From: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Recourse to Pagan Courts
[7] To have lawsuits at all with one another is defeat for you. Why not rather suf-
fer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? [8] But you yourselves wrong and de-
fraud, and that even your own brethren.
[9] Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homo-
sexuals, [10] nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers
will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. But you were
washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
1-6. As usually happens in his letters, in the course of dealing with some more
or less important event in the Christian community, the Apostle moves on to a
much higher plane, and from there focuses light onto the particular problem.
In this case, the scandal is that Christians are involved in lawsuits against one
another (v. 7) and are bringing these cases before pagan courts instead of trying
to settle them within the sphere of the Church; Paul, as we can see, is quite
incensed: “How dare any of your members...”
Through Baptism, Christians are become holy, justified; that is, they have ob-
tained a share in the life and virtues of Christ and are called to follow his example.
Furthermore, like the Apostles (cf. Mt 19:28; Lk 22:30), Christians will judge men
and angels on the Last Day. They are, therefore, instruments of and witnesses to
divine justice. So, they really should not go to law against each other; and if they
do have grievances the Christian community itself should provide people who are
equipped to act as arbitrators and have the grace of state to solve the problems
that arise. St Paul is not down-playing civil authority and its autonomy, for all au-
thority comes from God (Rom 13:1-5); he himself submitted to Roman tribunals,
and he even appealed to Caesar (cf. Acts 25:11-12). The specific advice he gives
here — that Christians should not bring cases before pagan court — ties in with
Jewish practice. Primarily, the Apostle is recommending to Christians to practice
fraternity and solve disagreements without going to pagan courts.
Moreover, going to law would be a great disservice to the Gospel: what attraction
could a community hold which was divided within itself? [7] It is this grave scan-
dal that he particularly wants to avoid.
3. The only Judge of the living and the dead, of angels and men, is Jesus Christ.
Christians are so intimately linked to Christ that St Paul sees no objections to
attributing the actions of the head to all the members. Therefore, he does not at-
tempt to speculate on the particular form the Last Judgment will take — whether,
for example, men will judge angels or at least the fallen angels. His aim here
may be simply to emphasize the intimate union of the Christian with Christ,
which ought to be reflected in just dealings with one another.
7-8. This is the reason why St Paul is so hard on the Corinthians. They have
failed to understand and to apply what our Lord said in the Sermon on the Mount
about bearing injuries (Mt 5:39-42). Worse still, they have gone to law against
each other in contravention of the standard set by those early Christians, who
had one heart and soul (cf. Acts 4:32). And they have tried to solve their disa-
greements in pagan courts which know nothing of Christian brotherhood. St John
Chrysostom points out the transgressions the Corinthians are guilty of: “For one
thing, not bearing injuries patiently; for another, offending others; then looking for
arbitrators to decide on the matter, finally, using this procedure in a dispute with
a Christian, a brother in the faith” (”Hom. on 1 Cor, ad loc.”).
St Paul’s advice about money can usefully be read in the light of Romans 12:
17-21: this shows us that he is not saying that a passive and weak attitude to
difficulties is the right one: difficulties should be faced and an effort made to do
positive good, at all times, to everyone.
“Let us especially resolve not to judge others, not to doubt their good will, to
drown evil in an abundance of good, sowing loyal friendship, justice and peace
all around us. And let us resolve never to become sad if our upright conduct is
misunderstood by others; if the good which, with the continuous help of our Lord,
we try to accomplish is misinterpreted by people who delight in unjustly guessing
at our motives and who accuse us of wicked designs and deceitful behavior. Let
us forgive always, with a smile on our lips. Let us speak clearly, without hard fee-
lings, when in conscience we think we ought to speak. And let us leave every-
thing in the hands of our Father God, with a divine silence — Jesus was silent’
(Mt 26:63 — if we are confronted with personal attacks, no matter how brutal and
shameful they might be. Let us concern ourselves only with doing good deeds:
God will see to it that they shine before men (Mt 5:16)” (”Christ Is Passing By”,
72).
9-10. In this list of sins, similar to that given in the previous chapter (cf. 1 Cor
5:10-11), St Paul explicitly teaches that those who commit these sins will not
inherit the Kingdom, that is, will not attain eternal salvation. The whole list is a
kind of explanation of what “unrighteousness” means. Thus, not only those go
against righteousness who wrongly go to law or defraud others: righteousness,
justice, in the language of the Bible is equivalent to holiness and therefore is op-
posed to every kind of sin.
