by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 17, 2019 | Agenda Biblique
Début de la semaine de prière pour l’unité des chrétiens
Bienheureuse Marguerite de Hongrie
Princesse hongroise moniale dominicaine, elle vivait le plus pauvrement possible et donnait aux pauvres tout l’argent que lui donnait son frère, le roi Étienne V. À l’intérieur du monastère, elle cherchait les tâches les plus rudes et les plus humbles. De sa propre initiative, elle s’imposait une rude ascèse.
Vert
Antienne d’ouverture : Mt 3, 16-17
Portons notre regard vers l’homme à qui le ciel est donné pour trône ; la foule des anges l’adore en chantant d’une seule voix : «Voici Celui dont le pouvoir subsiste pour les siècles ».
Prière d’ouverture
Aux appels de ton peuple en prière, réponds, Seigneur, en ta bonté : Donne à chacun la claire vision de ce qu’il doit faire et la force de l’accomplir. Par Jésus Christ.
Première lecture : Hébreux 4, 1-5, 11
Frères, craignons donc, tant que demeure la promesse d’entrer dans le repos de Dieu, craignons que l’un d’entre vous n’arrive, en quelque sorte, trop tard. Certes, nous avons reçu une Bonne Nouvelle, comme ces gens-là ; cependant, la parole entendue ne leur servit à rien, parce qu’elle ne fut pas accueillie avec foi par ses auditeurs. Mais nous qui sommes venus à la foi, nous entrons dans le repos dont il est dit: Dans ma colère, j’en ai fait le serment: On verra bien s’ils entreront dans mon repos ! Le travail de Dieu, assurément, était accompli depuis la fondation du monde, comme l’Écriture le dit à propos du septième jour : Et Dieu se reposa le septième jour de tout son travail. Et dans le psaume, de nouveau : On verra bien s’ils entreront dans mon repos! Empressons-nous donc d’entrer dans ce repos-là, afin que plus personne ne tombe en suivant l’exemple de ceux qui ont refusé de croire.
Psaume 77,3-4.6-8
R/ N’oubliez pas les exploits du Seigneur (Ps. 77, 7)
1. Nous avons entendu et nous savons ce que nos pères nous ont raconté ; les titres de gloire du Seigneur, sa puissance et les merveilles qu’il a faites.
2. Pour que l’âge suivant les connaisse, et leur descendance à venir, qu’ils n’oublient pas les exploits du Seigneur mais observent ses commandements
3. Qu’ils ne soient pas, comme leur père, une génération indocile et rebelle, génération de cœurs inconstants et d’esprit infidèles à Dieu.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia « Un grand prophète s’est levé parmi nous, et Dieu a visité son peuple. » Alléluia. (Lc 7, 16)
Évangile: Marc 2, 1-12
Quand Jésus revint à Capharnaüm, et l’on apprit qu’il était à la maison. Tant de monde s’y rassembla qu’il n’y avait plus de place, pas même devant la porte, et il leur annonçait la Parole. Arrivent des gens qui lui amènent un paralysé, porté par quatre hommes. Comme ils ne peuvent l’approcher à cause de la foule, ils découvrent le toit au-dessus de lui, ils font une ouverture, et descendent le brancard sur lequel était couché le paralysé. Voyant leur foi, Jésus dit au paralysé : « Mon enfant, tes péchés sont pardonnés.» Or, il y avait quelques scribes, assis là, qui raisonnaient en eux-mêmes: « Pourquoi celui-là parle-t-il ainsi? Il blasphème. Qui donc peut pardonner les péchés, sinon Dieu seul ? » Percevant aussitôt dans son esprit les raisonnements qu’ils se faisaient, Jésus leur dit : « Pourquoi tenez-vous de tels raisonnements? Qu’est-ce qui est le plus facile? Dire à ce paralysé : “Tes péchés sont pardonnés”, ou bien lui dire : “Lève-tôt, prends ton brancard et marche”? Eh bien ! Pour que vous sachiez que le Fils de l’homme a autorité pour pardonner les péchés sur la terre… – Jésus s’adressa au paralysé – je te le dis, lève-tôt, prends ton brancard, et rentre dans ta maison. » Il se leva, prit aussitôt son brancard, et sortit devant tout le monde. Tous étaient frappés de stupeur et rendaient gloire à Dieu, en disant : « Nous n’avons jamais rien vu de pareil. »
Père sur les offrandes
Daigne accepter, Seigneur, l’offrande de ton peuple : Qu’elle contribue à le sanctifier et lui obtienne ce qu’il demande avec confiance. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ps 35, 10
De toi, Seigneur, jaillit la vie, dans ta lumière, nous voyons la lumière.
