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To: All
From Homily of the Day from Catholic Exchange

Homily of the Day

Title:   Don't Let Your Things Trick You!
Author:   Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:   Tuesday, August 22, 2006
 


Ez 28:1-10 / Mt 19:23-30

Ezechial has hard words for the Prince of Tyre in today’s first reading. For whatever reasons, the prince had let his imagination get the better of him, persuading himself that he had “the mind of a god” and that no one in the whole world was greater.

That was not a smart call for a mere prince, and it’s even more foolish for us ordinary mortals. Yet we seem to persist in it. For the five-year-old, it may take nothing more than a new color book to persuade him that he’s king of the mountain. For the teenager, it may take a trendy haircut and some new clothes, and for the adult, it may require a car or a house or a newly expanded stock portfolio or all of the above.

However we happen to get there, seeing ourselves as king or queen of the mountain is always an illusion, because all we have, including our very lives, is on short-term loan. We are mere caretakers.

Some people require grave illnesses or tragic reversals to come to that wisdom. Why wait for that? Why not just own the truth now: All we have is from God, to be enjoyed and shared as generously as God shares with us. What love put us here! Shouldn’t that be our greatest delight?

14 posted on 08/22/2006 9:57:44 AM PDT by Carolina
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To: All
From Universalis Today

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.


A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 136 (137)
By the rivers of Babylon
By the rivers of Babylon
 we sat and wept
 remembering Sion.
On the willow-trees of Babylon
 we hung up our harps.

In that place they asked us,
 those who had captured us,
 to sing them a song:
“Sing us”, they said,
 “a song of Sion”.
They had brought us affliction
 and asked us for joy.

How shall we sing the songs of the Lord
 in a foreign land?
Jerusalem, if I forget you,
 send my right hand to oblivion;
let my tongue stick in my throat
 if I do not remember –
if I do not rank Jerusalem
 the first of my joys.

Remember, Lord, the Edomites
 on the day of Jerusalem:
 “Raze it”, they said, “to the ground”.
Babylon’s daughter, destroyer –
 blessed be he that takes his revenge,
 that smashes your child on a rock.

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

Psalm 137 (138)
Thanksgiving
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will make music to you, worship before your holy temple.
I will praise your name because of your mercy and faithfulness: high above all other names is the greatness of your word.

Each day that I call on you, Lord, listen to me, strengthen my spirit.
All the kings of the earth will proclaim your glory, Lord, when they hear your word.
They will sing of the paths of the Lord, so great is his glory.
For the Lord is on high but he cares for the humble; and he knows the proud from afar.

If I walk in the midst of troubles, you will give me life. If my enemies rise up against me, your right hand will keep me safe.
The Lord does all that I need. Lord, your kindness lasts for ever: do not forsake the work of your hands.

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

Canticle Apocalypse 4,5
The song of the redeemed
You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power;
for you made all things, and it is by your will that they existed and were created.

You are worthy, Lord, to receive the book and open its seals,
for you were killed, and with your blood you have ransomed people from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and made them rulers and priests for God; and they will rule over the earth.

The Lamb is worthy, who was killed, to receive power and riches and wisdom, strength and honour, glory and blessing.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.
A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here.
Canticle Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
 and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
 me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
 because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
 his mercy lasts for generation after generation
 for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:
 he has scattered the proud and conceited,
 torn princes from their thrones;
 but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
 the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
 he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
 to Abraham and his children for ever.

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

Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God.
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
 hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
 and forgive us our trespasses
 as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.
A concluding prayer may follow here.

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

15 posted on 08/22/2006 2:26:56 PM PDT by Carolina
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