Friday November 8, 2024
Weekday (31)
Office: Psalter Week 3
Mass and Preface of day
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mystery
Death Anniversary: (KANU) Most Revd Patrick Sheehan, OSA., 8 November 2012
FIRST READING
I saw water running from the temple, and all those to whom the water came were saved” (Ant. Vidi aquam).
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 47: 1-2.8-9.120
In those days: The angel brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple towards the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the right side of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me round on the outside to the outer gate, that faces towards the east; and the water was coming out on the right side. And he said to me, “This water flows towards the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the stagnant waters of the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature which swarms will live, and there will be very many fish; for this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. “And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 46:2-3.5-6.8-9 (R.5)
R/. The waters of a river give joy to God’s city,
the holy place, the dwelling of the Most High.
God is for us a refuge and strength,
An ever-present help in time of distress:
So we shall not fear though the earth should rock,
though the mountains quake to the heart of the sea. R/.
The waters of a river give joy to God’s city,
The holy place, the dwelling of the Most High.
God is within, it cannot be shaken;
God will help it at the dawning of the day. R/.
R/. The waters of a river give joy to God’s city,
the holy place, the dwelling of the Most High.
The Lord of hosts is with us:
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come and behold the works of the Lord,
The awesome deeds he has done on the earth. R/.
SECOND READING
You are God’s temple.
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 3:9c-11.16-17)
Brethren: You are God’s building. According to the commission of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA 2 Chronicles 7:16
Alleluia. I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, that my name may be there for ever. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
He spoke of the temple of his body.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 2:13-22)
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign have you to show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
As we celebrate the feast of the dedication of the cathedral of the Church of Rome and the mother of all churches, let us ask the Lord to preserve the Holy Father from all harm and to grant growth to the church all over the world.
FOR THE HOLY FATHER, POPE N…: that the Lord may keep him safe and endow him with the wisdom and good health he needs to be able to govern the people of God placed in his care. We pray O Lord.
FOR THOSE IN PUBLIC OFFICE: that God may direct every action of theirs and help them to work towards building a world that is peaceful and in which the freedom of worship is guaranteed. We pray O Lord.
FOR UNITY AMONG MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH: that Christ may strengthen the communion that exists between the Pope and the bishops, and keep all members of the church faithful to the teaching of the church. We pray O Lord.
FOR ALL OF US HERE PRESENT: that, remembering that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, we may seek to glorify God by living in purity and avoiding those acts that gratify the desires of the flesh. We pray O Lord.
For other intentions: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. We pray O Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
Lord God, you called us from our various families and united us in your Son through baptism. Grant that we may glorify you with our lives and, after our earthly pilgrimage, come to share in the inheritance of eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
When Jesus spoke about destroying the temple of his body, the Jews misunderstood it to be the physical temple. The church celebrates the dedication of St John Lateran Basilica because it was the first of all the churches in the world to be built. The church operated for about 300 years without any church building. Fanta, the wife of Emperor Constantine, gave her Lateran palace to Pope St Miltiades. Pope St Sylvester consecrated it on 9 November 324 AD. This was the first public consecration of a church. Afterwards, it became the residence of the popes and venue of many ecumenical councils. In the gospel of today, we have the incident of Jesus cleansing the Temple of Jerusalem. We should keep our body, holy, pure and cleansed of all sin because our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The Lateran Basilica, built by the Emperor Constantine on the Lateran Hill around the year 320, is the cathedral of the Pope who is the Bishop of Rome. This Basilica, dedicated to the Saviour, to Saint John the Baptist and to Saint John the Evangelist, is considered the Mother of all the Churches. The feast of its dedication reminds us of our calling to live in deep communion with the successor of Peter, the rock on which Jesus built his Church, and the one who confirms us in our faith.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
Prayer of St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Stay with me, Lord)
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have you present so that I do not forget you, you know how easily I abandon you.
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak, and I need you strength, that I may not fall so often, stay with me, Lord, for you are my life, and without you, I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for you are my light, and without you, I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, to show me your will.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love you very much, and always be in your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if you wish me to be faithful to you.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for you, a nest of love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes; death, judgment, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need you. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers. I need you. Let me recognize you as your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to you, if not by communion, at least by grace and love.
Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it, but the gift of your presence, oh yes, I ask this of you!
Stay with me, Lord, for it is you alone I look for, your love, your Grace, your Will, your Heart, your Spirit, because I love you and ask no other reward but to lobe you more and more. With a firm love, I will love you with all my heart while on earth and continue to love you perfectly during all eternity. Amen
