Liturgical Colour : Red
Ephesians 2 : 19-22
Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people : you are of the household of God. You are the house whose foundations are the Apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus.
In Him the whole structure is joined together and rises to be a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day, we heard about how God healed and forgave the sins of the paralytic man, whom Jesus had made whole and healthy again. And yet the Pharisees and the opponents of the Lord made a lot of noise, complaining that it was blasphemy to think that someone other than God could have forgiven sins.
This was because they failed to understand the true nature of our Lord and His love. For God had loved us so much, and He is indeed Love Himself, so that He was willing to send forth His Son into the world, the one and only begotten Son, who is His Word made into flesh, taking up the appearance and substance of the human body, and yet remained fully divine, so that, by His authority and works, He might bring about healing and salvation for all of us mankind.
This is clearly matched with what had happened long ago at the time of Abraham, when God asked him to sacrifice his own son, Isaac, the one and only promised son which God had promised Abraham when he set out of his homeland to follow Him. The first reading today is actually an affirmation of God’s love, who has done even more than what He had asked of Abraham.
For in his great faith, even though knowing that he would have to kill his son, but he knows that God will certainly find a way for him. And he also knows that even if he did the terrible did, God will raise him up again, as St. Paul had pointed out in one of his epistles. God has the authority for all things, even the things that seem to be impossible for men.
God also did not hold back His only Son, just as Abraham did not hold back his son from God. And while Abraham had such a great faith in God, following and obeying the will of God completely, but God Himself is also ever faithful, to the covenant and promise which He had made with mankind, that He will not abandon us to sin and destruction because of those sins.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, have we been obedient to God, and have we been faithful to Him as Abraham had done? Or have we instead been complaining and ignoring what we all ought to do as the ones with whom God had made His everlasting covenant? This is unfortunately our bad trait, the nature which have caused so many of us to fall into sin.
God has loved us so much, that even though we sinned and disobeyed Him, He did not straight away reject us and cast us into eternal darkness, even though He was fully capable of doing so. He instead gave us new opportunity, a second chance to redeem ourselves, so that by our devotion and actions, we may be redeemed and be brought back into the grace of God.
May Almighty God awaken in all of us, the love which we ought to have for Him. May He bless us and empower us, that we shall be more devoted to the Lord, and may our faith be considered worthy by our loving God, who will then heal us from our afflictions as He had done with the paralytic man. God be with us all, now and forever. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Matthew 9 : 1-8
At that time, Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to His hometown. Here they brought a paralysed man to Him, lying on a bed. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, “Courage, My son! Your sins are forgiven.”
Then some teachers of the Law said within themselves, “This Man insults God.” Jesus was aware of what they were thinking, and said, “Why have you such evil thoughts? Which is easier to say : ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? You must know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
He then said to the paralysed man, “Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home.” The man got up, and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe, and praised God for giving such power to human beings.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Psalm 114 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Alleluia! I am pleased that the Lord has heard my voice in supplication, that He has not been deaf to me, the day I called on Him.
When the cords of death entangled me, the snares of the grave laid hold of me, when affliction got the better of me, I called upon the Name of the Lord : “O Lord, save my life!”
Gracious and righteous is the Lord; full of compassion is our God. The Lord protects the simple : He saved me when I was humbled.
He has freed my soul from death, my eyes from weeping, my feet from stumbling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Genesis 22 : 1-19
Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.” Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I shall point out to you.”
Abraham rose early next morning and saddled his donkey and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He chopped wood for the burnt offering and set out for the place to which God had directed him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance, and he said to the young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship and then we will come back to you.”
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He carried in his hand the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father, “Father!” And Abraham replied, “Yes, my son?” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham replied, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the sacrifice.”
They went on, the two of them together, until they came to the place to which God had directed them. When Abraham had built the altar and set the wood on it, he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the wood placed on the altar. He then stretched out his hand to seize the knife and slay his son. But the Angel of YHVH called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.” “Do not lay your hand on the boy; do not harm him, for now I know that you fear God, and you have not held back from Me your only son.” Abraham looked around and saw behind him a ram caught by its horns in a bush. He offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place ‘The Lord will provide.’ And the saying has lasted to this day.
And the Angel of YHVH called from heaven a second time, “By myself I have sworn, it is YHVH who speaks, because you have done this and not held back your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the lands of their enemies. All the nations of the earth will be blessed through your descendants because you have obeyed Me.”
So Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba and it was there that Abraham stayed.
Liturgical Colour : Red
Offertory
1 Corinthians 10 : 16
Calix benedictionis, cui benedicimus, nonne communicatio sanguinis Christi est? Et panis, quem frangimus, nonne participatio corporis Domini est?
English translation
The chalice of benediction which we bless, is it not the communion of the Blood of Christ? And the bread which we break, is it not the partaking of the Body of the Lord?
