Posted on 10/27/2012 8:30:59 PM PDT by Salvation
In todays gospel there is a very familiar story of the healing of the blind man Bartimaeus. As with any familiar story, the danger is that we, upon hearing its opening lines say, Oh that story, and we just sort of tune out. But there are many things in the details of the story that we can easily miss. Ultimately the story of Bartimaeus is also our story, for we too must let the Lord heal our blindness and give us sight. One paradox of this gospel that we shall note, is that the man receives his sight as the result of hearing.
Lets look at this gospel in 6 stages.
Stage IPerception of the Problemthe text says, As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples, and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man sat by the roadside begging.
Bartimaeus has many troubles, he is blind, and he is poor. But although he is physically blind, he is not spiritually blind. For he knows he has troubles, he knows he is blind. And to know our troubles, to be in touch with our neediness, is an important spiritual insight that many lack.
It is possible for some to feel self-satisfied and to be unaware of how blind, pitiable, poor and naked they really are before God (cf Rev 3:17). Indeed, so poor and so needy that we depend on God for every beat of our heart. But some who are spiritually blind, lose this insight in becoming proud. They fail to ask for help from the Lord, they fail to ask for grace. Jesus once said to the Pharisees Jesus said, If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but since you claim you can see, your guilt remains. (John 9:41) In other words, physical blindness is not their problem, spiritual blindness is. And because they think themselves righteous on their own power, they do not need God nor do they truly seek him. Only humility and a true vision and experience of ones poverty can help us to call out as we should.
But our blind man knows that he is blind and so he calls for help. As we shall see, however, his cries for help need some direction, a need to be properly specified and directed.
So we begin by simply noting this man is blind, but still, he has spiritual insight.
Do we have this? Do we really understand how blind we are? We struggle to see God, we struggle to see and understand ourselves, we struggle to see others with compassion and understanding. Indeed, God is more present to us than anything in this world. Yet, we see all the things of this world, and still struggle to see God. Neither do we see our own dignity, or the dignity and the gift of others, yes, even the dignity of our enemies. We do not see or understand how things work together, and we struggle to see and find meaning in the events of our day. We are also blind to our sin, and we seldom understand what harm our sin actually does.
Yes, we have a great deal of blindness, we do struggle to see. But perhaps our worst blindness is it we do not even consider how blind we are. But too easily, like the Pharisees we go on thinking that we know a few things, and that therefore we know many things.
Consider the humility of the blind man, who knows he is blind who knows he needs help, and grace, and mercy. It is a humility that opens the door. Stage one in our journey must be the perception of the problem.
Stage IIthe Proclamation that is Prescribed. The text says On being told it was Jesus of Nazareth who was passing by, he began to cry out and say Jesus son of David have pity on me.
Note the subtle but important transition here. Up until this point he was calling upon anyone, who happened to pass by, for help. But no mere passerby, nor anyone in this world, can ultimately help him with his real problem.
It is the same with us. Though we may turn to science, or medicine, philosophy, economics or politics, none of these can really help us. At best they can specify what is wrong, give us temporary medicines, passing comforts, etc. But all their solutions will be rooted in this world, which is passing away.
True vision can only be granted by the Lord, who opens for us a vision of glory, and who alone can draw safely to that place where joys will never end and visions never cease.
The blind man is told of the presence of Jesus. And hearing this, he directs his cry away from any mere passerby to the Lord who alone can heal him: Jesus, son of David, have pity on me! The world, and passersby can get him money, perhaps a meal, but only Jesus can give him meaning, the true vision that he really needs to see.
And do not miss this point thats seeing comes paradoxically through hearing. For faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the word of God (cf Rom 10:17). It is a truth that faith is about hearing, not seeing. For most frequently, we doubt what we see. Even if our eyes see marvels, we think, They have a way of doing that. No, the eye is never satisfied with seeing (cf Eccl. 1:8). Faith comes by hearing, and faith is obedience to what is heard. We walk by faith, by an inner seeing, not by physical sight.
Thus, it is by hearing that the blind man will come to see Jesus who can help them to see. He hears from others that Jesus is passing by, and he takes up the proclamation that is prescribed, Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!
Stage IIIthe Perseverance that Producesthe text says, And they rebuked him, telling him to be silent. Yet he kept calling all the more, Son of David, have pity on me! Jesus stopped and said, call him. So they called the blind man saying to him, Take courage; get up. Jesus is calling you.
Is it true fact, that those of us who seek to put our trust in the Lord, and call on him, will often experience rebuke, hostility, and ridicule from the world. Note that the blind man ignores all of this. And so should we. He has heard the Name above all names, who alone in heaven and earth can save, and he calls upon him.
Yes, Jesus does delay, he does not answer him right away. But the blind man persevered, calling out all the more, and eventually, Jesus stopped and said, Call him.
Why does God delay? This is a very deep mystery, but it is clear that one of the effects of his delay would seem to be to test our faith and strengthen it. In the end, it is not an incantation that saves us, but faith. Simply shouting, In the name of Jesus! Is not enough. The Name of Jesus is not some incantation like, Open sesame. Rather, it is an announcement of faith, and faith is more than words. Ultimately, it is not words alone that save us, but the faith that must underlie those words, Jesus! Save me
Stage IVthe Priority that is Presentedthe text says, He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Do not miss this important detail. His cloak was probably the most valuable thing he owned. In that climate, a very arid climate, it gets cool in the evening after sunset. The temperature drops rapidly. So critical was the cloak, that Scripture forbade the taking of a cloak as collateral for a loan: If a man is poor, do not go to sleep with his pledge in your possession. Return his cloak to him by sunset so that he may sleep in it. (Deut 24:12-13)
But note, this man cast aside his cloak, and leaving it behind, he went to Jesus. Thus, he leaves behind perhaps the most valuable and necessary thing for his survival in this world. To miss a meal, might be inconvenient but it would not kill him. But to sleep one night, a cold night, without his cloak might well end his life through hypothermia. But leaving everything, he runs to the Lord.
