Sunday, September 09, 2012
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:

Isaiah 35:4-7
Psalm 146:7-10
James 2:1-5
Mark 7:31-37

If we love God and are faithful to Him, we shall be at peace, and this peace will endure.

-- St. Madeline Sophie Barat

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Sep 08, Invitatory for Birth of Mary

Lord, open my lips.
– And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come let us celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary, let us worship her Son, Christ the Lord.

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.

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, 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.

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.

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.

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 celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary, let us worship her Son, Christ the Lord.

Sep 09, Office of Readings for Sunday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time

Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 615
Proper of Seasons: 218
Psalter: Sunday, Week III, 942

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

King of glory, King of peace,
I will love Thee;
And that love may never cease,
I will move Thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
Thou hast heard me;
Thou didst note my working breast,
Thou hast spared me.

Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing Thee,
And the cream of all my heart
I will bring Thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
Thou alone didst clear me;
And alone, when they replied,
Thou didst hear me.

Seven whole days, not one in seven,
I will praise Thee;
In my heart, though not in Heaven,
I can raise Thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
To enroll Thee:
E’en eternity’s too short
To extol Thee.

King Of Glory, King Of Peace by The Jubilate Singers; Words: George Herbert, 1633; Music: Gwalchmai, General Seminary, Salve cordis gaudium, Jesu, meines Herzens Freud’; Meter: 74 74 D
“King Of Glory, King Of Peace” performed by The Jubilate Singers is available from Amazon.com.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Day by day I shall bless you, Lord, alleluia.

Psalm 145
Praise of God’s majesty
Lord, you are the Just One, who was and who is (Revelation 16:5).

I

I will give you glory, O God my King,
I will bless your name forever.

Ant. Day by day I shall bless you, Lord, alleluia.

I will bless you day after day
and praise your name forever.
The Lord is great, highly to be praised,
his greatness cannot be measured.

Ant. Day by day I shall bless you, Lord, alleluia.

Age to age shall proclaim your works,
shall declare your mighty deeds,
shall speak of your splendor and glory,
tell the tale of your wonderful works.

Ant. Day by day I shall bless you, Lord, alleluia.

They will speak of your terrible deeds,
recount your greatness and might.
They will recall your abundant goodness;
age to age shall ring out your justice.

Ant. Day by day I shall bless you, Lord, alleluia.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures.

Ant. Day by day I shall bless you, 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.

Ant. Day by day I shall bless you, Lord, alleluia.

Ant. 2 Your kingdom, Lord, is an everlasting kingdom, alleluia.

II

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God,

to make known to men your mighty deeds
and the glorious splendor of your reign.
Yours is an everlasting kingdom;
your rule lasts from age to age.

Ant. Your kingdom, Lord, is an everlasting kingdom, 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. Your kingdom, Lord, is an everlasting kingdom, alleluia.

Ant. 3 The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds, alleluia.

III

The Lord is faithful in all his words
and loving in all his deeds.
The Lord supports all who fall
and raises all who are bowed down.

Ant. The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds, alleluia.

The eyes of all creatures look to you
and you give them their food in due time.
You open wide your hand,
grant the desires of all who live.

Ant. The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds, alleluia.

The Lord is just in all his ways
and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him,
who call on him from their hearts.

Ant. The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds, alleluia.

He grants the desires of those who fear him,
he hears their cry and he saves them.
The Lord protects all who love him;
but the wicked he will utterly destroy.

Ant. The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds, alleluia.

Let me speak the praise of the Lord,
let all mankind bless his holy name
for ever, for ages unending.

Ant. The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds, 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, be near to all who call upon you in truth and increase the dedication of those who revere you. Hear their prayers and save them, that they may always love you and praise your holy name.

Ant. The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds, 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.

Listen to my words.
– Give ear to my precepts.

READINGS

First reading
From the book of the prophet Jeremiah
37:21; 38:14-28
Jeremiah, while in prison, encourages Zedekiah to seek peace

King Zedekiah ordered that Jeremiah be confined in the quarters of the guard, and given a loaf of bread each day from the bakers’ shop until all the bread in the city was eaten up. Thus Jeremiah remained in the quarters of the guard.

Once King Zedekiah summoned the prophet Jeremiah to come to him at the third entrance to the house of the Lord. “I have a question to ask you,” the king said to Jeremiah; “hide nothing from me.” Jeremiah answered Zedekiah: If I tell you anything, you will have me killed, will you not? If I counsel you, you will not listen to me! But King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah secretly: “As the Lord lives who gave us the breath of life, I will not kill you; nor will I hand you over to these men who seek your life.”

Thereupon Jeremiah said to Zedekiah: Thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel: If you surrender to the princes of Babylon’s king, you shall save your life; this city shall not be destroyed with fire, and you and your family shall live. But if you do not surrender to the princes of Babylon’s king, this city shall fall into the hands of the Chaldeans, who shall destroy it with fire, and you shall not escape their hands.

King Zedekiah, however, said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the men of Judah who have deserted to the Chaldeans; I may be handed over to them, and they will mistreat me.”

You will not be handed over, Jeremiah answered. Please obey the voice of the Lord and do as I tell you; then it shall go well with you, and your life will be spared. But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord shows me: All the women left in the house of Judah’s king shall be brought out to the princes of Babylon’s king, and they shall taunt you thus:

“They betrayed you, outdid you,
your good friends!
Now that your feet are stuck in the mud,
they slink away.”

All your wives and sons shall be led forth to the Chaldeans, and you shall not escape their hands; you shall be handed over to the king of Babylon, and this city shall be destroyed with fire.

Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Let no one know about this conversation, or you shall die. If the princes hear I spoke to you, if they come and ask you, ‘Tell us what you said to the king; do not hide it from us, or we will kill you,’ or, ‘What did the king say to you?’ give them this answer: ‘I petitioned the king not to send me back to Jonathan’s house to die there.’”

When all the princes came to Jeremiah, they questioned him, and he answered them in the very words the king had commanded. They said no more to him, for nothing had been heard of the earlier conversation. Thus Jeremiah stayed in the quarters of the guard till the day Jerusalem was taken.

RESPONSORY 2 Corinthians 6:4-5; Judith 8:23

Let us prove that we are God’s ministers
by patient endurance of trials,
– in times of difficulty and in distress
and when flogged or imprisoned.

Those who remained faithful,
no matter what they suffered,
won God’s favor.
– In times of difficulty and in distress
and when flogged or imprisoned.