“Do not be deceived”: the Greek can also be translated as “Do not let yourselves
be deceived” (cf. Eph 5 :5-6). Certainly, to make out that such actions are good
is worse than to commit them. And yet in Corinth, and in other places at other
times, there have been and are false ideologies which interpret sinfulness as vir-
tue. To combat tendencies that seek to tone down or deny the reality of grave
sin, the Church points out that “a person sins mortally not only when his action
comes from direct contempt for love of God and neighbor, but also when he con-
sciously and freely, for whatever reason, chooses something which is seriously
disordered [...]. Pastors of souls must exercise patience and generosity; but
they are not allowed to render God’s commandments null, nor to reduce unrea-
sonably people’s responsibility” (SCDF, “Declaration Concerning Sexual Ethics”,
10). Like Christ, pastors should be uncompromising with evil and merciful to evil-
doers.
11. This reminder about the dignity of Christians brings to an end this series of
warnings. It reminds the Corinthians of their Baptism, its effects and their need
to return to their initial holiness.
These last words clearly contain a reference to the Trinitarian formula used at Bap-
tism (cf. Mt 28:19). The inclusion of the name of the three persons of the Blessed
Trinity implies an act of faith in God, One and Three, and recognition that grace
and justification are given us by the Father, have been merited by his Son Jesus
Christ, and are applied to us through the action of the Holy Spirit.
Three words sum up the effects of Baptism—”washed”, “sanctified”, and “justified”
(cf. Acts 22:16; Eph 5:16; Tit 3:5); in addition to erasing original sin, and any per-
sonal sin, Baptism gives us sanctifying grace and the infused virtues: “The follo-
wers of Christ, called by God not in virtue of their works but by his design and
grace, and justified in the Lord Jesus, have been made sons of God in baptism,
the sacrament of faith, and partakers of the divine nature, and so are truly sanc-
tified. They must therefore hold on to and perfect in their lives that sanctification
which they have received from God” (”Lumen Gentium”, 40).
Reminding them of baptismal innocence, St Paul encourages the Corinthians to
return to that state by a new conversion. After Baptism, the sacrament of Pe-
nance received with the right dispositions restores sanctifying grace and is, more-
over, a means Christ chooses to conserve men in grace and bring them growth in
grace: “The sacrament of Penance contributes [much] to the development of the
Christian life” (Vatican II, “Christus Dominus”, 30).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Sep 11, Invitatory for Tuesday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time
Lord, open my lips.
– And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Ant. Come, let us worship our mighty king and lord.
Psalm 100
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.
Ant.
Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Ant.
Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant.
Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Come, let us worship our mighty king and lord.
Sep 11, Office of Readings for Tuesday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 615
Proper of Seasons: 227
Psalter: Tuesday, Week III, 982
Christian Prayer:
Does not contain Office of Readings.
Office of Readings for Tuesday in Ordinary Time
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here!
A Helper just He comes to thee,
His chariot is humility,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress.
O blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!
Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
Redeemer, come, with us abide;
Our hearts to Thee we open wide;
Let us Thy inner presence feel;
Thy grace and love in us reveal.
Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
Until our glorious goal is won;
Eternal praise, eternal fame
Be offered, Savior, to Thy Name!
“Lift up your heads ye mighty gates” by Gloucester Cathedral Choir; Words: George Weissel, 1642. Music: Psalmodia Evangelica, 1789.
“Lift up your heads ye mighty gates” by Gloucester Cathedral Choir is available from Amazon.com
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Let God arise, let his enemies flee before him.
Psalm 68
The Lord’s triumphant entrance into his sanctuary
Ascending on high he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men (Ephesians 4:10).
I
Let God arise, let his foes be scattered.
Let those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is blown away so will they be blown away;
like wax that melts before the fire,
so the wicked shall perish at the presence of God.
But the just shall rejoice at the presence of God,
they shall exult and dance for joy.
O sing to the Lord, make music to his name;
make a highway for him who rides on the clouds.
Rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.
Father of the orphan, defender of the widow,
such is God in his holy place.
