by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Mar 17, 2019 | Evangelium
St Cyril of Jerusalem (315 – 386)
He was born in 315 and became bishop of Jerusalem in 348. He was active during the Arian controversy. He is respected by both the Catholics and the Orthodox, and he was declared a Doctor of the Church by the Pope in 1883.
Violet
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 25: 11-12
Redeem me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. My foot stands on level ground; I will bless the Lord in the assembly.
Collect
O God, who have taught us to chasten our bodies for the healing of our souls, enable us, we pray, to abstain from all sins, and strengthen our hearts to carry out your loving commands. 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: Daniel 9:4-10
O Lord, God great and to be feared, you keep the covenant and have kindness for those who love you and keep your commandments: we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly, we have betrayed your commandments and your ordinances and turned away from them. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. Integrity, Lord, is yours; ours the look of shame we wear today, we, the people of Judah, the citizens of Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in every country to which you have dispersed us because of the treason we have committed against you. To us, Lord, the look of shame belongs, to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God mercy and pardon belong, because we have betrayed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God nor followed the laws he has given us through his servants the prophets.
Psalm 78 (79):8-9, 11, 13
R/ Do not treat us according to our sins, O Lord.
1)Do not hold the guilt of our fathers against us. Let your compassion hasten to meet us; we are left in the depths of distress.
2) God our saviour, come to our help. Come for the sake of the glory of your name. O Lord our God, forgive us our sins; rescue us for the sake of your name.
3) Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die. But we, your people, the flock of your pasture, will give you thanks for ever and ever. We will tell your praise from age to age.
Gospel Acclamation; Jn 6:63, 68
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower; whoever finds this seed will remain for ever. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
Gospel Luke: 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept in your goodness these our prayers, O Lord, and set free from worldly attractions those you allow to serve the heavenly mysteries. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Lk. 6: 36
Be merciful, as your Father is merciful, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us of wrongdoing and make us heirs to the joy of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
Confirm the hearts of your faithful, O Lord, we pray, and strengthen them by the power of your grace, that they may be constant in making supplication to you and sincere in love for one another. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Meditation
We all have different models, that is, religious or civil figures we admire because of their outstanding behaviour. But when it comes to being compassionate towards others, God is the model per excellence, and his compassionate nature and character was shown when he gave his son to expiate our sins. This same Son teaches about the need not only to be compassionate but also to avoid being judgmental towards others. To be judgmental is a human habit and weakness, but today Jesus is encouraging us to replace this habit and weakness with compassion and generosity.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Mar 16, 2019 | Evangelium
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT:
Psalter II
ST PATRICK (385 – 461)
Violet
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 26: 8-9
Of you my heart has spoken, Seek his face. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face from me.
Collect
O God, who have commanded us to listen to your beloved Son, be pleased, we pray, to nourish us inwardly by your word, that, with spiritual sight made pure, we may rejoice to behold your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
Taking Abram outside, the Lord said, ‘Look up to heaven and count the stars if you can.’ ‘Such will be your descendants,’ he told him. Abram put his faith in the Lord, who counted this as making him justified. ‘I am the Lord’ he said to him ‘who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldaeans to make you heir to this land.’ ‘My Lord,’ Abram replied ‘how am I to know that I shall inherit it?’ He said to him, ‘Get me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon.’ He brought him all these, cut them in half and put half on one side and half facing it on the other; but the birds he did not cut in half. Birds of prey came down on the carcases but Abram drove them off. When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, there appeared a smoking furnace and a firebrand that went between the halves. That day the Lord made a Covenant with Abram in these terms: ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the wadi of Egypt to the Great River.’
Psalm 26(27):1, 7-9, 13-14
R/ The Lord is my light and my help.
1)The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?
2) Lord, hear my voice when I call; have mercy and answer. Of you my heart has spoken: ‘Seek his face.’
3) It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face. Dismiss not your servant in anger; you have been my help.
4) I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!
