by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Feb 24, 2019 | Evangelium
ST ETHELBERT (C.560 – 616)
He was the first king in England to convert to Christianity. According to Bede, this happened shortly after St Augustine arrived on his mission to the English soil.
Green
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 12: 6
O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me.
Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, always pondering spiritual things, we may carry out in both word and deed that which is pleasing to you. 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: Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10
All wisdom is from the Lord, and it is his own for ever. The sand of the sea and the raindrops, and the days of eternity, who can assess them? The height of the sky and the breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss, who can probe them? Before all other things wisdom was created, shrewd understanding is everlasting. For whom has the root of wisdom ever been uncovered? Her resourceful ways, who knows them? One only is wise, terrible indeed, seated on his throne, the Lord. He himself has created her, looked on her and assessed her, and poured her out on all his works to be with all mankind as his gift, and he conveyed her to those who love him.
Psalm 92(93):1-2,5
R/ The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
1)The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed; the Lord has robed himself with might, he has girded himself with power.
2) The world you made firm, not to be moved; your throne has stood firm from of old. From all eternity, O Lord, you are.
3) Truly your decrees are to be trusted. Holiness is fitting to your house, O Lord, until the end of time.
Gospel Acclamation: 1 P. 1:25
Alleluia, alleluia! The word of the Lord remains for ever: What is this word? It is the Good News that has been brought to you. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 9:14-29
When Jesus, with Peter, James and John came down from the mountain and rejoined the disciples, they saw a large crowd round them and some scribes arguing with them. The moment they saw him the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him. ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ he asked. A man answered him from the crowd, ‘Master, I have brought my son to you; there is a spirit of dumbness in him, and when it takes hold of him it throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and goes rigid. And I asked your disciples to cast it out and they were unable to.’ ‘You faithless generation’ he said to them in reply. ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ They brought the boy to him, and as soon as the spirit saw Jesus it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell to the ground and lay writhing there, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ ‘From childhood,’ he replied ‘and it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water, in order to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ ‘If you can?’ retorted Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for anyone who has faith.’ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, ‘I do have faith. Help the little faith I have!’ And when Jesus saw how many people were pressing round him, he rebuked the unclean spirit. ‘Deaf and dumb spirit,’ he said ‘I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.’ Then throwing the boy into violent convulsions it came out shouting, and the boy lay there so like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up, and he was able to stand. When he had gone indoors his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why were we unable to cast it out?’ ‘This is the kind’ he answered ‘that can only be driven out by prayer.’
Prayer over the Offerings
As we celebrate your mysteries, O Lord, with the observance that is your due, we humbly ask you, that what we offer to the honour of your majesty may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 9: 2-3
I will recount all your wonders, I will rejoice in you and be glad, and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we may experience the effects of the salvation which is pledged to us by these mysteries. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Prayer and faith go together. What kind of faith does the Lord Jesus expect of us, especially when we meet challenges and difficulties? Inevitably there will be times when each of us cause disappointment to others. In this Gospel incident, the disciples of Jesus brought disappointment to a pleading father because they failed to heal his epileptic son. Jesus’ response seemed stern; but it was really tempered with love and compassion. We see at once both Jesus’ dismay with the disciples’ lack of faith and his concern to meet the need of this troubled boy and his anguished father. Jesus recognized the weakness of the father’s faith and at the same time challenged him to pray boldly with expectant faith: “All things are possible to him who believes!” God promises each one of us freedom from oppression, especially from the oppression of sin and the evil one who tries to rob us of faith, hope, and peace with God. The Lord Jesus invites us, as he did this boy’s father, to pray with expectant faith. Do you trust in God’s unfailing love and mercy?
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Feb 23, 2019 | Agenda Biblique
7ème Dimanche du temps ordinaire
Saint Modeste
Vert
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 12, 6
Seigneur, je suis sûr de ton amour: mon cœur est dans la joie, car tu me sauves; je veux chanter au Seigneur tout le bien qu’il m’a fait.
Antienne d’ouverture
Accorde-nous, Dieu tout-puissant, de conformer à ta volonté nos paroles et nos actes dans une inlassable recherche des biens spirituels.