God gives the lonely a home to live in;
he leads the prisoners forth into freedom:
but rebels must dwell in a parched land.
When you went forth, O God, at the head of your people,
when you marched across the desert, the earth trembled:
the heavens melted at the presence of God,
at the presence of God, Israel’s God.
You poured down, O God, a generous rain:
when your people were starved you gave them new life.
It was there that your people found a home,
prepared in your goodness, O God, for the poor.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Let God arise, let his enemies flee before him.
Ant. 2 Our God is a saving God; he, the Lord, holds the keys of death.
II
The Lord gives the word to the bearers of good tidings:
“The Almighty has defeated a numberless army
and kings and armies are in flight, in flight
while you were at rest among the sheepfolds.”
At home the women already share the spoil.
They are covered with silver as the wings of a dove,
its feathers brilliant with shining gold
and jewels flashing like snow on Mount Zalmon.
The mountains of Bashan are mighty mountains;
high-ridged mountains are the mountains of Bashan.
Why look with envy, you high-ridged mountains,
at the mountain where God has chosen to dwell?
It is there that the Lord shall dwell for ever.
The chariots of God are thousands upon thousands.
The Lord has come from Sinai to the holy place.
You have gone up on high; you have taken captives,
receiving men in tribute, O God,
even those who rebel, into your dwelling, O Lord.
May the Lord be blessed day after day.
He bears our burdens, God our savior.
This God of ours is a God who saves.
The Lord our God holds the keys of death.
And God will smite the head of his foes,
the crown of those who persist in their sins.
The Lord said: “I will bring them back from Bashan;
I will bring them back from the depth of the sea.
Then your feet will tread in their blood
and the tongues of your dogs take their share of the foe.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Our God is a saving God; he, the Lord, holds the keys of death.
Ant. 3 Kingdoms of earth, sing praise to God, make music in honor of the Lord.
III
They see your solemn procession, O God,
the procession of my God, of my king, to the sanctuary:
the singers in the forefront, the musicians coming last,
between them, maidens sounding their timbrels.
“In festive gatherings, bless the Lord;
bless God, O you who are Israel’s sons.”
There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head,
Judah’s princes, a mighty throng,
Zebulun’s princes, Naphtali’s princes.
Show forth, O God, show forth your might,
your might, O God, which you have shown for us.
For the sake of your temple high in Jerusalem
may kings come to you bringing their tribute.
Threaten the wild beast that dwells in the reeds,
the bands of the mighty and lords of the peoples.
Let them bow down offering silver.
Scatter the peoples who delight in war.
Princes will make their way from Egypt:
Ethiopia will stretch out her hands to God.
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, praise the Lord
who rides on the heavens, the ancient heavens.
He thunders his voice, his mighty voice.
Come, acknowledge the power of God.
His glory is on Israel; his might is in the skies.
God is to be feared in his holy place.
He is the Lord, Israel’s God.
He gives strength and power to his people.
Blessed be God!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, King of the universe, you have given us joy in your holy meal. Help us to understand the significance of your death and to acknowledge you as the conqueror of death seated at the right hand of the Father.
Ant. Kingdoms of earth, sing praise to God, make music in honor of the Lord.
Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
I will listen to what the Lord God is saying.
– He tells of peace for his people.
READINGS
First reading
From the beginning of the book of the prophet Habakkuk
1:1–2:4a
A prayer in time of desolation
The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet received in vision.
How long, O Lord? I cry for help
but you do not listen!
I cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not intervene.
Why do you let me see ruin;
why must I look at misery?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and clamorous discord.
This is why the law is benumbed,
and judgment is never rendered:
Because the wicked circumvent the just;
this is why judgment comes forth perverted.
Look over the nations and see,
and be utterly amazed!
For a work is being done in your days
that you would not have believed, were it told.
For see, I am raising up Chaldea,
that bitter and unruly people,
That marches the breadth of the land
to take dwellings not his own.
Terrible and dreadful is he,
from himself derive his law and his majesty.
Swifter than leopards are his horses,
and keener than wolves at evening.
His horses prance,
his horsemen come from afar:
They fly like the eagle hastening to devour;
each comes for the rapine,
Their combined onset is that of a stormwind
that heaps up captives like sand.