Second reading
From a sermon on the beatitudes by Saint Leo the Great, pope
Christian wisdom

The Lord then goes on to say: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. This hunger is not for any bodily food, this thirst is not for any earthly drink: it is a longing to be blessed with righteousness, and, by penetrating the secret of all mysteries, to be filled with the Lord himself.

Happy is the soul that longs for the food of righteousness and thirsts for this kind of drink; it would not seek such things if it had not already savored their delight. When the soul hears the voice of the Spirit saying to it through the prophet: Taste and see that the Lord is good, it has already received a portion of God’s goodness, and is on fire with love, the love that gives joy of the utmost purity. It counts as nothing all that belongs to time; it is entirely consumed with desire to eat and drink the food of righteousness. The soul lays hold of the true meaning of the first and great commandment: You shall love the Lord God with your whole heart, and your whole mind and your whole strength, for to love God is nothing else than to love righteousness.

Finally, just as concern for one’s neighbor is added to love of God, so the virtue of mercy is added to the desire for righteousness, as it is said: Blessed are the merciful, for God will be merciful to them.

Remember, Christian, the surpassing worth of the wisdom that is yours. Bear in mind the kind of school in which you are to learn your skills, the rewards to which you are called. Mercy itself wishes you to be merciful, righteousness itself wishes you to be righteous, so that the Creator may shine forth in his creature, and the image of God be reflected in the mirror of the human heart as it imitates his qualities. The faith of those who live their faith is a serene faith. What you long for will be given you; what you love will be yours for ever.

Since it is by giving alms that everything is pure for you, you will also receive that blessing which is promised next by the Lord: Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Dear friends, great is the happiness of those for whom such a reward is prepared. Who are the clean of heart if not those who strive for those virtues we have mentioned above? What mind can conceive, what words can express the great happiness of seeing God? Yet human nature will achieve this when it has been transformed so that it sees the Godhead no longer in a mirror or obscurely but face to face–the Godhead that no man has been able to see. In the inexpressible joy of this eternal vision, human nature will possess what eye has not seen or ear heard, what man’s heart has never conceived.

RESPONSORY Psalm 31:20; 1 Corinthians 2:9

O Lord, how great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you.
– This goodness you lavish on all who hope in you.

No eye has seen, no ear heard, nor has the heart of man conceived.
– This goodness you lavish on all who hope in you.

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 Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s 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

O God,
by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters,
that those who believe in Christ may receive
true freedom and an everlasting inheritance.
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.

Sep 09, Morning Prayer for Sunday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time

Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 621
Proper of Seasons: 222
Psalter: Sunday, Week III, 945

Christian Prayer (single volume)
Ordinary: 689
Proper of the Seasons: 628
Psalter: Sunday, Week III, 845

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

On this day, the first of days,
God the Father’s Name we praise;
Who, creation’s Lord and Spring
Did the world from darkness bring.

On this day the eternal Son
Over death His triumph won;
On this day the Spirit came
With His gifts of living flame.

O that fervent love today
May in every heart have sway,
Teaching us to praise aright
God, the Source of life and light.

Father, who didst fashion me
Image of Thyself to be,
Fill me with Thy love divine,
Let my every thought be Thine.

Holy Jesus, may I be
Dead and buried here with Thee;
And, by love inflamed, arise
Unto Thee a sacrifice.

Thou, who dost all gifts impart,
Shine, sweet Spirit, in my heart;
Best of gifts Thyself bestow;
Make me burn Thy love to know.

God, the blessèd Three in One,
Dwell within my heart alone;
Thou dost give Thyself to me;
May I give myself to Thee.

The audio lyrics are not an exact match. We welcome members of our community to contribute the matching lyrics.
“On this day, the first of days” by Keble College Choir; Words: From the Breviary of the Diocese of LeMans, 1748; translated by Henry W. Baker in 1861.; Music by Johann A. Freylinghausen (1704).

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Glorious is the Lord on high, alleluia.

Psalm 93
Splendor of God the Creator
The Lord our mighty God now reigns supreme; let us rejoice and be glad and give him praise (Revelation 19:6-7).

The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed;
the Lord has robed himself with might,
he has girded himself with power.

Ant. Glorious is the Lord on high, alleluia.

The world you made firm, not to be moved;
your throne has stood firm from of old.
From all eternity, O Lord, you are.

Ant. Glorious is the Lord on high, alleluia.

The waters have lifted up, O Lord,
the waters have lifted up their voice,
the waters have lifted up their thunder.

Ant. Glorious is the Lord on high, alleluia.

Greater than the roar of mighty waters
more glorious than the surgings of the sea,
the Lord is glorious on high.

Ant. Glorious is the Lord on high, alleluia.

Truly your decrees are to be trusted.
Holiness is fitting to your house,
O Lord, until the end of time.

Ant. Glorious is the Lord on high, 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

All power and all authority in heaven and on earth have been given to you, Lord Jesus; you rule with decrees that are firm and trustworthy. Be with us always so that we may make disciples whose holiness will be worthy of your house.

Ant. Glorious is the Lord on high, alleluia.

Ant. 2 To you, Lord, be highest glory and praise for ever, alleluia.

Canticle Daniel 3:57-88, 56
Let all creatures praise the Lord
All you servants of the Lord, sing praise to him (Revelation 19:5).

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
You heavens, bless the Lord,
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.

Ant. To you, Lord, be highest glory and praise for ever, alleluia.

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord.
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord.
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Ant. To you, Lord, be highest glory and praise for ever, alleluia.

Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord.
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.
You sons of men, bless the Lord.

Ant. To you, Lord, be highest glory and praise for ever, alleluia.

O Israel, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.

Ant. To you, Lord, be highest glory and praise for ever, alleluia.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and exalt him above all for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all for ever.

Ant. To you, Lord, be highest glory and praise for ever, alleluia.

Ant. 3 Praise the Lord from the heavens, alleluia.

Psalm 148
Praise to the Lord, the Creator
Praise and honor, glory and power for ever to him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb (Revelation 5:13).

Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his host.

Ant. Praise the Lord from the heavens, alleluia.

Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, shining stars.
Praise him, highest heavens
and the waters above the heavens.

Ant. Praise the Lord from the heavens, alleluia.

Let them praise the name of the Lord.
He commanded: they were made.
He fixed them for ever,
gave a law which shall not pass away.

Ant. Praise the Lord from the heavens, alleluia.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
sea creatures and all oceans,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy winds that obey his word;

all mountains and hills,
all fruit trees and cedars,
beasts, wild and tame,
reptiles and birds on the wing;

all earth’s kings and peoples,
earth’s princes and rulers,
young men and maidens,
old men together with children.

