dit: « Indique-moi, je t’en prie, où est la maison du voyant.» Samuel répondit à Saül: « C’est moi le voyant. Monte devant moi au lieu sacré. Vous mangerez aujourd’hui avec moi. Demain matin, je te laisserai partir et je te renseignerai sur tout ce qui te préoccupe.» Le lendemain, Samuel prit la fiole d’huile et la répandit sur la tête de Saül; puis il l’embrassa et lui dit: « N’est-ce pas le Seigneur qui te donne l’onction comme chef sur son héritage ? »
Psaume :20 (21), 2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R/ Seigneur, le roi se réjouit de ta force.
- Seigneur, le roi se réjouit de ta force; quelle allégresse lui donne ta victoire ! Tu as répondu au désir de son cœur, tu n’as pas rejeté le souhait de ses lèvres.
- Tu lui destines bénédictions et bienfaits, tu mets sur sa tête une couronne d’or. La vie qu’il t’a demandée, tu la lui donnes, de longs jours, des années sans fin.
- Par ta victoire, grandit son éclat: tu le revêts de splendeur et de gloire. Tu mets en lui ta bénédiction pour toujours: ta présence l’emplit de joie !
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Le Seigneur m’a envoyé porter la Bonne Nouvelle aux pauvres, annoncer aux captifs leur libération. Alléluia. (Lc 4, 18)
Evangile :Mc 2, 13-17
En ce temps-là, Jésus sortit de nouveau le long de la mer; toute la foule venait à lui, et il les enseignait. En passant, il aperçut Lévi, fils d’Alphée, assis au bureau des impôts. Il lui dit: « Suis-moi.» L’homme se leva et le suivit. Comme Jésus était à table dans la maison de Lévi, beaucoup de publicains (c’est-à-dire des collecteurs d’impôts) et beaucoup de pécheurs vinrent prendre place avec Jésus et ses disciples, car ils étaient nombreux à le suivre. Les scribes du groupe des pharisiens, voyant qu’il mangeait avec les pécheurs et les publicains, disaient à ses disciples: « Comment ! Il mange avec les publicains et les pécheurs!» Jésus, qui avait entendu, leur déclara: « Ce ne sont pas les gens bien portants qui ont besoin du médecin, mais les malades. Je ne suis pas venu appeler des justes, mais des pécheurs. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Daigne accepter, Seigneur, l’offrande de ton peuple: Qu’elle contribue à le sanctifier, et lui obtienne ce qu’il demande avec confiance. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ps 35, 10
De toi, Seigneur, jaillit la vie, dans ta lumière, nous voyons la lumière.
Prière après la communion
Nous t’en supplions, Dieu tout-puissant: Toi qui refais nos forces par tes sacrements, donne-nous aussi de pouvoir te servir par une vie qui te plaise. Par Jésus.
Méditation
L’évangile de ce jour nous offre une autre surprise de Jésus, à travers l’appel de Matthieu, le collecteur d’impôts. Au temps de Jésus, les collecteurs d’impôts ou publicains étaient considérés comme des pécheurs et étaient regardés avec mépris et même avec haine. Cette haine des gens à leur égard repose sur le fait qu’ils imposent souvent des montants excessifs et apparaissent alors comme des fraudeurs qui s’enrichissent aux dépens des contribuables. De plus, leur collaboration avec l’occupant romain n’aide pas à leur attirer la sympathie de la population. La surprise de Jésus ici est synonyme de miséricorde. Parce qu’il est miséricordieux, Jésus fait toujours la différence entre le pécheur et son péché. Comme avec Paul, il offre à Matthieu la possibilité d’un nouveau départ. Il est venu pour toute personne qui a besoin de salut.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 16, 2020 | Agenda Biblique
Vendredi 17 Janvier 2020
Saint Antoine, abbé, mémoire
Blanc
« Si tu veux être parfait, va, vends tout ce que tu as ; puis viens, et suis-moi ! » A cet appel de l’Évangile, entendu au cours de la liturgie, Antoine voulut répondre aussitôt : il se dépouilla de ses biens et partit dans le désert de Haute-Égypte. Malgré le calme et la solitude, sa recherche de la perfection chrétienne n’alla pas sans difficulté ; en particulier, les démons le soumirent à des tentations très fortes. Son amour de la retraite ne l’empêcha pas de quitter le désert en 311 pour venir à Alexandrie témoigner, contre l’hérésie arienne, de sa foi en Jésus Fils de Dieu. Dans sa solitude, il est rejoint par des disciples que sa sainteté attire. Son rayonnement fut décuplé grâce à la biographie écrite de son vivant par S. Athanase : la ‘’Vie de S. Antoine’’ fut décisive pour l’orientation du monachisme chrétien. Le père des moines d’Égypte mourut plus que centenaire en 356.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 91, 13-14
Le juste grandira comme un palmier, il s’étendra comme un cèdre du Liban ; transplanté dans les parvis du Seigneur, il grandira dans la maison de notre Dieu.