He scoffs at kings,
and princes are his laughingstock;
He laughs at any fortress,
heaps up a ramp, and conquers it.
Then he veers like the wind and is gone–
this culprit who makes his own strength his god!
Are you not from eternity, O Lord,
my holy God, immortal?
O Lord you have marked him for judgment,
O Rock, you have readied him for punishment!
Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil,
and the sight of misery you cannot endure.
Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence
while the wicked man devours one more just than himself?
You have made man like the fish of the sea,
like creeping things without a ruler.
He brings them all up with his hook,
he hauls them away with his net,
He gathers them in his seine;
and so he rejoices and exults.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net,
and burns incense to his seine;
For thanks to them his portion is generous,
and his repast sumptuous.
Shall he, then, keep on brandishing his sword
to slay peoples without mercy?
I will stand at my guard post,
and station myself upon the rampart,
And keep watch to see what he will say to me,
and what answer he will give to my complaint.
Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write down the vision
Clearly upon the tablets,
so that one can read it readily.
For the vision still has its time,
presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;
If it delays, wait for it,
it will surely come, it will not be late.
The rash man has no integrity;
but the just man, because of his faith, shall live.
RESPONSORY Hebrews 10:37-38, 39
A little while longer, a very little while
and the promised one will come.
He will not delay.
– My just one will live by faith.
We are not people who shrink back and are lost;
we live by faith that we might be saved.
– My just one will live by faith.
Second reading
From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot
I shall stand upon my watchtower to see what the Lord will say to me
We read in the gospel that when the Lord was teaching his disciples and urged them to share in his passion by the mystery of eating his body, some said: This is a hard saying, and from that time they no longer followed him. When he asked the disciples whether they also wished to go away, they replied: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
I assure you, my brothers, that even to this day it is clear to some that the words which Jesus speaks are spirit and life, and for this reason they follow him. To others these words seem hard, and so they look elsewhere for some pathetic consolation. Yet wisdom cries out in the streets, in the broad and spacious way that leads to death, to call back those who take this path.
Finally, he says: For forty years I have been close to this generation, and I said: They have always been faint-hearted. You also read in another psalm: God has spoken once. Once, indeed, because for ever. His is a single, uninterrupted utterance, because it is continuous and unending.
He calls upon sinners to return to their true spirit and rebukes them when their hearts have gone astray, for it is in the true heart that he dwells and there he speaks, fulfilling what he taught through the prophet: Speak to the heart of Jerusalem.
You see, my brothers, how the prophet admonishes us for our advantage: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. You can read almost the same words in the gospel and in the prophet. For in the gospel the Lord says: My sheep hear my voice. And in the psalm blessed David says: You are his people (meaning, of course, the Lord’s) and the sheep of his pasture. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Hear also the prophet Habakkuk in today’s reading. Far from hiding the Lord’s reprimands, he dwells on them with attentive and anxious care. He says: I will stand upon my watch-tower and take up my post on the ramparts, keeping watch to see what he will say to me and what answer I will make to those who try to confute me. I beg you, my brothers, stand upon our watch-tower, for now is the time for battle. Let all our dealings be in the heart, where Christ dwells, in right judgment and wise counsel, but in such a way as to place no confidence in those dealings, nor rely upon our fragile defenses.
RESPONSORY Psalm 18:23; 19:9; 1 John 2:5
The laws of the Lord are all before me,
and I have not failed to keep his statutes.
– The decrees of the Lord are upright
and bring joy to the heart.
The precepts of the Lord are clear
and enlighten the eyes.
The love of God reaches perfection
in those who are obedient to his word.
– The decrees of the Lord are upright
and bring joy to the heart.
The precepts of the Lord are clear
and enlighten the eyes.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
O God,
by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters,
that those who believe in Christ may receive
true freedom and an everlasting inheritance.
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.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community)
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
Sep 11, Morning Prayer for Tuesday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. III:
Ordinary: 654
All from the Psalter: Tuesday, Week III, 1023
Christian Prayer:
Ordinary: 689
All from the Psalter: Tuesday, Week III, 877
Morning Prayer for Tuesday in Ordinary Time
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Sing praise to our Creator,
Redeemed of Adam’s race;
God’s children by adoption,
Baptized into His grace.
