by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Oct 3, 2020 | Evangelium
sunday 04 October 2020
TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter III
St Francis of Assisi (1181 – 1226)
Green
Entrance Antiphon: Est 4: 17
Within your will, O Lord, all things are established, and there is none that can resist your will. For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth, and all that is held within the circle of heaven; you are the Lord of all.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ…..
First reading: Isaiah 5:1-7
Let me sing to my friend the song of his love for his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug the soil, cleared it of stones and planted choice vines in it. In the middle he built a tower, he dug a press there too. He expected it to yield grapes, but sour grapes were all that it gave. And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I ask you to judge between my vineyard and me. What could I have done for my vineyard that I have not done? I expected it to yield grapes. Why did it yield sour grapes instead? Very well, I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge for it to be grazed on, and knock down its wall for it to be trampled on. I will lay it waste, unpruned, undug; overgrown by the briar and the thorn. I will command the clouds to rain no rain on it. Yes, the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah that chosen plant. He expected justice, but found bloodshed, integrity, but only a cry of distress.
Psalm 79(80):9, 12-16, 19-20
R/ The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
- You brought a vine out of Egypt; to plant it you drove out the nations. It stretched out its branches to the sea, to the Great River it stretched out its shoots.
- Then why have you broken down its walls? It is plucked by all who pass by. It is ravaged by the boar of the forest, devoured by the beasts of the field.
- God of hosts, turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see. Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted.
- And we shall never forsake you again; give us life that we may call upon your name. God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Second reading: Philippians 4:6-9
There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn15:15
Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, ‘Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son” he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance.” So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They answered, ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures: It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone. This was the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see? ‘I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, we pray, the sacrifices instituted by your commands and, through the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate with dutiful service, graciously complete the sanctifying work by which you are pleased to redeem us. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Lam 3: 25
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the soul that seeks him.
Prayer after Communion
Grant us, almighty God, that we may be refreshed and nourished by the Sacrament which we have received, so as to be transformed into what we consume. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In our Gospel today, Jesus is indeed addressing each of us as tenants of God’s vineyard. Through our sins we have rejected him and the prophets before him. We have neglected justice, we have been partial, we have not borne lasting fruits. We also act with violence against our fellow human beings, sons and daughters of God. As faithful tenants, we must care deeply about justice, to show mercy, and walk in humility and submission to God (Micah 6:6-8). As faithful tenants, we must be loving, joyful, peace-filled persons, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled (Galatians 5:21-22.). As faithful servants, we must take care of the flock God has handed to us. This can be our children, our family, our society and especially our Church. This parable can also have ecological overtones: we are bound to manage all resources God provides for His greater glory and the betterment of His creation. We are all tenants in this mother earth.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Oct 3, 2020 | Agenda Biblique
VERT
Saint François d’Assise
En vivant dans la pauvreté, François Bernardone (1182-1226), le fils d’un riche marchand d’Assise, devient un saint qui ressemble étonnamment à Jésus de Nazareth. Dans un monde déchiré par les guerres, le chevalier de Dame Pauvreté apparaît comme le pur reflet de l’Evangile. Détaché des biens terrestres et de lui-même, il peut chanter la création avec la fraîcheur d’une enfance renouvelée. Les stigmates qu’il reçoit achèvent de le transformer en une vivante image du Christ crucifié. A sa triple famille religieuse : Frères Mineurs, Clarisses et Tiers-Ordre, François laisse en héritage son amour du Christ pauvre, de la croix et de l’Eglise.
Antienne d’ouverture : Est 13, 9. 10-11
Tout dépend de ta volonté, Seigneur, et rien ne peut lui résister: C’est toi qui as fait le ciel et la terre et les merveilles qu’ils contiennent. Tu es le Maître de l’univers.
Prière d’ouverture
Dans ton amour inépuisable, Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, tu combles ceux qui t’implorent, bien au-delà de leurs mérites et de leurs désirs. Répands sur nous ta miséricorde en délivrant notre conscience de ce qui l’inquiète et en donnant plus que nous n’osons demander. Par Jésus Christ
Première lecture
« La vigne du Seigneur de l’univers, c’est la maison d’Israël » (Is 5, 1-7)
Lecture du livre du prophète Isaïe
Je veux chanter pour mon ami le chant du bien-aimé à sa vigne.