Première Lecture : 1 S 26; 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
En ces jours-là, Saül se mit en route, il descendit vers le désert de Zif avec trois mille hommes, l’élite d’Israël, pour y traquer David. David et Abishaï arrivèrent de nuit, près de la troupe. Or, Saül était couché, endormi, au milieu du camp, sa lance plantée en terre près de sa tête ; Abner et ses hommes étaient couchés autour de lui. Alors Abishaï dit à David: «Aujourd’hui Dieu a livré ton ennemi entre tes mains. Laisse-moi donc le clouer à terre avec sa propre lance, d’un seul coup, et je n’aurai pas à m’y reprendre à deux fois. » Mais David dit à Abishaï : « Ne le tue pas ! Qui pourrait demeurer impuni après avoir porté la main sur celui qui a reçu l’onction du Seigneur ? » David prit la lance et la gourde d’eau qui étaient près de la tête de Saül, et ils s’en allèrent. Personne ne vit rien, personne ne le sut, personne ne s’éveilla : ils dormaient tous, car le Seigneur avait fait tomber sur eux un sommeil mystérieux. David passa sur l’autre versant de la montagne et s’arrêta sur le sommet, au loin, à bonne distance. David répondit : « Voici la lance du roi. Qu’un jeune garçon traverse et vienne la prendre! Le Seigneur rendra à chacun selon sa justice et sa fidélité. Aujourd’hui, le Seigneur t’avait livré entre mes mains, mais je n’ai pas voulu porter la main sur le messie du Seigneur ».
Psaume : Ps 102,1-4.8.10.12-13
R/ Le Seigneur est tendresse et pitié
- Bénis le Seigneur, ô mon âme, bénis son nom très saint, tout mon être! Bénis le Seigneur, ô mon âme, n’oublie aucun de ses bienfaits!
- Car il pardonne toutes tes offenses et te guérit de toute maladie; il réclame ta vie à la tombe et te couronne d’amour et de tendresse;
- Le Seigneur est tendresse et pitié, lent à la colère et plein d’amour; il n’agit pas envers nous selon nos fautes, ne nous rend pas selon nos offenses.
- Aussi loin qu’est l’orient de l’occident, il met loin de nous nos péchés ; comme la tendresse du père pour ses fils, la tendresse du Seigneur pour qui le craint!
Deuxième Lecture : 1 Co 15,45-49
Frères, l’Écriture dit : Le premier homme, Adam, devint un être vivant ; le dernier Adam – le Christ – est devenu l’être spirituel qui donne la vie. Ce qui vient d’abord, ce n’est pas le spirituel, mais le physique; ensuite seulement vient le spirituel. Pétri d’argile, le premier homme vient de la terre ; le deuxième homme, lui, vient du ciel. Comme Adam est fait d’argile, ainsi les hommes sont faits d’argile ; comme le Christ est du ciel, ainsi les hommes seront du ciel. Et de même que nous aurons été à l’image de celui qui est fait d’argile, de même nous serons à l’image de celui qui vient du ciel.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Je vous donne un commandement nouveau, dit le Seigneur: «Aimez-vous les uns les autres, comme je vous ai aimés. » Alléluia. (cf. Jn 13, 34)
Évangile : Lc 6,27-38
En ce temps-là, Jésus déclarait à ses disciples : « Je vous le dis, à vous qui m’écoutez : Aimez vos ennemis, faites du bien à ceux qui vous haïssent. Souhaitez du bien à ceux qui vous maudissent, priez pour ceux qui vous calomnient. À celui qui te frappe sur une joue, présente l’autre joue. À celui qui te prend ton manteau, ne refuse pas ta tunique. Donne à quiconque te demande, et à qui prend ton bien, ne le réclame pas. Ce que vous voulez que les autres fassent pour vous, faites-le aussi pour eux. Si vous aimez ceux qui vous aiment, quelle reconnaissance méritez-vous ? Même les pécheurs aiment ceux qui les aiment. Si vous faites du bien à ceux qui vous en font, quelle reconnaissance méritez-vous ? Même les pécheurs en font autant. Si vous prêtez à ceux dont vous espérez recevoir en retour, quelle reconnaissance méritez-vous ? Même les pécheurs prêtent aux pécheurs pour qu’on leur rende l’équivalent. Au contraire, aimez vos ennemis, faites du bien et prêtez sans rien espérer en retour. Alors votre récompense sera grande, et vous serez les fils du Très-Haut, car lui, il est bon pour les ingrats et les méchants. Soyez miséricordieux comme votre Père est miséricordieux. Ne jugez pas, et vous ne serez pas jugés ; ne condamnez pas, et vous ne serez pas condamnés. Pardonnez, et vous serez pardonnés. Donnez, et l’on vous donnera : c’est une mesure bien pleine, tassée, secouée, débordante, qui sera versée dans le pan de votre vêtement; car la mesure dont vous vous servez pour les autres servira de mesure aussi pour vous. »
Prière sur les offrandes
En célébrant avec respect tes mystères, Seigneur, nous te supplions humblement: que les dons offerts pour te glorifier servent à notre salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 9, 2-3
De toute mon âme, Seigneur, je rendrai grâce en proclamant tes innombrables merveilles ; j’exulterai, je danserai auprès de toi, je fêterai ton nom, Dieu très-haut.