Prière après la communion
Nous t’en supplions, Dieu tout-puissant : Toi qui refais nos forces par tes sacrements, donne-nous aussi de pouvoir te servir par une vie qui te plaise. Par Jésus.
MÉDITATION
Le fait de descendre le paralysé par le toit montre la détermination et l’ingéniosité de ceux qui le font. C’est grâce à leur foi et non à celle du paralysé (dont rien n’est dit) qu’il reçoit de Jésus le pardon de ses péchés. Ce paralysé, écrasé par de longues années de souffrance, était meurtri dans son cœur et certainement fragilisé dans sa foi. Pour arriver à Jésus et obtenir sa guérison, il n’avait pas besoin que de l’aide physique des porteurs, mais aussi de leur soutien spirituel. Dans nos moments d’épreuves ou d’extrême souffrance, la foi des autres soutient la nôtre affaiblie ou perdue. Notre responsabilité est ainsi engagée devant les peines de nos frères et sœurs ; d’où l’impérieux devoir de la prière d’intercession. La foi n’est pas une aventure solitaire, mais une marche solidaire et communautaire.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 17, 2019 | Evangelium
St. Volusian
He was Bishop of Tours, France. A senator at Tours, he was initially married, supposedly to a most unpleasant wife. Named bishop of the city in 488, he was forced to leave the see in 496 by the Arian Visigoths, and went to Spain. He died perhaps in Toulouse, or in Spain, possibly as a martyr.
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Entrance Antiphon
Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold him, the name of whose empire is eternal.
Collect
Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Hebrews 4:1-5,11
Be careful: the promise of reaching the place of rest that God had for the Israelites still holds good, and none of you must think that he has come too late for it. We received the Good News exactly as they did; but hearing the message did them no good because they did not share the faith of those who listened. We, however, who have faith, shall reach a place of rest, as in the text: And so, in anger, I swore that not one would reach the place of rest I had for them. God’s work was undoubtedly all finished at the beginning of the world; as one text says, referring to the seventh day: After all his work God rested on the seventh day. The text we are considering says: They shall not reach the place of rest I had for them. We must therefore do everything we can to reach this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example of disobedience and be lost.
Psalm 77 (78) :3-4,6-8
R/ Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
1.The things we have heard and understood, the things our fathers have told us, these we will not hide from their children but will tell them to the next generation:
- The glories of the Lord and his might and the marvellous deeds he has done, that the next generation might know it, the children yet to be born.
- They too should arise and tell their sons that they too should set their hope in God and never forget God’s deeds but keep every one of his commands,
- So that they might not be like their fathers, a defiant and rebellious race, a race whose heart was fickle, whose spirit was unfaithful to God.
Gospel Acclamation : cf. Ep 1:17,18
Alleluia, alleluia!May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, ‘How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?’ Jesus, inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them, ‘Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he turned to the paralytic – ‘I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.’ And the man got up, picked up his stretcher at once and walked out in front of everyone, so that they were all astounded and praised God saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May your people’s oblation, O Lord, find favour with you, we pray, that it may restore them to holiness and obtain what they devoutly entreat. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 35: 10
With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.
Prayer after Communion
Humbly we ask you, almighty God, be graciously pleased to grant that those you renew with your Sacraments may also serve with lives pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The men who took the paralysed man to Jesus had faith in Jesus. They were convinced that Jesus could heal the paralysed man, and it was because of this conviction that Jesus healed the man. It is this unshakeable faith that the Israelites lacked; they rebelled against God when they were in the desert, and as a result, they did not inherit the rest God had promised them. It is this unshakeable faith that we would have in God if we hope to inherit the rest he has promised us in Jesus Christ, which is eternal life. Let us trust in Jesus and abide by his Word, in order to be happy with him forever in heaven.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 16, 2019 | Agenda Biblique
Saint Antoine, abbé, mémoire
Saint Antoine le Grand (+ 356). Antoine était un jeune homme riche, propriétaire terrien. Il était tourmenté par la question de son salut. Marqué par le style de vie de la première communauté chrétienne, il entra dans une église où il entendit l’Évangile du jeune homme riche. Il s’appropria ce texte et s’en alla aussitôt distribuer sa fortune aux pauvres et se retira dans le désert de Nitrie (en Égypte) dans un fort militaire abandonné. Il n’avait que vingt ans lorsqu’il se consacra la vie érémitique.
Vert
Antienne d’ouverture : Mt 3, 16-17
Portons notre regard vers l’homme à qui le ciel est donné pour trône ; la foule des anges l’adore en chantant d’une seule voix : « Voici Celui dont le pouvoir subsiste pour les siècles».
Prière d’ouverture
Aux appels de ton peuple en prière, réponds, Seigneur, en ta bonté : Donne à chacun la claire vision de ce qu’il doit faire et la force de l’accomplir. Par Jésus Christ.