Refrain:
Praise the Holy Trinity,
Undivided Unity
Holy God, Mighty God,
God Immortal, be adored.
To Jesus Christ give glory,
God’s co-eternal Son;
As members of His Body
we live in Him as one.
Refrain
Now praise the Holy Spirit,
poured forth upon the earth;
Who sanctifies and guides us,
Confirmed in our rebirth.
Refrain
“Sing Praise to Our Creator” by WLP Choir; Melody: Mainz 76.76 with Refrain; Text: Omer Westendorf, 1961
“Sing Praise to Our Creator” by WLP Choir is available from Amazon.com
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Lord, you have blessed your land; you have forgiven the sins of your people.
Psalm 85
Our salvation is near
God blessed the land when our Savior came to earth. (Origen)
O Lord, you once favored your land
and revived the fortunes of Jacob,
you forgave the guilt of your people
and covered all their sins.
You averted all your rage,
you calmed the heat of your anger.
Revive us now, God, our helper!
Put an end to your grievance against us.
Will you be angry with us for ever,
will your anger never cease?
Will you not restore again our life
that your people may rejoice in you?
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,
peace for his people and his friends
and those who turn to him in their hearts.
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.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
Show us your mercy, Lord; our misery is known to us. May no evil desires prevail over us, for your glory and love dwell in our hearts.
Ant. Lord, you have blessed your land; you have forgiven the sins of your people.
Ant.2 My soul has yearned for you in the night, and as morning breaks I watch for your coming.
Canticle – Isaiah 26:1-4, 7-9, 12
Hymn after the defeat of the enemy
The city wall had twelve foundation stones (see Revelation 21:14).
A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever!
For the Lord is an eternal Rock.
The way of the just is smooth;
the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O Lord,
we look to you;
your name and your title
are the desire of our souls.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
when your judgment dawns upon the earth,
the world’s inhabitants learn justice.
O Lord, you mete out peace to us,
for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. My soul has yearned for you in the night, and as morning breaks I watch for your coming.
Ant. 3 Lord, let the light of your face shine upon us.
Psalm 67
People of all nations will worship the Lord
You must know that God is offering his salvation to all the world (Acts 28:28).
O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its fruit
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
Be gracious and bless us, Lord, and let your face shed its light on us, so that we can make you known with reverence and bring forth a harvest of justice.
Ant. Lord, let the light of your face shine upon us.
READING 1 John 4:14-15
We have seen for ourselves, and can testify, that the Father has sent the Son as savior of the world. When anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him and he in God.
Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
RESPONSORY
My God stands by me, all my trust is in him.
– My God stands by me, all my trust is in him.
I find refuge in him, and I am truly free;
– all my trust is in him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– My God stands by me, all my trust is in him.
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Ant. God has raised up for us a mighty Savior, as he promised through the words of his holy prophets.
Luke 1:68 – 79
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. God has raised up for us a mighty Savior, as he promised through the words of his holy prophets.
INTERCESSIONS
Lord Jesus, by your blood you have purchased for yourself a new people. We adore you and beseech you:
– Remember your people, Lord.
Our King and our Redeemer, hear the praises of your Church at the beginning of this day,
teach her to glorify your majesty without ceasing.
– Remember your people, Lord.
You are our hope and our strength, in you we trust,
may we never despair.
– Remember your people, Lord.
Look kindly upon our weakness and hasten to our aid,
for without you we can do nothing.
– Remember your people, Lord.
Remember the poor and the afflicted, do not let this day be a burden to them,
but a consolation and a joy.
– Remember your people, Lord.
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 who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Concluding Prayer
God our Father,
yours is the beauty of creation
and the good things you have given us.
Help us to begin this day joyfully in your name
and to spend it in loving service
of you and our fellow man.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.
Sep 11, Midday Prayer for Tuesday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. III:
Ordinary: 659
All from the Psalter: Tuesday, Week III, 1029 (Midday)
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 623
All from the Psalter: Tuesday, Week III, 993 (Midday)
Midday Prayer for Tuesday using Current Psalmody
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hand swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
“Lord of All Hopefulness”; Words: Jan Struther (20thC); Music: Slane Irish ballad melody
Lord of All Hopefulness by Saint Clement’s Choir is available from Amazon.com
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Law finds its fulfillment in love.
