SUNDAY 28 MARCH

by | Mar 27, 2021 | Evangelium

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD: Psalter II

SAINT LYDWINE

 RED

This gospel is read at the procession with palms before Mass:

 

Gospel: Mark 11:1-10

When they drew near to Jerusalem,  to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives,  Jesus sent two of his disciples, and said to them,  ‘Go into the village opposite you,  and immediately as you enter it  you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat;  untie it and bring it.  If any one says to you,  “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord has need of it  and will send it back here immediately.’”  And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door out in the open street;  and they untied it. And those who stood there said to them,  ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’  And they told them what Jesus had said;   and they let them go.  And they brought the colt to Jesus,  and threw their garments on it;  and he sat upon it. And many spread their garments on the road,  and others spread leafy branches  which they had cut from the fields.  And those who went before  and those who followed cried out,  ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming!  Hosanna in the highest!’

 

The following are the readings at the Mass itself:

Entrance Antiphon : Jn 12: 1, 12-13; Ps 23: 9-10

Six days before the Passover, when the Lord came into the city of Jerusalem, the children ran to meet him; in their hands they carried palm branches and with a loud voice cried out: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are you, who have come in your abundant mercy! O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory!  Who is this king of glory? He, the Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are you, who have come in your abundant mercy!

 

Collect

Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Saviour to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

First reading: Isaiah 50:4-7

The Lord has given me a disciple’s tongue. So that I may know how to reply to the wearied he provides me with speech. Each morning he wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord has opened my ear. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard; I did not cover my face against insult and spittle. The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed.

 

Psalm 21 (22):8-9, 17-20, 23-24

R/     My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

1.      All who see me deride me. They curl their lips, they toss their heads. ‘He trusted in the Lord, let him save him; let him release him if this is his friend.’

2.      Many dogs have surrounded me, a band of the wicked beset me. They tear holes in my hands and my feet I can count every one of my bones.

3.      They divide my clothing among them. They cast lots for my robe. O Lord, do not leave me alone, my strength, make haste to help me!

4. I will tell of your name to my brethren and praise you where they are assembled. ‘You who fear the Lord give him praise; all sons of Jacob, give him glory. Revere him, Israel’s sons.

 

Second reading: Philippians 2:6-11

His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Acclamation: Phil 2:8-9

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all names. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

 

Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47

It was two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the Scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by some trick and have him put to death. For they said, It must not be during the festivities, or there will be a disturbance among the people. Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper; he was at dinner when a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on his head. Some who were there said to one another indignantly,  “Why this waste of ointment? Ointment like this could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they were angry with her. But Jesus said, Leave her alone. Why are you upsetting her? What she has done for me is one of the good works. You have the poor with you always, and you can be kind to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me. She has done what was in her power to do: she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. I tell you solemnly, wherever throughout all the world the Good News is proclaimed, what she has done will be told also, in remembrance of her. Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, approached the chief priests with an offer to hand Jesus over to them. They were delighted to hear it, and promised to give him money; and he looked for a way of betraying him when the opportunity should occur. On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, his disciples said to him,  “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, and say to the owner of the house which he enters, ‘The Master says: “Where is my dining room in which I can eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ He will show you a large upper room furnished with couches, all prepared. Make the preparations for us there. The disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and prepared the Passover. When evening came, he arrived with the Twelve. And while they were at table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me, one of you eating with me.” They were distressed and asked him, one after another, “Not I, surely?”  He said to them, “it is one of the Twelve, one who is dipping into the same dish with me. Yes, the Son of Man is going to his fate, as the Scriptures say he will, but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born”!  And as they were eating, he took some bread, and when he had said the blessing, he broke it and gave it to them, saying: “Take it: this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them, and all drank from it, and he said to them, “this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many. I tell you solemnly, I shall not drink any more wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.”  After psalms had been sung, they left for the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, you will all lose faith, for the Scripture says: ‘I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.’ However, after my resurrection I shall go before you to Galilee.” Peter said, “even if all lose faith, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “I tell you solemnly, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will have disowned me three times.” But he repeated still more earnestly, “If I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And they all said the same. They came to a small estate called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Stay here while I pray.” Then he took Peter and James and John with him. And a sudden fear came over him, and great distress. And he said to them, my soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here, and keep awake. And going on a little further he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, this hour might pass him by. He said, “Abba (Father)! Everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. But let it be as you, not I, would have it.” He came back and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Had you not the strength to keep awake one hour? You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came back and found them sleeping, their eyes were so heavy; and they could find no answer for him. He came back a third time and said to them, you can sleep on now and take your rest. It is all over. The hour has come. Now the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. “Get up! Let us go! My betrayer is close at hand already.” Even while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up with a number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and the Scribes and the elders. Now the traitor had arranged a signal with them. He had said, “The one I kiss, he is the man. Take him in charge, and see he is well guarded when you lead him away.” So when the traitor came, he went straight up to Jesus and said, Rabbi! and kissed him. The others seized him and took him in charge. Then one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck out at the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus spoke, “Am I a brigand, that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? I was among you teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid hands on me. But this is to fulfil the Scriptures.” And they all deserted him and ran away. A young man who followed him had nothing on but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the cloth in their hands and ran away naked. They led Jesus off to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the Scribes assembled there. Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s palace, and was sitting with the attendants warming himself at the fire. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus on which they might pass the death sentence. But they could not find any. Several, indeed, brought false evidence against him, but their evidence was conflicting. Some stood up and submitted this false evidence against him, we heard him say, ‘I am going to destroy this Temple made by human hands, and in three days build another, not made by human hands.’ But even on this point their evidence was conflicting. The high priest then stood up before the whole assembly and put this question to Jesus, have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you? But he was silent and made no answer at all. The high priest put a second question to him, are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? Jesus said, ‘I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven’. The high priest tore his robes, and said, “What need of witnesses have we now? You heard the blasphemy. What is your finding?” And they all gave their verdict: “he deserves to die”. Some of them started spitting at him and, blindfolding him, began hitting him with their fists and shouting, play the prophet! And the attendants rained blows on him. While Peter was down below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s servant-girls came up. She saw Peter warming himself there, stared at him and said, “You too were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” But he denied it, saying, “I do not know him, I do not understand what you are talking about.” And he went out into the forecourt. The servant-girl saw him and again started telling the bystanders, “This fellow is one of them”. But again he denied it. A little later, the bystanders themselves said to Peter, “You are one of them for sure! Why, you are a Galilean.” But he started calling down curses on himself and swearing, “I do not know the man you speak of.” At that moment the cock crew for the second time, and Peter recalled how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will have disowned me three times.’ And he burst into tears. First thing in the morning, the chief priests together with the elders and Scribes, in short the whole Sanhedrin, had their plan ready. They had Jesus bound and took him away and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him: “Are you the king of the Jews?”  He answered, “It is you who say it”. And the chief priests brought many accusations against him. Pilate questioned him again: “Have you no reply at all? See how many accusations they are bringing against you!” But, to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply. At festival time, Pilate used to release a prisoner for them, anyone they asked for. Now a man called Barabbas was then in prison with the rioters who had committed murder during the uprising. When the crowd went up and began to ask Pilate the customary favour, Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?” For he realised it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. The chief priests, however, had incited the crowd to demand that he should release Barabbas for them instead. Then Pilate spoke again, “But in that case, what am I to do with the man you call king of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Why? What harm has he done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, anxious to placate the crowd, released Barabbas for them and, having ordered Jesus to be scourged, handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led him away to the inner part of the palace, that is, the Praetorium, and called the whole cohort together. They dressed him up in purple, twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed and spat on him; and they went down on their knees to do him homage. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the purple and dressed him in his own clothes. They enlisted a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull. They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he refused it. Then they crucified him, and shared out his clothing, casting lots to decide what each should get. It was the third hour when they crucified him. The inscription giving the charge against him read: ‘The King of the Jews.’ And they crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said, “Aha! So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself: come down from the cross!” The chief priests and the Scribes mocked him among themselves in the same way. They said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, for us to see it and believe”. Even those who were crucified with him taunted him. When the sixth hour camem, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”, which means, “My God, my God, why have you deserted me?” When some of those who stood by heard this, they said Listen, he is calling on Elijah. Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink, saying: ‘Wait and see if Elijah will come to take him down’. But Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. (All kneel and pause for a moment.) And the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The centurion, who was standing in front of him, had seen how he had died, and he said, “In truth this man was a son of God.” There were some women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary who was the mother of James the younger and Joset, and Salome. These used to follow him and look after him when he was in Galilee. And there were many other women there who had come up to Jerusalem with him. It was now evening, and since it was Preparation Day (that is, the vigil of the sabbath), there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent member of the Council, who himself lived in the hope of seeing the kingdom of God, and he boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate, astonished that he should have died so soon, summoned the centurion and enquired if he was already dead. Having been assured of this by the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph who bought a shroud, took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him in the shroud and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joset were watching and took note of where he was laid.