Première lecture : Hébreux 3, 7-14
Comme le dit l’Esprit Saint dans un psaume : Aujourd’hui, si vous entendez sa voix, n’endurcissez pas votre cœur comme au temps du défi, comme au jour de l’épreuve dans le désert, quand vos pères m’ont mis à l’épreuve et provoqué. Alors ils m’ont vu à l’œuvre pendant quarante ans ; oui, je me suis emporté contre cette génération, et j’ai dit : Toujours ils ont le cœur égaré, ils n’ont pas connu mes chemins. Dans ma colère, j’en ai fait le serment : On verra bien s’ils entreront dans mon repos ! Frères, veillez à ce que personne d’entre vous n’ait un cœur mauvais que le manque de foi sépare du Dieu vivant. Au contraire, encouragez-vous les uns l’autre jour après jour, aussi longtemps que retentit « aujourd’hui » de ce psaume, afin que personne parmi vous ne s’endurcisse en se laissant tromper par le péché. Car nous sommes devenus les compagnons du Christ, si du moins nous maintenons fermement, jusqu’à la fin, notre engagement premier.
Psaume 94:6-11
R/ Aujourd’hui ne fermez mais écoutez la voix du Seigneur (Ps. 94, 8)
1. Entrez, inclinez-vous, prosternez-vous, adorons le Seigneur qui nous a faits. Oui, il est notre Dieu; nous sommes le peuple qu’il conduit, le troupeau guidé par sa main.
2. Aujourd’hui écouterez-vous sa parole ? « Ne fermez pas votre cœur comme au désert, comme au jour de tentation et de défi, où vos pères m’ont tenté et provoqué, et pourtant ils avaient vu mon exploit.
3. « Quarante ans leur génération m’a déçu, et j’ai dit : Ce peuple a le cœur égaré, il n’a pas connu mes chemins. Dans ma colère, j’en ai fait le serment : Jamais ils n’entreront dans mon repos. »
Acclamation
Alléluia. AlléluiaJésus parcourait toute la Galilée ; il enseignait dans leurs synagogues, proclamait l’Évangile du Royaume, guérissait toute maladie et toute infirmité dans le peuple. Alléluia.(Mt 4, 23)
Évangile : Marc 1, 40-45
Un lépreux vint auprès de Jésus ; il le supplia et, tombant à ses genoux, lui dit : « Si tu le veux, tu peux me purifier. » Saisi de compassion, Jésus étendit la main, le toucha et lui dit : « Je le veux, sois purifié. » À l’instant même, la lèpre le quitta et il fut purifié. Avec fermeté, Jésus le renvoya aussitôt en lui disant : «Attention, ne dis rien à personne, mais va te montrer au prêtre, et donne pour ta purification ce que Moïse a prescrit dans la Loi : cela sera pour les gens un témoignage.» Une fois parti, cet homme se mit à proclamer et à répandre la nouvelle, de sorte que Jésus ne pouvait plus entrer ouvertement dans une ville, mais restait à l’écart, dans des endroits déserts. De partout cependant on venait à lui.
Père sur les offrandes
Daigne accepter, Seigneur, l’offrande de ton peuple : Qu’elle contribue à le sanctifier et lui obtienne ce qu’il demande avec confiance. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ps 35, 10
De toi, Seigneur, jaillit la vie, dans ta lumière, nous voyons la lumière.
Prière après la communion
Nous t’en supplions, Dieu tout-puissant : Toi qui refais nos forces par tes sacrements, donne-nous aussi de pouvoir te servir par une vie qui te plaise. Par Jésus.
MÉDITATION
Le récit de la purification du lépreux permet de méditer sur la Miséricorde de Dieu envers l’humanité qu’il vient réhabiliter. L’évocation de la lèpre renvoie symboliquement au péché. De même que la lèpre défigure et expose notre corps à la putréfaction, autant le péché déforme et ronge profondément notre âme. L’image de Dieu en nous est déformée, abîmée par le péché. En se laissant approcher par un lépreux et en le touchant, Jésus vient rassurer et relever toute l’humanité envers laquelle il manifeste tout son amour, sa compassion et sa tendresse. Nous savons combien il est difficile de supporter les odeurs dégagées par certains malades dans les hôpitaux. Mais Jésus n’a pas peur de la laideur et la puanteur que nous dégageons. N’ayons donc pas peur ou honte de nous approcher de lui dans la prière et surtout, dans le sacrement de réconciliation pour qu’il puisse nous purifier.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 16, 2019 | Evangelium
Abbo St Antony, Abbot (251 – 356)
St Antony is the originator of the monastic life. He was born in Egypt: when his parents died, he listened to the words of the Gospel and gave all his belongings to the poor. He lived to be over a hundred years old, and died in 356.
