by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Aug 8, 2020 | Evangelium
sunday 09 August 2020
NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter III
St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891 – 1942)
Green
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 73: 20, 19, 22, 23
Look to your covenant, O Lord, and forget not the life of your poor ones for ever. Arise, O God, and defend your cause, and forget not the cries of those who seek you.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, whom, taught by the Holy Spirit, we dare to call our Father, bring, we pray, to perfection in our hearts the spirit of adoption as your sons and daughters, that we may merit to enter into the inheritance which you have promised. 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 Kings 19:9, 11-13
When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of the Lord, he went into the cave and spent the night in it. Then he was told, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ Then the Lord himself went by. There came a mighty wind, so strong it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Psalm 84(85):9-14
R/ Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.
- I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace. His help is near for those who fear him and his glory will dwell in our land.
- Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced. Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven.
- The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit. Justice shall march before him and peace shall follow his steps.
Second reading: Romans 9:1-5
What I want to say now is no pretence; I say it in union with Christ – it is the truth – my conscience in union with the Holy Spirit assures me of it too. What I want to say is this: my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood. They were adopted as sons, they were given the glory and the covenants; the Law and the ritual were drawn up for them, and the promises were made to them. They are descended from the patriarchs and from their flesh and blood came Christ who is above all, God for ever blessed! Amen.
Gospel Acclamation: Lk 19:38, 2:14
Alleluia, alleluia! Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens! Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Be pleased, O Lord, to accept the offerings of your Church, for in your mercy you have given them to be offered and by your power you transform them into the mystery of our salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 147: 12, 14
O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord, who gives you your fill of finest wheat.
Prayer after Communion
May the communion in your Sacrament that we have consumed, save us, O Lord, and confirm us in the light of your truth. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Without their Master, the disciples had troubles facing the strong wind. It was then that Jesus came to them walking on the water. Sometimes god can allow us to be in stormy situations in life just to see if we have faith in him. In a sense, Jesus was inviting them not to be afraid, to trust him to awake their faith in them. Jesus also asks us every minute of our lives, as he did Peter, come towards me. The road towards Christ is never an easy one, but what do we do when our faith begins to fail us, when we begin to doubt? When we walk with faith in Christ, we tend to attract others who are with us. We therefore become channels and passages for their increase in faith in Christ. «The group of those that already were apostles, but did not yet fully believe, when they saw the waters waving below the Lord’s feet and appreciated his steps were firm through the stormy waves (…) they believed Jesus was the true Son of God, and accepted him as such» (St. Ambrose).
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Aug 8, 2020 | Agenda Biblique
VERT
Sainte Thérèse Bénédicte de La Croix
Née dans le judaïsme, Edith Stein était professeur d’université à Wroclaw (Breslau) et elle se tourna progressivement vers le Christ. Au temps de l’invasion nazie et de la persécution des juifs, elle devint carmélite à Cologne, prenant le nom de Thérèse Bénédicte de La Croix. Elle fut martyrisée à Auschwitz.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 69, 2. 6
Viens me délivrer, Seigneur, Dieu, viens vite à mon secours. Tu es mon aide et mon libérateur, Seigneur, ne tarde pas.
Prière d’ouverture :
Assiste tes enfants, Seigneur, et montre à ceux qui t’implorent ton inépuisable bonté. C’est leur fierté de t’avoir pour Créateur et Providence, restaure pour eux ta création, et l’ayant renouvelée, protège-la. Par Jésus Christ.
Lectures de la messe
Première lecture (1 R 19, 9a.11-13a)
En ces jours-là, lorsque le prophète Élie fut arrivé à l’Horeb, la montagne de Dieu, il entra dans une caverne et y passa la nuit. Le Seigneur dit : « Sors et tiens-toi sur la montagne devant le Seigneur, car il va passer. » À l’approche du Seigneur, il y eut un ouragan, si fort et si violent qu’il fendait les montagnes et brisait les rochers, mais le Seigneur n’était pas dans l’ouragan ; et après l’ouragan, il y eut un tremblement de terre, mais le Seigneur n’était pas dans le tremblement de terre ; et après ce tremblement de terre, un feu, mais le Seigneur n’était pas dans ce feu ; et après ce feu, le murmure d’une brise légère. Aussitôt qu’il l’entendit, Élie se couvrit le visage avec son manteau, il sortit et se tint à l’entrée de la caverne. – Parole du Seigneur.