Second reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1
My brothers, be united in following my rule of life. Take as your models everybody who is already doing this and study them as you used to study us. I have told you often, and I repeat it today with tears, there are many who are behaving as the enemies of the cross of Christ. They are destined to be lost. They make foods into their god and they are proudest of something they ought to think shameful; the things they think important are earthly things. For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe. So then, my brothers and dear friends, do not give way but remain faithful in the Lord. I miss you very much, dear friends; you are my joy and my crown.
Gospel Acclamation: Mt. 17:5
Glory and praise to you, O Christ! From the bright cloud the Father’s voice was heard: ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
Gospel: Luke 9:28-36
Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up the mountain to pray. As he prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightning. Suddenly there were two men there talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they kept awake and saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ – He did not know what he was saying. As he spoke, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid. And a voice came from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.’ And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.
Prayer over the Offerings
May this sacrifice, O Lord, we pray, cleanse us of our faults and sanctify your faithful in body and mind for the celebration of the paschal festivities. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt. 17: 5
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.
Prayer after Communion
As we receive these glorious mysteries, we make thanksgiving to you, O Lord, for allowing us while still on earth to be partakers even now of the things of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
Bless your faithful, we pray, O Lord, with a blessing that endures for ever, and keep them faithful to the Gospel of your Only Begotten Son, so that they may always desire and at last attain that glory whose beauty he showed in his own Body, to the amazement of his Apostles. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Meditation
Alongside the Christian community of Philippi lived a cluster of pagans who had a negative view of the body; they considered it as the prison of the soul. Paul, however, declares about the body: “Do you not realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you and whom you received from God?” (1 Co 6: 19). Though it is the temple of the Holy Spirit , we expose our bodies to ugliness, suffering, futility and death by our ungodly actions. The Lord Jesus Christ will transform our bodies from this state and refashion them into the new radiant appearance. Up on the mountain, Jesus’ face shone in glorious splendour not because he was in the presence of God like Moses while he was on Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:29-35), but because he is the Son of God. His radiant appearance led Peter to suggest building shelters in order to prolong the moment of being in the vicinity of a glorious state. May our hearts beat as one with Peter’s with a desire not to leave the place of the glory of God, a place where God declares, “This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.” That place, our mountain where we see the glorified face of Christ, is the Church. That is where we listen to him as the voice commanded.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Mar 16, 2019 | Agenda Biblique
2ème Dimanche de Carême
Saint Patrice, évêque
Vers 385-461
Violet
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 26, 8-9
En mon cœur je t’ai dit : Je cherche ton visage, ton visage, Seigneur, je le recherche ; ne détourne pas de moi ta face.
Prière d’ouverture
Tu nous as dit, Seigneur, d’écouter ton Fils bien-aimé ; Fais-nous trouver dans ta parole les vivres dont notre foi a besoin : et nous aurons le regard assez pur pour discerner ta gloire. Par Jésus Christ.
Première lecture : Genèse 15, 5-12.17-18
En ces jours-là, le Seigneur parlait à Abraham dans une vision. Il le fit sortir et lui dit : « Regarde le ciel, et compte les étoiles, si tu le peux… » Et il déclara: « Telle sera ta descendance ! » Abram eut foi dans le Seigneur et le Seigneur estima qu’il était juste. Puis il dit : « Je suis le Seigneur, qui t’ai fait sortir d’Our en Chaldée pour te donner ce pays en héritage. » Abram répondit : « Seigneur mon Dieu, comment vais-je savoir que je l’ai en héritage ?» Le Seigneur lui dit : « Prends-moi une génisse de trois ans, une chèvre de trois ans, un bélier de trois ans, une tourterelle et une jeune colombe. » Abram prit tous ces animaux, les partagea en deux, et plaça chaque moitié en face de l’autre; mais il ne partagea pas les oiseaux. Comme les rapaces descendaient sur les cadavres, Abram les chassa. Au coucher du soleil, un sommeil mystérieux tomba sur Abram, une sombre et profonde frayeur tomba sur lui. Après le coucher du soleil, il y eut des ténèbres épaisses. Alors un brasier fumant et une torche enflammée passèrent entre les morceaux d’animaux. Ce jour-là, le Seigneur conclut une alliance avec Abram en ces termes : « À ta descendance je donne le pays que voici, depuis le Torrent d’Égypte jusqu’au Grand Fleuve, l’Euphrate. »
Psaume (Ps 26 (27), 1, 7-8, 9abcd, 13-14)
R/ Le Seigneur est ma lumière et mon salut. (Ps 26, 1a)
1. Le Seigneur est ma lumière et mon salut ; de qui aurais-je crainte ? Le Seigneur est le rempart de ma vie; devant qui tremblerais-je ?
