From: Ezekiel 12:1-12
The exiles’ departure
[1] The word of the Lord came to me: [2”] Son of man, you dwell in the midst of
a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear,
but hear not [3] for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, son of man, prepare
for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight; you shall
go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will
understand, though they are a rebellious house. [4] You shall bring out your bag-
gage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile; and you shall go forth yourself
at evening in their sight, as men do who must go into exile. [5] Dig through the
wall in their sight, and go out through it. [6] In their sight you shall lift the bag-
gage upon your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark; you shall cover your face,
that you may not see the land; for I have made you a sign for the house of Isra-
el.”
[7] And I did as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as bag-
gage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands; I
went forth in the dark, carrying my outfit upon my shoulder in their sight.
[8] In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: [9] Son of man, has not the
house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ [10] Say
to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem
and all the house of Israel who are in it.’ [11] Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have
done, so shall it be done to them; they shall go into exile, into captivity.’ [12] And
the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder in the dark,
and shall go forth; he shall dig through the wall and go out through it; he shall co-
ver his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes.”
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
12:1-14:23. Up to this point, the warnings to Jerusalem have been given by way
of symbolic actions (chaps. 4-5) and chilling prophecies (chaps. 6-7), and the vi-
sion of the outrages committed in the temple (chaps. 8-11). However, neither the
people living in Jerusalem nor the exiles seem to accept that a catastrophe is
about to happen. In this section of the book Ezekiel speaks out against the peo-
ple and their refusal to believe by announcing that King Zedekiah is to be depor-
ted forthwith (chap. 12) and then by condemning the false prophets who deceive
the people by giving them false hopes (chap. 13); he also criticizes pagan beliefs
(chap. 14). These oracles are designed to move the listeners’ hearts and to get
them to put all their trust in the Lord: he can help them in their exile. That is the
import of the phrase that recurs in this passage: “You will know that I am the
Lord.”
12:1-28. The date of the last deportation, which happened in 587 BC (cf. 2 Kings
25:8-21), is announced by five oracles or symbolic gestures, each beginning with
the wording, “The word of the Lord came to me” (vv. 1, 8, 17, 21, 26). The first
two centre on the detention and deportation of King Zedekiah (vv. 1-16), the next
one on the poor circumstances of the exiles (vv. 17-20), and the last two focus
on how soon these two events will be brought about (vv. 21-28). The symbolic ac-
tions of the prophet are well designed to prove to his listeners the truth of what
he says.
12:1-16. The first symbolic action (leaving with an exile’s baggage) is calculated
to provoke feelings of depression; the deportation that they fear will indeed take
place. “Exile” is mentioned six times in five verses; “in their sight”, five times;
and “rebellious house” twice. The preparations are made in daylight; but the ac-
tual leaving is shameful: it takes place at night, the face veiled, without looking
back at the city.
Ezekiel’s symbolic action stands for what will happen to King Zedekiah (v. 10: cf.
2 Kings 25:2-7), who is not mentioned here by either name or title of king. He is
called “the prince in Jerusalem, not “prince of Judah”, to indicate that catastro-
phe will befall the city and its inhabitants.
“I will spread my net over him, and he shall be in my snare’ (’v. 13): the net meta-
phor indicates that deportation is a kind of enslavement. And the use of the first
person underlines once again the fact that it is the Lord himself who is the cause
of the deportation. Insistence on this helps to strike a very positive note: if God is
the cause of the punishment (exile), he too will deliver his people when their im-
prisonment comes to an end.
The importance of a remnant escaping (v.16) lies in the fact that they will bear
witness to their sins and punishment before pagan nations — so that the latter
too may acknowledge the Lord. This positive interpretation of the exile is a fea-
ture of the book of Ezekiel.
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Matthew 18:21-19:1
Forgiveness of Injuries. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
[21] Then Peter came up and said to Him (Jesus), “Lord, how often shall my bro-
ther sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” [22] Jesus
said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
[23] “Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who wished
to settle accounts with his servants. [24] When he began the reckoning, one was
brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; [25] and as he could not pay,
his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and
payment to be made. [26] So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord,
have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ [27] And out of pity for him
the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
[28] But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants
who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what
you owe.’ [29] So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience
with me, and I will pay you.’ [30] He refused and went and put him in prison till he
should pay his debt. [31] When his fellow servants saw what had taken place,
they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had
taken place. [32] Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked ser-
vant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; [33] and should not
you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ [34] And in
anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. [35] So
also My Heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your
brother from your heart.”
[19:1] Now when Jesus finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and
entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan[.]
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
21-35. Peter’s question and particularly Jesus’ reply prescribe the spirit of under-
standing and mercy which should govern Christians’ behavior.
In Hebrew the figure of seventy times seven means the same as “always” (cf.