Psaume (Ps 84 (85), 9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14)
R/ Fais-nous voir, Seigneur, ton amour, et donne-nous ton salut. (Ps 84, 8)
J’écoute : Que dira le Seigneur Dieu ? Ce qu’il dit, c’est la paix pour son peuple et ses fidèles. Son salut est proche de ceux qui le craignent, et la gloire habitera notre terre.
Amour et vérité se rencontrent, justice et paix s’embrassent ; la vérité germera de la terre et du ciel se penchera la justice.
Le Seigneur donnera ses bienfaits, et notre terre donnera son fruit. La justice marchera devant lui, et ses pas traceront le chemin.
Deuxième lecture (Rm 9, 1-5)
Frères, c’est la vérité que je dis dans le Christ, je ne mens pas, ma conscience m’en rend témoignage dans l’Esprit Saint : j’ai dans le cœur une grande tristesse, une douleur incessante. Moi-même, pour les Juifs, mes frères de race, je souhaiterais être anathème, séparé du Christ : ils sont en effet Israélites, ils ont l’adoption, la gloire, les alliances, la législation, le culte, les promesses de Dieu ; ils ont les patriarches, et c’est de leur race que le Christ est né, lui qui est au-dessus de tout, Dieu béni pour les siècles. Amen. – Parole du Seigneur.
Alléluia. Alléluia.
J’espère le Seigneur, et j’attends sa parole.
Alléluia. (cf. Ps 129, 5)
Évangile (Mt 14, 22-33)
Aussitôt après avoir nourri la foule dans le désert, Jésus obligea les disciples à monter dans la barque et à le précéder sur l’autre rive, pendant qu’il renverrait les foules. Quand il les eut renvoyées, il gravit la montagne, à l’écart, pour prier. Le soir venu, il était là, seul. La barque était déjà à une bonne distance de la terre, elle était battue par les vagues, car le vent était contraire. Vers la fin de la nuit, Jésus vint vers eux en marchant sur la mer. En le voyant marcher sur la mer, les disciples furent bouleversés. Ils dirent : « C’est un fantôme. » Pris de peur, ils se mirent à crier. Mais aussitôt Jésus leur parla : « Confiance ! c’est moi ; n’ayez plus peur ! » Pierre prit alors la parole : « Seigneur, si c’est bien toi, ordonne-moi de venir vers toi sur les eaux. » Jésus lui dit : « Viens ! » Pierre descendit de la barque et marcha sur les eaux pour aller vers Jésus. Mais, voyant la force du vent, il eut peur et, comme il commençait à enfoncer, il cria : « Seigneur, sauve-moi ! » Aussitôt, Jésus étendit la main, le saisit et lui dit : « Homme de peu de foi, pourquoi as-tu douté ? » Et quand ils furent montés dans la barque, le vent tomba. Alors ceux qui étaient dans la barque se prosternèrent devant lui, et ils lui dirent : « Vraiment, tu es le Fils de Dieu ! » – Acclamons la Parole de Dieu.
Prière sur les offrandes :
Accueille, Seigneur, avec bienveillance, les offrandes que nous te présentons en ce jour où nous fêtons saint Laurent : fais qu’elles servent à notre salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion
«Si quelqu’un veut me servir, qu’il me suive, dit le Seigneur, et là où je suis, là aussi sera mon serviteur. »
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Aug 7, 2020 | Evangelium
saturday 08 August 2020
St Dominic, Priest (1170 – 1221)
BVM
He was born in Castile (part of modern Spain) and became a canon of the cathedral of Osma. In 1216 he founded the Order of Preachers, dedicated to saving souls by preaching and persuasion. Dominic died at Bologna on 6th August 1221.