Mon ami avait une vigne sur un coteau fertile. Il en retourna la terre, en retira les pierres,
pour y mettre un plant de qualité. Au milieu, il bâtit une tour de garde et creusa aussi un pressoir. Il en attendait de beaux raisins, mais elle en donna de mauvais. Et maintenant, habitants de Jérusalem, hommes de Juda, soyez donc juges entre moi et ma vigne !
Pouvais-je faire pour ma vigne plus que je n’ai fait ? J’attendais de beaux raisins,
pourquoi en a-t-elle donné de mauvais ? Eh bien, je vais vous apprendre ce que je ferai de ma vigne : enlever sa clôture pour qu’elle soit dévorée par les animaux, ouvrir une brèche dans son mur pour qu’elle soit piétinée. J’en ferai une pente désolée ; elle ne sera ni taillée ni sarclée, il y poussera des épines et des ronces ; j’interdirai aux nuages d’y faire tomber la pluie. La vigne du Seigneur de l’univers, c’est la maison d’Israël. Le plant qu’il chérissait,
ce sont les hommes de Juda. Il en attendait le droit, et voici le crime ; il en attendait la justice,
et voici les cris.
Psaume
(Ps 79 (80), 9-12, 13-14, 15-16a, 19-20)
R/ La vigne du Seigneur de l’univers,
c’est la maison d’Israël. (cf. Is 5, 7a)
La vigne que tu as prise à l’Égypte,
tu la replantes en chassant des nations.
Elle étendait ses sarments jusqu’à la mer,
et ses rejets, jusqu’au Fleuve.
Pourquoi as-tu percé sa clôture ?
Tous les passants y grappillent en chemin ;
le sanglier des forêts la ravage
et les bêtes des champs la broutent.
Dieu de l’univers, reviens !
Du haut des cieux, regarde et vois :
visite cette vigne, protège-la,
celle qu’a plantée ta main puissante.
Jamais plus nous n’irons loin de toi :
fais-nous vivre et invoquer ton nom !
Seigneur, Dieu de l’univers, fais-nous revenir ;
que ton visage s’éclaire, et nous serons sauvés.
Deuxième lecture
« Mettez cela en pratique. Et le Dieu de la paix sera avec vous » (Ph 4, 6-9)
Lecture de la lettre de saint Paul apôtre aux Philippiens
Frères,
ne soyez inquiets de rien,
mais, en toute circonstance,
priez et suppliez, tout en rendant grâce,
pour faire connaître à Dieu vos demandes.
Et la paix de Dieu,
qui dépasse tout ce qu’on peut concevoir,
gardera vos cœurs et vos pensées dans le Christ Jésus.
Enfin, mes frères, tout ce qui est vrai et noble,
tout ce qui est juste et pur,
tout ce qui est digne d’être aimé et honoré,
tout ce qui s’appelle vertu
et qui mérite des éloges,
tout cela, prenez-le en compte.
Ce que vous avez appris et reçu,
ce que vous avez vu et entendu de moi,
mettez-le en pratique.
Et le Dieu de la paix sera avec vous.
– Parole du Seigneur.
Alléluia. Alléluia.
C’est moi qui vous ai choisis,
afin que vous alliez, que vous portiez du fruit,
et que votre fruit demeure, dit le Seigneur.
Alléluia. (cf. Jn 15, 16)
Évangile
« Il louera la vigne à d’autres vignerons » (Mt 21, 33-43)
Évangile de Jésus Christ selon saint Matthieu
En ce temps-là,
Jésus disait aux grands prêtres et aux anciens du peuple :
« Écoutez cette parabole :
Un homme était propriétaire d’un domaine ;
il planta une vigne,
l’entoura d’une clôture,
y creusa un pressoir et bâtit une tour de garde.
Puis il loua cette vigne à des vignerons,
et partit en voyage.
Quand arriva le temps des fruits,
il envoya ses serviteurs auprès des vignerons
pour se faire remettre le produit de sa vigne.
Mais les vignerons se saisirent des serviteurs,
frappèrent l’un,
tuèrent l’autre,
lapidèrent le troisième.
De nouveau, le propriétaire envoya d’autres serviteurs
plus nombreux que les premiers ;
mais on les traita de la même façon.
Finalement, il leur envoya son fils,
en se disant :
‘Ils respecteront mon fils.’
Mais, voyant le fils, les vignerons se dirent entre eux :
‘Voici l’héritier :
venez ! tuons-le,
nous aurons son héritage !’