Prière après la communion
Nous t’en prions, Dieu tout-puissant, donne-nous de recueillir tous les fruits de salut dont ces mystères sont déjà la promesse et le gage. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Les miracles de Dieu se font chaque fois que nous nous plaçons humblement devant lui, lui laissant le choix de briser le formel de certaines lois et coutumes, chaque fois que nous le laissons augmenter en nous la foi. Il faut à cet effet une ouverture croissante de l’homme aux nouveaux chemins et possibilités qui s’offrent à nous dans la vie de tous jours. La foi en Dieu en effet, ouvre de nouvelles perspectives d’approches et de vie.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Feb 23, 2019 | Evangelium
SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: PSALTER III
ST. JOHN THERISTUS
Green
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 12: 6
O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me.
Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, always pondering spiritual things, we may carry out in both word and deed that which is pleasing to you. 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 26:2, 7-9, 11-13, 22-23
Saul set off and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand men chosen from Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. In the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force, where they found Saul lying asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round him. Then Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear. Just one stroke! I will not need to strike him twice.’ David answered Abishai, ‘Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt? The Lord forbid that I should raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed! But now take the spear beside his head and the pitcher of water and let us go away.’ David took the spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul’s head, and they made off. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them. David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the mountain a long way off; there was a wide space between them. He called out, ‘Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the soldiers come across and take it. The Lord repays everyone for his uprightness and loyalty. Today the Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed.’
Psalm 102 (103):1-4, 8, 10, 12-13
R/ The Lord is compassion and love.
1)My soul, give thanks to the Lord all my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings.
2) It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion.
3) The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults.
4) As far as the east is from the west so far does he remove our sins. As a father has compassion on his sons, the Lord has pity on those who fear him.
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit. That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.
Gospel Acclamation: cf. Ac. 16:14
Alleluia, alleluia!Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ‘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
As we celebrate your mysteries, O Lord, with the observance that is your due, we humbly ask you, that what we offer to the honour of your majesty may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 9: 2-3
I will recount all your wonders, I will rejoice in you and be glad, and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we may experience the effects of the salvation which is pledged to us by these mysteries. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Love your enemies. How do we respond to hurts and offences? Jesus gives us some valuable teaching in the Gospel of today. Instead of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, forgiving others is a sure sign of love. There is more to David’s act of mercy towards Saul than meets the eye. David does more than take a judicial decision. God chose Saul as King, and so by sparing Saul’s life so that he can continue being king, David shows reverence for God. The Gospel continues with the theme of compassion. Luke’s four beatitudes generally centre around the areas in which the follower of Jesus can reverse the natural tendencies towards greed, harshness of judgment, cruelty and vengeance. These tendencies form quite an accurate picture of how our fallen nature leads us to act. The real challenge is for Jesus’ hearers to be compassionate as God is compassionate with them. This is the heart of the message. If there is going to be any “good” in the Good News, there must be a previous awareness and acceptance of the “bad” news.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Feb 22, 2019 | Agenda Biblique
St Polycarpe, Evêque et Martyr, Mémoire
Saint Lazare (1er siècle)
Vieil Evêque de Smyrne, disciple direct de l’Apôtre Jean, Polycarpe, dont le nom signifie ‘’qui porte beaucoup de fruit’’, ajouta aux mérites de sa vie sainte le fruit du martyre : il fut brûlé vif le 23 février 155. Amené dans l’amphithéâtre, Polycarpe répondit au proconsul qui le pressait d’abandonner ‘’l’athéisme’’ en sacrifiant aux dieux et en blasphémant le Christ :’’Il y a quatre-vingt-six ans que je sers le Christ et il ne m’a jamais fait aucun mal. Comment pourrais-je blasphémer mon Sauveur et mon Roi ? ‘’
Rouge
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 30, 3-4
Seigneur, sois le rocher qui m’abrite, la maison bien défendue qui me sauve. Pour l’honneur de ton nom guide-moi, conduis-moi.