White
Entrance Antiphon: Sir 15: 5
In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory.
Collect
May Saint Dominic come to the help of your Church by his merits and teaching, O Lord, and may he, who was an outstanding preacher of your truth, be a devoted intercessor on our behalf. 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: Habakkuk 1:12-2:4
Are not you, from ancient times the Lord, my God, my Holy One, who never dies? O Lord, you have made this people an instrument of justice, set it firm as a rock in order to punish. Your eyes are too pure to rest on wickedness, you cannot look on at tyranny. Why do you look on while men are treacherous, and stay silent while the evil man swallows a better man than he? You treat mankind like fishes in the sea, like creeping, masterless things. A people, these, who catch all on their hook, who draw them with their net, in their dragnet gather them, and so, triumphantly, rejoice. At this, they offer a sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their dragnet, for providing them with luxury and lavish food. Are they then to empty their net unceasingly, slaughtering nations without pity? I will stand on my watchtower, and take up my post on my battlements, watching to see what he will say to me, what answer he will make to my complaints. Then the Lord answered and said, ‘Write the vision down, inscribe it on tablets to be easily read, since this vision is for its own time only: eager for its own fulfilment, it does not deceive; if it comes slowly, wait, for come it will, without fail. ‘See how he flags, he whose soul is not at rights, but the upright man will live by his faithfulness.’
Psalm 9A(9):8-13
R/ You will never forsake those who seek you, O Lord.
- The Lord sits enthroned for ever. He has set up his throne for judgement; he will judge the world with justice, he will judge the peoples with his truth.
- For the oppressed let the Lord be a stronghold, a stronghold in times of distress. Those who know your name will trust you; you will never forsake those who seek you.
- Sing psalms to the Lord who dwells in Zion. Proclaim his mighty works among the peoples, for the Avenger of blood has remembered them, has not forgotten the cry of the poor.
Gospel Acclamation: 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: Matthew 17:14-20
A man came up to Jesus and went down on his knees before him. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘take pity on my son: he is a lunatic and in a wretched state; he is always falling into the fire or into the water. I took him to your disciples and they were unable to cure him.’ ‘Faithless and perverse generation!’ Jesus said in reply ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’ And when Jesus rebuked it the devil came out of the boy who was cured from that moment. Then the disciples came privately to Jesus. ‘Why were we unable to cast it out?’ they asked. He answered, ‘Because you have little faith. I tell you solemnly, if your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Attend mercifully to the prayers we offer you, O Lord, by the intercession of Saint Dominic, and through the great power of this sacrifice strengthen by the protection of your grace those who champion the faith. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt 24: 46-47
Blessed is the servant whom the Lord finds watching when he comes. Amen I say to you: He will put that servant in charge of all his property.
Prayer after Communion
May your Church, O Lord, receive with wholehearted reverence the power of this heavenly Sacrament, by which we have been nourished on the commemoration of Saint Dominic, and may your Church, having flourished by means of his preaching, be helped through his intercession. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
How we express our request sometimes shows how fully we accept our personal conditions and the recognition of the mercifulness of He through whom all miracles are worked. The expression «nothing would be impossible to you» (Mt 17:20) points to the level of faith we must possess if we want to be part of this vineyard. God’s Word places before us the thought about the quality of our faith and the way how we get deeper into it. In whatever thing we do in life, in all circumstances, we must find a certain amount of faith for it to work for us. Miracles do exist but what amount of conviction do we have in Christ who makes all things possible?