Ils se saisirent de lui,
le jetèrent hors de la vigne
et le tuèrent.
Eh bien ! quand le maître de la vigne viendra,
que fera-t-il à ces vignerons ? »
On lui répond :
« Ces misérables, il les fera périr misérablement.
Il louera la vigne à d’autres vignerons,
qui lui en remettront le produit en temps voulu. »
Jésus leur dit :
« N’avez-vous jamais lu dans les Écritures :
La pierre qu’ont rejetée les bâtisseurs
est devenue la pierre d’angle :
c’est là l’œuvre du Seigneur,
la merveille devant nos yeux !
Aussi, je vous le dis :
Le royaume de Dieu vous sera enlevé
pour être donné à une nation
qui lui fera produire ses fruits. »
– Acclamons la Parole de Dieu.
Prière sur les offrandes :
Accepte, Seigneur, le sacrifice que tu nous as donné. Dans les mystères que nous célébrons pour te rendre grâce, sanctifie les hommes que tu as sauvés par ton Fils. Lui qui.
Antienne de communion : Lm 3, 25
Le Seigneur est bon pour ceux qui se tournent vers lui, pour ceux qui le recherchent.
Prière après la communion :
Accorde-nous, Seigneur notre Dieu, de trouver dans cette communion notre force et notre joie, afin que nous puissions devenir ce que nous avons reçu: le corps du Christ. Lui qui.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Oct 2, 2020 | Evangelium
saturday 03 October 2020
Saint Thomas Cantilupe (1218-1282)
BVM
Originally from a rich Anglo-Norman family, he was ordained priest in 1245 while taking part in the First Council of Lyons. In 1275 he became Bishop of Hereford, where his austerity and his zeal as a reforming bishop became well known. He died while on a journey to the papal court, and was canonised in 1320.
Green/White
Entrance Antiphon: Dn 3:31, 29, 30, 43, 42
All that you have done to us, O Lord, you have done with true judgement, for we have sinned against you and not obeyed your commandments. But give glory to your name and deal with us according to the bounty of your mercy.
Collect
O God, who manifest your almighty power above all by pardoning and showing mercy, bestow, we pray, your grace abundantly upon us, and make those hastening to attain your promises heirs to the treasures of heaven. 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: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17
This was the answer Job gave to the Lord: I know that you are all-powerful: what you conceive, you can perform. I am the man who obscured your designs with my empty-headed words. I have been holding forth on matters I cannot understand, on marvels beyond me and my knowledge. I knew you then only by hearsay; but now, having seen you with my own eyes, I retract all I have said, and in dust and ashes I repent. The Lord blessed Job’s new fortune even more than his first one. He came to own fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand she-donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters; his first daughter he called ‘Turtledove’, the second ‘Cassia’ and the third ‘Mascara.’ Throughout the land there were no women as beautiful as the daughters of Job. And their father gave them inheritance rights like their brothers. After his trials, Job lived on until he was a hundred and forty years old, and saw his children and his children’s children up to the fourth generation. Then Job died, an old man and full of days.
Psalm 118(119):66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130
R/ Let your face shine on your servant, O Lord.
- Teach me discernment and knowledge for I trust in your commands. It was good for me to be afflicted, to learn your statutes.
- Lord, I know that your decrees are right, that you afflicted me justly. By your decree it endures to this day; for all things serve you.
- I am your servant, give me knowledge; then I shall know your will. The unfolding of your word gives light and teaches the simple.
Gospel Acclamation : Mt 11:25
Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 10:17-24
The seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.’ It was then that, filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, he said: ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’ Then turning to his disciples he spoke to them in private, ‘Happy the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant us, O merciful God, that this our offering may find acceptance with you and that through it, the wellspring of all blessing may be laid open before us. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 118: 49-50
Remember your word to your servant, O Lord, by which you have given me hope. This is my comfort when I am brought low.
