Day: October 2, 2015

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Sunday, 4 October 2015 : Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Mark 10 : 2-16

At that time, some Pharisees came and put Jesus to the test with this question, “Is it right for a husband to divorce his wife?” He replied, “What Law did Moses give you?” They answered, “Moses allowed us to write a certificate of dismissal in order to divorce.”

Then Jesus said to them, “Moses wrote this Law for you, because you are stubborn. But in the beginning of creation God made them male and female, and because of this, man has to leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body. So they are no longer two but one body. Therefore let no one separate what God has joined.”

When they were indoors at home, the disciples again asked Him about this, and He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against his wife, and the woman who divorces her husband and marries another also commits adultery.”

People were bringing their little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, and the disciples rebuked them for this. When Jesus noticed it, He was very angry and said, “Let the children come to Me and do not stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”

Then He took the children in His arms and, laying His hands on them, blessed them.

Alternative reading (shorter version)

Mark 10 : 2-12

At that time, some Pharisees came and put Jesus to the test with this question, “Is it right for a husband to divorce his wife?” He replied, “What Law did Moses give you?” They answered, “Moses allowed us to write a certificate of dismissal in order to divorce.”

Then Jesus said to them, “Moses wrote this Law for you, because you are stubborn. But in the beginning of creation God made them male and female, and because of this, man has to leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body. So they are no longer two but one body. Therefore let no one separate what God has joined.”

When they were indoors at home, the disciples again asked Him about this, and He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against his wife, and the woman who divorces her husband and marries another also commits adultery.”

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Sunday, 4 October 2015 : Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Hebrews 2 : 9-11

But Jesus who suffered death and for a little while was placed lower than the angels has been crowned with honour and glory. For the merciful plan of God demanded that He experience death on behalf of everyone.

God, from whom all come and by whom all things exist, wanted to bring many children to glory, and He thought it fitting to make perfect through suffering the Initiator of their salvation. So He who gives and those who receive holiness are One. He Himself is not ashamed of calling us brothers and sisters.

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Sunday, 4 October 2015 : Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 127 : 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

Blessed are you who fear the Lord and walk in His ways. You will eat the fruit of your toil; you will blessed and favoured.

Your wife, like a vine, will bear fruits in your home; your children, like olive shoots will stand around your table.

Such are the blessings bestowed upon the man who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosperous all the days of your life.

May you see your children’s children, and Israel at peace!

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Sunday, 4 October 2015 : Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Genesis 2 : 18-24

YHVH God said, “It is not good for Man to be alone; I will give him a helper who will be like him.”

Then YHVH God formed from the earth all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air and brought them to Man to see what he would call them; and whatever Man called every living creature, that was its name.

So Man gave names to all the cattle, the birds of the air and to every beast of the field. But he did not find among them a helper like himself. Then YHVH God caused a deep sleep to come over Man and he fell asleep. He took one of his ribs and filled its place with flesh.

The rib which YHVH God had taken from Man He formed into a woman and brought her to the man. The man then said, “Now this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she was taken from man.” That is why man leaves his father and mother and is attached to his wife, and with her becomes one flesh.

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(Usus Antiquior) Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 4 October 2015 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Communion and Post-Communion Prayer

Liturgical Colour : Green

Offertory

Psalm 137 : 7

Si ambulavero in medio tribulationis, vivificabis me, Domine : et super iram inimicorum meorum extendes manum Tuam, et salvum me faciet dextera Tua.

English translation

If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, You will quicken me, o Lord, and You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand shall save me.

Secret Prayer of the Priest

Haec munera, quaesumus, Domine, quae oculis Tuae majestatis offerimus, salutaria nobis esse concede. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Grant, we beseech You, o Lord, that these gifts, which we offer up in the sight of Your majesty, may be salutary unto us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Communion

Psalm 118 : 4-5

Tu mandasti mandata Tua custodiri nimis : utinam dirigantur viae meae, ad custodiendas justificationes Tuas.

English translation

You have commanded Your commandments to be kept most diligently. O, that my ways may be directed to keep Your justifications.