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Entrance Antiphon Cf. Ps 91: 13-14
The just will flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a Lebanon cedar, planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
Collect
O God, who brought the Abbot Saint Anthony to serve you by a wondrous way of life in the desert, grant, through his intercession, that, denying ourselves, we may always love you above all things. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Hebrews 3:7-14
The Holy Spirit says: If only you would listen to him today; do not harden your hearts, as happened in the Rebellion, on the Day of Temptation in the wilderness, when your ancestors challenged me and tested me, though they had seen what I could do for forty years. That was why I was angry with that generation and said: How unreliable these people who refuse to grasp my ways! And so, in anger, I swore that not one would reach the place of rest I had for them. Take care, brothers, that there is not in any one of your community a wicked mind, so unbelieving as to turn away from the living God. Every day, as long as this ‘today’ lasts, keep encouraging one another so that none of you is hardened by the lure of sin, because we shall remain co-heirs with Christ only if we keep a grasp on our first confidence right to the end.
Psalm 94:6-11
R/ O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’
- Come in; let us bow and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us: for he is our God and we the people who belong to his pasture, the flock that is led by his hand.
- O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the desert when your fathers put me to the test; when they tried me, though they saw my work.
- For forty years I was wearied of these people and I said: “Their hearts are astray, these people do not know my ways.” Then I took an oath in my anger: “Never shall they enter my rest.”’
Gospel Acclamation : Ps 118:88
Alleluia, alleluia!Because of your love give me life, and I will do your will. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.
Prayer over the Offerings
May these offerings of our service, placed on your altar in commemoration of Saint Anthony, be acceptable to you, O Lord, we pray, and grant that, released from earthly attachments, we may have our riches in you alone. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Cf. Mt 19: 21
If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have, give to the poor, and follow me, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished for our healing by your Sacraments, O Lord, may we escape every snare of the enemy unharmed, just as by your grace Saint Anthony won glorious victories over the powers of darkness. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“O that today, you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’” These words of the psalm which are quoted in the First Reading, capture a central theme of Christianity, which is obedience. Obedience is what makes the difference between children of God and children of the devil. The Christian is the one who hears God’s Word and obeys it. If we disobey God, then we cannot claim to be his children; we are on the side of darkness. The Israelites disobeyed God in the desert, even though they saw his wonders; the man who was healed by Jesus disobeyed Jesus’ instructions and the spread the news of his healing. You have heard God’s Word and you have seen his wonders in your life; are you going to obey him or not? Harden not your heart!
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Jan 15, 2019 | Evangelium
OrSaint Fursa (- c.650)
He was an Irish monk who did much to establish Christianity throughout the British Isles and particularly in East Anglia, at a time when a high Christian civilization existed in Ireland but had been largely wiped out elsewhere.
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Entrance Antiphon
Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold him, the name of whose empire is eternal.
Collect
Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Since all the children share the same blood and flesh, Christ too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself descent from Abraham. It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers so that he could be a compassionate and trustworthy high priest of God’s religion, able to atone for human sins. That is, because he has himself been through temptation he is able to help others who are tempted.
Psalm 104 (105) :1-4, 6-9
R/ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
- Give thanks to the Lord, tell his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. O sing to him, sing his praise; tell all his wonderful works!
- Be proud of his holy name, let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Consider the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face.
- O children of Abraham, his servant, O sons of the Jacob he chose. He, the Lord, is our God: his judgements prevail in all the earth.
4.He remembers his covenant for ever, his promise for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, he oath he swore to Isaac.
Gospel Acclamation : cf.Col 3:16a, 17
Alleluia, alleluia!Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you; through him give thanks to God the Father. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straight away. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was. In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.
Prayer over the Offerings
May your people’s oblation, O Lord, find favour with you, we pray, that it may restore them to holiness and obtain what they devoutly entreat. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 35: 10
With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.
Prayer after Communion
Humbly we ask you, almighty God, be graciously pleased to grant that those you renew with your Sacraments may also serve with lives pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In the First Reading, we learn something that we sometimes take for granted or forget: Jesus knows our human condition, given that he experienced it. He became a human being like us and lived through everything we experience. He knows what it means to be sick, to be broken-hearted, to lose a loved one, to be poor etc. He knows all our problems, because he lived through them himself. And it is precisely to solve these problems that he came. That is why in the Gospel we see him healing people and liberating them from demons. But Jesus is not just a wonder worker; he came to give us true liberation, which is liberation from sin. This liberation comes through accepting his word. This is why his healing is accompanied by preaching. Let us listen to the word of Jesus and let it guide us, and we can be sure to find solutions to life’s problems.