Ant. Praise the Lord from the heavens, alleluia.

Let them praise the name of the Lord
for he alone is exalted.
The splendor of his name
reaches beyond heaven and earth.

Ant. Praise the Lord from the heavens, alleluia.

He exalts the strength of his people.
He is the praise of all his saints,
of the sons of Israel,
of the people to whom he comes close.

Ant. Praise the Lord from the heavens, 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, extolled in the heights by angelic powers, you are also praised by all earth’s creatures, each in its own way. With all the splendor of heavenly worship, you still delight in such tokens of love as earth can offer. May heaven and earth together acclaim you as King; may the praise that is sung in heaven resound in the heart of every creature on earth.

Ant. Praise the Lord from the heavens, alleluia.

READING Ezekiel 37:12b-14

Thus says the Lord God: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

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

Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

You are seated at the right hand of the Father,
– have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. He has done all things well: he has made the deaf hear and the mute speak, alleluia.

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. He has done all things well: he has made the deaf hear and the mute speak, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

Father, you sent the Holy Spirit to enlighten the hearts of men; hear us as we pray:
– Enlighten your people, Lord.

Blessed are you, O God, our light,
you have given us a new day resplendent with your glory.
– Enlighten your people, Lord.

You enlightened the world through the resurrection of your Son,
through your Church shed this light on all men.
– Enlighten your people, Lord.

You gave the disciples of your only-begotten Son the Spirit’s gift of understanding,
through the same Spirit keep the Church faithful to you.
– Enlighten your people, Lord.

Light of nations, remember those who remain in darkness,
open their eyes and let them recognize you, the only true God.
– Enlighten 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

O God,
by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters,
that those who believe in Christ may receive
true freedom and an everlasting inheritance.
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.

Sep 09, Midday Prayer for Sunday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time

Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 623
Proper of Seasons: 223 (concluding prayer)
Psalter: Sunday, Week III, 952 (Midday)

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 In my distress I called on the Lord, and he heard my cry, 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).

I

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love endures for ever.

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.”

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.

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.

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. In my distress I called on the Lord, and he heard my cry, alleluia.

Ant. 2 The Lord’s right hand has raised me up, alleluia.

II

The nations all encompassed me;
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me, compassed me about;
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me about like bees;
they blazed like a fire among thorns.
In the Lord’s name I crushed them.

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.

The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me.
The Lord’s 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.

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’s right hand has raised me up, alleluia.

Ant. 3 The Lord our God has let his light shine upon us, alleluia.

III

Open to me the gates of holiness:
I will enter and give thanks.
This is the Lord’s own gate
where the just may enter.
I will thank you for you have answered
and you are my savior.

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.

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.

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.

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 Christ’s resurrection.

Ant. The Lord our God has let his light shine upon us, alleluia.

READING Romans 8:22-23

We know that all creation groans and is in agony even until now. Not only that, but we ourselves, although we have the Spirit as first fruits, groan inwardly while we await the redemption of our bodies.

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.

Bless the Lord, my soul.
– He has rescued your life from destruction.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O God,
by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters,
that those who believe in Christ may receive
true freedom and an everlasting inheritance.
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.

Sep 09, Evening Prayer for Sunday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time

Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 632
Proper of Seasons: 223
Psalter: Sunday, Week III, 956

Christian Prayer:
Ordinary: 694
Proper of Seasons: 629
Psalter: Sunday, Week III, 861

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

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men:”
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

Like flowery fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flowers beneath the mower’s hand
Lie withering ere ‘tis night.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

O God, Our Help in Ages Past by Sheffield Cathedral Choir; Words: Isaac Watts, 1719. Music: William Croft, 1708
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” by Sheffield Cathedral Choir is available from Amazon.com

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand, alleluia.

Psalm 110
The Messiah, king and priest
Christ’s reign will last until all his enemies are made subject to him (1 Corinthians 15:25).

The Lord’s revelation to my Master:
“Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet.”

Ant. The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand, alleluia.

The Lord will wield from Zion
your scepter of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.

Ant. The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand, alleluia.

A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.

Ant. The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand, alleluia.

The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
“You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedek of old.”

Ant. The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand, alleluia.

The Master standing at your right hand
will shatter kings in the day of his great wrath.

Ant. The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand, alleluia.

He shall drink from the stream by the wayside
and therefore he shall lift up his head.

Ant. The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand, 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, we ask you to give us victory and peace. In Jesus Christ, our Lord and King, we are already seated at your right hand. We look forward to praising you in the fellowship of all your saints in our heavenly homeland.

Ant. The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand, alleluia.

Ant. 2 Our compassionate Lord has left us a memorial of his wonderful work, alleluia.

Psalm 111
God’s marvelous works
We are lost in wonder at all that you have done for us, our Lord and mighty God (Revelation 15:3).

I will thank the Lord with all my heart
in the meeting of the just and their assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord;
to be pondered by all who love them.

Ant. Our compassionate Lord has left us a memorial of his wonderful work, alleluia.

Majestic and glorious his work,
his justice stands firm for ever.
He makes us remember his wonders.
The Lord is compassion and love.

Ant. Our compassionate Lord has left us a memorial of his wonderful work, alleluia.

He gives food to those who fear him;
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
He has shown his might to his people
by giving them the lands of the nations.

Ant. Our compassionate Lord has left us a memorial of his wonderful work, alleluia.

His works are justice and truth:
his precepts are all of them sure,
standing firm for ever and ever:
they are made in uprightness and truth.

Ant. Our compassionate Lord has left us a memorial of his wonderful work, alleluia.

He has sent deliverance to his people
and established his covenant for ever.
Holy his name, to be feared.

Ant. Our compassionate Lord has left us a memorial of his wonderful work, alleluia.

To fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom;
all who do so prove themselves wise.
His praise shall last for ever!

Ant. Our compassionate Lord has left us a memorial of his wonderful work, 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

Merciful and gentle Lord, you are the crowning glory of all the saints. Give us, your children, the gift of obedience which is the beginning of wisdom, so that we may do what you command and be filled with your mercy.

Ant. Our compassionate Lord has left us a memorial of his wonderful work, alleluia.

Ant. 3 All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, 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. All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, alleluia.

Alleluia.
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants,
– Alleluia.
all who worship him reverently, great and small.
–Alleluia (alleluia).

Ant. All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, alleluia.

Alleluia.
The Lord our all-powerful God is King;
– Alleluia.
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory.
–Alleluia (alleluia).