2. Écoute, Seigneur, je t’appelle! Pitié! Réponds-moi! Mon cœur m’a redit ta parole : « Cherchez ma face. »
3. C’est ta face, Seigneur, que je cherche: ne me cache pas ta face. N’écarte pas ton serviteur avec colère : tu restes mon secours.
4. J’en suis sûr, je verrai les bontés du Seigneur sur la terre des vivants. « Espère le Seigneur, sois fort et prends courage ; espère le Seigneur. »
Deuxième lecture : Philipiens 3, 17 – 4, 1
Frères, ensemble imitez-moi, et regardez bien ceux qui se conduisent selon l’exemple que nous vous donnons. Car je vous l’ai souvent dit, et maintenant je le redis en pleurant : beaucoup de gens se conduisent en ennemis de la croix du Christ. Ils vont à leur perte. Leur dieu, c’est leur ventre, et ils mettent leur gloire dans ce qui fait leur honte ; ils ne pensent qu’aux choses de la terre. Mais nous, nous avons notre citoyenneté dans les cieux, d’où nous attendons comme sauveur le Seigneur Jésus Christ, lui qui transformera nos pauvres corps à l’image de son corps glorieux, avec la puissance active qui le rend même capable de tout mettre sous son pouvoir. Ainsi, mes frères bien-aimés pour qui j’ai tant d’affection, vous, ma joie et ma couronne, tenez bon dans le Seigneur, mes bien-aimés.
Acclamation
Gloire au Christ, Parole éternelle du Dieu vivant. Gloire à toi, Seigneur.De la nuée lumineuse, la voix du Père a retenti : « Celui-ci est mon Fils bien-aimé, écoutez-le! » Gloire au Christ, Parole éternelle du Dieu vivant. Gloire à toi, Seigneur.(Cf. Mt 17, 5)
Évangile : Luc 9, 28b-36
En ce temps-là, Jésus prit avec lui Pierre, Jean et Jacques, et il gravit la montagne pour prier. Pendant qu’il priait, l’aspect de son visage devint autre, et son vêtement devint d’une blancheur éblouissante. Voici que deux hommes s’entretenaient avec lui : c’étaient Moïse et Élie, apparus dans la gloire. Ils parlaient de son départ qui allait s’accomplir à Jérusalem. Pierre et ses compagnons étaient accablés de sommeil ; mais, restant éveillés, ils virent la gloire de Jésus, et les deux hommes à ses côtés. Ces derniers s’éloignaient de lui, quand Pierre dit à Jésus : « Maître, il est bon que nous soyons ici ! Faisons trois tentes : une pour toi, une pour Moïse, et une pour Élie. » Il ne savait pas ce qu’il disait. Pierre n’avait pas fini de parler, qu’une nuée survint et les couvrit de son ombre ; ils furent saisis de frayeur lorsqu’ils y pénétrèrent. Et, de la nuée, une voix se fit entendre : « Celui-ci est mon Fils, celui que j’ai choisi : écoutez-le ! » Et pendant que la voix se faisait entendre, il n’y avait plus que Jésus, seul. Les disciples gardèrent le silence et, en ces jours-là, ils ne rapportèrent à personne rien de ce qu’ils avaient vu.
Prière sur les offrandes
Que cette offrande, Seigneur, nous purifie de nos péchés : Qu’elle sanctifie le corps et l’esprit de tes fidèles, et les prépare à célébrer les fêtes pascales. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Mt 17, 5
Au jour de la Transfiguration, la voix du Père se fit entendre : « Celui-ci est mon Fils bien-aimé, en qui j’ai mis tout mon amour; écoutez-le ».