Genesis 4:24): “Therefore, our Lord did not limit forgiveness to a fixed number,
but declared that it must be continuous and forever” (Chrysostom, “Hom. on St
Matthew”, 6). Here also we can see the contrast between man’s ungenerous,
calculating approach to forgiveness, and God’s infinite mercy. The parable also
clearly shows that we are totally in God’s debt. A talent was the equivalent of six
thousand denarii, and a denarius a working man’s daily wage. Ten thousand ta-
lents, an enormous sum, gives us an idea of the immense value attaching to the
pardon we receive from God. Overall, the parable teaches that we must always
forgive our brothers, and must do so wholeheartedly.
“Force yourself, if necessary, always to forgive those who offend you, from the
very first moment. For the greatest injury or offense that you can suffer from them
is nothing compared to what God has pardoned you” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”,
452).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Aug 16, Office of Readings for Thursday of the 19th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 615
Proper of Seasons: 104
Psalter: Thursday, Week III, 1025
Christian Prayer:
Does not contain Office of Readings
Office of Readings for Thursday 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
Jerusalem the golden, with milk and honey blest,
Beneath thy contemplation sink heart and voice oppressed.
I know not, O I know not, what joys await us there,
What radiancy of glory, what bliss beyond compare.
They stand, those halls of Zion, all jubilant with song,
And bright with many an angel, and all the martyr throng;
The Prince is ever in them, the daylight is serene.
The pastures of the blessed are decked in glorious sheen.
There is the throne of David, and there, from care released,
The shout of them that triumph, the song of them that feast;
And they, who with their Leader, have conquered in the fight,
Forever and forever are clad in robes of white.
O sweet and blessed country, the home of God’s elect!
O sweet and blessed country, that eager hearts expect!
Jesus, in mercy bring us to that dear land of rest,
Who art, with God the Father, and Spirit, ever blessed.
“Jerusalem the Golden” by Rupert Gough, Malcolm Archer, Wells Cathedral Choir; Words: Bernard of Morlaix, 1146 (Urbs Sion aurea); translated from Latin to English by John M. Neale, 1858; Music: Alexander Ewing, 1853
“Jerusalem the Golden” Performed by Rupert Gough, Malcolm Archer, Wells Cathedral Choir is available from Amazon.com.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Look on us, Lord, and see how we are despised.
Psalm 89
Lament for the fall of David’s dynasty
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior born of the house of David his servant (Luke 1:69).
IV
And yet you have rejected and spurned
and are angry with the one you have anointed.
You have broken your covenant with your servant
and dishonored his crown in the dust.
You have broken down all his walls
and reduced his fortresses to ruins.
He is despoiled by all who pass by:
he has become the taunt of his neighbors.
You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
You have made his sword give way,
you have not upheld him in battle.
You have brought his glory to an end;
you have hurled his throne to the ground.
You have cut short the years of his youth;
you have heaped disgrace upon him.
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. Look on us, Lord, and see how we are despised.
Ant. 2 I am the root and stock of David; I am the morning star.
V
How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself for ever?
How long will your anger burn like a fire?
Remember, Lord, the shortness of my life
and how frail you have made the sons of men.
What man can live and never see death?
Who can save himself from the grasp of the grave?
Where are your mercies of the past, O Lord,
which you have sworn in your faithfulness to David?
Remember, Lord, how your servant is taunted,
how I have to bear all the insults of the peoples.
Thus your enemies taunt me, O Lord,
mocking your anointed at every step.
Blessed be the Lord for ever. Amen, amen!
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 of mercy and fidelity, you made a new and lasting pact with men and sealed it in the blood of your Son. Forgive the folly of our disloyalty and make us keep your commandments, so that in your new covenant we may be witnesses and heralds of your faithfulness and love on earth, and sharers of your glory in heaven.
Ant. I am the root and stock of David; I am the morning star.
Ant. 3 Our years wither away like grass, but you, Lord God, are eternal.
Psalm 90
May we live in the radiance of God
There is no time with God: a thousand years, a single day: it is all one (2 Peter 3:8).
O Lord, you have been our refuge
from one generation to the next.
Before the mountains were born
or the earth or the world brought forth,
you are God, without beginning or end.
You turn men back into dust
and say: “Go back, sons of men.”
To your eyes a thousand years
are like yesterday, come and gone,
no more than a watch in the night.
You sweep men away like a dream,
like grass which springs up in the morning.
In the morning it springs up and flowers:
by evening it withers and fades.
So we are destroyed in your anger,
struck with terror in your fury.
Our guilt lies open before you;
our secrets in the light of your face.
All our days pass away in your anger.
Our life is over like a sigh.
Our span is seventy years
or eighty for those who are strong.
And most of these are emptiness and pain.
They pass swiftly and we are gone.
Who understands the power of your anger
and fears the strength of your fury?
Make us know the shortness of our life
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever?
Show pity to your servants.
In the morning, fill us with your love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Give us joy to balance our affliction
for the years when we knew misfortune.
Show forth your work to your servants;
let your glory shine on their children.
Let the favor of the Lord be upon us:
give success to the work of our hands,
give success to the work of our hands.