What of us? What are we willing to leave behind to find Christ? An old gospel song says, Id rather have Jesus than silver and gold. Another old hymn says, Theres nothing between my soul in the Savior. Is there? Are you willing to leave it behind?? Are you and I free enough to do so?
Stage VThe Permission that is Procuredthe text says, Jesus said to him in reply, What do you want me to do for you? The blind man replied to him, Master, I want to see!
Why does Jesus asked this question? Can he not see what a blind man needs? Perhaps.
But honestly, healing takes courage. The fact is, in life, most seek mere relief. True healing takes courage because it brings change, and new demands. If the blind man is healed, it would no longer be acceptable that he should sit and beg. Having been healed, more will be expected of him. His life will be irrevocably changed.
Yes, to be healed requires courage. Many of us wonder, of the Lords delay in answering our prayers. Perhaps a question from last weeks gospel is applicable as we cry to the Lord: Do you have any idea what you are asking? Often we do not.
Truth be told, most of us want relief more than healing. There is a big difference. The Lord is in the healing business, but most of us just want relief. Do not miss what the Lord says here. In effect, he says to the blind man, and to us, Are you really sure you want healing? The Lord respects us, and our freedom. He wants our consent before he goes to work. And often, though many of us think we want healing, we dont really know what we are asking.
The Lord waits, until a request makes real sense. He knows that most of us are not always ready for what he really offers. He asks, and when our yes becomes definitive, he goes to work.
Stage VI The Path that is Pursuedthe text says, Jesus told him, Go your way; your faith has saved you. Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.
As we have already seen, true healing brings forth radical change. And now man who sat by the road begging, sees, but is also up and walking about. And what is he doing? He is following Jesus. For faith has saved him, and faith not only gives sight, but summons us to obedience, an obedience that has us walk in the path of the Lord.
You see, (pardon the pun), faith is more than an offer of relief. True faith instills real change. A change in direction, a change in the way we walk.
And thus this gospel speaks to us of a man who was blind. And paradoxically he received his faith by hearing. For he heard of Jesus and called on him. Yes, his sight came from his hearing. And faith grants to vision by hearing. True vision, is to see Christ, and having seen him by hearing, to follow after him.
I have it on the best authority that as he followed Jesus up the road, he sang this song:
46 And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you."
50 And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight."
52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
Bartimeus, the blind beggar, is a model for all disciples. He is singularly focused on Jesus as the source of his salvation. He rejoices when he is called, throwing away whatever he holds dear, in faith that what Jesus gives is worth much more.
Sunday, October 28, 2012 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
||
|
|
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Amen. |
Amen.
Oct 28, Invitatory for Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the king of the apostles, alleluia.
Psalm 95
Come, let us sing to the Lord
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the king of the apostles, alleluia.
The Lord is God, the mighty God,
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
and the highest mountains as well
He made the sea; it belongs to him,
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the king of the apostles, alleluia.
Come, then, let us bow down and worship,
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker,
For he is our God and we are his people,
the flock he shepherds.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the king of the apostles, alleluia.
Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness,
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me,
Although they had seen all of my works.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the king of the apostles, alleluia.
Forty years I endured that generation.
I said, They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.
So I swore in my anger,
They shall not enter into my rest.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the king of the apostles, alleluia.
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 the Lord, the king of the apostles, alleluia.
Oct 28, Office of Readings for Sunday of the 30th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 615
Proper of Seasons: 437
Psalter: Sunday, Week II, 791
Christian Prayer:
Does not contain Office of Readings.
Office of Readings for Sunday 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
Hail Redeemer, King divine!
Priest and Lamb, the throne is thine;
King, whose reign shall never cease,
Prince of everlasting peace.
Angels, saints and nations sing:
Praise be Jesus Christ our King;
Lord of life, earth, sky and sea,
King of love on Calvary!
Eucharistic King, what love
draws thee daily from above,
clad in signs of bread and wine:
feed us, lead us, keep us thine!
Angels, saints and nations sing:
Praise be Jesus Christ our King;
Lord of life, earth, sky and sea,
King of love on Calvary!
King, whose name creation thrills,
rule our hearts, our minds, our wills;
till in peace, each nation rings
with thy praises, King of kings.
Angels, saints and nations sing:
Praise be Jesus Christ our King;
Lord of life, earth, sky and sea,
King of love on Calvary!
Hail Redeemer King Divine performed by Frank Patterson Music by Charles Rigby; Words by Patrick Brennan (1877-1952), Additional verses by John McHugh.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Lord, our God, in splendor and majesty you are clothed, wrapped in light as in a robe, alleluia.
Psalm 104
Hymn to God the Creator
To be in Christ means being a completely new creature. Everything of the old is gone, now everything is made anew (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I
Bless the Lord, my soul!
Lord God, how great you are,
clothed in majesty and glory,
wrapped in light as in a robe!
Ant. Lord, our God, in splendor and majesty you are clothed, wrapped in light as in a robe, alleluia.
You stretch out the heavens like a tent.
Above the rains you build your dwelling.
You make the clouds your chariot,
and walk on the wings of the wind,
you make the winds your messengers
and flashing fire your servants.
Ant. Lord, our God, in splendor and majesty you are clothed, wrapped in light as in a robe, alleluia.
You founded the earth on its base,
to stand firm from age to age.
You wrapped it with the ocean like a cloak:
the waters stood higher than the mountains.
Ant. Lord, our God, in splendor and majesty you are clothed, wrapped in light as in a robe, alleluia.
At your threat they took to flight;
at the voice of your thunder they fled.
They rose over the mountains and flowed down
to the place which you had appointed.
You set limits they might not pass
lest they return to cover the earth.
Ant. Lord, our God, in splendor and majesty you are clothed, wrapped in light as in a robe, alleluia.
You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow in between the hills.
They give drink to all the beasts of the field;
the wild asses quench their thirst.
On their banks dwell the birds of heaven;
from the branches they sing their song.
Ant. Lord, our God, in splendor and majesty you are clothed, wrapped in light as in a robe, alleluia.
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, our God, in splendor and majesty you are clothed, wrapped in light as in a robe, alleluia.