Post-Communion Prayer

Tua nos, Domine, medicinalis operatio, et a nostris perversitatibus clementer expediat, et Tuis semper faciat inhaerare mandatis. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Let Your healing power, o Lord, in mercy deliver us from our waywardness and cause us ever to cleave to Your commandments. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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(Usus Antiquior) Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 4 October 2015 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Green

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

Matthew 22 : 1-14

In illo tempore : Loquebatur Jesus principibus sacerdotum et pharisaeis in parabolis, dicens : Simile factum est regnum caelorum homini regi, qui fecit nuptias filio suo. Et misit servos suos vocare invitatos ad nuptias, et nolebant venire.

Iterum misit alios servos, dicens : Dicite invitatis : Ecce, prandium meum paravi, tauri mei et altilia occisa sunt, et omnia parata : venite ad nuptias. Illi autem neglexerunt : et abierunt, alius in villam suam, alius vero ad negotiationem suam : reliqui vero tenuerunt servos ejus, et contumeliis affectos occiderunt.

Rex autem cum audisset, iratus est : et, missis exercitibus suis, perdidit homicidas illos et civitatem illorum succendit. Tunc ait servis suis : Nuptiae quidem paratae sunt, sed, qui invitati erant, non fuerunt digni. Ite ergo ad exitus viarum et, quoscumque inveneritis, vocate ad nuptias. Et egressi servi ejus in vias, congregaverunt omnes, quos invenerunt, malos et bonos : et impletae sunt nuptiae discumbentum.

Intravit autem rex, ut videret discumbentes, et vidit ibi hominem non vestitum veste nuptiali. Et ait illi : Amice, quomodo huc intrasti non habens vestem nuptialem? At ille obmutuit. Tunc dixit rex ministris : Ligatis manibus et pedibus ejus, mittite eum in tenebras exteriores : ibi erit fletus et stridor dentium. Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi.

English translation

At that time, Jesus spoke to the chief priests and the Pharisees in parables, saying, “The kingdom of Heaven is likened to a king, who made a marriage for his son, and he sent his servants, to call those who were invited to the marriage, and they would not come.

Again he sent other servants, saying, “Tell those who were invited, ‘Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my beeves and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come all of you to the marriage.” But they neglected, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise, and the rest laid hands on his servants, and having treated them contumeliously, put them to death.

But when the king had heard of it, he was angry, and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city. Then he said to his servants, “The marriage indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go all of you therefore into the highways, and call as many as you shall find to the marriage.” And his servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found, both bad and good, and the marriage was filled with guests.

And the king went in to see the guests, and he saw there a man who did not put on a wedding garment, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you enter here, not having a wedding garment?” But he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters, “Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

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(Usus Antiquior) Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 4 October 2015 : Gradual and Alleluia

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 140 : 2 and Psalm 104 : 1

Dirigatur oratio mea, sicut incensum in conspectu Tuo, Domine.

Priest : Elevatio manuum mearum sacrificium vespertinum.

Alleluja, Alleluja.

Priest : Confitemini Domino, et invocate Nomen Ejus : annuntiate inter gentes opera Ejus. Alleluja.

English translation

Let my prayer be directed as incense in Your sight, o Lord.

Priest : The lifting up of my hands as evening sacrifice.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Priest : Give glory to the Lord, and call upon His Name : declare His deeds among the Gentiles. Alleluia.

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(Usus Antiquior) Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 4 October 2015 : Epistle

Liturgical Colour : Green

Lectio Epistolae Beati Pauli Apostoli ad Ephesios – Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

Ephesians 4 : 23-28

Fratres : Renovamini spiritu mentis vestrae, et induite novum hominem, qui secundum Deum creatus est in justitia et sanctitate veritatis. Propter quod deponentes mendacium, loquimini veritatem unusquisque cum proximo suo : quoniam sumus invicem membra.

Irascimini, et nolite peccare : sol non occidat super iracundiam vestram. Nolite locum dare diabolo : qui furabatur, jam non furetur; magis autem laboret, operando manibus suis, quod bonum est, ut habeat, unde tribuat necessitatem patienti.

English translation

Brethren, may you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak all of you the truth every man with his neighbour, for we are members one of another.