Psalm 119
XIII (Mem)
Lord, how I love your law!
It is ever in my mind.
Your command makes me wiser than my foes;
for it is mine for ever.
I have more insight than all who teach me
for I ponder your will.
I have more understanding than the old
for I keep your precepts.
I turn my feet from evil paths
to obey your word.
I have not turned away from your decrees;
you yourself have taught me.
Your promise is sweeter to my taste
than honey in the mouth.
I gain understanding from your precepts;
I hate the ways of falsehood.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
Make us so love your law, Father, as to ponder it continually in our hearts. May it bear fruit in works acceptable to you.
Ant. Law finds its fulfillment in love.
Ant. 2 Lord, remember your people, whom you chose from the beginning.
Psalm 74
Lament for the destruction of the Temple
Do not fear those who can only kill the body (Matthew 10:28).
I
Why, O God, have you cast us off for ever?
Why blaze with anger against the sheep of your pasture?
Remember your people whom you chose long ago,
the tribe you redeemed to be your own possession,
the mountains of Zion where you made your dwelling.
Turn your steps to these places that are utterly ruined!
The enemy has laid waste to the whole of the sanctuary.
Your foes have made uproar in your house of prayer:
they have set up their emblems, their foreign emblems,
high above the entrance to the sanctuary.
Their axes have battered the wood of its doors.
They have struck together with hatchet and pickaxe.
O God, they have set your sanctuary on fire:
they have razed and profaned the place where you dwell.
They said in their hearts: “Let us utterly crush them:
let us burn every shrine of God in the land.”
There is no sign from God, nor have we a prophet,
we have no one to tell us how long it will last.
How long, O God, is the enemy to scoff ?
Is the foe to insult your name for ever?
Why, O Lord, do you hold back your hand?
Why do you keep your right hand hidden?
Yet God is our king from time past,
the giver of help through all the land.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Lord, remember your people, whom you chose from the beginning.
Ant. 3 Rise up, Lord; defend your cause.
II
It was you who divided the sea by your might,
who shattered the heads of the monsters in the sea.
It was you who crushed Leviathan’s heads
and gave him as food to the untamed beasts.
It was you who opened springs and torrents;
it was you who dried up ever-flowing rivers.
Yours is the day and yours is the night.
It was you who appointed the light and the sun:
it was you who fixed the bounds of the earth:
you who made both summer and winter.
Remember this, Lord, and see the enemy scoffing;
a senseless people insults your name.
Do not give Israel, your dove, to the hawk
nor forget the life of your poor ones for ever.
Remember your covenant; every cave in the land
is a place where violence makes its home.
Do not let the oppressed return disappointed;
let the poor and the needy bless your name.
Arise, O God, and defend your cause!
Remember how the senseless revile you all the day.
Do not forget the clamor of your foes,
the daily increasing uproar of your foes.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
Lord, our faithful God, you permitted the temple of the old covenant to be destroyed and your people to be persecuted by unbelievers. Do not forget the new covenant sealed with the blood of your Son. Make the Church your spiritual house and make us living stones built upon Christ so that a full and true temple may be founded at last.
Ant. Rise up, Lord; defend your cause.
READING Deuteronomy 15:7-8
If one of your kinsmen in any community is in need in the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand to him in his need. Instead, you shall open your hand to him and freely lend him enough to meet his need.
Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
You have given the poor their heart’s desire.
– You comfort them and bend down to hear their prayer.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Lord God,
you made known to Peter
your desire to bring all nations to salvation.
Let all our work give you praise
and carry out your loving plan.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community)
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
Sep 11, Evening Prayer for Tuesday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. III:
Ordinary: 668
All from the Psalter: Tuesday, Week III, 1034
Christian Prayer:
Ordinary: 694
All from the Psalter: Tuesday, Week III, 882
Evening Prayer for Tuesday in Ordinary Time
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit;
let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
“Love divine all loves excelling”; Words: Charles Wesley, 1747. Music: John Zundel, 1870
Love divine all loves excelling by Steven Anderson is available from Amazon.com.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 The Lord surrounds his people with his strength.
Psalm 125
The Lord, guardian of his people
Peace to God’s true Israel (Galatians 6:16).
Those who put their trust in the Lord
are like Mount Zion, that cannot be shaken,
that stands for ever.