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Through the Passion of your Only Begotten Son, O Lord, may our reconciliation with you be near at hand, so that, though we do not merit it by our own deeds, yet by this sacrifice made once for all, we may feel already the effects of your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon: Mt 26: 42

Father, if this chalice cannot pass without my drinking it, your will be done.

 

Prayer after Communion

Nourished with these sacred gifts, we humbly beseech you, O Lord, that, just as through the death of your Son you have brought us to hope for what we believe, so by his Resurrection you may lead us to where you call. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Prayer over the People

Look, we pray, O Lord, on this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ did not hesitate to be delivered into the hands of the wicked and submit to the agony of the Cross. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

 

 

 

 

 

Meditation

The chief priests were more concerned about their political and social positions than looking at the messiah who was coming to save them. They felt threatened for no reason. We may reject God’s will for us and do not like the way He is going about things in our lives, and so put ourselves on the brink of destruction because we eventually reject Him. Let us be patient with God and let things go His way rather than reject Him because we are afraid of losing something which may not count for our salvation at the end of the day.

SATURDAY 27 MARCH

by | Mar 26, 2021 | Evangelium

St. John of Egypt (304 – 394)

A hermit in a cave, he lived a very strict life of prayer and manual work. People visited him, since he was able to perform miracles, heal the sick and read people’s hearts. He died in 394, at the age of 90.

Violet

Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 21: 20, 7

O Lord, do not stay afar off; my strength, make haste to help me! For I am a worm and no man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

 

Collect

O God, who have made all those reborn in Christ a chosen race and a royal priesthood, grant us, we pray, the grace to will and to do what you command, that the people called to eternal life may be one in the faith of their hearts and the homage of their deeds. 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: Ezekiel 37:21-28

The Lord says this: ‘I am going to take the sons of Israel from the nations where they have gone. I shall gather them together from everywhere and bring them home to their own soil. I shall make them into one nation in my own land and on the mountains of Israel, and one king is to be king of them all; they will no longer form two nations, nor be two separate kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and their filthy practices and all their sins. I shall rescue them from all the betrayals they have been guilty of; I shall cleanse them; they shall be my people and I will be their God. My servant David will reign over them, one shepherd for all; they will follow my observances, respect my laws and practise them. They will live in the land that I gave my servant Jacob, the land in which your ancestors lived. They will live in it, they, their children, their children’s children, for ever. David my servant is to be their prince for ever. I shall make a covenant of peace with them, an eternal covenant with them. I shall resettle them and increase them; I shall settle my sanctuary among them for ever. I shall make my home above them; I will be their God, they shall be my people. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord, the sanctifier of Israel, when my sanctuary is with them for ever.’

 

Psalm: Jeremiah 31:10-13

R/     The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

 

1. O nations, hear the word of the Lord, proclaim it to the far-off coasts. Say: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him and guard him as a shepherd guards his flock.’

2. For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, has saved him from an overpowering hand. They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion, they will stream to the blessings of the Lord.

3.      Then the young girls will rejoice and dance, the men, young and old, will be glad. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will console them, give gladness for grief.

 

Gospel Acclamation: Ezk18:31

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! Shake off all your sins – it is the Lord who speaks – and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

 

Gospel: John 11:45-56

Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did believed in him, but some of them went to tell the Pharisees what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting. ‘Here is this man working all these signs,’ they said ‘and what action are we taking? If we let him go on in this way everybody will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy the Holy Place and our nation.’ One of them, Caiaphas, the high priest that year, said, ‘You do not seem to have grasped the situation at all; you fail to see that it is better for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be destroyed.’ He did not speak in his own person, it was as high priest that he made this prophecy that Jesus was to die for the nation – and not for the nation only, but to gather together in unity the scattered children of God. From that day they were determined to kill him. So Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews, but left the district for a town called Ephraim, in the country bordering on the desert, and stayed there with his disciples. The Jewish Passover drew near, and many of the country people who had gone up to Jerusalem to purify themselves looked out for Jesus, saying to one another as they stood about in the Temple, ‘What do you think? Will he come to the festival or not?’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

May the gifts we offer from our fasting be acceptable to you, O Lord, we pray, and, as an expiation for our sins, may they make us worthy of your grace and lead us to what you promise for eternity. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon: Cf. Jn 11: 52

Christ was handed over, to gather into one the scattered children of God.