Prière après la communion
Pour avoir communié, Seigneur, aux mystères de ta gloire, nous voulons te remercier, toi qui nous donnes déjà, en cette vie, d’avoir part aux biens de ton Royaume. Par Jésus.
MÉDITATION
L’évangile de ce dimanche nous donne de méditer sur la Transfiguration de Jésus-Christ. Cet épisode nous enseigne que parmi les appelés, il y a peu d’élus qui ont le privilège de contempler la gloire de Dieu. Cela ne doit pas être un motif d’orgueil pour les disciples, car c’est le fruit de la grâce de Dieu. Aussi sommes-nous appelés à travers cet épisode à nous mettre à l’écoute de la Parole de Dieu, symbolisée par la présence de Moïse et d’Élie, cette Parole qui a la force de nous transformer ou de nous transfigurer de l’intérieur. La Parole faite chair, Jésus-Christ : « Celui-ci est mon Fils, celui que j’ai choisi : écoutez-le ! ». Ayant contemplé la gloire divine comme Pierre, Jean et Jacques, nous devons descendre. C’est le temps de l’apostolat, de l’action ou de la mission. Un temps qui n’est pas épargné par la Croix du Christ, « chemin toujours accessible vers la vie, vers le don de la vie communiquée en Jésus-Christ ».
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Mar 15, 2019 | Agenda Biblique
Sainte Bénédicte
Elle rejoignit sainte Claire au couvent de saint Damien à Assise. Elle lui succéda, en donnant l’exemple d’une constante régularité et d’une stricte pauvreté.
Violet
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 18, 8
La loi du Seigneur est parfaite, qui redonne vie. La parole du Seigneur est sûre, qui donne la sagesse aux impies.
Prière d’ouverture :
Dieu éternel, notre Père, daigne tourner vers toi notre cœur, afin que nous soyons tout entiers à ton service, dans la recherche de l’unique nécessaire, et une vie remplie de charité. Par Jésus Christ.
Première lecture : Dt 26, 16-19
Moïse disait au peuple d’Israël: «Aujourd’hui le Seigneur ton Dieu te commande de mettre en pratique ces décrets et ces ordonnances. Tu veilleras à les pratiquer de tout ton cœur et de toute ton âme. Aujourd’hui tu as obtenu du Seigneur cette déclaration : lui sera ton Dieu ; toi, tu suivras ses chemins, tu garderas ses décrets, ses commandements et ses ordonnances, tu écouteras sa voix. Aujourd’hui le Seigneur a obtenu de toi cette déclaration: tu seras son peuple, son domaine particulier, comme il te l’a dit, tu devras garder tous ses commandements. Il te fera dépasser en prestige, renommée et gloire toutes les nations qu’il a faites, et tu seras un peuple consacré au Seigneur ton Dieu, comme il l’a dit. ».
Psaume 118 (119), 1-2, 4-5, 7-8
R/ Heureux ceux qui marchent suivant la loi du Seigneur ! cf. 118, 1
1. Heureux les hommes intègres dans leurs voies qui marchent suivant la loi du Seigneur ! Heureux ceux qui gardent ses exigences, ils le cherchent de tout cœur !
2. Toi, tu promulgues des préceptes à observer entièrement. Puissent mes voies s’affermir à observer tes commandements !
3. D’un cœur droit, je pourrai te rendre grâce, instruit de tes justes décisions. Tes commandements, je les observe : ne m’abandonne pas entièrement.
Acclamation:
Gloire au Christ, Parole éternelle du Dieu vivant. Gloire à toi, Seigneur.Voici maintenant le moment favorable, voici maintenant le jour du salut. Gloire au Christ, Parole éternelle du Dieu vivant. Gloire à toi, Seigneur.(2 Co 6, 2)
Évangile : Mathieu 5, 43-48
En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à ses disciples : « Vous avez appris qu’il a été dit : Tu aimeras ton prochain et tu haïras ton ennemi. Eh Bien ! moi, je vous dis: Aimez vos ennemis, et priez pour ceux qui vous persécutent, afin d’être vraiment les fils de votre Père qui est aux cieux ; car il fait lever son soleil sur les méchants et sur les bons, il fait tomber la pluie sur les justes et sur les injustes. En effet, si vous aimez ceux qui vous aiment, quelle récompense méritez-vous ? Les publicains eux-mêmes n’en font-ils pas autant ? Et si vous ne saluez que vos frères, que faites-vous d’extraordinaire ? Les païens eux-mêmes n’en font-ils pas autant ? Vous donc, vous serez parfaits comme votre Père céleste est parfait. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Que tes mystères, Seigneur, nous disposent à recevoir avec fruit la guérison qu’ils nous apportent. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion: Mt 5, 48
« Soyez parfaits comme votre Père céleste est parfait », dit le Seigneur.