Jerusalem! The mountains surround her,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and for ever.
For the scepter of the wicked shall not rest
over the land of the just
for fear that the hands of the just
should turn to evil.
Do good, Lord, to those who are good,
to the upright of heart;
but the crooked and those who do evil,
drive them away!
On Israel, peace!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
Surround your people, Lord, within the safety of your Church, which you preserve on its rock foundation. Do not let us stretch out our hands to evil deeds, nor be destroyed by the insidious snares of the enemy, but bring us to share the lot of the saints in light.
Ant. The Lord surrounds his people with his strength.
Ant. 2 Unless you acquire the heart of a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Psalm 131
Childlike trust in God
Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29).
O Lord, my heart is not proud
nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great
nor marvels beyond me.
Truly I have set my soul
in silence and peace.
As a child has rest in its mother’s arms,
even so is my soul.
O Israel, hope in the Lord
both now and for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
Lord Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, you declared that whoever receives a little child in your name receives you, and you promised your kingdom to those who are like children. Never let pride reign in our hearts, but may the Father’s compassion reward and embrace all who willingly bear your gentle yoke.
Ant. Unless you acquire the heart of a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Ant. 3 Lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our Father.
Canticle — Revelation 4:11; 5:9, 10, 12
Redemption hymn
O Lord our God, you are worthy
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you have created all things;
by your will they came to be and were made.
Worthy are you, O Lord,
to receive the scroll and break open its seals.
For you were slain;
with your blood you purchased for God
men of every race and tongue,
of every people and nation.
You made of them a kingdom,
and priests to serve our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches,
wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our Father.
READING Romans 12:9-12
Your love must be sincere. Detest what is evil, cling to what is good. Love one another with the affection of brothers. Anticipate each other in showing respect. Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; he whom you serve is the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient under trial, persevere in prayer.
Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
RESPONSORY
Through all eternity, O Lord, your promise stands unshaken.
– Through all eternity, O Lord, your promise stands unshaken.
Your faithfulness will never fail;
– your promise stands unshaken.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– Through all eternity, O Lord, your promise stands unshaken.
CANTICLE OF MARY
Ant. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
INTERCESSIONS
God establishes his people in hope. Let us cry out to him with joy:
– You are the hope of your people, Lord.
We thank you, Lord,
because in Christ you have given us all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
– You are the hope of your people, Lord.
O God, in your hands are the hearts of the powerful; bestow your wisdom upon government leaders,
may they draw from the fountain of your counsel and please you in thought and deed.
– You are the hope of your people, Lord.
The talents of artists reflect your splendor,
may their work give the world hope and joy.
– You are the hope of your people, Lord.
You do not allow us to be tested beyond our ability,
strengthen the weak and raise up the fallen.
– You are the hope of your people, Lord.
Through your Son you promised to raise men up on the Last Day,
do not forget those who have died.
– You are the hope of your people, Lord.
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 who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Concluding Prayer
Lord,
may our evening prayer rise up to you,
and your blessing come down upon us.
May your help and salvation be ours
now and through all eternity.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.
Sep 11, Night Prayer for Tuesday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours:
Vol I, Page 1178
Vol II, Page 1635
Vol III, Page 1278
Vol IV, Page 1242
Christian Prayer:
Page 1044
Night Prayer for Tuesday
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Examination of conscience:
We are called to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men, in our hearts and in our minds, in our actions and inactions. To do so, it is vital that we examine our conscience daily and to ask for God’s mercy as we fall short and to ask for His strength to do better.
Lord Jesus,
you have shown us the way to the Father:
Lord, have mercy.
– Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus,
you have given us the consolation of the truth:
Christ, have mercy.
– Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus,
you are the good shepherd,
leading us into everlasting life:
Lord, have mercy.
– Lord, have mercy.
HYMN
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.
Psalm 23 by Melinda Kirigin-Voss
“Psalm 23? performed by Melinda Kirigin-Voss is available from Amazon.com
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Do not hide your face from me; in you I put my trust.
Psalm 143
Prayer in distress
Only by faith in Jesus Christ is a man made holy in God’s sight. No observance of the law can achieve this (Galatians 2:16).
Lord, listen to my prayer:
turn your ear to my appeal.
You are faithful, you are just; give answer.