Secret Prayer of the Priest
Per haec divina mysteria, ad novi, quaesumus, Testamenti mediatorem Jesum accedamus : et super altaria Tua, Domine virtutum, aspersionem sanguinis melius loquentem, quam Abel, innovemus. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Through these divine mysteries, we beseech You that we may draw near to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Testament, and renew upon Your altars, o Lord of virtues, the sprinkling of the blood, which speaks more eloquently than that of Abel. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Preface of the Holy Cross
Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos Tibi semper et ubique gratias agere : Domine, Sancte Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus : Qui salutem humani generis in ligno Crucis constituisti : ut, unde mors oriebatur, inde vita resurgeret : et, qui in ligno vincebat, in ligno quoque vinceretur : per Christum, Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem Tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Caeli caelorumque Virtutes ac beata Seraphim socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces ut admitti jubeas, deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes :
English translation
It is truly meet and just, right and profitable for us, at all times, and in all places, to give thanks to You, o holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, You Who had established the salvation of mankind in the wood of the cross, that from where death came into the world, hence a new life might spring, and that he who has been overcome the cross, by a cross might be overthrown, through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the angels praise, the Dominations adore, the Powers, trembling with awe, worship Your majesty, which the heavens, and the forces of heaven, together with the blessed Seraphim joyfully do magnify. And You do command that it be permitted to our lowliness to join with them in confessing You and unceasingly to repeat :
Communion
Hebrews 9 : 28
Christus semel oblatus est ad multorum exhaurienda peccata : secundo sine peccato apparebit exspectantibus se in salutem.
English translation
Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many, the second time He shall appear without sin to those who expect Him, unto salvation.
Post-Communion Prayer
Ad sacram, Domine, mensam admissi, hausimus aquas in gaudio de fontibus Salvatoris : sanguis ejus fiat nobis, quaesumus, fons aquae in vitam aeternam salientis : Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Admitted to the sacred table, o Lord, we have drawn water in gladness from the fountain of the Saviour. May His Blood, we beseech You, become unto us a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Red
Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. John
John 19 : 30-35
In illo tempore : Cum accepisset Jesus acetum, dixit : Consummatum est. Et inclinato capite tradidit spiritum. Judaei ergo (quoniam Parasceve erat), ut non remanerent in cruce corpora sabbato (erat enim magnus dies ille sabbati), rogaverunt Pilatum, ut frangerentur eorum crura et tollerentur.
Venerunt ergo milites : et primi quidem fregerunt crura et alterius, qui crucifixus et cum eo. Ad Jesum autem cum venissent, ut viderunt eum jam mortuum, non fregerunt ejus crura, sed unus militum lancea latus ejus aperuit, et continuo exivit sanguis et aqua. Et qui vidit, testimonium perhibuit; et verum est testimonium ejus.
English translation
At that time, Jesus, when He had taken the vinegar, said, “It is consummated.” And bowing His head, He gave up the Spirit. Then the Jews, because it was the eve of the Passover, asked that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, for that was a great sabbath day, and besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
The soldiers therefore came, and they broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But after they came to Jesus, they saw that He was already dead, and they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he who saw it had given testimony, and his testimony is true.
Liturgical Colour : Red
1 John 5 : 6, 7-8 and 1 John 5 : 9
Hic est, qui venit per aquam et sanguinem, Jesus Christus : non in aqua solum, sed in aqua et sanguine.
Priest : Tres sunt, qui testimonium dant in caelo : Pater, Verbum et Spiritus Sanctus; et hi tres unum sunt. Et tres sunt, qui testimonium dant in terra : Spiritus, aqua et sanguis : et hi tres unum sunt.
Alleluja, Alleluja.
Priest : Si testimonium hominum accipimus, testimonium Dei majus est. Alleluja.
English translation
This is He who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water only, but by water and blood.
Priest : There are Three Who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these Three are One, and there are Three that give testimony on earth, the Spirit, the water and the blood, and these Three are One.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Priest : If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. Alleluia.
Liturgical Colour : Red
Lectio Epistolae Beati Pauli Apostoli ad Hebraeos – Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews
Hebrews 9 : 11-15
Fratres : Christus assistens Pontifex futurorum bonorum, per amplius et perfectius tabernaculum non manufactum, id est, non hujus creationis : neque per sanguinem hircorum aut vitulorum, sed per proprium sanguinem introivit semel in Sancta, aeterna redemptione inventa.
Si enim sanguis hircorum et taurorum et cinis vitulae aspersus inquinatos sanctificat ad emundationem carnis : quanto magis sanguis Christi, qui per Spiritum Sanctum semetipsum obtulit immaculatum Deo, emundabit conscientiam nostram ab operibus mortuis, ad serviendum Deo viventi?
Et ideo novi Testamenti mediator est : ut, morte intercedente, in redemptionem earum praevaricationum, quae erant sub priori Testamento, repromissionem accipiant, qui vocati sunt aeternae hereditatis, in Christo Jesu, Domino nostro.
English translation
Brethren, Christ having come, a High Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by His own Blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer being sprinkled sanctify such as those that are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh, how much more shall the Blood of Christ, He Who, through the Holy Spirit, offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?
And therefore, He is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of His death, for the redemption of those transgressions which were under the former testament, that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Liturgical Colour : Red
Introit
Apocalypse 5 : 9-10 and Psalm 88 : 2
Redemisti nos, Domine, in sanguine Tuo, ex omni tribu et lingua et populo et natione : et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum.
Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo : in generationem et generationem annuntiabo veritatem Tuam in ore meo.
Priest : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper : et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
You have redeemed us, o Lord, in Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue, and people, and nation, and have made us to our God a kingdom.
The mercies of the Lord I will sing forever, I will show forth Your truth with my mouth to generation and generation.
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 sempiterne Deus, qui unigenitum Filium Tuum mundi Redemptorem constituisti, ac ejus Sanguine placari voluisti : concede, quaesumus, salutis nostrae pretium sollemni cultu ita venerari, atque a praesentis vitae malis ejus virtute defendi in terris; ut fructu perpetuo laetemur in caelis. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Almighty, Eternal God, Who has appointed Your only begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and has willed to be appeased by His Blood, grant us, we beseech You, so incessantly to worship the price of our salvation, and to be so defended by its power from the ills of this life on earth, that we may enjoy its everlasting fruit in heaven. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