 

Prayer after Communion

We entreat your majesty most humbly, O Lord, that, as you feed us with the nourishment which comes from the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, so you may make us sharers of his divine nature. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

 

Prayer over the People

Have mercy, Lord, on your Church, as she brings you her supplications, and be attentive to those who incline their hearts before you: do not allow, we pray, those you have redeemed by the Death of your Only Begotten Son, to be harmed by their sins or weighed down by their trials. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

 

 

Meditation

Today we live in a state of division at almost all levels of the society and life. The family is not even spared. Man is always seeking that which makes him different from others. That is why we distinguish between rich/poor, Catholic/protestant, hardworking/lazy, and so on. We neither want to carry others along nor identify with them. Let us pray to be united, just as Christ and the Father are one, like in Eucharistic prayer III: “O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world”.

SAMEDI 27 MARS

by | Mar 26, 2021 | Agenda Biblique

Saint Habib

Il était diacre et prêchait dans les campagnes quand il fut arrêté pour son prosélytisme. Il se cacha d’abord, puis sortit de sa retraite et se présenta au juge. Il fut condamné par le préfet Lysanias à être brûlé vif, achevant ainsi son glorieux combat pour le Christ.

Violet

Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 21, 2.7.20

Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, pourquoi m’as-tu abandonné ? Je suis un ver, non pas un homme, raillé par les gens, rejeté par le peuple. Toi, Seigneur, ne reste pas loin : ô ma force ! Viens vite à mon aide. 

 

Prière d’ouverture

Seigneur, tu es toujours à l’œuvre pour sauver les hommes, mais en ce moment du Carême tu offres plus largement ta grâce à ton peuple; regarde avec bienveillance tous ceux qui t’appartiennent : que ton amour protège et fortifie à la fois les catéchumènes et les baptisés. Par Jésus Christ.

 

Première lecture : Ezéchiel 37, 21-28

Ainsi parle le Seigneur Dieu : « Je vais prendre les fils d’Israël parmi les nations où ils sont allés. Je les rassemblerai de partout et les ramènerai sur leur terre. J’en ferai une seule nation dans le pays, sur les montagnes d’Israël. Ils n’auront tous qu’un seul roi ; ils ne formeront plus deux nations ; ils ne seront plus divisés en deux royaumes. Ils ne se rendront plus impurs avec leurs idoles immondes et leurs horreurs, avec toutes leurs révoltes. Je les sauverai en les retirant de tous les lieux où ils habitent et où ils ont péché, je les purifierai. Alors ils seront mon peuple, et moi je serai leur Dieu. Mon serviteur David régnera sur eux ; ils n’auront tous qu’un seul berger ; ils marcheront selon mes ordonnances, ils garderont mes décrets et les mettront en pratique. Ils habiteront le pays que j’ai donné à mon serviteur Jacob, le pays que leurs pères ont habité. Ils l’habiteront, eux-mêmes et leurs fils, et les fils de leurs fils pour toujours. David, mon serviteur, sera leur prince pour toujours. Je conclurai avec eux une alliance de paix, une alliance éternelle. Je les rétablirai, je les multiplierai, je mettrai mon sanctuaire au milieu d’eux pour toujours. Ma demeure sera chez eux, je serai leur Dieu et ils seront mon peuple. Alors les nations sauront que Je suis le Seigneur, celui qui sanctifie Israël, lorsque mon sanctuaire sera au milieu d’eux pour toujours. »

 

Cantique 31, 10, 11,-12ab, 13

R/ Le Seigneur nous garde, comme un berger son troupeau.

 

1. Écoutez, nations, la parole du Seigneur ! Annoncez dans les îles lointaines : « Celui qui dispersa Israël le rassemble, il le garde, comme un berger son troupeau.

2. Le Seigneur a libéré Jacob, l’a racheté des mains d’un plus fort. Ils viennent, criant de joie, sur les hauteurs de Sion : ils affluent vers les biens du Seigneur.