Be angry, and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down upon your anger. Do not give place to the devil. He who stole, let him now steal no more, bur rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have something to give to him who suffered need.

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(Usus Antiquior) Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 4 October 2015 : Introit and Collect

Liturgical Colour : Green

Introit

Psalm 77 : 1

Salus populi ego sum, dicit Dominus : de quacumque tribulatione clamaverint ad Me, exaudiam eos : et ero illorum Dominus in perpetuum.

Attendite, popule Meus, legem Meam : inclinate aurem vestram in verba oris Mei.

Priest : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper : et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

“I am the salvation of the people,” says the Lord, “In whatever tribulation they shall cry to Me I will hear them, and I will be their Lord forever.”

Attend, o My people, to My Law, incline your ears to the words of My mouth.

Priest : Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Collect

Omnipotens et misericors Deus, universa nobis adversantia propitiatus exclude : ut mente et corpore pariter expediti, quae Tua sunt, liberis mentibus exsequamur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Almighty and merciful God, in Your loving kindness You do keep us from all things that wage war against us, that, being unhampered alike in soul and in body, we may with free minds perform the works that are Yours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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Saturday, 3 October 2015 : 26th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saturday Mass of our Lady)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we heard about the assurance of the Lord who will succour and help His people, all those who keep their faith in Him, despite even all of our wickedness and wrongdoings, all the mistakes that we had committed in this life. God has given us a new chance through Christ Jesus, His beloved Son.

In the readings today, God wants us to realise that despite all of our intellect, our wisdom and understanding, our strengths and power, there is nothing greater than the wisdom and the might of the Lord. The ancestors of the people of God, the Israelites during the time of the kings met their end because of their lack of faith, their inability to restrain their pride and greed, and they walked in the path of rebellion of Satan.

Satan was one of the greatest angels in heaven, and he was mighty and great beyond compare, but in his moments of greatness and being too obsessed with his power, he fell into wickedness, because he thought of himself as a being greater than even his own Creator and Master, that is God. He sought to have the equality with God, and even to surpass Him, in trying to usurp the throne of Heaven for himself.

But he failed to do so, and instead of rising up high, he was brought down to damnation. And when he failed, he tried to bring us down, the most beloved of God’s creations, by tempting us to disobey the Lord as well, playing with and manipulating our desires and the pride within us, by claiming that in our disobedience and in our turning inward towards our own desires, we will be able to achieve great things, such as gaining equality with God, or gaining pleasures and goodness for ourselves.

This is what we must challenge ourselves to resist, the temptation of pride and power, which had corrupted so many of those who went before us. For pride and power make us to look only at our own greatness and good things inside us, but it made us blind to the reality of our frailty and weakness. There had been so many people who fell into this trap, believing in their own greatness and power, boasting about them.

St. Paul put it very nicely in one of his letters, that if we are to boast or want to boast, let us not boast about ourselves, or bring praise upon ourselves. Instead, when we want to boast, we should boast only about the Lord our God, He who is the only One worthy of true praise and glorification. Remember that all of us are creations of our Lord and Creator, and thus, any greatness or glory we receive is truly not ours, but it belongs to the One who created us. We share in His glory and we are glad.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all reflect on our own lives. Have we been truly faithful to God, or have we been indulging in our own delusions of grandeur instead? It is in our human tendency to fall into praise for ourselves, into the fulfilment of our own selfish desires at the expense of others. There are therefore a lot of things that we need to do to resist those temptations and uphold the faith which we have in the Lord our God.

We have to learn to be humble, in being able to realise our shortcomings and inabilities, all the things that we are unable to do, and learn to trust in the Lord more, for it is truly in God that we can trust, and not in our own human power. For while the power of God is reliable and will never fail, but the power of men is just temporary and do not last, and they often fail us.

God will not disappoint us, and as long as we remain faithful to Him, we will always be blessed by His grace and love, and in the end, prosperity will never be far away from us, and our sufferings which we suffer now for being upright and just in the presence of God shall be repaid with the eternity of happiness and true joy in the presence of God. May God our Lord bless us and keep us in His grace always, and let us praise and bless His Name. Amen.