Ant. All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, alleluia.

Alleluia.
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun,
– Alleluia.
and his bride is prepared to welcome him.
–Alleluia (alleluia).

Ant. All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, 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. All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, alleluia.

READING 1 Peter 1:3-5

Praised be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
he who in his great mercy
gave us new birth;
a birth unto hope which draws its life
from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;
a birth to an imperishable inheritance,
incapable of fading or defilement,
which is kept in heaven for you
who are guarded with God’s power through faith;
a birth to a salvation which stands ready
to be revealed in the last days.
There is cause for rejoicing here. You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears.

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

The whole creation proclaims the greatness of your glory.
–The whole creation proclaims the greatness of your glory.

Eternal ages praise
–the greatness of your glory.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
–The whole creation proclaims the greatness of your glory.

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. Whoever refuses to take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple, says the Lord.

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. Whoever refuses to take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple, says the Lord.

INTERCESSIONS

The world was created by the Word of God, re-created by his redemption, and it is continually renewed by his love. Rejoicing in him we call out:
– Renew the wonders of your love, Lord.

We give thanks to God whose power is revealed in nature,
and whose providence is revealed in history.
– Renew the wonders of your love, Lord.

Through your Son, the herald of reconciliation, the victor of the cross,
free us from empty fear and hopelessness.
– Renew the wonders of your love, Lord.

May all those who love and pursue justice,
work together without deceit to build a world of true peace.
– Renew the wonders of your love, Lord.

Be with the oppressed, free the captives, console the sorrowing, feed the hungry, strengthen the weak,
in all people reveal the victory of your cross.
–Renew the wonders of your love, Lord.

After your Son’s death and burial you raised him up again in glory,
grant that the faithful departed may live with him.
– Renew the wonders of your love, 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

O God,
by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters,
that those who believe in Christ may receive
true freedom and an everlasting inheritance.
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.

Sep 09, Night Prayer for Sunday of the 23rd 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 God’s 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 Father’s 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 God’s wings.

Psalm 91
Safe in God’s 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 God’s 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

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 7
31.	And again going out of the coasts of Tyre, he came by Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.	Et iterum exiens de finibus Tyri, venit per Sidonem ad mare Galilææ inter medios fines Decapoleos.	και παλιν εξελθων εκ των οριων τυρου και σιδωνος ηλθεν προς την θαλασσαν της γαλιλαιας ανα μεσον των οριων δεκαπολεως
32.	And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him.	Et adducunt ei surdum, et mutum, et deprecabantur eum, ut imponat illi manum.	και φερουσιν αυτω κωφον μογγιλαλον και παρακαλουσιν αυτον ινα επιθη αυτω την χειρα
33.	And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue:	Et apprehendens eum de turba seorsum, misit digitos suos in auriculas ejus : et exspuens, tetigit linguam ejus :	και απολαβομενος αυτον απο του οχλου κατ ιδιαν εβαλεν τους δακτυλους αυτου εις τα ωτα αυτου και πτυσας ηψατο της γλωσσης αυτου
34.	And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened.	et suscipiens in cælum, ingemuit, et ait illi : Ephphetha, quod est, Adaperire.	και αναβλεψας εις τον ουρανον εστεναξεν και λεγει αυτω εφφαθα ο εστιν διανοιχθητι
35.	And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right.	Et statim apertæ sunt aures ejus, et solutum est vinculum linguæ ejus, et loquebatur recte.	και ευθεως διηνοιχθησαν αυτου αι ακοαι και ελυθη ο δεσμος της γλωσσης αυτου και ελαλει ορθως
36.	And he charged them that they should tell no man. But the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal did they publish it.	Et præcepit illis ne cui dicerent. Quanto autem eis præcipiebat, tanto magis plus prædicabant :	και διεστειλατο αυτοις ινα μηδενι ειπωσιν οσον δε αυτος αυτοις διεστελλετο μαλλον περισσοτερον εκηρυσσον
37.	And so much the more did they wonder, saying: He hath done all things well; he hath made both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.	et eo amplius admirabantur, dicentes : Bene omnia fecit : et surdos fecit audire, et mutos loqui.	και υπερπερισσως εξεπλησσοντο λεγοντες καλως παντα πεποιηκεν και τους κωφους ποιει ακουειν και τους αλαλους λαλειν

31. And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
32. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
33. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
34. And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
35. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plain.
36. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
37. And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He has done all things well: he makes both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

THEOPHYL. The Lord did, not wish to stay in the parts of the Gentiles, lest He should give the Jews occasion to say, that they esteemed Him a transgressor of the law, because He held communion with the Gentiles, and therefore He immediately returns; wherefore it is said, And again departing from the coasts of Tyre, he came through Sidon, to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis.

BEDE; Decapolis is a region of ten cities, across the Jordan, to the east, over against Galilee . When therefore it is said that the Lord came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis, it does not mean that He entered the confines of Decapolis themselves; for He is not said to have crossed the sea, but rather to have come to the borders of the sea, and to have reached quite up to the place, which was opposite to the midst of the coasts of Decapolis, which were situated at a distance across the sea.

It goes on, And they bring him one that was deaf and dumb, and they besought him to lay hands upon him.

THEOPHYL. Which is rightly placed after the deliverance of one possessed with a devil, for such an instance of suffering came from the devil. There follows, And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears.

PSEUD-CHRYS. He takes the deaf and dumb man who was brought to Him apart from the crowd, that He might not do His divine miracles openly; teaching us to cast away vain glory and swelling of heart, for no one can work miracles as he can, who loves humility and is lowly in his conduct. But He puts His fingers into his ears, when He might have cured him with a word, to show that His body, being united to Deity, was consecrated by Divine virtue, with all that He did. For since on account of the transgression of Adam, human nature had incurred much suffering and hurt in its members and senses, Christ coming into the world showed the perfection of human nature in Himself, and on this account opened ears with His fingers, and gave the power of speech by His spittle. Wherefore it goes on, And spit, and touched his tongue.

THEOPHYL. That He might show that all the members of His sacred body are divine and holy, even the spittle which loosed the string of the tongue. For the spittle is only the superfluous moisture of the body, but in the Lord all things are divine. It goes on, And looking up to haven, he groaned, and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

BEDE; He looked up to heaven, that He might teach us that thence is to be procured speech for the dumb, hearing for the deaf, health for all who are sick. And He sighed, not that it was necessary for Him to beg any thing from His Father with groaning, for He, together with the Father, gives all things to them who ask, but that He might give us an example of sighing, when for our own errors and those of our neighbors, we invoke the guardianship of the Divine mercy.