Priere d’ouverture
Dieu qui as donné à saint Antoine de mener dans la solitude une vie héroïque, accorde-nous, par son intercession, de renoncer à nous-mêmes pour t’aimer sans cesse et plus que tout. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : 1 S 8, 4-7. 10-22a
En ces jours-là, tous les anciens d’Israël se réunirent et vinrent trouver Samuel à Rama. Ils lui dirent: « Tu es devenu vieux, et tes fils ne marchent pas sur tes traces. Maintenant donc, établis, pour nous gouverner, un roi comme en ont toutes les nations.» Samuel fut mécontent parce qu’ils avaient dit: « Donne-nous un roi pour nous gouverner », et il se mit à prier le Seigneur. Or, le Seigneur lui répondit: « Écoute la voix du peuple en tout ce qu’ils te diront. Ce n’est pas toi qu’ils rejettent, c’est moi qu’ils rejettent: ils ne veulent pas que je règne sur eux.» Samuel rapporta toutes les paroles du Seigneur au peuple qui lui demandait un roi. Et il dit: « Tels seront les droits du roi qui va régner sur vous. Vos fils, il les prendra, il les affectera à ses chars et à ses chevaux, et ils courront devant son char. Il les utilisera comme officiers de millier et comme officiers de cinquante hommes; il les fera labourer et moissonner à son profit, fabriquer ses armes de guerre et les pièces de ses chars. Vos filles, il les prendra pour la préparation de ses parfums, pour sa cuisine et pour sa boulangerie. Les meilleurs de vos champs, de vos vignes et de vos oliveraies, il les prendra pour les donner à ses serviteurs. Sur vos cultures et vos vignes il prélèvera la dîme, pour la donner à ses dignitaires et à ses serviteurs. Les meilleurs de vos serviteurs, de vos servantes et de vos jeunes gens, ainsi que vos ânes, il les prendra et les fera travailler pour lui. Sur vos troupeaux, il prélèvera la dîme, et vous-mêmes deviendrez ses esclaves. Ce jour-là, vous pousserez des cris à cause du roi que vous aurez choisi, mais, ce jour-là, le Seigneur ne vous répondra pas ! » Le peuple refusa d’écouter Samuel et dit: « Non ! il nous faut un roi ! Nous serons, nous aussi, comme toutes les nations; notre roi nous gouvernera, il marchera à notre tête et combattra avec nous. » Samuel écouta toutes les paroles du peuple et les répéta aux oreilles du Seigneur. Et le Seigneur lui dit: « Écoute-les, et qu’un roi règne sur eux!»
Psaume :88 (89), 16-17, 18-19
R/ Ton amour, Seigneur, sans fin je le chante !
- Heureux le peuple qui connaît l’ovation! Seigneur, il marche à la lumière de ta face ; tout le jour, à ton nom il danse de joie, fier de ton juste pouvoir.
- Tu es sa force éclatante; ta grâce accroît notre vigueur. Oui, notre roi est au Seigneur; notre bouclier, au Dieu saint d’Israël.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Un grand prophète s’est levé parmi nous, et Dieu a visité son peuple. Alléluia. (Lc 7, 16)
Évangile: Mc 2, 1-12
Quelques jours après la guérison d’un lépreux, Jésus revint à Capharnaüm, et l’on apprit qu’il était à la maison. Tant de monde s’y rassembla qu’il n’y avait plus de place, pas même devant la porte, et il leur annonçait la Parole. Arrivent des gens qui lui amènent un paralysé, porté par quatre hommes. Comme ils ne peuvent l’approcher à cause de la foule, ils découvrent le toit au-dessus de lui, ils font une ouverture, et descendent le brancard sur lequel était couché le paralysé. Voyant leur foi, Jésus dit au paralysé: « Mon enfant, tes péchés sont pardonnés.» Or, il y avait quelques scribes, assis là, qui raisonnaient en eux-mêmes: « Pourquoi celui-là parle-t-il ainsi? Il blasphème. Qui donc peut pardonner les péchés, sinon Dieu seul?» Percevant aussitôt dans son esprit les raisonnements qu’ils se faisaient, Jésus leur dit: « Pourquoi tenez-vous de tels raisonnements? Qu’est-ce qui est le plus facile? Dire à ce paralysé: “Tes péchés sont pardonnés”, ou bien lui dire: “Lève-toi, prends ton brancard et marche” ? Eh bien ! Pour que vous sachiez que le Fils de l’homme a autorité pour pardonner les péchés sur la terre…– Jésus s’adressa au paralysé – je te le dis, lève-toi, prends ton brancard, et rentre dans ta maison.» Il se leva, prit aussitôt son brancard, et sortit devant tout le monde. Tous étaient frappés de stupeur et rendaient gloire à Dieu, en disant: « Nous n’avons jamais rien vu de pareil.»