Prayer after Communion
May this heavenly mystery, O Lord, restore us in mind and body, that we may be coheirs in glory with Christ, to whose suffering we are united whenever we proclaim his Death. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Meditation
Job’s name has become synonymous with suffering, to the point that one tends to forget the happy ending of his story. A preacher once said we could summarise Jobs story in the words “And Job lived happily ever after”. Job is known for his patience, but he should be better known for his hope. If your ten children died in one day, would you have hope? If you went bankrupt and on the same day you lost the person dearest to you, would you let God give you the virtue of hope? If you were diseased and racked with pain, would you be hopeful? Some of us would be like Job’s wife and “curse God and die”. However, Job, with no help from his wife and his friends, had hope. Remember: “Hope will not leave us disappointed” (Rm 5:5). The the 72 Missionary Disciples in the Gospel never had an easy mission. However, with their patience and endurance they recounted their success: “Lord…even the devils submit to us when we use your name.” Their mission was successful, and a big reason why it was successful is that they, like Job, had learned to trust in and depend on the Lord.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Oct 2, 2020 | Agenda Biblique
VERT / BLANC
Saint Gérard de Brogne
Ce moine doux et conciliant a été canonisé en 1131, lors du concile de Reims. Ayant renoncé à une vie d’officier, il se fit bénédictin à la mort de son père. Il s’initia à la vie monastique à saint Denis près de Paris et fonda une abbaye sur le domaine familial.
Antienne d’ouverture :Dn 3, 31. 29. 30. 43. 42
Tu nous as traités, Seigneur, en toute justice, car nous avons péché, nous n’avons pas écouté tes commandements. Mais, pour l’honneur de ton nom, traite-nous selon la richesse de ta miséricorde.
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu qui donnes la preuve suprême de ta puissance, lorsque tu patientes et prends pitié, Sans te lasser, accorde-nous ta grâce, en nous hâtant vers les biens que tu promets, nous parviendrons au bonheur du ciel. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture :Jb 42, 1-3.5-6.12-17
Job s’adressa au Seigneur et dit : « Je sais que tu peux tout et que nul projet pour toi n’est impossible. Quel est celui qui déforme tes plans sans rien y connaître ? De fait, j’ai parlé, sans les comprendre, de merveilles hors de ma portée, dont je ne savais rien. C’est par ouï-dire que je te connaissais, mais maintenant mes yeux t’ont vu. C’est pourquoi je me rétracte et me repens sur la poussière et sur la cendre. » Le Seigneur bénit la nouvelle situation de Job plus encore que l’ancienne. Job posséda quatorze mille moutons et six mille chameaux, mille paires de bœufs et mille ânesses. Il eut encore sept fils et trois filles. Il nomma la première Colombe, la deuxième Fleur-de-Laurier, et la troisième Ombre-du-regard. On ne trouvait pas dans tout le pays de femmes aussi belles que les filles de Job. Leur père leur donna une part d’héritage avec leurs frères. Après cela, Job vécut encore cent quarante ans, et il vit ses fils et les fils de ses fils : quatre générations. Et Job mourut âgé, rassasié de jours.
Psaume : 118 (119), 66.71, 75.91, 125.130
R/ Pour ton serviteur, que ton visage s’illumine !
- Apprends-moi à bien saisir, à bien juger : je me fie à tes volontés. C’est pour mon bien que j’ai souffert, ainsi, ai-je appris tes commandements.
- Seigneur, je le sais, tes décisions sont justes ; tu es fidèle quand tu m’éprouves. Jusqu’à ce jour, le monde tient par tes décisions : toute chose est ta servante.
- Je suis ton serviteur, éclaire-moi : je connaîtrai tes exigences. Déchiffrer ta parole illumine et les simples comprennent.
Acclamation :
Alléluia. Alléluia. Tu es béni, Père, Seigneur du ciel et de la terre, tu as révélé aux tout-petits les mystères du Royaume ! Alléluia. (cf. Mt 11, 25)
Evangile : Lc 10, 17-24
En ce temps-là, les 72 disciples que Jésus avait envoyés revinrent tout joyeux, en disant : « Seigneur, même les démons nous sont soumis en ton nom. » Jésus leur dit : « Je regardais Satan tomber du ciel comme l’éclair. Voici que je vous ai donné le pouvoir d’écraser serpents et scorpions, et sur toute la puissance de l’Ennemi : absolument rien ne pourra vous nuire. Toutefois, ne vous réjouissez pas parce que les esprits vous sont soumis ; mais réjouissez-vous parce que vos noms se trouvent inscrits dans les cieux. » À l’heure même, Jésus exulta de joie sous l’action de l’Esprit Saint, et il dit : « Père, Seigneur du ciel et de la terre, je proclame ta louange : ce que tu as caché aux sages et aux savants, tu l’as révélé aux tout-petits. Oui, Père, tu l’as voulu ainsi dans ta bienveillance. Tout m’a été remis par mon Père. Personne ne connaît qui est le Fils, sinon le Père ; et personne ne connaît qui est le Père, sinon le Fils et celui à qui le Fils veut le révéler. » Puis il se tourna vers ses disciples et leur dit en particulier : « Heureux les yeux qui voient ce que vous voyez ! Car, je vous le déclare : beaucoup de prophètes et de rois ont voulu voir ce que vous-mêmes voyez, et ne l’ont pas vu, entendre ce que vous entendez, et ne l’ont pas entendu.