Ant. 2 The Lord has brought forth bread from the earth, and wine to give warmth to mens hearts, alleluia.
II
From your dwelling you water the hills;
earth drinks its fill of your gift.
You make the grass grow for the cattle
and the plants to serve mans needs,
that he may bring forth bread from the earth
and wine to cheer mans heart;
oil, to make him glad
and bread to strengthen mans heart.
Ant. The Lord has brought forth bread from the earth, and wine to give warmth to mens hearts, alleluia.
The trees of the Lord drink their fill,
the cedars he planted on Lebanon;
there the birds build their nests;
on the treetop the stork has her home.
The goats find a home on the mountains
and rabbits hide in the rocks.
Ant. The Lord has brought forth bread from the earth, and wine to give warmth to mens hearts, alleluia.
You made the moon to mark the months;
the sun knows the time for its setting.
When you spread the darkness it is night
and all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
The young lions roar for their prey
and ask their food from God.
Ant. The Lord has brought forth bread from the earth, and wine to give warmth to mens hearts, alleluia.
At the rising of the sun they steal away
and go to rest in their dens.
Man goes forth to his work,
to labor till evening falls.
Ant. The Lord has brought forth bread from the earth, and wine to give warmth to mens hearts, alleluia.
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. The Lord has brought forth bread from the earth, and wine to give warmth to mens hearts, alleluia.
Ant. 3 The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good, alleluia.
II
How many are your works, O Lord!
In wisdom you have made them all.
The earth is full of your riches.
Ant. The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good, alleluia.
There is the sea, vast and wide,
with its moving swarms past counting,
living things great and small.
The ships are moving there
and the monsters you made to play with.
Ant. The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good, alleluia.
All of these look to you
to give them their food in due season.
You give it, they gather it up:
you open your hand, they have their fill.
Ant. The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good, alleluia.
You hide your face, they are dismayed;
you take back your spirit, they die,
returning to the dust from which they came.
You send forth your spirit, they are created;
and you renew the face of the earth.
Ant. The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good, alleluia.
May the glory of the Lord last for ever!
May the Lord rejoice in his works!
He looks on the earth and it trembles;
the mountains send forth smoke at his touch.
Ant. The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good, alleluia.
I will sing to the Lord all my life,
make music to my God while I live.
May my thoughts be pleasing to him.
I find my joy in the Lord.
Let sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked exist no more.
Ant. The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good, alleluia.
Bless the Lord, my soul.
Ant. The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good, alleluia.
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
Father, as you made springs in valleys to form streams between mountains, so you made living streams of grace flow from the Apostles that their teaching may bring salvation to all the nations. May we have a practical knowledge of their doctrine, be obedient to their commands, obtain remission of sins through their prayers, and finally receive the reward of eternal happiness.
Ant. The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good, alleluia.
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.
Blessed are your eyes, for they see Gods works.
And your ears, for they hear his word.
READINGS
First Reading
From the beginning of the book of Wisdom
1:1-15
In praise of Gods wisdom
Love justice, you who judge the earth;
think of the Lord in goodness,
and seek him in integrity of heart;
Because he is found by those who test him not,
and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.
For perverse counsels separate a man from God,
and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;
Because into a soul that plots evil wisdom enters not,
nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.
For the holy spirit of discipline flees deceit
and withdraws from senseless counsels;
and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.
For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips;
Because God is the witness of his inmost self
and the sure observer of his heart
and the listener to his tongue.
For the spirit of the Lord fills the world,
is all-embracing, and knows what man says.
Therefore no one who utters wicked things can go unnoticed,
nor will chastising condemnation pass him by.
For the devices of the wicked man shall be scrutinized,
and the sound of his words shall reach the Lord,
for the chastisement of his transgressions;
Because a jealous ear hearkens to everything,
and discordant grumblings are no secret.
Therefore guard against profitless grumbling,
and from calumny withhold your tongues;
For a stealthy utterance does not go unpunished,
and a lying mouth slays the soul.
Court not death by your erring way of life,
nor draw to yourselves destruction by the works of your hands.
Because God did not make death,
nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.
For he fashioned all things that they might have being;
and the creatures of the world are wholesome,
And there is not a destructive drug among them
nor any domain of the nether world on earth,
For justice is undying.
RESPONSORY Proverbs 3:13, 15, 17; James 3:17
Happy is the one who finds wisdom; it is more precious than your most valued possessions.
Its ways are pleasant; all its paths lead to peace.
Wisdom that comes from God is utterly pure; it is also peaceable, gentle, full of kindness and manifests itself in good works.
Its ways are pleasant; all its paths lead to peace.
Second reading
From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, pope
In his goodness to all, God gives order and harmony to the world
Let us fix our gaze on the Father and Creator of the whole world, and let us hold on to his peace and blessings, his splendid and surpassing gifts. Let us contemplate him in our thoughts and with our minds eye reflect upon the peaceful and restrained unfolding of his plan; let us consider the care with which he provides for the whole of his creation.
By his direction the heavens are in motion, and they are subject to him in peace. Day and night fulfill the course he has established without interfering with each other. The sun, the moon and the choirs of stars revolve in harmony at his command in their appointed paths without deviation. By his will the earth blossoms in the proper seasons and produces abundant food for men and animals and all the living things on it without reluctance and without any violation of what he has arranged.
Yet unexplored regions of the abysses and inexpressible realms of the deep are subject to his laws. The mass of the boundless sea, joined together by his ordinance in a single expanse, does not overflow its prescribed limits but flows as he commanded it. For he said: Thus far shall you come, and your waves will be halted here. The ocean, impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same edicts of the Lord.
The seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter, follow one another in harmony. The quarters from which the winds blow function in due season without the least deviation. And the ever-flowing springs, created for our health as well as our enjoyment, unfailingly offer their breasts to sustain human life. The tiniest of living creatures meet together in harmony and peace. The great Creator and Lord of the universe commanded all these things to be established in peace and harmony, in his goodness to all, and in overflowing measure to us who seek refuge in his mercies through our Lord Jesus Christ; to him be glory and majesty for ever and ever. Amen.