PSEUD-CHRYS. He at the same time also groaned, as taking our cause upon Himself, and pitying human nature, seeing the misery into which it had fallen.

BEDE; But that which He says, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened, belongs properly to the ears, for the ears are to be opened for hearing, but the tongue to be loosed from the bonds of its impediment, that it may be able to speak.

Wherefore it goes on, And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plain. Where each nature of one and the same Christ is manifestly distinct, looking up indeed, into Heaven as man, praying unto God, He groaned, but presently with one word, as being strong in the Divine Majesty, He healed.

It goes on, And be charged them that they should tell to man.

PSEUD-CHRYS. By which He has taught us not to boast in our powers, but in the cross and humiliation. He also bade them conceal the miracle, lest He should excite the Jews by envy to kill Him before the time.

PSEUDO-JEROME; A city, however, placed on a hill cannot be hid, and lowliness always comes before glory . Wherefore it goes on, But the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it.

THEOPHYL. By this we are taught , when we confer benefits on any, by no means to seek for applause and praise; but when we have received benefits, to proclaim and praise our benefactors, even though they be unwilling.

AUG. If however He, as one Who knew the present and the future wills of men, knew that they would proclaim Him the more in proportion as He forbade them, why did He give them this command? If it were not that He wished to prove to men who are idle, how much more joyfully, with how such greater obedience, they whom He commands to proclaim Him should preach, when they who were forbidden could not hold their peace.

GLOSS. From the preaching however of those who were healed by Christ, the wonder of the multitude, and their praise of the benefits of Christ, increased. Wherefore it goes on, And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He has done all things well; he makes the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Mystically, Tyre is interpreted narrowness, and signifies Judea, to which the Lord said, "For the bed is grown too narrow," and from which he turns himself to the Gentiles. Sidon means' hunting,' for our race is like an untamed beast, and 'sea,' which means a wavering inconstancy. Again, the Savior comes to save the Gentiles in the midst of the coasts of Decapolis, which may be interpreted, as the commands of the Decalogue. Further, the human race throughout its many members is reckoned as one man, eaten up by varying pestilence, in the first created man; it is blinded, that is, its eye is evil; it becomes deaf, when it listens to, and dumb when it speaks, evil. And they prayed Him to lay His hand upon him, because many just men, and patriarchs, wished and longed for the time when the Lord should come in the flesh.

BEDE; Or he is deaf and dumb who neither has ears to hear the words of God, nor opens his mouth to speak them, and such must be presented to the Lord for healing, by men who have already learned to hear and speak the divine oracles.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Further, he who obtain healing is always drawn aside from turbulent thoughts, disorderly actions, and incoherent speeches. And the fingers which are put into the ears are the words and the gifts of the Holy Ghost, whom it is said, This is the finger of God. The spittle is heavenly wisdom, which loosens the sealed lips of the human race, so that it can say, I believe in God, the Father Almighty and the rest of the Creed. And looking up to heaven, he groaned, that is, He taught us to groan, and to raise up the treasures of our hearts to the heavens; because by the groaning of hearty compunction, the silly joy of the flesh is purged away. But the ears are opened to hymns, and songs, and psalms; and He looses the tongue, that it may pour forth the good word, which neither threats nor stripes can restrain.

Catena Aurea Mark 7

Saint Peter Claver, Priest and Religious

Saint Peter Claver,
Priest and Religious
Memorial
September 9th

unknown artist

History:
The son of a Catalonian farmer, was born at Verdu, in 1581. He obtained his first degrees at the University of Barcelona. At the age of twenty he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Tarragona. While he was studying philosophy at Majorca in 1605, Alphonsus Rodriguez, the saintly door-keeper of the college, learned from God the future mission of his young associate, and thenceforth never ceased exhorting him to set out to evangelize the Spanish possessions in America. Peter obeyed, and in 1610 landed at Cartagena, where for forty-four years he was the Apostle of the slaves. Early in the seventeenth century the masters of Central and South America afforded the spectacle of one of those social crimes which are entered upon so lightly. They needed laborers to cultivate the soil which they had conquered and to exploit the gold mines. The natives being physically incapable of enduring the labors of the mines, it was determined to replace them with slaves brought from Africa. The coasts of Guinea, the Congo, and Angola became the market for slave dealers, to whom native petty kings sold their subjects and their prisoners. By its position in the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena became the chief slave-mart of the New World. A thousand slaves landed there each month. They were bought for two, and sold for 200 écus. Though half the cargo might die, the trade remained profitable. Neither the repeated censures of the pope, nor those of Catholic moralists could prevail against this cupidity. The missionaries could not suppress slavery, but only alleviate it, and no one worked more heroically than Peter Claver.
During his life he baptized and instructed in the Faith more than 300,000 slaves. He died September 8, 1654. He was beatified July 16, 1850, Pius IX, and canonized January 15, 1888, by Leo XIII. His feast is celebrated on the ninth of September. On July 7, 1896, he was proclaimed the special patron of all the Catholic missions especially missions to Blacks. Alphonsus Rodriguez was canonized on the same day as Peter Claver.
(Principal source - Catholic Encyclopedia - 1913 edition )
Collect:
O God, who made Saint Peter Claver a slave of slaves
and strenghtened him with wonderful charity and patience
as he came to their help,
grant, through his intercession,
that, seeking the things of Jesus Christ,
we may love our neighbor in deeds and in truth.
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.
[Readings for the day are from the Common of Pastors (missionaries)]