Prière sur les offrandes
Accepte, Seigneur, comme un hommage de tes serviteurs à l’offrande que nous déposons sur ton autel en cette fête de saint Antoine ; permets qu’en nous détachant des biens de la terre, nous n’ayons d’autres richesses que toi. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Mt 19, 21
« Si tu veux être parfait, dit le Seigneur, va, vends ce que tu as, donne-le aux pauvres, et suis-moi. »
Prière après la communion
Après nous avoir fortifiés par cette communion, Seigneur, donne-nous de résister aux tentations de l’ennemi, comme tu as donné à saint Antoine de vaincre le prince des ténèbres. Par Jésus.
Méditation
C’est avec beaucoup d’admiration que l’on peut regarder les quatre hommes de cet évangile. Ils ne pouvaient pas porter le paralytique devant Jésus, à cause de la foule ; c’est alors qu’ils firent une ouverture sur le toit de la maison où Jésus se trouvait et y firent passer la civière. Ils ont confiance en Jésus et savent qu’il est capable de guérir le paralytique. Jésus réserve une surprise à ces hommes et à tout personne de foi : à côté du désir de santé ou de solution d’un problème, il offre aussi la guérison de l’âme, le pardon, le renouvellement intérieur et intégral de la personne. Il donne toujours plus qu’on ose demander, car sa sollicitude nous devance. Cet épisode suscite une question essentielle : « Ai-je confiance en Jésus, est-ce que je confie ma vie à Jésus? »
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 16, 2020 | Evangelium
friday 17 JANUARY 2020
St Anthony, Abbot (251 – 356)
St Anthony is the originator of the monastic life. He was born in Egypt: when his parents died, he listened to the words of the Gospel and gave all his belongings to the poor. He lived to be over a hundred years old, and died in 356.
.
White
Entrance Antiphon Cf. Ps 91: 13-14
The just will flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a Lebanon cedar, planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
Collect
O God, who brought the Abbot St. Anthony to serve you by a wondrous way of life in the desert, grant, through his intercession, that, denying ourselves, we may always love you above all things. 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: 1 Samuel 8:4-7,10-22
All the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. ‘Look,’ they said to him ‘you are old, and your sons do not follow your ways. So give us a king to rule over us, like the other nations.’ It displeased Samuel that they should say, ‘Let us have a king to rule us’, so he prayed to the Lord. But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for it is not you they have rejected; they have rejected me from ruling over them.’ All that the Lord had said Samuel repeated to the people who were asking him for a king He said, ‘These will be the rights of the king who is to reign over you. He will take your sons and assign them to his chariotry and cavalry, and they will run in front of his chariot. He will use them as leaders of a thousand and leaders of fifty; he will make them plough his ploughland and harvest his harvest and make his weapons of war and the gear for his chariots. He will also take your daughters as perfumers, cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields, of your vineyards and olive groves and give them to his officials. He will tithe your crops and vineyards to provide for his eunuchs and his officials. He will take the best of your manservants and maidservants, of your cattle and your donkeys, and make them work for him. He will tithe your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out on account of the king you have chosen for yourselves, but on that day God will not answer you.’ The people refused to listen to the words of Samuel. They said, ‘No! We want a king, so that we in our turn can be like the other nations; our king shall rule us and be our leader and fight our battles.’ Samuel listened to all that the people had to say and repeated it in the ears of the Lord. The Lord then said to Samuel, ‘Obey their voice and give them a king.’
Psalm 88(89):16-19
R/ I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.
- Happy the people who acclaim such a king, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who find their joy every day in your name, who make your justice the source of their bliss.
- For you, O Lord, are the glory of their strength; by your favour it is that our might is exalted; for our ruler is in the keeping of the Lord; our king in the keeping of the Holy One of Israel.