RESPONSORY See Judith 9:12; 6:19
O Lord, you rule the heavens and the earth; you created the seas. You are the king of the universe.
Hear the prayer of your servants.
Lord, God of heaven and earth, have pity on the humiliation of our people.
Hear the prayer of your servants.
TE DEUM
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the King of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not spurn the Virgins womb.
You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at Gods right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come, and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
Govern and uphold them now and always.
Day by day we bless you.
We praise your name for ever.
Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy,
for we have put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope:
And we shall never hope in vain.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Almighty
ever-living God,
increase our faith,
hope and charity,
and make us love what you command,
so that we may merit what you promise.
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.
Oct 28, Morning Prayer for Sunday of the 30th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 618
Proper of Seasons: 441
Psalter: Sunday, Week II, 795
Christian Prayer:
Ordinary: 689
Proper of Seasons: 636
Psalter: Sunday, Week II, 780
Morning Prayer for Sunday 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
All hail, adored Trinity!
all hail, eternal Unity!
O God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, ever One.
To thee upon this holy day,
we offer up our thankful lay;
thou hearest in thy loves great wealth,
and praising thee is all our health.
Three Persons praise we evermore,
our only God our hearts adore;
in thy sweet mercy ever kind
may we our sure protection find.
O Trinity! O Unity!
Be present as we worship thee;
and with the songs that angels sing
unite the hymns of praise we bring.
All hail, adored Trinity by Keble College Choir; Words: Unknown author, 11th Century (Ave! Colenda Trinitas); translated from Latin to English by John Chandler, Lauda Syon, Part 1, 1857.
All hail, adored Trinity performed by Keble College Choir is available from Amazon.com
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
Psalm 118
Song of joy for salvation
This Jesus is the stone which, rejected by you builders, has become the chief stone supporting all the rest (Acts 4:11).
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love endures for ever.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
Let the sons of Israel say:
His love endures for ever.
Let the sons of Aaron say:
His love endures for ever.
Let those who fear the Lord say:
His love endures for ever.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
I called to the Lord in my distress;
he answered and freed me.
The Lord is at my side; I do not fear.
What can man do against me?
The Lord is at my side as my helper:
I shall look down on my foes.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in men:
it is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
The nations all encompassed me;
in the Lords name I crushed them.
They compassed me, compassed me about;
in the Lords name I crushed them.
They compassed me about like bees;
they blazed like a fire among thorns.
In the Lords name I crushed them.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
I was hard-pressed and was falling
but the Lord came to help me.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he is my savior.
There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the just.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
The Lords right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me up.
The Lords right hand has triumphed;
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.
I was punished, I was punished by the Lord,
but not doomed to die.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
Open to me the gates of holiness:
I will enter and give thanks.
This is the Lords own gate
where the just may enter.
I will thank you for you have answered
and you are my savior.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord;
we rejoice and are glad.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
O Lord, grant us salvation;
O Lord, grant success.
Blessed in the name of the Lord
is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
the Lord God is our light.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
Go forward in procession with branches
even to the altar.
You are my God, I thank you.
My God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
for his love endures for ever.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
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 God, you have given us the great day of rejoicing: Jesus Christ, the stone rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church, our spiritual home. Shed upon your Church the rays of your glory, that it may be seen as the gate of salvation open to all nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring out from its tents, to celebrate the wonder of Christs resurrection.
Ant. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, alleluia.
Ant.2 Let us sing a hymn of praise to our God, alleluia.
Canticle Daniel 3:52-57
Let all creatures praise the Lord
The Creator
is blessed for ever (Romans 1:25).
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
Ant. Let us sing a hymn of praise to our God, alleluia.
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
Ant. Let us sing a hymn of praise to our God, alleluia.
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.
Ant. Let us sing a hymn of praise to our God, alleluia.
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
Ant. Let us sing a hymn of praise to our God, alleluia.
Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
Ant. Let us sing a hymn of praise to our God, alleluia.
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.
Ant. Let us sing a hymn of praise to our God, alleluia.
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Ant. Let us sing a hymn of praise to our God, alleluia.
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 us sing a hymn of praise to our God, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Praise the Lord for his infinite greatness, alleluia.
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord
Let mind and heart be in your song: this is to glorify God with your whole self (Hesychius).
Praise God in his holy place,
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his powerful deeds,
praise his surpassing greatness.
Ant. Praise the Lord for his infinite greatness, alleluia.
O praise him with sound of trumpet,
praise him with lute and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipes.
Ant. Praise the Lord for his infinite greatness, alleluia.
O praise him with resounding cymbals,
praise him with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that lives and that breathes
give praise to the Lord.
Ant. Praise the Lord for his infinite greatness, alleluia.
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 God, maker of heaven and earth and of all created things, you make your just ones holy and you justify sinners who confess your name. Hear us as we humbly pray to you: give us eternal joy with your saints.
Ant. Praise the Lord for his infinite greatness, alleluia.
READING Ezekiel 36:25-27
I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees.
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
We give thanks to you, O God, as we call upon your name.
We give thanks to you, O God, as we call upon your name.
We cry aloud how marvelous you are,
as we call upon your name.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
We give thanks to you, O God, as we call upon your name.
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Ant. Son of David, have pity on me. What do you want me to do for you? Lord, restore my sight.
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. Son of David, have pity on me. What do you want me to do for you? Lord, restore my sight.
INTERCESSIONS
Let us give thanks to our Savior who came into this world as Gods presence among us. Let us call upon him:
Christ, King of Glory, be our light and our joy.
Lord Jesus, you are the rising Sun, the firstfruits of the future resurrection,
grant that we may not sit in the shadow of death but walk in the light of life.
Christ, King of Glory, be our light and our joy.
Show us your goodness, present in every creature,
that we may contemplate your glory everywhere.
Christ, King of Glory, be our light and our joy.
Do not allow us to be overcome by evil today,
but grant that we may overcome evil through the power of good.
Christ, King of Glory, be our light and our joy.