3. La jeune fille se réjouit, elle danse; jeunes gens, vieilles gens, tous ensemble ! Je change leur deuil en joie, les réjouis, les console après la peine. »

 

Acclamation

Ta parole, Seigneur, est vérité, et ta loi, délivrance. Rejetez tous les crimes que vous avez commis, faites-vous un cœur nouveau et un esprit nouveau. Ta parole, Seigneur, est vérité, et ta loi, délivrance. (Ez 18, 31)

 

Évangile :  Jean 11, 45-57

En ce temps-là, quand Lazare fut sorti du tombeau, beaucoup de Juifs, qui étaient venus auprès de Marie et avaient donc vu ce que Jésus avait fait, crurent en lui.  Mais quelques-uns allèrent trouver les pharisiens pour leur raconter ce qu’il avait fait. Les grands prêtres et les pharisiens réunirent donc le Conseil suprême ; ils disaient : « Qu’allons-nous faire ? Cet homme accomplit un grand nombre de signes. Si nous le laissons faire, tout le monde va croire en lui, et les Romains viendront détruire notre Lieu saint et notre nation. » Alors, l’un d’entre eux, Caïphe, qui était grand prêtre cette année-là, leur dit : « Vous n’y comprenez rien vous ne voyez pas quel est votre intérêt : il vaut mieux qu’un seul homme meure pour le peuple, et que l’ensemble de la nation ne périsse pas. » Ce qu’il disait-là ne venait pas de lui-même ; mais, étant grand prêtre cette année-là, il prophétisa que Jésus allait mourir pour la nation ; et ce n’était pas seulement pour la nation, c’était afin de rassembler dans l’unité les enfants de Dieu dispersés. À partir de ce jour-là, ils décidèrent de le tuer. C’est pourquoi Jésus ne se déplaçait plus ouvertement parmi les Juifs ; il partit pour la région proche du désert, dans la ville d’Éphraïm où il séjourna avec ses disciples. Or, la Pâque juive était proche, et beaucoup montèrent de la campagne à Jérusalem pour se purifier avant la Pâque. Ils cherchaient Jésus et, dans le Temple, ils se disaient entre eux : « Qu’en pensez-vous ? Il ne viendra sûrement pas à la fête ! » Les grands prêtres et les pharisiens avaient donné des ordres : quiconque saurait où il était devait le dénoncer, pour qu’on puisse l’arrêter.

 

Prière sur les offrandes

Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, pour nous donner la vie nouvelle, tu nous fais renaître par le baptême reçu dans la foi ; accueille nos dons et nos prières: puisque tes serviteurs espèrent en toi, efface leurs péchés; réponds à leurs désirs. Par Jésus..

 

Antienne de communion : Jn 11, 52

Le Christ a été livré pour rassembler dans l’unité les enfants de Dieu qui ont été dispersés.

 

Prière après la communion

Dieu souverain, nous te le demandons humblement : rends-nous participants de la nature divine, puisque tu nous as fait communier au corps et au sang de Jésus Christ. Lui qui.

 

 

 

Méditation

L’une des plus grandes forces des livres prophétiques, c’est que majoritairement ils contiennent l’idée : d’une réunification de deux nations (Israël et Juda), d’un salut et d’un rassemblement des enfants dispersés et la restauration de la royauté de David. C’est ce qui fait d’eux des livres de l’annonce d’un salut, des livres de l’optimisme et de l’espérance. Et c’est toujours encourageant de lire ces parties-là : « Je vais prendre les fils d’Israël parmi les nations où ils sont allés. Je les rassemblerai de partout et les ramènerai sur leur terre…Ils n’auront tous qu’un seul roi … Ma demeure sera chez eux, je serai leur Dieu et ils seront mon peuple » (Ez 37, 21ss) Ils sont l’anticipation de la Bonne Nouvelle qu’est et qu’apporte notre Seigneur Jésus Christ par sa naissance, par toute sa vie et par sa mort et résurrection glorieuse.

VENDREDI 26 MARS

by | Mar 25, 2021 | Agenda Biblique

Sainte Larissa

Martyre grecque du IVe  siècle, elle fut brûlée vive avec d’autres chrétiens dans leur église, en plein culte, par un roi goth encore païen. Elle reste honorée par les Grecs et les Russes.