Prière après la communion :
Seigneur, que ta bienveillance accompagne toujours ceux que tu réconfortes par cette Eucharistie: puisqu’ils appartiennent à ton peuple saint, qu’ils ne manquent jamais de tes secours. Par Jésus.
MÉDITATION
En se choisissant un peuple avec lequel il a conclu une alliance, Dieu a manifesté son amour. A travers ce lien d’amour, Dieu a promis bénédiction à son peuple à condition qu’il lui obéisse. Cette obéissance passe impérativement par l’écoute attentive de la Parole de Yahvé, la pratique et la fidélité à sa Loi. C’est d’ailleurs la condition indispensable pour devenir parfait et être un peuple totalement consacré au Seigneur. Cette fidélité à la Loi suprême, révélée par Jésus dans l’évangile, consiste à imiter le Père céleste, qui est parfait. C’est dire que nous devons imiter la perfection de Dieu par l’amour de nos ennemis. Les ennemis, nous en avons sur nos routes humaines. Découvrons Dieu en eux et manifestons-leur notre amour. Amen !
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Mar 15, 2019 | Evangelium
St. Abban
Born in Ireland, Abban resided in Abingdon, England before the era of St. Patrick. Abban is part of the great panorama of early Irish Christians who served as models for European monasticism and faith.
Violet
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 18: 8
The law of the Lord is perfect; it revives the soul. The decrees of the Lord are steadfast; they give wisdom to the simple.
Collect
Turn our hearts to you, eternal Father, and grant that, seeking always the one thing necessary and carrying out works of charity, we may be dedicated to your worship. 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: Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Moses said to the people: ‘The Lord your God today commands you to observe these laws and customs; you must keep and observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. ‘You have today made this declaration about the Lord: that he will be your God, but only if you follow his ways, keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and listen to his voice. And the Lord has today made this declaration about you: that you will be his very own people as he promised you, but only if you keep all his commandments; then for praise and renown and honour he will set you high above all the nations he has made, and you will be a people consecrated to the Lord, as he promised.’
Psalm 118 (119):1-2, 4-5, 7-8
R They are happy who follow God’s law!
1)They are happy whose life is blameless, who follow God’s law! They are happy who do his will, seeking him with all their hearts.
2) You have laid down your precepts to be obeyed with care. May my footsteps be firm to obey your statutes.
3) I will thank you with an upright heart as I learn your decrees. I will obey your statutes; do not forsake me.
Gospel Acclamation: cf. Lk 8:15
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart, take the word of God to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May these blessed mysteries by which we are restored, O Lord, we pray, make us worthy of the gift they bestow. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt. 5: 48
Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Show unceasing favour, O Lord, to those you refresh with this divine mystery, and accompany with salutary consolations those you have imbued with heavenly teaching. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
May the blessing for which they have longed strengthen your faithful, O God, so that, never straying from your will, they may always rejoice in your benefits. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Meditation
The Torah states in the book of Leviticus, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself…” (19:18). This text urged the Israelites to love their fellow countrymen. This could mean that love is limited to only those within the community of worshipers. But Jesus extends this commandment beyond the boundaries of a particular community when he says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Just as we have Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) here in Africa, so we can have love or charity without frontiers, which goes beyond racial and ethnic frontiers. Jesus appeals for inclusive love which can be summarised by this saying: “To love only when it pays off, or to greet only our own kind, is to love as the world loves. But to love without limit, offering peace even to those who threaten and oppose us, is to love as God loves.”