You were baptized in the Jordan and anointed by the Holy Spirit,
grant that we may this day give thanks to your Holy Spirit.
Christ, King of Glory, be our light and our joy.
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
Almighty
ever-living God,
increase our faith,
hope and charity,
and make us love what you command,
so that we may merit what you promise.
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.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Oct 28, Midday Prayer for Sunday of the 30th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 623
Psalter: Sunday, Week II, 801 (Midday)
Proper: 805 (reading), 437 (concluding prayer)
Midday Prayer for Sunday in Ordinary Time 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
O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
How Great Thou Art by Melinda Kirigin-Voss; Originally this was a Swedish folk melody, O Store Gud by Carl Boberg (1859-1940) and was translated by Stuart K. Hine in 1899.
How Great Thou Art by Melinda Kirigin-Voss is available from Amazon.com.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 He who eats this bread will live for ever, alleluia.
Psalm 23
The Good Shepherd
The Lamb himself will be their shepherd and will lead them to the springs of living waters (Revelation 7:17).
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit.
He guides me along the right path;
he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.
You have prepared a banquet for me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lords own house shall I dwell
for ever and 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 Christ, Shepherd of your Church, you give us new birth in the waters of baptism, anoint us with saving oil, and call us to salvation at your table. Dispel the terrors of death and the darkness of error. Lead your people along safe paths that they may rest securely in you and live for ever in your Fathers house.
Ant. He who eats this bread will live for ever, alleluia.
Ant. 2 The Lord will come in glory and show himself wonderful in his saints, alleluia.
Psalm 76
Thanksgiving for victory
They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 24:30).
I
God is made known in Judah;
in Israel his name is great.
He set up his tent in Jerusalem
and his dwelling place in Zion.
It was there he broke the flashing arrows,
the shield, the sword, the armor.
You, O Lord, are resplendent,
more majestic than the everlasting mountains.
The warriors, despoiled, slept in death;
the hands of the soldiers were powerless.
At your threat, O God of Jacob,
horse and rider lay stunned.
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. The Lord will come in glory and show himself wonderful in his saints, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Pay your vows, and bring offerings to the Lord our God, alleluia.
II
You, you alone, strike terror.
Who shall stand when your anger is roused?
You uttered your sentence from the heavens;
the earth in terror was still
when God arose to judge,
to save the humble of the earth.
Mens anger will serve to praise you;
its survivors surround you in joy.
Make vows to your God and fulfill them.
Let all pay tribute to him who strikes terror,
who cuts short the life of princes,
who strikes terror in the kings of the earth.
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
Your power is awesome, Father, and wonderful is your holiness. In your presence the earth both trembles and stands still, for you shattered deaths power by the cross. Rise to help your people: give your light, and grant salvation to the meek of the earth, that they may praise your name in heaven.
Ant. Pay your vows, and bring offerings to the Lord our God, alleluia.
READING Romans 8:26
The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself makes intercessions for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in speech.
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.
Lord, grant a hearing to my prayer.
Give me wisdom as you promised.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Almighty
ever-living God,
increase our faith,
hope and charity,
and make us love what you command,
so that we may merit what you promise.
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.
Oct 28, Evening Prayer for Sunday of the 30th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 632
Proper of Seasons: 441
Psalter: Sunday, Week II, 805
Christian Prayer:
Ordinary: 694
Proper of Seasons: 637
Psalter: Sunday, Week II, 786
Evening Prayer II for Sunday 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.
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 Gloucester Cathedral Choir is available from Amazon.com.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Christ our Lord is a priest for ever, like Melchizedek of old, alleluia.
Psalm 110
The Messiah, king and priest
Christs reign will last until all his enemies are made subject to him (1 Corinthians 15:25).
The Lords revelation to my Master:
Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet.
Ant. Christ our Lord is a priest for ever, like Melchizedek of old, alleluia.
The Lord will wield from Zion
your scepter of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.
Ant. Christ our Lord is a priest for ever, like Melchizedek of old, alleluia.
A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
Ant. Christ our Lord is a priest for ever, like Melchizedek of old, alleluia.
The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedek of old.
Ant. Christ our Lord is a priest for ever, like Melchizedek of old, alleluia.
The Master standing at your right hand
will shatter kings in the day of his great wrath.
Ant. Christ our Lord is a priest for ever, like Melchizedek of old, alleluia.
He shall drink from the stream by the wayside
and therefore he shall lift up his head.
Ant. Christ our Lord is a priest for ever, like Melchizedek of old, alleluia.
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
Almighty God, bring the kingdom of Christ, your anointed one, to its fullness. May the perfect offering of your Son, eternal priest of the new Jerusalem, be offered in every place to your name, and make all nations a holy people for you.
Ant. Christ our Lord is a priest for ever, like Melchizedek of old, alleluia.
Ant. 2 God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
Psalm 115
Praise of the true God
You have renounced idol worship to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your name give the glory
for the sake of your love and your truth,
lest the heathen say: Where is their God?
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
But our God is in the heavens;
he does whatever he wills.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
They have mouths but they cannot speak;
they have eyes but they cannot see;
they have ears but they cannot hear;
they have nostrils but they cannot smell.
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
With their hands they cannot feel;
with their feet they cannot walk.
No sound comes from their throats.
Their makers will come to be like them
and so will all who trust in them.
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
Sons of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
You who fear him, trust in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
He remembers us, and he will bless us;
he will bless the sons of Israel.
He will bless the sons of Aaron.
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
The Lord will bless those who fear him,
the little no less than the great:
to you may the Lord grant increase,
to you and all your children.
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
May you be blessed by the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
The heavens belong to the Lord
but the earth he has given to men.
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
The dead shall not praise the Lord,
nor those who go down into the silence.
But we who live bless the Lord
now and for ever. Amen.
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
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
Father, creator and ruler of heaven and earth, you made man in your likeness to subdue the earth and master it, and to recognize the work of your hands in created beauty. Grant that your children, thus surrounded on all sides by signs of your presence, may live continually in Christ, praising you through him and with him.
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Praise God, all you who serve him, both great and small, alleluia.