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Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 30, 10.15-16

Pitié, Seigneur, car je suis en détresse ; car tu es mon Dieu, mes jours sont dans ta main, délivre-moi de l’ennemi qui s’acharne.

 

Prière d’ouverture

Pardonne, Seigneur, les torts de ton peuple ; puisque notre faiblesse nous a rendus captifs du péché, que ta tendresse nous en délivre. Par Jésus Christ.

 

Première lecture : Jérémie 20, 10-13

Moi, Jérémie, j’entends les calomnies de la foule : « Dénoncez-le! Allons le dénoncer, celui-là, l’Épouvante-de-tous-côtés. » Tous mes amis guettent mes faux pas, ils disent : « Peut-être se laissera-t-il séduire… Nous réussirons, et nous prendrons sur lui notre revanche ! »   Mais le Seigneur est avec moi, tel un guerrier redoutable : mes persécuteurs trébucheront, ils ne réussiront pas. Leur défaite les couvrira de honte, d’une confusion éternelle, inoubliable. Seigneur de l’univers, toi qui scrutes l’homme juste, toi qui vois les reins et les cœurs, fais-moi voir la revanche que tu leur infligeras, car c’est à toi que j’ai remis ma cause. Chantez le Seigneur, louez le Seigneur: il a délivré le malheureux de la main des méchants.

 

Psaume 17 (18), 2-3, 4, 5-6, 7

R/ Dans mon angoisse, j’appelai le Seigneur ; il entend ma voix. cf. 17,7

 

1.      Je t’aime, Seigneur, ma force: Seigneur, mon roc, ma forteresse, Dieu mon libérateur, le rocher qui m’abrite, mon bouclier, mon fort, mon arme de victoire !

2.      Louange à Dieu! Quand je fais appel au Seigneur, je suis sauvé de tous mes ennemis.

3.      Les liens de la mort m’entouraient, le torrent fatal m’emportait ; des liens infernaux m’étreignaient : j’étais pris aux pièges de la mort.

4.      Dans mon angoisse, j’appelai le Seigneur ; vers mon Dieu, je lançai un cri ; de son temple il entend ma voix : mon cri parvient à ses oreilles.

 

Acclamation

Gloire à toi, Seigneur, Fils du Dieu vivant ! Tes paroles, Seigneur, sont esprit et elles sont vie ;   tu as les paroles de la vie éternelle. Gloire à toi, Seigneur, Fils du Dieu vivant! (Cf. Jn 6, 63c.68c)

 

Évangile :  Jean 10, 31-42

En ce temps-là, de nouveau, des Juifs prient des pierres pour lapider Jésus. Celui-ci reprit la parole : « J’ai multiplié sous vos yeux les œuvres bonnes qui viennent du Père. Pour laquelle de ces œuvres voulez-vous me lapider ? »    Ils lui répondirent: «Ce n’est pas pour une œuvre bonne que nous voulons te lapider, mais c’est pour un blasphème: tu n’es qu’un homme, et tu te fais Dieu. » Jésus leur répliqua : «N’est-il pas écrit dans votre Loi : J’ai dit: Vous êtes des dieux ? Elle les appelle donc des dieux, ceux à qui la parole de Dieu s’adressait, et l’Écriture ne peut pas être abolie. Or, celui que le Père a consacré et envoyé dans le monde, vous lui dites: “Tu blasphèmes”, parce que j’ai dit : “Je suis le Fils de Dieu”. Si je ne fais pas les œuvres de mon Père, continuez à ne pas me croire. Mais si je les fais, même si vous ne me croyez pas, croyez les œuvres. Ainsi vous reconnaîtrez, et de plus en plus, que le Père est en moi, et moi dans le Père. »   Eux cherchaient de nouveau à l’arrêter, mais il échappa à leurs mains. Il repartit de l’autre côté du Jourdain, à l’endroit où, au début, Jean baptisait ; et il y demeura.  Beaucoup vinrent à lui en déclarant : « Jean n’a pas accompli de signe ; mais tout ce que Jean a dit de celui-ci était vrai.»  Et là, beaucoup crurent en lui.

 

Prière sur les offrandes

Dieu de bonté, accorde-nous de pouvoir toujours te servir en approchant de ton autel, et de trouver le salut en participant à son mystère. Par Jésus.