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Aug 7, 2020 | Agenda Biblique
BLANC
Saint Dominique, Prêtre
D’abord chanoine régulier d’Osma, Vieille Castille, Dominique de Guzman (1170-1221) découvre, au cours d’un voyage où il accompagne son évêque, les ravages faits par l’hérésie albigeoise dans le Midi de la France, et les vrais remèdes qu’il faudrait employer pour en délivrer l’Eglise. Il entreprend, avec quelques compagnons, une prédication de l’Evangile, qui s’appuie sur la prière du couvent de Prouille où il a rassemblé quelques converties de l’hérésie. La pauvreté évangélique caractérise ces prêcheurs dont le premier couvent est fondé à Toulouse. Honorius III approuva en 1216 l’œuvre de Dominique, qui mourut peu après le premier chapitre général de son ordre, alors que ses fils étaient déjà répandus en France, en Espagne et en Italie.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 69, 2. 6
Viens me délivrer, Seigneur, Dieu, viens vite à mon secours. Tu es mon aide et mon libérateur, Seigneur, ne tarde pas.
Prière d’ouverture :
Assiste tes enfants, Seigneur, et montre à ceux qui t’implorent ton inépuisable bonté. C’est leur fierté de t’avoir pour Créateur et Providence, restaure pour eux ta création, et l’ayant renouvelée, protège-la. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : Ha 1, 12 – 2, 4
Seigneur, depuis les temps anciens, n’es-tu pas mon Dieu, mon Saint, toi qui es immortel ? Seigneur, tu as établi les Chaldéens pour exécuter le jugement ; tu en as fait un roc pour exercer le châtiment. Tes yeux sont trop purs pour voir le mal, tu ne peux supporter la vue de l’oppression. Alors, pourquoi regardes-tu ces perfides, pourquoi restes-tu silencieux quand le méchant engloutit l’homme juste ? Tu traites les hommes comme les poissons de la mer, et comme les reptiles que personne ne domine. Le Chaldéen les pêche tous avec son hameçon, les prend avec son filet, et les recueille dans ses nasses, ce qui le comble de joie et d’allégresse ! Alors il offre des sacrifices à son filet, il fait fumer de l’encens devant ses nasses, car il leur doit une prise abondante et une nourriture copieuse. N’arrêtera-t-il pas de vider son filet, de massacrer sans pitié des nations ? Je vais me tenir à mon poste de garde, rester debout sur mon rempart, guetter ce que Dieu me dira, et comment il répliquera à mes plaintes. Alors le Seigneur me répondit : « Tu vas mettre par écrit une vision, clairement, sur des tablettes, pour qu’on puisse la lire couramment. Car c’est encore une vision pour le temps fixé ; elle tendra vers son accomplissement, et ne décevra pas. Si elle paraît tarder, attends-la : elle viendra certainement, sans retard. Celui qui est insolent n’a pas l’âme droite, mais le juste vivra par sa fidélité. »
Psaume : 9A, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13
R/ Jamais tu n’abandonnes, Seigneur, ceux qui te cherchent.
- Il siège, le Seigneur, à jamais : pour juger, il affermit son trône ; il juge le monde avec justice et gouverne les peuples avec droiture.
- Qu’il soit la forteresse de l’opprimé, sa forteresse aux heures d’angoisse : ils s’appuieront sur toi, ceux qui connaissent ton nom ; jamais tu n’abandonnes, Seigneur, ceux qui te cherchent.
- Fêtez le Seigneur qui siège dans Sion, annoncez parmi les peuples ses exploits ! Attentif au sang versé, il se rappelle, il n’oublie pas le cri des malheureux.
Acclamation :
Alléluia. Alléluia. Notre Sauveur, le Christ Jésus, a détruit la mort ; il a fait resplendir la vie par l’Évangile. Alléluia. (2 Tm 1, 10)
Evangile : Mt 17, 14-20
En ce temps là, un homme s’approcha de lui, et tombant à ses genoux, il dit : « Seigneur, prends pitié de mon fils. Il est épileptique et il souffre beaucoup. Souvent il tombe dans le feu et, souvent aussi, dans l’eau. Je l’ai amené à tes disciples, mais ils n’ont pas pu le guérir. » Prenant la parole, Jésus dit : « Génération incroyante et dévoyée, combien de temps devrai-je rester avec vous ? Combien de temps devrai-je vous supporter ? Amenez-le-moi. » Jésus menaça le démon, et il sortit de lui. À l’heure même, l’enfant fut guéri. Alors les disciples s’approchèrent de Jésus et lui dirent en particulier : « Pour quelle raison est-ce que nous, nous n’avons pas réussi à l’expulser ? » Jésus leur répond : « En raison de votre peu de foi. Amen, je vous le dis : si vous avez de la foi gros comme une graine de moutarde, vous direz à cette montagne : “Transporte-toi d’ici jusque là-bas”, et elle se transportera ; rien ne vous sera impossible. »
Prière sur les offrandes :
Dans ta bonté, Seigneur, sanctifie ces dons. Accepte le sacrifice spirituel de cette eucharistie, et fais de nous-mêmes une éternelle offrande à ta gloire. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Sg 16, 20
Tu nous donnes, Seigneur, la vraie manne, ce pain venu du ciel qui comble tous les désirs.