Canticle See Revelation 19:1-7
The wedding of the lamb
Alleluia.
Salvation, glory, and power to our God:
Alleluia.
his judgments are honest and true.
Alleluia (alleluia).
Ant. Praise God, all you who serve him, both great and small, alleluia.
Alleluia.
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants,
Alleluia.
all who worship him reverently, great and small.
Alleluia (alleluia).
Ant. Praise God, all you who serve him, both great and small, alleluia.
Alleluia.
The Lord our all-powerful God is King;
Alleluia.
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory.
Alleluia (alleluia).
Ant. Praise God, all you who serve him, both great and small, alleluia.
Alleluia.
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun,
Alleluia.
and his bride is prepared to welcome him.
Alleluia (alleluia).
Ant. Praise God, all you who serve him, both great and small, alleluia.
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. Praise God, all you who serve him, both great and small, alleluia.
READING 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
We are bound to thank God for you always, beloved brothers in the Lord, because you are the first fruits of those whom God has chosen for salvation, in holiness of spirit and fidelity to truth. He called you through our preaching of the good news so that you might achieve the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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
Our Lord is great, mighty is his power.
Our Lord is great, mighty is his power.
His wisdom is beyond compare,
mighty is his power.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
Our Lord is great, mighty is his power.
CANTICLE OF MARY
Ant. The publican went home at peace with God, for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
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. The publican went home at peace with God, for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
INTERCESSIONS
All praise and honor to Christ! He lives for ever to intercede for us, and he is able to save those who approach the Father in his name.
Sustained by our faith, let us call upon him:
Remember your people, Lord.
As the day draws to a close, Sun of Justice, we invoke your name upon the whole human race,
so that all men may enjoy your never failing light.
Remember your people, Lord.
Preserve the covenant which you have ratified in your blood,
cleanse and sanctify your Church.
Remember your people, Lord.
Remember your assembly, Lord,
your dwelling place.
Remember your people, Lord.
Guide travelers along the path of peace and prosperity,
so that they may reach their destinations in safety and joy.
Remember your people, Lord.
Receive the souls of the dead, Lord,
grant them your favor and the gift of eternal glory.
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
Almighty
ever-living God,
increase our faith,
hope and charity,
and make us love what you command,
so that we may merit what you promise.
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.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Oct 28, Night Prayer for Sunday of the 30th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours:
Vol I, Page 1172
Vol II, Page 1628
Vol III, Page 1272
Vol IV, Page 1236
Christian Prayer:
Page 1037
Night Prayer after Evening Prayer II on Sundays and Solemnities
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 Gods mercy as we fall short and to ask for His strength to do better.
Kýrie, eléison
Kýrie, eléison
Christé, eléison
Christé, eléison
Kýrie, eléison
Kýrie, eléison
HYMN
O radiant Light, O Son divine
Of God the Fathers deathless face
O image of the light sublime
That fills the heavenly dwelling-place
Lord Jesus Christ, as daylight fades
As shine the lights of eventide
We praise the Father with the Son
The spirit blest and with them one.
O Son of God, the source of life
Praise is your due by night and day
Unsullied lips must raise the strain
Of your proclaimed and splendid name.
O Radiant Light by Choir of The Cathedral of the Madeleine & The Madeleine Choir School; Lyrics copyright 1973, Fides Publishers, Inc. Notre Dame, Indiana from Morning Praise and Evensong. Used by permission of the publisher for non-profit or devotional purposes.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under Gods wings.
Psalm 91
Safe in Gods sheltering care
I have given you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19).
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: My refuge,
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!
It is he who will free you from the snare
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions
and under his wings you will find refuge.
You will not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness
nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand fall at your right,
you, it will never approach;
his faithfulness is buckler and shield.
Your eyes have only to look
to see how the wicked are repaid,
you who have said: Lord, my refuge!
and have made the Most High your dwelling.
Upon you no evil shall fall,
no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels,
to keep you in all your ways.
They shall bear you upon their hands
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
On the lion and the viper you will tread
and trample the young lion and the dragon.
Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;
protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls I shall answer: I am with you,
I will save him in distress and give him glory.
With length of life I will content him;
I shall let him see my saving power.
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. Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under Gods wings.
READING Revelation 22:4-5
They shall see the Lord face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever.
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.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
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,
we have celebrated today
the mystery of the rising of Christ to new life.
May we now rest in your peace,
safe from all that could harm us,
and rise again refreshed and joyful,
to praise you throughout another day.
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
WDTPRS 30th Ordinary Sunday: In His will is our peace.
Lets look at the Collect for the 30th Ordinary Sunday, a prayer also in the 1962 Missale Romanum for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost. It was in the ancient Veronese and the Gelasian Sacramentary.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, da nobis fidei spei et caritatis augmentum, et ut mereamur assequi quod promittis, fac nos amare quod praecipis.
This is a prayer for peace.
LITERAL VERSION:
Almighty eternal God, grant us an increase of faith, hope and charity, and, so that we may merit to obtain what You promise, cause us to love what You command.
This Sunday Father asks God to increase in us the theological virtues: faith, hope and charity, bestowed on us in baptism.
The German writer Josef Pieper (d 1997) wrote that the supernatural life can be described as having three main currents. First, we have some knowledge of God surpassing what we can know about Him naturally because He reveals it to us (faith). Second, we live in the patient expectation that what we learn and believe God promises will indeed be fulfilled (hope). Third, we make an affirmative response of love of God, whom we have come to know by faith, and also love of our neighbor (charity).
Natural human virtues are acquired through education and discipline and elbow grease. The three theological virtues faith, hope and charity are given to us by God. They are infused into us with grace at baptism. They perfect and elevate everything virtuous thing man can do naturally.
Looking at the positive development of the theological virtues, faith logically precedes hope and charity, and hope precedes charity. Considering their negative unraveling and loss, we lose charity first of all, and then hope and, last of all, faith.