LITANY IN HONOR OF SAINT PETER CLAVER.
Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us!
Lord, have mercy on us
Christ hear us
Christ graciously hear us!
God, the Father of heaven Have mercy on us!
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us!
God, the Holy Spirit Have mercy on us!
Holy Trinity, One God Have mercy on us!
Holy Mary, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Peter Claver, pray for us.
Peter Claver, worthy son of St. Ignatius, pray for us.
Peter Claver, priest of God and servant to the Church, pray for us.
Peter Claver, generous imitator of St. Francis Xavier, pray for us.
Peter Claver, brilliant light of the New Word, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who exchanged the riches of this world for evangelical poverty, pray for us.
Peter Claver, apostle to blacks brought to the New World, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who by vow made thyself slave of the slaves, pray for us.
Peter Claver, refuge of the miserable, pray for us.
Peter Claver, great wonder worker, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who cured the sick and consoled the afflicted, pray for us.
Peter Claver, Liberator of slaves unto the freedom of the children of God, pray for us. Peter Claver, model of evangelical industry, pray for us.
Peter Claver, tender father of the poor and orphans, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who made thyself all things to all in order to gain them for Christ, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who in all trials of this life didst put thy trust in God, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who wished to be accounted as nothing and forgotten by men, pray for us. Peter Claver, who sought no other wisdom but the folly of the Cross, pray for us.
Peter Claver, shining example of humility and self renunciation, pray for us.
Peter Claver, perfect example of obedience and subjection, pray for us.
Peter Claver, intrepid apostle, powerful in word and deed, pray for us.
Peter Claver, martyr for Christ for the salvation of souls, pray for us.
Peter Claver, zealous lover of the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, pray for us. Peter Claver, imitator of the suffering Savior, pray for us.
Peter Claver, powerful protector of all who invoke thee, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
Spare us O Lord!
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
Graciously hear us O Lord!
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
Have mercy on us!
Christ, hear us
Christ, graciously hear us
Lord, have mercy on us
Lord, hear our prayer.
O God, who to bring the poor to the knowledge of Thy most Holy Name, you gave to thy priest, St. Peter Claver, an admirable spirit of abnegation and heroic charity.   Grant us through his intercession, not to seek our own satisfaction but the glory of Thy Divine son, that we may be able to love our neighbor in sincerity and truth, through Christ our Lord. Amen!
--
Miracle of St. Peter Claver, Saint Louis, MO Connection
Source - http://www.shrineofstjoseph.org/miracle.html
Ignatius Strecker came to America from Germany in 1853. He, his wife, and daughter settled in St. Joseph’s Parish in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a temperate, conscientious, religious man. Ignatius was devoted to his family, which eventually numbered nine children. He was also a hard worker in the soap factory where he found employment.
In this factory, one day towards the end of 1861, Mr. Strecker accidentally struck his chest sharply against a pointed piece of iron. His breastbone was injured, though no outward wound was at first visible. Still there was considerable pain, a burning sensation, and some swelling. This busy workman did not pay too much attention to his injury, until after two months. The tumor-like inflammation began to grow alarmingly and there was no way to drain off the accumulating malignant matter. Doctor Joseph Heitzig, the family physician, was called in.
Certain external remedies were tried and failed to cure him. Doctor Heitzig opened up the wound with an instrument, only to find the breastbone and some ribs on the left side in a state of incipient decomposition. A series of injections failed to clear this up, as did other remedies. The patient only grew worse. Moreover, violent coughing accompanied by copious sputum pointed to tuberculosis. Fever set in, respiration became difficult, and food could not be taken. Mr. Strecker was so weakened and fatigued that he had to give up his employment and spend weeks at a time as an invalid in bed.
After nine months of steady treatment without success, Doctor Heitzig asked the family to call in Doctor William Schoenemann, considered one of the best specialists in America. After a thorough examination of some futile attempts at healing, the doctor pronounced Mr. Strecker incurable and gave him two weeks to live. Mr. Strecker did not die, but lingered on for many months. He finally turned from human remedies to place himself, with resignation, in the hands of Divine Providence. He began to prepare for death.
At this critical moment, the famous parish missionary, Father Francis Xavier Weninger, S. J. arrived at St. Joseph’s to preach a mission. After the mission, Mrs. Strecker happened to be present in the church when Father Weninger was preaching a sermon on Blessed Peter Claver. Father Weninger pointed out Peter Claver’s great intercessory power with God. After the sermon, he blessed the people with a relic of Peter Claver.
Mrs. Strecker was a woman of deep faith. She went home and begged her husband to ask Peter Claver to cure his fatal maladies. Although Mr. Strecker had never heard of Peter Claver before this, he began to invoke him and ask for his help. The next day, with the last ounce of his strength, he literally dragged himself to St. Joseph’s Church and came in just as Father Weninger was blessing the sick with the relic. With sincere faith and strong confidence he placed himself in the line of the sick. Father Weninger blessed him and allowed him to kiss the relic.
What occurred now, Ignatius always found hard to explain. He said he felt a sudden increase in courage, a strengthening of faith, and an utter assurance that he would recover his health through the intercession of Peter Claver. The relic had no sooner been applied than the external suppurating sore began to disappear. The breastbone and ribs healed rapidly and the tuberculosis of the lungs vanished – all within a week or two. In fact, the day after the blessing with the relic, Mr. Strecker was back on the job in the factory. Despite great fatigue, he could already do a reasonable day’s work.
Dr. Schoenemann was astonished. Although not a Catholic, He declared that he recognized in the cure, a miracle of God’s omnipotence. The cure was complete. There was never any relapse. Years later, Mr. Strecker died on June 4, 1880 in St. Nicholas parish, adjoining St. Joseph’s. The City Board of Health issued a certificate that he died of typhoid fever and not as a consequence of his previous illnesses. Ignatius was buried in old SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

Christ healing a deaf-mute

The Convent of Saint John
ca. 800
Müstair village, Switzerland

This saint's day is superseded by the Sunday liturgy.

St. Peter Claver (A Man Who Knew How To Love)
A Saint In The Slave Trade[Saint Peter Claver]

Information: St. Peter Claver

Feast Day:	September 7
Born:	June 26, 1580, Verdu, Catalonia, Kingdom of Spain
Died:	September 8, 1654, Cartagena, Colombia
Canonized:	January 15, 1888, Rome by Pope Leo XIII
Major Shrine:	Church of Saint Peter Claver
Patron of:	Slaves, Colombia, Race relations, and African Americans

Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Peter Claver

Feast Day: September 9
Born: 1580 :: Died: 1654

Peter Claver was born at Verdu, Catalonia in Spain and was the son of a farmer. At a very young age he decided he wanted to join the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and be a priest.

At the age of 20, while he was still studying at the University of Barcelona to become a Jesuit, he felt a great desire to go to South America as a missionary. He was sent to the seaport of Cartagena where great shiploads of African slaves were brought to be sold.

At the sight of those poor people all crowded together, sick and suffering, Peter felt great pity. He made up his mind to help them and bring them to Jesus.

As soon as a shipload arrived, he would go among the hundreds of sick slaves and gave them food and medicine. He baptized the dying and the little babies. He nursed the ill. It was hard work in terrible heat.

One man who went once with St. Peter to help these people found he could not face the heart-breaking sight again. Yet Peter did it for forty years. He baptized about three hundred thousand people. He was there when the ships came in to care for and love those who were treated so cruelly by society.