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
Eternal Father, you give us life despite our guilt and even add days and years to our lives in order to bring us wisdom. Make us love and obey you, so that the works of our hands may always display what your hands have done, until the day we gaze upon the beauty of your face.
Ant. Our years wither away like grass, but you, Lord God, are eternal.
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.
In you is the source of life.
– In your light we see light itself.
READINGS
First reading
From the book of the prophet Micah 4:14–5:7
The Christ will be our peace
Thus says the Lord:
Now fence yourself in, Bat-gader!
“They have laid siege against us!”
With the rod they strike on the cheek
the ruler of Israel.
But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah
too small to be among the clans of Judah,
From you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel;
Whose origin is from of old,
from ancient times.
(Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time
when she who is to give birth has borne,
And the rest of his brethren shall return
to the children of Israel.)
He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock
by the strength of the Lord,
in the majestic name of the Lord, his God;
And they shall remain, for now his greatness
shall reach to the ends of the earth;
he shall be peace.
If Assyria invades our country
and treads upon our land,
We shall raise against it seven shepherds,
eight men of royal rank;
And they shall tend the land of Assyria with the sword,
and the land of Nimrod with the drawn sword;
And we shall be delivered from Assyria,
if it invades our land
and treads upon our borders.
The remnant of Jacob shall be
in the midst of many peoples,
Like dew coming from the Lord,
like raindrops on the grass,
Which wait for no man,
nor tarry for the sons of men.
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
Like a lion among beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep;
When it passes through, it tramples
and tears, and there is none to deliver.
RESPONSORY Micah 5:2, 4, 5; Zechariah 9:10
Bethlehem, city of God Most High,
from you will come forth a ruler for Israel,
one whose origin will go back to the distant past,
to ancient times.
His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth,
– and he will be our peace.
He will proclaim peace to the nations;
his dominion will extend from sea to sea.
– And he will be our peace.
Second reading
From a treatise on Christian Perfection by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop
We possess Christ, our peace, our light
He is our peace, for he has made both one. Since we think of Christ as our peace, we may call ourselves true Christians only if our lives express Christ by our own peace. As the Apostle says: He has put enmity to death. We must never allow it to be rekindled in us in any way but must declare that it is absolutely dead. Gloriously has God slain enmity, in order to save us; may we never risk the life of our souls by being resentful or by bearing grudges. We must not awaken that enmity or call it back to life by our wickedness, for it is better left dead.
No, since we possess Christ who is peace, we must put an end to this enmity and live as we believe he lived. He broke down the separating wall, uniting what was divided, bringing about peace by reconciling in his single person those who disagreed. In the same way, we must be reconciled not only with those who attack us from outside, but also with those who stir up dissension within; flesh then will no longer be opposed to the spirit, nor the spirit to the flesh. Once we subject the wisdom of the flesh to God’s law, we shall be re-created as one single man at peace. Then, having become one instead of two, we shall have peace within ourselves.
Now peace is defined as harmony among those who are divided. When, therefore, we end that civil war within our nature and cultivate peace within ourselves, we become peace. By this peace we demonstrate that the name of Christ, which we bear, is authentic and appropriate.
When we consider that Christ is the true light, having nothing in common with deceit, we learn that our own life also must shine with the rays of that true light. Now these rays of the Sun of Justice are the virtues which pour out to enlighten us so that we may put away the works of darkness and walk honorably as in broad daylight. When we reject the deeds of darkness and do everything in the light of day, we become light and, as light should, we give light to others by our actions.
If we truly think of Christ as our source of holiness, we shall refrain from anything wicked or impure in thought or act and thus show ourselves to be worthy bearers of his name. For the quality of holiness is shown not by what we say but by what we do in life.
RESPONSORY Luke 1:78, 79
The dawn from on high shall break upon us,
– to guide our feet into the way of peace.
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
– To guide our feet into the way of peace.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Almighty ever-living God,
whom, taught by the Holy Spirit,
we dare to call our Father,
bring, we pray, to perfection in our hearts
the spirit of adoption as your sons and daughters,
that we may merit to enter into the inheritance
which you have promised.
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.
The following is the longer version of the vital prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 after his startling vision as to the future of the Church. This prayer was dedicated for the Feast of St. Michael 1448 years from the date of the election of the first Leo - Pope Saint Leo the Great. Everyone is familiar with the first prayer below which was mandated by His Holiness as part of the Leonine Prayers after Low Mass. After Vatican II, in legion with the devil Giovanni Montini outlawed this necessary prayer and then one wonders how "the smoke of satan" got into the sanctuary? The conciliarists wanted to make sure the words in bold below would never see the light of day again for in it Leo foretold what would happen: The shepherd would be struck, the sheep scattered. Below are both the short and longer versions of this poignant prayer which should never be forgotten.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, O heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.Look down upon me, O good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; the while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my good Jesus: "They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones."
PRAYERS AFTER 