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu qui veut habiter les cœurs droits et sincères, donne-nous de vivre selon ta grâce, alors tu pourras venir en nous pour y faire ta demeure. Par Jésus Christ.
Première lecture : Hébreux 11, 1-7
Frères, la foi est une façon de posséder ce que l’on espère, un moyen de connaître des réalités qu’on ne voit pas. Et quand l’Écriture rend témoignage aux anciens, c’est à cause de leur foi. Grâce à la foi, nous comprenons que les mondes ont été formés par une parole de Dieu, et donc ce qui est visible n’a pas son origine dans ce qui apparaît au regard. Grâce à la foi, Abel offrit à Dieu un sacrifice plus grand que celui de Caïn; à cause de sa foi, il fut déclaré juste: Dieu lui-même rendait témoignage à son offrande; à cause de sa foi, bien qu’il soit mort, il parle encore. Grâce à la foi, Hénok fut retiré de ce monde, et il ne connut pas la mort; personne ne le retrouva parce que Dieu l’avait retiré; avant cet événement, il avait été agréable à Dieu, l’Écriture en témoigne. Or, sans la foi, il est impossible d’être agréable à Dieu ; car, pour s’avancer vers lui, il faut croire qu’il existe et qu’il récompense ceux qui le cherchent. Grâce à la foi, Noé, averti de choses encore invisibles, accueillit cet oracle avec respect et construisit une arche pour le salut de sa famille. Sa foi condamnait le monde, et il reçut en héritage la justice qui s’obtient par la foi.
Psaume 144 (145), 2-3, 4-5, 10-11
R/ Je bénirai ton nom, Seigneur, toujours et à jamais. (Cf. Ps 144, 1b)
- Chaque jour je te bénirai, je louerai ton nom toujours et à jamais. Il est grand, le Seigneur, hautement loué; à sa grandeur, il n’est pas de limite.
- D’âge en âge, on vantera tes œuvres, on proclamera tes exploits. Je redirai le récit de tes merveilles, ton éclat, ta gloire et ta splendeur.
- Que tes œuvres, Seigneur, te rendent grâce et que tes fidèles te bénissent ! Ils diront la gloire de ton règne, ils parleront de tes exploits.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. De la nuée une voix se fit entendre : « Celui-ci est mon Fils bien-aimé: écoutez-le ! » Alléluia. (Mc 9, 7)
Évangile : Marc 9, 2-13
Jésus prend avec lui Pierre, Jacques et Jean, et les emmène, eux seuls, à l’écart sur une haute montagne. Et il fut transfiguré devant eux. Ses vêtements devinrent resplendissants, d’une blancheur telle que personne sur terre ne peut obtenir une blancheur pareille. Élie leur apparut avec Moïse, et tous deux s’entretenaient avec Jésus. Pierre alors prend la parole et dit à Jésus : « Rabbi, il est bon que nous soyons ici! Dressons donc trois tentes: une pour toi, une pour Moïse, et une pour Élie. » De fait, Pierre ne savait que dire, tant leur frayeur était grande. Survint une nuée qui les couvrit de son ombre, et de la nuée une voix se fit entendre : « Celui-ci est mon Fils bien-aimé : écoutez-le ! » Soudain, regardant tout autour, ils ne virent plus que Jésus seul avec eux. Ils descendirent de la montagne, et Jésus leur ordonna de ne raconter à personne ce qu’ils avaient vu, avant que le Fils de l’homme soit ressuscité d’entre les morts. Et ils restèrent fermement attachés à cette parole, tout en se demandant entre eux ce que voulait dire : «ressusciter d’entre les morts ». Ils l’interrogeaient : « Pourquoi les scribes disent-ils que le prophète Élie doit venir d’abord?» Jésus leur dit : « Certes, Élie vient d’abord pour remettre toute chose à sa place. Mais alors, pourquoi l’Écriture dit-elle, au sujet du Fils de l’homme, qu’il souffrira beaucoup et sera méprisé? Eh bien ! Je vous le déclare: Élie est déjà venu, et ils lui ont fait tout ce qu’ils ont voulu, comme l’Écriture le dit à son sujet. »
Prière sur les offrandes :
Que cette eucharistie, Seigneur notre Dieu, nous purifie et nous renouvelle; Qu’elle donne à ceux qui font ta volonté le bonheur que tu leur as promis. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 77, 29-30
Le Seigneur combla le désir de son peuple : ils mangèrent et ils furent rassasiés, leur attente ne fut pas trompée.