Do not call your servant to judgment
for no one is just in your sight.
The enemy pursues my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me dwell in darkness
like the dead, long forgotten.
Therefore my spirit fails;
my heart is numb within me.
I remember the days that are past:
I ponder all your works.
I muse on what your hand has wrought
and to you I stretch out my hands.
Like a parched land my soul thirsts for you.
Lord, make haste and answer;
for my spirit fails within me.
Do not hide your face
lest I become like those in the grave.
In the morning let me know your love
for I put my trust in you.
Make me know the way I should walk:
to you I lift up my soul.
Rescue me, Lord, from my enemies;
I have fled to you for refuge.
Teach me to do your will
for you, O Lord, are my God.
Let your good spirit guide me
in ways that are level and smooth.
For your name’s sake, Lord, save my life;
in your justice save my soul from distress.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Do not hide your face from me; in you I put my trust.
READING 1 Peter 5:8-9a
Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith.
RESPONSORY
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.
– I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
CANTICLE OF SIMEON
Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.
Luke 2:29-32
Christ is the light of the nations and the glory of Israel
Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.
Concluding Prayer
Lord,
fill this night with your radiance.
May we sleep in peace and rise with joy
to welcome the light of a new day in your name.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
BLESSING
May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death.
– Amen.
Antiphon or song in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
| Luke | |||
| English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
| Luke 6 |
|||
| 12. | And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and he passed the whole night in the prayer of God. | Factum est autem in illis diebus, exiit in montem orare, et erat pernoctans in oratione Dei. | εγενετο δε εν ταις ημεραις ταυταις εξηλθεν εις το ορος προσευξασθαι και ην διανυκτερευων εν τη προσευχη του θεου |
| 13. | And when day was come, he called unto him his disciples; and he chose twelve of them (whom also he named apostles): | Et cum dies factus esset, vocavit discipulos suos : et elegit duodecim ex ipsis (quos et apostolos nominavit) : | και οτε εγενετο ημερα προσεφωνησεν τους μαθητας αυτου και εκλεξαμενος απ αυτων δωδεκα ους και αποστολους ωνομασεν |
| 14. | Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, | Simonem, quem cognominavit Petrum, et Andream fratrem ejus, Jacobum, et Joannem, Philippum, et Bartholomæum, | σιμωνα ον και ωνομασεν πετρον και ανδρεαν τον αδελφον αυτου ιακωβον και ιωαννην φιλιππον και βαρθολομαιον |
| 15. | Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who is called Zelotes, | Matthæum, et Thomam, Jacobum Alphæi, et Simonem, qui vocatur Zelotes, | ματθαιον και θωμαν ιακωβον τον του αλφαιου και σιμωνα τον καλουμενον ζηλωτην |
| 16. | And Jude, the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor. | et Judam Jacobi, et Judam Iscariotem, qui fuit proditor. | ιουδαν ιακωβου και ιουδαν ισκαριωτην ος και εγενετο προδοτης |
| 17. | And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place, and the company of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast both of Tyre and Sidon, | Et descendens cum illis, stetit in loco campestri, et turba discipulorum ejus, et multitudo copiosa plebis ab omni Judæa, et Jerusalem, et maritima, et Tyri, et Sidonis, | και καταβας μετ αυτων εστη επι τοπου πεδινου και οχλος μαθητων αυτου και πληθος πολυ του λαου απο πασης της ιουδαιας και ιερουσαλημ και της παραλιου τυρου και σιδωνος οι ηλθον ακουσαι αυτου και ιαθηναι απο των νοσων αυτων |
| 18. | Who were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits, were cured. | qui venerant ut audirent eum, et sanarentur a languoribus suis. Et qui vexabantur a spiritibus immundis, curabantur. | και οι οχλουμενοι υπο πνευματων ακαθαρτων και εθεραπευοντο |
| 19. | And all the multitude sought to touch him, for virtue went out from him, and healed all. | Et omnis turba quærebat eum tangere : quia virtus de illo exibat, et sanabat omnes. | και πας ο οχλος εζητει απτεσθαι αυτου οτι δυναμις παρ αυτου εξηρχετο και ιατο παντας |
(*) "οι ηλθον ακουσαι αυτου και ιαθηναι απο των νοσων αυτων" begins verse 18 in the translations.