Faith is the starting point for all salvation and meritorious actions. The righteous shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38). Living faith works through charity. Furthermore, faith apart from works is dead (cf James 2:14-26). When faith is deprived of hope and love, it does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member of his Body (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1814). The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man; it takes up the hopes that inspire mens activities and purifies them so as to order them to the Kingdom of heaven; it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude. Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity (CCC 1818). The practice of all the virtues is animated and inspired by charity, which binds everything together in perfect harmony (CCC 1827).
The theological virtues can be considered individually, but they are intimately woven together. St Augustine (d 430) says, There is no love without hope, no hope without love, and neither love nor hope without faith (enchir 8). The goal of the virtuous life is to become like God (CCC 1803). We are all called be saints. Living the theological virtues concretely reveals Gods image in us, as well as the grace He gives us as His adopted children.
This Sunday Father also prays that we will love what God wills.
Doing what another commands is not always pleasant. Our will and passions rebel. We want to command rather than be commanded. The lust of rule, libido dominandi, as the late Fr Richard John Neuhaus (d 2009) puts it, shouts, My way or no way! Frank Sinatra got it wrong.
In Canto III of the Paradiso of the Divine Comedy Dante (d 1321) meets the soul of Piccarda. He asks her if the blessed in heaven are disappointed that they do not have a higher place in the celestial realm. In response, Piccarda utters one of the greatest phrases ever penned (l. 85):
In His will is our peace. / It is that sea to which all things move, / both what it creates and what nature makes
Souls in heaven desire only what God wants for them. They are perfectly happy with His plan.
During our lives, if we try, we can discern something of what God wills for us. When we obey Him we act in accordance with the way He made us and what He intends for us to do. Even amidst the vicissitudes of this troubling and passing world, we find happiness and peace in obedience to God and His Church.
CURRENT ICEL (2011):
Almighty ever-living God, increase our faith, hope and charity, and make us love what you command, so that we may merit what you promise.
E n la sua volontade è nostra pace. In His will is our peace.
Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Feast Day
October 28th
El GRECO Apostle Saint Simon 1606 - Oil on canvas Museo del Greco, Toledo |
El GRECO Apostle Saint Thaddeus (Jude) 1606 - Oil on canvas Museo del Greco, Toledo |
Saint Simon is usually called "the Zealot" (Lk 6:15), probably because he belonged to the Jewish party of the "Zealous of the Law". Jude, also called Thaddeus or "Courageous", is the disputed author of a short epistle in the New testament. Tradition has it that they preached in Mesopotamia and Persia and there were martyred. Their names appear in the Roman Canon.
Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
Collect:
O God, who by the blessed Apostles
have brought us to acknowledge your name,
graciously grant,
through the intercession of Saints Simon and Jude,
that the Church may constantly grow
by increase of the peoples who believe in you.
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.First Reading: Ephesians 2:19-22
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Gospel Reading: Luke 6:12-19
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles; Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all.
BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE, Wednesday, October 11, 2006Simon and Jude
Dear Brothers and Sisters,Today, let us examine two of the Twelve Apostles: Simon the Cananaean and Jude Thaddaeus (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot). Let us look at them together, not only because they are always placed next to each other in the lists of the Twelve (cf. Mt 10: 3, 4; Mk 3: 18; Lk 6: 15; Acts 1: 13), but also because there is very little information about them, apart from the fact that the New Testament Canon preserves one Letter attributed to Jude Thaddaeus.
Simon is given a nickname that varies in the four lists: while Matthew and Mark describe him as a "Cananaean", Luke instead describes him as a "Zealot".
In fact, the two descriptions are equivalent because they mean the same thing: indeed, in Hebrew the verb qanà' means "to be jealous, ardent" and can be said both of God, since he is jealous with regard to his Chosen People (cf. Ex 20: 5), and of men who burn with zeal in serving the one God with unreserved devotion, such as Elijah (cf. I Kgs 19: 10).
Thus, it is highly likely that even if this Simon was not exactly a member of the nationalist movement of Zealots, he was at least marked by passionate attachment to his Jewish identity, hence, for God, his People and divine Law.
If this was the case, Simon was worlds apart from Matthew, who, on the contrary, had an activity behind him as a tax collector that was frowned upon as entirely impure. This shows that Jesus called his disciples and collaborators, without exception, from the most varied social and religious backgrounds.
It was people who interested him, not social classes or labels! And the best thing is that in the group of his followers, despite their differences, they all lived side by side, overcoming imaginable difficulties: indeed, what bound them together was Jesus himself, in whom they all found themselves united with one another.
This is clearly a lesson for us who are often inclined to accentuate differences and even contrasts, forgetting that in Jesus Christ we are given the strength to get the better of our continual conflicts.
Let us also bear in mind that the group of the Twelve is the prefiguration of the Church, where there must be room for all charisms, peoples and races, all human qualities that find their composition and unity in communion with Jesus.
Then with regard to Jude Thaddaeus, this is what tradition has called him, combining two different names: in fact, whereas Matthew and Mark call him simply "Thaddaeus" (Mt 10: 3; Mk 3: 18), Luke calls him "Judas, the son of James" (Lk 6: 16; Acts 1: 13).
The nickname "Thaddaeus" is of uncertain origin and is explained either as coming from the Aramaic, taddà', which means "breast" and would therefore suggest "magnanimous", or as an abbreviation of a Greek name, such as "Teodòro, Teòdoto".
Very little about him has come down to us. John alone mentions a question he addressed to Jesus at the Last Supper: Thaddaeus says to the Lord: "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world?".
This is a very timely question which we also address to the Lord: why did not the Risen One reveal himself to his enemies in his full glory in order to show that it is God who is victorious? Why did he only manifest himself to his disciples? Jesus' answer is mysterious and profound. The Lord says: "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (Jn 14: 22-23).
This means that the Risen One must be seen, must be perceived also by the heart, in a way so that God may take up his abode within us. The Lord does not appear as a thing. He desires to enter our lives, and therefore his manifestation is a manifestation that implies and presupposes an open heart. Only in this way do we see the Risen One.
The paternity of one of those New Testament Letters known as "catholic", since they are not addressed to a specific local Church but intended for a far wider circle, has been attributed to Jude Thaddaeus. Actually, it is addressed "to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ" (v. 1).