Prière après la communion
Tu nous as donné, Seigneur, de goûter aux joies du ciel : Fais que nous ayons toujours soif des sources de la vraie vie. Par Jésus.
Méditation
L’expérience vécue par Pierre, Jacques et Jean auprès de Jésus, sur la montagne est un fait voulu par Dieu dans leur vie pour les emmener à ne jamais perdre de vue la Grandeur et la Présence divine dans tous les moments de leur existence. Ils ont eu la confirmation de Dieu sur le choix de son Fils Jésus, l’attestation de la plus grande figure du prophétisme (Eli) et de la loi (Moïse) aux côtés de Jésus. La voix de Dieu venant les rassurer sur la certitude qu’ils ne se trompent pas en suivant Jésus.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Feb 22, 2019 | Evangelium
SAINT POLYCARP, BISHOP AND MARTYR (D-155)
He was a disciple of the Apostles. He bears witness to the beliefs of the early Christians and the early stages of the development of doctrine. He was martyred in about 155.
Red
Entrance Antiphon
This holy man fought to the death for the law of his God and did not fear the words of the godless, for he was built on solid rock.
Collect
God of all creation, who were pleased to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp a place in the company of the Martyrs, grant, through his intercession, that, sharing with him in the chalice of Christ, we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life. 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: Hebrews 11:1-7
Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. It was for faith that our ancestors were commended. It is by faith that we understand that the world was created by one word from God, so that no apparent cause can account for the things we can see. It was because of his faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, and for that he was declared to be righteous when God made acknowledgement of his offerings. Though he is dead, he still speaks by faith. It was because of his faith that Enoch was taken up and did not have to experience death: he was not to be found because God had taken him. This was because before his assumption it is attested that he had pleased God. Now it is impossible to please God without faith, since anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and rewards those who try to find him. It was through his faith that Noah, when he had been warned by God of something that had never been seen before, felt a holy fear and built an ark to save his family. By his faith the world was convicted, and he was able to claim the righteousness which is the reward of faith.
Psalm 144(145):2-5, 10-11
R/ I will bless your name for ever, O Lord.
1)I will bless you day after day and praise your name for ever. The Lord is great, highly to be praised, his greatness cannot be measured.
2) Age to age shall proclaim your works, shall declare your mighty deeds, shall speak of your splendour and glory, tell the tale of your wonderful works.
3) All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing. They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps 147:12, 15
Alleluia, alleluia!O praise the Lord, Jerusalem! He sends out his word to the earth. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 9:2-13
Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus: ‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘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 to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus. As they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean. And they put this question to him, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?’ ‘True,’ he said ‘Elijah is to come first and to see that everything is as it should be; yet how is it that the scriptures say about the Son of Man that he is to suffer grievously and be treated with contempt? However, I tell you that Elijah has come and they have treated him as they pleased, just as the scriptures say about him.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Sanctify our offerings by your blessing, O Lord, we pray, and by your grace may we be set afire with that flame of your love through which Saint Polycarp overcame every bodily torment. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Mt 16: 24
Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
May the sacred mysteries of which we have partaken, O Lord, we pray, give us that determination which made your blessed Martyr Polycarp faithful in your service and victorious in suffering. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In today’s Gospel passage, Peter, James, and John are in for a real treat. Jesus invites just the three of them to accompany Him to a mountain top. Once they arrive, Jesus is “transfigured” before them. His clothes become white and brilliant. But that’s not all; Elijah and Moses appear also, brilliantly garbed, and Jesus begins talking with them. At this point, Peter, never lacking something to say, suggests that they erect tents. We can pray with this text according to the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius as follows: looking at the detail of the scene, what can we see? How does it feel up there? Hot? Windy? Dusty? What do we hear? When the cloud comes and then the voice speaks from it, what is going on? As we replay the scene in our imagination, what place do we take? What’s our view? As the scene continues to play out, eventually we come down from the mountain. How do we feel? Relieved? Disappointed? Any new insights? Any surprises? How are we moved to pray as we end the experience?