 

Antienne de communion : 1P 2, 24

Dans son corps, le Christ a porté nos péchés sur le bois de la croix, afin que nous puissions mourir à nos péchés et vivre selon la justice: c’est par ses blessures que vous avez été guéris.

 

Prière après la communion

Que la force de cette communion, Seigneur, ne nous abandonne jamais ; qu’elle écarte loin de nous tout ce qui pourrait nous perdre. Par Jésus.

 

         

 

Méditation

L’Evangile de ce jour nous révèle l’importance de la communion avec notre Père du Ciel à travers nos prières quotidiennes. Nous croyons de tout notre cœur que Jésus est Fils de Dieu et que toute parole qui sort de ses lèvres est Parole même de Dieu. Mais nous vivons tellement au milieu des bruits, dans la rue, dans les voitures, dans les marchés, jusque dans nos maisons ou marches, la radio ou la télévision sans arrêt ! Il est nécessaire pour nous de rechercher des lieux de silence, l’intimité d’une église ou tout simplement notre chambre. C’est dans ces lieux et moments de silence que nous pourront non seulement entendre la Parole de Jésus et contempler ses moindres gestes, mais aussi les accueillir avec toute notre foi et tout notre amour, comme les foules de Transjordanie.

FRIDAY 26 MARCH

by | Mar 25, 2021 | Evangelium

St. Margaret Clitherow (1556 – 1586)

She was born in England in 1555. For hosting fugitive priests, she was arrested, imprisoned by authorities and condemned to be pressed to death on  25th March, 1586. She was stretched out on the ground with a sharp rock on her back and crushed under a door overladen with unbearable weights

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Entrance Antiphon : Ps 30: 10, 16, 18

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in distress. Deliver me from the hands of my enemies and those who pursue me. O Lord, let me never be put to shame, for I call on you.

 

Collect

Pardon the offences of your peoples, we pray, O Lord, and in your goodness set us free from the bonds of the sins we have committed in our weakness. 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: Jeremiah 20:10-13

Jeremiah said: I hear so many disparaging me, ‘“Terror from every side!” Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ All those who used to be my friends watched for my downfall, ‘Perhaps he will be seduced into error. Then we will master him and take our revenge!’ But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero; my opponents will stumble, mastered, confounded by their failure; everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs. But you, O Lord of Hosts, you who probe with justice, who scrutinise the loins and heart, let me see the vengeance you will take on them, for I have committed my cause to you. Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men.

 

Psalm 17 (18):2-7

R/     In my anguish I called to the Lord, and he heard my voice.

 

1.      I love you, Lord, my strength, my rock, my fortress, my saviour. My God is the rock where I take refuge; my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold. The Lord is worthy of all praise, when I call I am saved from my foes.

2.      The waves of death rose about me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the snares of the grave entangled me; the traps of death confronted me.

3.      In my anguish I called to the Lord; I cried to God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Mt 4:17

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! Repent, says the Lord, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

 

Gospel : John 10:31-42

The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’ The Jews answered him, ‘We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.’ Jesus answered: ‘Is it not written in your Law: I said, you are gods? So the Law uses the word gods of those to whom the word of God was addressed, and scripture cannot be rejected. Yet you say to someone the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, “You are blaspheming,” because he says, “I am the son of God.” If I am not doing my Father’s work, there is no need to believe me; but if I am doing it, then even if you refuse to believe in me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’ They wanted to arrest him then, but he eluded them. He went back again to the far side of the Jordan to stay in the district where John had once been baptising. Many people who came to him there said, ‘John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true’; and many of them believed in him.

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Grant, O merciful God, that we may be worthy to serve ever fittingly at your altars, and there to be saved by constant participation. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : 1 Pt 2: 24

Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the cross, so that dead to sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds we have been healed.

 

Prayer after Communion

May the unfailing protection of the sacrifice we have received never leave us, O Lord, and may it always drive far from us all that would do us harm. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Prayer over the People

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that your servants, who seek the grace of your protection, may be free from every evil and serve you in peace of mind. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

Meditation

In the Gospel today, we see Jesus defending the cause of good work, what St. James will later call faith and good works. He does not say only good works suffice, but he asks the Jewish leaders to recognise the good works he has done. Good works are signs of the expression of our faith. We are encouraged today to bring out the good deeds lying deep in us. We must also recognise the good deeds others do either for us or for the society; recognising the deeds of others is also an expression of faith.