Prière sur les offrandes
Dieu de miséricorde, accepte notre offrande. Qu’elle ouvre largement pour nous la source de toute bénédiction. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion: Ps 118, 49-50
Souviens-toi, Seigneur, de la parole que tu m’as donnée; en elle j’ai mis mon espoir, et, dans ma misère, elle est pour moi un réconfort
Prière après la communion
Que cette eucharistie, Seigneur, renouvelle nos esprits et nos corps, et nous donne part à l’héritage glorieux de celui qui nous unit à son sacrifice lorsque nous proclamons sa mort. Lui qui.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Oct 1, 2020 | Evangelium
friday 02 October 2020
Holy Guardian Angels
The doctrine that every individual soul has a guardian angel is not an article of faith, but it is present in both the Old and New Testaments. As Jesus says, “see that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven always gaze on the face of my Father in heaven” Matthew 18:10-14. This feast reminds us that God cares for each of us, individually.
White
Entrance Antiphon Cf. Dn 3: 58
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all for ever.
Collect
O God, who in your unfathomable providence are pleased to send your holy Angels to guard us, hear our supplication as we cry to you, that we may always be defended by their protection and rejoice eternally in their company. 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: Job 38:1, 12-21, 40:3-5
From the heart of the tempest the Lord gave Job his answer. He said: Have you ever in your life given orders to the morning or sent the dawn to its post, telling it to grasp the earth by its edges and shake the wicked out of it, when it changes the earth to sealing clay and dyes it as a man dyes clothes; stealing the light from wicked men and breaking the arm raised to strike? Have you journeyed all the way to the sources of the sea, or walked where the Abyss is deepest? Have you been shown the gates of Death or met the janitors of Shadowland? Have you an inkling of the extent of the earth? Tell me all about it if you have! Which is the way to the home of the light, and where does darkness live? You could then show them the way to their proper places, or put them on the path to where they live! If you know all this, you must have been born with them, you must be very old by now! Job replied to the Lord: My words have been frivolous: what can I reply? I had better lay my finger on my lips. I have spoken once… I will not speak again; more than once… I will add nothing.
Psalm 138(139):1-3,7-10,13-14
R/ Lead me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal.
- O Lord, you search me and you know me, you know my resting and my rising, you discern my purpose from afar. You mark when I walk or lie down, all my ways lie open to you.
- O where can I go from your spirit, or where can I flee from your face? If I climb the heavens, you are there. If I lie in the grave, you are there.
- If I take the wings of the dawn and dwell at the sea’s furthest end, even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would hold me fast.
- For it was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonders of all your creation.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps 144:13
Alleluia, alleluia! The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds. Alleluia!
Gospel Matthew 18:1-5, 10
The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O Lord, the offerings we bring before you as we venerate your holy Angels, and graciously grant that under their constant protection, we may be delivered from present dangers and brought happily to life eternal. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 137: 1
In the presence of the Angels I will praise you, my God.
Prayer after Communion
As you are pleased to nourish us for eternal life with so great a Sacrament, O Lord, direct us by the ministry of Angels into the way of salvation and peace. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
There is this very beautiful prayer we recited as in the morning at rising and in the night before sleeping: “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to Whom His love, commits me here, ever this day (night), be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen”. I continue reciting this prayer daily even as an adult. The prayer assures us of the role of the angels to watch over us. Pope Francis in his homily on the 2nd of October 2014 insists, “Guardian angels exist, they are not (the fruit of) imaginative doctrine, but companions that God has placed beside us on our life’s journey”. They are always beside us with a very soft voice, reminding us to do the will of the Father with humility. Our guardian angels help to remind us of the need for us to always have a childlike attitude and humble ourselves for as Jesus explains in our Gospel passage, the least among us is the one who is great.