A major concern of this writing is to put Christians on guard against those who make a pretext of God's grace to excuse their own licentiousness and corrupt their brethren with unacceptable teachings, introducing division within the Church "in their dreamings" (v. 8).
This is how Jude defines their doctrine and particular ideas. He even compares them to fallen angels and, mincing no words, says that "they walk in the way of Cain" (v. 11).
Furthermore, he brands them mercilessly as "waterless clouds, carried along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars for whom the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved for ever" (vv. 12-13).
Today, perhaps, we are no longer accustomed to using language that is so polemic, yet that tells us something important. In the midst of all the temptations that exist, with all the currents of modern life, we must preserve our faith's identity. Of course, the way of indulgence and dialogue, on which the Second Vatican Counsel happily set out, should certainly be followed firmly and consistently.
But this path of dialogue, while so necessary, must not make us forget our duty to rethink and to highlight just as forcefully the main and indispensable aspects of our Christian identity. Moreover, it is essential to keep clearly in mind that our identity requires strength, clarity and courage in light of the contradictions of the world in which we live.
Thus, the text of the Letter continues: "But you, beloved" - he is speaking to all of us -, "build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And convince some, who doubt..." (vv. 20-22).
The Letter ends with these most beautiful words: "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen" (vv. 24-25).
It is easy to see that the author of these lines lived to the full his own faith, to which realities as great as moral integrity and joy, trust and lastly praise belong, since it is all motivated solely by the goodness of our one God and the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, may both Simon the Cananaean and Jude Thaddeus help us to rediscover the beauty of the Christian faith ever anew and to live it without tiring, knowing how to bear a strong and at the same time peaceful witness to it.
© Copyright 2006 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
from A Book of Feasts and Seasons, by Joanna Bogle
Saint Jude Novena
To Saint Jude, Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depths of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. Saint Jude, pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.
Novena to St. Jude, Patron of Desperate Situations and Hopeless Cases
About Saint Jude: Apostle, October 28 [Catholic Caucus]
St. Simon the Apostle, Feast Day: October 28, [Catholic Caucus]
Saints Simon and Jude
Who Is Saint Jude Thaddeus?/ST SIMON, SURNAMED THE ZEALOT, APOSTLE
Feast Day: | October 28 |
Born: |
Cana or Canaan |
Died: | Abyssinians claim he was crucified in Samaria; Lipsius says he was sawn in half at Suanir, Persia; Moses of Chorene writes that he was martyred at Weriosphora in Iberia; many locations claim to have relics including Toulouse, France, and Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy |
Major Shrine: | relics claimed by many places, including Toulouse; Saint Peter's Basilica |
Patron of: | curriers; sawyers; tanners |
|
|||||||
|
The Church celebrates the feast of these two apostles of Jesus on the same day.
St. Simon was called "the zealous one" because he had so much devotion to the Jewish law. Once he was called by Jesus to be an apostle, he gave his heart and his energy to preaching the Gospel.
With the other apostles, he received the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. He first went to Egypt to spread the good news. Then he went to Persia with the apostle St. Jude.
Both of them gave their lives for God when they were martyred there.
St. Jude is sometimes called Thaddeus, which means "the brave one."
At the Last Supper, Jesus said: "He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and show myself to him."
And St. Jude asked: "Lord, how is it that you are about to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
Jesus answered him: "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
St. Jude is also called the saint of "desperate or impossible cases." People pray to him when things seem hopeless. Often God answers their prayers through the intercession of this beloved apostle.
Sunday, October 28 |
||
Liturgical Color: Red |
||
|
Mark | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Mark 10 |
|||
46. | And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging. | Et veniunt Jericho : et proficiscente eo de Jericho, et discipulis ejus, et plurima multitudine, filius Timæ Bartimæus cæcus, sedebat juxta viam mendicans. | και ερχονται εις ιεριχω και εκπορευομενου αυτου απο ιεριχω και των μαθητων αυτου και οχλου ικανου υιος τιμαιου βαρτιμαιος ο τυφλος εκαθητο παρα την οδον προσαιτων |
47. | Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me. | Qui cum audisset quia Jesus Nazarenus est, cpit clamare, et dicere : Jesu fili David, miserere mei. | και ακουσας οτι ιησους ο ναζωραιος εστιν ηρξατο κραζειν και λεγειν ο υιος δαυιδ ιησου ελεησον με |
48. | And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me. | Et comminabantur ei multi ut taceret. At ille multo magis clamabat : Fili David, miserere mei. | και επετιμων αυτω πολλοι ινα σιωπηση ο δε πολλω μαλλον εκραζεν υιε δαυιδ ελεησον με |
49. | And Jesus, standing still, commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort: arise, he calleth thee. | Et stans Jesus præcepit illum vocari. Et vocant cæcum, dicentes ei : Animæquior esto : surge, vocat te. | και στας ο ιησους ειπεν αυτον φωνηθηναι και φωνουσιν τον τυφλον λεγοντες αυτω θαρσει εγειραι φωνει σε |
50. | Who casting off his garment leaped up, and came to him. | Qui projecto vestimento suo exiliens, venit ad eum. | ο δε αποβαλων το ιματιον αυτου αναστας ηλθεν προς τον ιησουν |
51. | And Jesus answering, said to him: What wilt thou that I should do to thee? And the blind man said to him: Rabboni, that I may see. | Et respondens Jesus dixit illi : Quid tibi vis faciam ? Cæcus autem dixit ei : Rabboni, ut videam. | και αποκριθεις λεγει αυτω ο ιησους τι θελεις ποιησω σοι ο δε τυφλος ειπεν αυτω ραββουνι ινα αναβλεψω |
52. | And Jesus saith to him: Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw, and followed him in the way. | Jesus autem ait illi : Vade, fides tua te salvum fecit. Et confestim vidit, et sequebatur eum in via. | ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω υπαγε η πιστις σου σεσωκεν σε και ευθεως ανεβλεψεν και ηκολουθει τω ιησου εν τη οδω |
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.