Gospel Acclamation: cf. Ep 1:17,18
Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, ‘How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?’ Jesus, inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them, ‘Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he turned to the paralytic – ‘I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.’ And the man got up, picked up his stretcher at once and walked out in front of everyone, so that they were all astounded and praised God saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May these offerings of our service, placed on your altar in commemoration of St. Anthony, be acceptable to you, O Lord, we pray, and grant that, released from earthly attachments, we may have our riches in you alone. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Cf. Ps 22: 5
If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have, give to the poor, and follow me, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished for our healing by your Sacraments, O Lord, may we escape every snare of the enemy unharmed, just as by your grace St. Anthony won glorious victories over the powers of darkness. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
See what forgiveness of sins does in the gospel text of today. It made a paralysed man to walk. Forgiveness of sins can change so many things in our life. The starting point of any renewal in our life is the experience of the forgiveness of God. Forgiveness heals. Sin is a form of paralysis. Jesus uses his authority to free us from sin, to cure the paralysis with which we are afflicted, the paralysis of sin. Cured of the paralysis of sin, we are able to walk on the path of holiness.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 15, 2020 | Evangelium
thursday 16 JANUARY 2020
Saint Fursa (- c.650)
He was an Irish monk who did much to establish Christianity throughout the British Isles and particularly in East Anglia, at a time when a high Christian civilization existed in Ireland but had been largely wiped out elsewhere.
Green
Entrance Antiphon
Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold him, the name of whose empire is eternal.
Collect
Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen. 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: 1 Samuel 4:1-11
It happened at that time that the Philistines mustered to fight Israel and Israel went out to meet them in battle, encamping near Ebenezer while the Philistines were encamped at Aphek. The Philistines drew up their battle line against Israel, the battle was hotly engaged, and Israel was defeated by the Philistines and about four thousand of their army were killed on the field. The troops returned to the camp and the elders of Israel said, ‘Why has the Lord allowed us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of our God from Shiloh so that it may come among us and rescue us from the power of our enemies.’’ So the troops sent to Shiloh and brought away the ark of the Lord of Hosts, he who is seated on the cherubs; the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, came with the ark. When the ark of the Lord arrived in the camp, all Israel gave a great shout so that the earth resounded. When the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, ‘What can this great shouting in the Hebrew camp mean?’ And they realised that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp. At this the Philistines were afraid; and they said, ‘God has come to the camp.’ ‘Alas!’ they cried ‘This has never happened before. Alas! Who will save us from the power of this mighty God? It was he who struck down Egypt with every kind of plague! But take courage and be men, Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been slaves to you. Be men and fight.’ So the Philistines joined battle and Israel was defeated, each man fleeing to his tent. The slaughter was great indeed, and there fell of the Israelites thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured too, and the two sons of Eli died, Hophni and Phinehas.
Psalm 43(44):10-11,14-15,24-25
R/ Redeem us, O Lord, because of your love.
- Yet now you have rejected us, disgraced us; you no longer go forth with our armies. You make us retreat from the foe and our enemies plunder us at will.
- You make us the taunt of our neighbours, the laughing-stock of all who are near. Among the nations, you make us a byword, among the peoples a thing of derision.
- Awake, O Lord, why do you sleep? Arise, do not reject us forever! Why do you hide your face and forget our oppression and misery?
Gospel Acclamation Ps 118:88
Alleluia, alleluia! Because of your love give me life, and I will do your will. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.
Prayer over the Offerings
May your people’s oblation, O Lord, find favour with you, we pray, that it may restore them to holiness and obtain what they devoutly entreat. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Ps 35: 10
With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.
Prayer after Communion
Humbly we ask you, almighty God, be graciously pleased to grant that those you renew with your Sacraments may also serve with lives pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In the gospel today, the leper begs Jesus if he is willing to heal him. Jesus is very much willing to heal him, not from a distance but at close range by touching him. In this miracle Jesus teaches us two things. First, he teaches us that it is not enough to love from a distance. There is no such thing as long distance love affair. It is because this will not last long. Healing requires that we touch, make contact and connect flesh to flesh. Those who work for the sick find out that there is real healing power and restoration through human touch or physical contact. Second, we should have faith and courage like that of the leper. He does not engage in self-pity so Jesus can show true pity and compassion on him. The bold actions of the leper make Jesus even bolder in his actions. The Lord teaches us today that it is not enough to love from a distance but to have faith and courage like that of the leper.