Prière après la communion :
Seigneur, entoure d’une constante protection ceux que tu as renouvelés par le pain du ciel. Puisque tu ne cesses de les réconforter, rends-les dignes de l’éternel salut. Par Jésus.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Aug 6, 2020 | Evangelium
friday 07 August 2020
Pope St Sixtus II and his companions (258)
Saint Cajetan, Priest
Sixtus was elected Pope in 257. Twelve months later, on 6th August, as he was celebrating Mass in the catacomb of St Calixtus, he was seized by the authorities and beheaded along with four of his deacons. He was buried in the same catacomb.
Green/Red/White
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 69: 2, 6
O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me! You are my rescuer, my help; O Lord, do not delay.
Collect
Draw near to your servants, O Lord, and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness, that, for those who glory in you as their Creator and guide, you may restore what you have created and keep safe what you have restored. 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: Nahum 2:1, 3, 3:1-3, 6-7
See, over the mountains the messenger hurries! ‘Peace!’ he proclaims. Judah, celebrate your feasts, carry out your vows, for Belial will never pass through you again; he is utterly annihilated. Yes, the Lord is restoring the vineyard of Jacob and the vineyard of Israel. For the plunderers had plundered them, they had broken off their branches. Woe to the city soaked in blood, full of lies, stuffed with booty, whose plunderings know no end! The crack of the whip! The rumble of wheels! Galloping horse, jolting chariot, charging cavalry, flash of swords, gleam of spears… a mass of wounded, hosts of dead, countless corpses; they stumble over the dead. I am going to pelt you with filth, shame you, make you a public show. And all who look on you will turn their backs on you and say, ‘Nineveh is a ruin.’ Could anyone pity her? Where can I find anyone to comfort her?
Deuteronomy 32:35-36, 39, 41
R/ It is the Lord who deals death and life.
- It is close, the day of their ruin; their doom comes at speed. For the Lord will see his people righted, he will take pity on his servants.
- See now that I, I am He, and beside me there is no other god. It is I who deal death and life; when I have struck it is I who heal.
- When I have whetted my flashing sword I will take up the cause of Right, I will give my foes as good again, I will repay those who hate me.
Gospel Acclamation: 1 S 3:9, Jn 6:68
Alleluia, alleluia! Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 16:24-28
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour. I tell you solemnly, there are some of these standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Graciously sanctify these gifts, O Lord, we pray, and, accepting the oblation of this spiritual sacrifice, make of us an eternal offering to you. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Wis 16: 20
You have given us, O Lord, bread from heaven, endowed with all delights and sweetness in every taste.
Prayer after Communion
Accompany with constant protection, O Lord, those you renew with these heavenly gifts and, in your never-failing care for them, make them worthy of eternal redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
We are confronted with an absolutely radical approach, and following Christ does not admit of any half measures: «If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me» (Mt 16:24). Followership of Christ is total and full; this is how we show our love for him. Often times we face hardships created by both us and/or by others. Our everyday experiences must be seen as acts of love and a constant journey towards our eternal resting place, for in them we participate in Christ’s suffering. We must not do anything to add neither to the sufferings of others nor our own, for man creates the sufferings he endures. As St. Augustine says: «When one loves, one does not suffer; but if one does suffer, the very suffering is loved».