Although the slave owners tried to stop Father Claver, he taught the faith to the slaves anyway. It was slow, work that could often be disappointing. Many people found fault with him, saying it was all a waste of time.

They thought the slaves would never keep the faith. But St. Peter was patient and he trusted that God would bless his people. The priest never stopped asking the slave owners to take care of the souls of their slaves and to be better Christians themselves.

During the last four years of his life, Father Claver was so sick that he had to stay in his room; he could not even celebrate Mass. Most people forgot about him, but he never complained.

Then suddenly when he died on September 8, 1654, it was like the whole city woke up. They realized that they had lost a saint. From then on he was never forgotten again and was called the Slave of the Blacks or the Slave of Slaves.

Catholic

Almanac:

Sunday, September 9
Liturgical Color: Green
Today is the Memorial of St. Peter Claver, priest. He dedicated his life to serving African slaves brought in bondage to the Americas. He gained their confidence and baptized over 300,000 slaves before his death in 1654.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: September 09, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption, look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters, that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance. 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.

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Ordinary Time: September 9th

Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Old Calendar: Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him. And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Eph'phatha," that is, "Be opened." And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly (Mark 7:32-35).

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 35:4-7 and contains the beautiful verse, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unsealed, then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy; for water gushes in the desert, streams in the wasteland, the scorched earth becomes a lake, the parched land springs of water.

The second reading is from the Letter of St. James 2:1-5. "It was those who are poor according to the world that God chose, to be rich in faith and to be the heirs to the kingdom which he promised to those who love him." The subject is that we should not grade people according to external appearance, for a person's quality is something that derives from his union with God—the more humble and understanding he is, the more honor he deserves.

The Gospel is from St. Mark 7:31-37. During his discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob, our Lord told her that "salvation was to come from the Jews" (Jn. 4 : 22). This was in accordance with God's plan when he took Abraham from his pagan family and surroundings, and elected him to be the father of a Chosen People from whom God's blessing would come for all nations (Gn. 12: 1-4). This was the historic beginning of "salvation" for men. It was, as yet, a vague generic promise but down through the following eighteen-century history of the Chosen People (Abraham's descendants) this blessing eventually became crystallized in the Messiah — the anointed and holy one of God. It was He who would introduce the messianic age of which the prophets so often had spoken, and it was in Him that all peoples, Jews and Gentiles, would find their true "blessing."

It was right and fitting, therefore, that Christ should proclaim his kingdom and his Gospel among the Jews and in their promised land. Those who would accept him and his message would later spread the good news among the Gentile nations. This is what happened. His Apostles, including St. Paul, and the faithful disciples having done their best for their fellow-Jews, left Palestine and carried the great news of the incarnation — a blessing greater than any man could have imagined — to the pagan peoples of the then-known world. It was surely from the Jews that salvation came to us Gentiles.

While Christ reserved his preaching to the Jews according to God's plan, he visited some of the Gentile lands bordering on Palestine — Tyre, Sidon, Phoenicia, the Decapolis — and worked some miracles there. However, he did not preach to them. This exception — going into pagan lands — was evidently important to St. Mark, for he goes into details in describing the faith of the people of the place who asked for a miracle, and their enthusiastic reaction to Christ's power when he did what they requested. Mark himself knew very well that Christ was fulfilling the divine plan when he restricted his preaching to the Jews, and that he had given a command to his Apostles to bring his Gospel to all nations (Mk. 16: 16). Possibly, however, some of his Gentile converts were questioning why Christ had not come to the Gentiles but spent all his public life in Palestine. In this short episode, Mark shows that Christ was interested indeed in Gentiles and showed his compassion for them by working miracles for them.

We have much for which to thank God the Father, Christ and the good Jews who preached the Gospel to our ancestors. We should not think of questioning why Jesus spent his short public life trying to convert his fellow-Jews. God thought of us from all eternity — the incarnation was his way of giving a truly satisfying meaning to the life of man — the masterpiece and master of all his creation. It has given us a new status in life, a new purpose and an end worth every effort we can muster to gain. Life, with its trials and troubles and its brevity, has a meaning, a profound meaning, for Christians — it is a short period of preparation for the future which awaits us after death if we use it properly.

Christ who carried out his Father's will even unto the death on the cross, deserves our unending gratitude. Eternity will not be long enough for us to thank and praise him. If ever we are tempted to be in any way anti-semitic let us first remember those of God's Chosen People who preserved the knowledge of God and trust in his promises until the time of their fulfillment had come. Secondly, we must never forget the Apostles and disciples of Christ who devoted and gave their lives in order to bring the Christian faith to us. The best way to show appreciation of a gift is to use it fully and gratefully. Let us make full use of the divine gift of salvation by living according to its teaching all the days of our lives.

Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

Things to Do: Spend time meditating on today's readings; Take this Bible Study Course from St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 7:31-37

“Be opened!” (Mark 7:34)

Scripture tells us that Jesus performed countless healings during his public ministry. So we may wonder why some healing stories are preserved in the Bible, while others aren’t. Think, for example, about all the blind people Jesus must have healed—what was so special about Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)?

Today’s Gospel reading is different, however. This is one of those rare stories where Jesus did something other than just touch someone and speak a word of command in order to heal. This time, he took the man away from the crowds, placed his fingers in the man’s ears, spat on his tongue, and groaned from deep within his heart.

Why would Jesus do all of this? Is it possible that in addition to healing the man’s ears he was also performing an inner healing? Maybe when he groaned, “Ephphatha,” which is Aramaic for, “Be opened,” he was talking about the man’s heart. Maybe he removed him from the crowd so that there would be no distraction. Maybe he was healing the man’s spiritual deafness as well as his physical deafness.

This story tells us that Jesus wants to open our ears and our hearts. So give him the chance to do this for you! Let him take you away from the crowd of everyday life. Put aside the demands of your life for just a few minutes each day so that you can hear him speak words of love and promise to you. Let his voice melt any fears, anxieties, or doubts in your heart.

Right now, this very moment, imagine yourself alone with the Lord in a quiet place. Look at the expression on his face, the love in his eyes. He wants to say, “Be opened” to the deepest part of your being. So come to him in the silence that comes from trust and hope. Know that he is with you. Let him speak his words of life to you.

“Lord, silence the noise of the world so that I can hear you. Jesus, I need you to open my heart today.”

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

1 In the first reading, Isaiah offers prophetic words of encouragement to the people of Israel. In what ways have you received encouragement from God in a time of trial as you prayed or read Scripture.

