Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 10-18-06, Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 10-18-06 | New American Bible`

[Salvation]

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening 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. Alleluia.

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A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 115 (116B)

Thanksgiving in the Temple

Still I trusted, even when I said “I am greatly afflicted”,
when I said in my terror, “all men are liars”.

How shall I repay the Lord for all he has done for me?
I will take up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.

I will fulfil my vows to the Lord before all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful.

O Lord, I am your servant, your maidservant’s son.
You have torn apart my chains: I will make you a sacrifice of praise, I will call on the name of the Lord.

I will fulfil my vows to the Lord before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord, within your walls, Jerusalem.

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.

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Psalm 125 (126)

Gladness and hope in the Lord

When the Lord gave Sion back her captives, we became like dreamers.
Our mouths were filled with gladness and our voices cried in exultation.
Among the Gentiles they were saying,
 “By his deeds the Lord has shown himself great”.
The Lord’s deeds showed forth his greatness,
 and filled us with rejoicing.

Give us back our captives, O Lord,
 as you renew the dry streams in the desolate South.
Those who sow in tears will rejoice at the harvest.

They wept as they went, went with seed for the sowing;
but with joy they will come, come bearing the sheaves.

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.

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Canticle	Ephesians 1
God the Saviour
Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us, in Christ, with every spiritual blessing in heaven. In love, he chose us before the creation of the world, to be holy and spotless in his sight. He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, simply because it pleased him to do so. This he did for the praise of the glory of his grace, of his free gift of us to his Beloved, in whose blood we have gained redemption, and the forgiveness of our sins. This he did according to the riches of his grace, which he gave us in abundance, with all wisdom and discernment, revealing to us the mysteries of his will, because it pleased him to do so. In this action he has planned, in the fulfilment of time, to bring all things together in Christ, from the heavens and from the earth. 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.

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Short reading

Colossians 1:3 - 6 ©

We have never failed to remember you in our prayers and to give thanks for you to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you show towards all the saints because of the hope which is stored up for you in heaven. It is only recently that you heard of this, when it was announced in the message of the truth. The Good News which has reached you is spreading and bearing fruit all over the world.

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Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,  and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour –  me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed,  because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy,  his mercy lasts for generation after generation  for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength:  he has scattered the proud and conceited,  torn princes from their thrones;  but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things;  the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel,  he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,  to Abraham and his children for ever. 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.

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Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
 hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
 and forgive us our trespasses
 as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

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May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

[Salvation]

The Word among Us

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 Meditation 2 Timothy 4:10-17 Imagine the scene: A rough and tired Paul sitting at a table writing a letter to Timothy. Tears stream down his cheeks as his heart fills with the bitter pain of discouragement and betrayal. “Many have left the faith,” he writes. “Others have turned their backs on me or just decided to leave. Demas has abandoned me and the faith. Crescens went to Galatia and Titus went to Dalmatia.” After minutes of discouragement, Paul looks across the dimly lit room and sees his dear friend Luke, kneeling in prayer just a few feet away. Luke becomes aware that Paul is looking at him, so he turns to his friend. In that brief moment of intense fellowship and mutual love and respect, Paul’s heart is filled with joy. He picks up his pen again: “Only Luke is with me.” Born into a pagan family, Luke was a man of learning who eventually became a doctor. As an adult he was converted to the Christian faith and became a fellow worker with Paul. He would later pen one of the four gospels as well as the Book of Acts. Not much has been written about Luke, so in order to get to know him, we need to ask a few questions. What would it take for a doctor to give up his practice—and all the esteem associated with it—to follow an itinerant Jewish preacher from Damascus? What would it take for such a man to endure shipwreck, imprisonment and even stoning? And the answer to both these questions is: a powerful and deep revelation by the Holy Spirit. Because of the Spirit’s work in his heart, Luke had an intense love for Jesus and a deep sense of loyalty to Paul and to the gospel. But above all of these qualities, Luke was humble. He had no problem taking a backseat to Paul—and even more so to Jesus. In fact, he is probably a little uncomfortable right now with all these words of praise about him. He would be so much happier if we fixed our eyes on Jesus, his Lord and Redeemer. “Thank you, Jesus, for St. Luke. Thank you for filling him with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Grant me the same faith, generosity, devotion, and courage. Fill me with a double portion of your Spirit and glorify yourself in my life today.” Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18; Luke 10:1-9

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Wednesday, October 18, 2006 >>

St. Luke

2 Timothy 4:10-17

Psalm 145

Luke 10:1-9

View Readings  

"I DON'T GET NO RESPECT"

"I have no one with me but Luke." —2 Timothy 4:11

Luke was a physician (Col 4:14). In those days, physicians were not as prominent as today, but they were educated and respected (Sir 38:1-12). Yet when Luke became a Christian and a disciple of Paul, it must have seemed a demotion. Now Luke was working with a ragtag group of people and wasn't even the leader. For example, when Paul had no one with him but Luke, he called for reinforcements (2 Tm 4:9-11).

Luke's presence, while not necessarily unappreciated, was not sufficient. When Paul wrote to the Colossians, he mentions and praises Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Jesus (Justus), Epaphras, and then, almost last and almost least, Luke (Col 4:7-14). Only Demas is mentioned later than Luke, and Demas was a deserter who became "enamored of the world" and left the ministry (2 Tm 4:10).

Even though Luke "didn't get no respect" or not as much respect, he humbled himself and the Lord later exalted him (Lk 14:11). He was chosen to be the great evangelist for the Holy Spirit through his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke has been and is being used by the Lord in a world-changing way. Read Luke today.

Prayer: Lord, may I choose the lowest place and give You the opportunity to use me in a mighty way (Lk 14:10).

Promise: "The harvest is rich but the workers are few; therefore ask the Harvest-Master to send workers to His harvest." —Lk 10:2

Praise: St. Luke's writings chronicle the powerful changes that took place in some of the lowliest of people who were transformed into mighty leaders for God.

[Salvation]

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. Alleluia.

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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.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

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Psalm 30 (31)

Trustful prayer in time of adversity

O God, protect me; be my refuge. Alleluia.

In you, Lord, I put my trust: may I never be put to shame.
 In your justice, set me free,
Turn your ear to me,
 make haste to rescue me.
Be my rampart, my fortification;
 keep me safe.

For you are my strength and my refuge:
 you will lead me out to the pastures,
 for your own name’s sake.
You will lead me out of the trap that they laid for me –
 for you are my strength.

Into your hands I commend my spirit:
 you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.

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.

O God, protect me; be my refuge. Alleluia.

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Psalm 129 (130)

Out of the depths

Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord. Alleluia.

Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord: Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears listen out for the voice of my pleading.

If you took notice of our transgressions, Lord – Lord, who would be left?
But with you is forgiveness, and for this we revere you.
I rely on you, Lord, my spirit relies on your promise;
my soul hopes in the Lord, more than the watchman for daybreak.

More than the watchman for daybreak, let Israel hope in the Lord:
for with the Lord there is kindness and abundant redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel from all its transgressions.

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.

Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord. Alleluia.

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Reading	Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry if you must, but do not sin: do not let your anger outlast the sunset: do not give the Devil his chance.

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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.

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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. Alleluia.
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. Alleluia.

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Prayer
Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you lay a gentle yoke upon those who follow you. Meek and humble, you give them a light burden to carry. Receive the work and the prayers we have offered to you today; and give us rest, to make us more eager to serve you, who live and reign for ever and ever, Amen.

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May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

A M E N

An antiphon to Our Lady should be recited here.

[Salvation]