Homily of the Day

Other Articles by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph. D.
Printer Friendly Version

I Could Never Do That!

March 11, 2008

Dn 3:14-20,91-92,95 / Jn 8:31-42

Throughout history there are abundant examples of people who succumbed to the threats and torments of torturers and confessed to all manner of non-existent crimes or agreed to do all kinds of dreadful things that were contrary to their beliefs. How overwhelming and paralyzing their fears must have been. We can only wonder what we'd have done in their place.

But once in a while we confront real heroes, like the three young men in today’s reading from the prophet Daniel. Standing at the very door of a raging furnace, they spoke to the king, "If God will save us from the white-hot furnace, may He do so. But even if He will not, we will not worship the golden statue which you set up."

"I could never do that," we say, and we’re right. We couldn’t, but God living and working deep within us can do that, if we give Him free reign. Remember what St. Paul said, "I can do all things in Him who strengthens me." And so can we, but first we have to ask, and ask honestly, with all our heart: "Strengthen me Lord to do your will."

That is a prayer, when prayed wholeheartedly, that is always answered!

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.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 26 (27)
Keeping faith in time of peril
The Lord is my light and my help: whom should I fear? The Lord protects my life: what could terrify me? When they come to do me harm, to consume my flesh, my enemies and my persecutors, it is they who stumble and fall. If their armies encamp against me, my heart will not fear; if battle flares up against me, even then will I hope. One thing I beg of the Lord, one thing will I ask: that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may behold the joys of the Lord and always see his temple. For he will shelter me in his tent in the time of evils. He will hide me in the hidden parts of the tabernacle; then raise me up on a rock, lift me high up above the enemies who surround me. In his tabernacle I will offer him a sacrifice of shouts, of songs, of psalms to the Lord. 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.

Psalm 26 (27)

Keeping faith in time of peril

The Lord is my light and my help: whom should I fear?
The Lord protects my life: what could terrify me?
When they come to do me harm, to consume my flesh,
my enemies and my persecutors, it is they who stumble and fall.

If their armies encamp against me, my heart will not fear;
if battle flares up against me, even then will I hope.

One thing I beg of the Lord, one thing will I ask: that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
so that I may behold the joys of the Lord and always see his temple.

For he will shelter me in his tent in the time of evils.
He will hide me in the hidden parts of the tabernacle; then raise me up on a rock,
lift me high up above the enemies who surround me.

In his tabernacle I will offer him a sacrifice of shouts, of songs, of psalms to the Lord.

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.

Psalm 26 (27)
Listen, Lord, to my voice as I cry: have mercy and listen to me. “Seek his face”, my heart has said, and so I will seek your face, O Lord. Do not turn your face away from me, do not turn from your servant in anger. You are my helper, do not reject me; do not abandon me, God, my help. For when my father and mother have abandoned me, the Lord will take me up. Show me your ways, Lord, and guide me along the right path, out of the reach of my enemies. Do not hand me over to the whim of those who would persecute me, when lying witnesses have risen up against me, with those who plan to do me violence. I trust I shall see the joys of the Lord in the land of the living. Hope in the Lord, be brave, let your heart take comfort and trust in the Lord. 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.

Psalm 26 (27)

Listen, Lord, to my voice as I cry: have mercy and listen to me.
“Seek his face”, my heart has said, and so I will seek your face, O Lord.

Do not turn your face away from me, do not turn from your servant in anger.
You are my helper, do not reject me; do not abandon me, God, my help.
For when my father and mother have abandoned me, the Lord will take me up.

Show me your ways, Lord, and guide me along the right path, out of the reach of my enemies.

Do not hand me over to the whim of those who would persecute me, when lying witnesses have risen up against me, with those who plan to do me violence.

I trust I shall see the joys of the Lord in the land of the living.
Hope in the Lord, be brave, let your heart take comfort and trust in the Lord.

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.

Canticle	(Colossians 1)
Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead
Let us give thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to share in the light that is the saints’ inheritance. He has rescued us from the power of the shadows and brought us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, thrones and dominations, principalities and powers. All things were created through him and for him: he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, and so he is pre-eminent above all. For it was the Father’s will that the fullness of God should dwell in him, and that through him all things should be reconciled to himself. Through the blood of the Cross he brought peace to all things, both on Earth and in the heavens. 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.

Canticle

(Colossians 1)

Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead

Let us give thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to share in the light that is the saints’ inheritance.
He has rescued us from the power of the shadows and brought us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation,
for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
thrones and dominations, principalities and powers.

All things were created through him and for him: he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

And he is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, and so he is pre-eminent above all.
For it was the Father’s will that the fullness of God should dwell in him, and that through him all things should be reconciled to himself.
Through the blood of the Cross he brought peace to all things, both on Earth and in the heavens.

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.

Short reading	Ephesians 4:32 - 5:2 ©
Be friends with one another, and kind, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ. Try to imitate God as children of his that he loves and follow Christ loving as he loved you, giving himself up in our place as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God.

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.

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.

Prayers and Intercessions

Let us praise God, the all-powerful, the compassionate. He knows all our needs, but above all he wants us to ask for the coming of his kingdom. So let us acclaim him and say: - May your kingdom come, the kingdom of justice.
Holy Father, you gave us Christ as a shepherd for our souls. Be close to your shepherds and the people they have gathered: let the shepherds be faithful in caring for their flock;: let the flock be faithful in obeying the shepherds.
Let Christians care for the sick with brotherly devotion:: it is Christ they are caring for.
Lead into your Church those who do not yet believe in the Gospel:: let them help her to grow through love and good works.
We are sinners: make us able to beg for your pardon;: and thus be reconciled to your Church.
Let the dead awaken to eternal life: and remain for ever with you.

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.

O God of mercy and compassion, your children have been sanctified by penance: now enlighten their hearts.
Give them the desire to worship you,
and listen with kindness to their petitions.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.

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

A M E N