2. The Responsorial Psalm speaks of God’s great love and care for the needy, in particular, those who are oppressed, hungry, captive, blind, bowed down, fatherless, and widows. In what ways has Jesus Christ fulfilled this Psalm (and the first reading as well)? What are some things you can do to better reflect God’s love and care to the needy.

3. In the second reading, we are told to show no partiality, especially between the rich and the poor. Why do you think this is important to God? Why should it be important to us as Christians?

4. In the Gospel, Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment. In what ways are healings of Jesus the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies about the Messiah and signs of his divine nature? (Hint: see 2. above.) Do you believe that our prayers can be instruments of healing, and a reflection of Jesus’ compassion, in the lives of the sick? Share a time when your prayers for healing were answered. What keeps you from praying more often for others for healing?

5. Reflecting on the healing of the deaf and mute in the Gospel reading, the meditation also reminds us that, “This story tells us that Jesus wants to open our ears and our hearts. So give him the chance to do this for you!” Jesus has promised that whoever asks with faith will receive (Mark 11:24). At Mass, and in your times of prayer, are you willing to ask Jesus to open your ears to hear him; to open your eyes to see him; to clear your speech of all impediments to declaring his goodness; and to restore you—spirit, mind, and body—to the life he has always intended for you? If not, why not?

6. Take some time now to pray and ask Jesus for eyes to see him, ears to hear him, and a heart and mind open to all he desires to do in and through your life. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.

Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalm 146:7-10; James 2:1-5

A Christian Pilgrim

TO HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY

(A biblical refection on THE 23^rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – September 9, 2012)

Gospel Reading: Mark 7:31-37

First Reading: Is 35:4-7; Psalms: Ps 146:7-10; Second Reading: Jas 2:1-5

The Scripture Text

Then He returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to Him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought Him to lay His hand upon Him. And taking him aside from the multitude privately, He put His fingers into his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And He charged them to tell no one; but the more He charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well; He even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.” (Mk 7:31-37 RSV)

We all know that God created us in His image and likeness – perfect in health and in the ability to know and love Him. But when we fell into sin, we became subject to sickness and death. We lost the fullness of the life that God intended for us. Who among us doesn’t feel the imperfections of our hearts, or of life in this world?

The promise of the Gospel is that God longs to restore us. St. Irenaeus once said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” God wants His glory to be visible in men and women who are restored to Him, fully alive in His Spirit.

The Gospel story of Jesus’ healing of a deaf man with a speech impediment demonstrates how deeply He cares, even for our physical ailments. Yet there is something more to this story. Jesus’ healing of the man’s physical ailments was a sign of the spiritual healing He wants to give each of us. If Jesus wants deaf ears to hear, how much more does He want deafened hearts to hear His voice!

Don’t be content with a partial hearing of God’s voice! Don’t settle for only a partial release from sin. Jesus came to give us life to the full, not just enough to get by: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10 RSV). This might seem too big a promise to grasp entirely, but it is God’s promise, and He is fully capable of doing what He promises (see Rom 4:20-21).

Today, let us ask the Lord to open our ears to hear Him. We ask Him to open our eyes to see Him; to clear our speech of all impediments to declaring His goodness. We ask Him to restore us – spirit, mind, and body – to the life He has always intended for each and every one of us. He wants to do it. He has promised that whoever asks with faith will receive (Mk 11:24). He will do what He wants and what He promises!

Short Prayer: Lord Jesus, You do all things well. Thank You for restoring my relationship with God the Father and for pouring out Your Holy Spirit. Fill me today with Your Holy Spirit, so that I might experience life to the full in Your presence. Amen.

A Christian Pilgrim

THE TOUCH OF HIS HAND

(A biblical refection on THE 23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – 9 September, 2012)

First Reading: Is 35:4-7; Psalms: Ps 146:7-10; Second Reading: Jas 2:1-5; Gospel Reading: Mk 7:31-37

There is a poem by Myra Brooks Welch called “The Touch of the Master’s Hand.” In this poem she tells the story of an old dusty violin being auctioned. The violin is about to be sold for a mere $3 when a grey-haired man steps forward, picks it up, dusts it off and begins to play.

Than man plays such sweet music on the violin that when he finishes, the bidding jumps into the thousand of dollars. What changed its value? What transformed the old dusty violin into a precious instrument? The touch of the Master’s hand.

This is one of the themes of today’s readings.

In the first reading from Isaiah, the touch of the Master’s hand transforms the land and the lives of the Jews in exile. The burning sands of the desert become springs of water. The frightened become strong, the blind see, the deaf hear, the dumb sing and the lame leap.

In the Gospel, the touch of the Master’s hand is none other than the touch of Jesus Himself. A deaf and dumb man is brought to Him. Jesus puts His finger into the man’s ears and touches His tongue with spittle. Immediately the man is able hear and to speak.

This same touch of our divine Master’s hand continues to transform our lives today. Our brothers and sisters are the people who bring us into the presence of Christ so that His power can operate on us. The sacraments are extensions of Christ’s hands reaching out to touch and heal us. Scripture is the extension of His words of encouragement to us.

Consider some of the ways Christ heal our infirmities. How maqny time do we close our eyes in blindness to the hunger of people in Africa, to the plight of earthquake victims in Mexico, or the injustice among the migrant farm workers in the United States?

How many times do we turn a deaf ear to the cries of frustration from people victimized by inflation, to the cries of loneliness from teenagers hooked on drugs, or to the cries of hurt from people we have injured?

How many times do we keep our tongue silent when we should speak boldly in defense of the unborn and the handicapped, of honesty in government and business, and of chastity in entertainment?

But by the touch of His hand Jesus opens our eyes, unstops our ears and loosens our tongues. He changes our hearts so that we can be more sensitive to the needs of others.

Under His transforming power we become His instruments to accomplish the marvellous works described in today’s Psalm 146: to secure justice for the oppressed, give food to the hungry and set captives free.

Christ not only touches us with His hands but also uses our hands to touch others: to sustain the fatherless and the widow, protect the stranger and raise up those that are bowed down.

During this Eucharist, thank the Lord for making the prophetic vision of Isaiah a reality for us. Praise Him for translating these poetic verses of Myra Brook Welch into a personal experience for us:

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap, to a thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

+++++++++

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can understand

The worth of a soul, and the change that’s wrought

By the Touch of the Master’s Hand.

St. Peter Claver

Daily Readings for: September 09, 2012(Readings on USCCB website)

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Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Meditation: Mark 7:31-37

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

Daily Readings for: September 09, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)