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To: All
One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body


<< Friday, March 6, 2009 >>
Saint of the Day
 
Ezekiel 18:21-28
View Readings
Psalm 130 Matthew 5:20-26
 

UNFAIR?

 
"You say, 'The Lord's way is not fair!' Hear now, house of Israel: Is it My way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?" —Ezekiel 18:25
 

God, the perfectly just One, is often accused of not being fair by us who have done so many injustices. Evil people seem to get away with murder and even prosper (Mal 3:15), while good people suffer tragedy. It doesn't seem fair.

The Lord gives those who have worked for a few minutes a full day's pay — the same as those who worked the whole day (Mt 20:11ff). Is that fair?

The son who squandered his inheritance on dissolute living was honored with special gifts and a party when he returned home (Lk 15:22-23). The older son complained that it wasn't fair (Lk 15:28ff).

One of the criminals crucified with Jesus stopped blaspheming (Mk 15:32, Lk 23:39ff) long enough to repent. Then Jesus promised to take the man with Him to paradise that day (Lk 23:43). The thief lived a "hell of a life" and immediately went to heaven while many religious leaders did not enter God's kingdom (see Mt 5:20). Is that fair?

Jesus is not fair. If He were, we'd all be condemned to hell. Because He took on Himself the punishment for all our sins, Jesus doesn't have to be fair. He can be better than fair — that is, merciful — because He paid the price to redeem us.

 
Prayer: Jesus, innocent Victim and Victor, it wasn't fair that You died in my place for my sins to justify me. I thank and love You.
Promise: "If you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift at the altar, go first to be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift." —Mt 5:23-24
Praise: When they married, Elizabeth and James made a long-term commitment that lasted fifty years.
 
 

31 posted on 03/06/2009 10:18:32 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.


This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

Hymn
Now that the daylight dies away,
By all thy grace and love,
Thee, Maker of the world, we pray
To watch our bed above.
Let dreams depart and phantoms fly,
The offspring of the night,
Keep us, like shrines, beneath thine eye,
Pure in our foe’s despite.
This grace on thy redeemed confer,
Father, co-equal Son,
And Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
Eternal Three in One.

Psalm 87 (88)
The prayer of one gravely ill
I cry out to you, Lord, by day and by night.
Lord God, my saviour,
  I have cried out to you by day and by night.
Let my prayer come before you:
  turn your ear to my request.
For my soul is full of evils,
  my life has come close to its end.
I am counted with those who go down to the pit:
  I am left without help.
I am one of the dead,
  like the murdered who sleep in their tombs,
who lie there forgotten,
  cut off from your care.
You have thrust me down into the pit,
  to the gloom and the shadow of death.
Your anger weighs heavy upon me;
  you have drowned me under your waves.
You have taken my friends away from me:
  you have made me hateful in their sight,
  I am shut in, I may not go out.
My eyes are weak from my sufferings.
I have called to you, Lord, all the day;
  I have stretched out my hands to you.
Is it for the dead that you perform your wonders?
  Will the ghosts rise up and proclaim you?
In the tomb, will they tell of your kindness?
  Will they tell of your faithfulness in the place of the lost?
Will your wonders be known in the darkness,
  or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
And so I have called out to you, Lord,
  and in the morning my prayer will come before you.
With what purpose, Lord, do you reject my soul?
  Why do you hide your face from me?
I am poor; from my youth I have been dying;
  I have borne the terrors you sent, I am lost in confusion.
Your anger has overrun me, your terrors have broken me:
  they have flowed round me like water,
  they have besieged me all the day long.
You have taken my friends and those close to me:
  all I have left is shadows.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.
I cry out to you, Lord, by day and by night.

Reading (Jeremiah 14:9)
You, Lord, are in our midst, and we are called by your name; therefore do not abandon us, Lord, our God.

Short Responsory ?
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness.
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle Nunc Dimittis
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.
  You have fulfilled your promise.
My own eyes have seen your salvation,
  which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;
  the glory of your people Israel.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Prayer
Let us pray.
  Lord, let us be so united with your only Son that we become worthy to rise with him into new life, who lives and reigns for ever and ever, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
A M E N
An anthem to Our Lady should be recited here.

32 posted on 03/06/2009 10:21:27 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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