Ferial - Day Six (Fri) within Week 2 after the Octave of Easter – IV Class, White
Introit
Ps 32:5-6. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, alleluia: by the word of the Lord were the heavens made, alleluia, alleluia. Ps 32:1 Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: praise is comely for the upright. Glory be… The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, alleluia: by the word of the Lord were the heavens made, alleluia, alleluia.
The alleluias of the Easter season are constant reminders to us of the joy of Paschaltide. The invitation to rejoice comes with the encouragement that it is fitting and beautiful for us to praise our Lord. This is especially true as Winter gives way to Spring and we begin to see again the beauty and goodness of the earth He created and grey clouds clear away to show us the heavens which He spoke into being through His Word.
Collect
O God, who, by the humility of Thy Son, didst lift up a fallen world, grant unending happiness to Thy faithful: that those whom Thou hast snatched from the perils of endless death, Thou mayest cause to rejoice in everlasting days
Here we are led to pray for the constant and perpetual joy that belongs to the children of God, and we are to pray in this way because Jesus Christ has raised a fallen world through His glorious resurrection. Why did God become Man? to snatch us from the perils of endless death. The cold grave and bitter death is no longer our destiny, but rather everlasting life and endless praise.
Lesson
Lesson from the first letter of St Peter the Apostle
1 Pet 2:21-25
Dearly beloved, Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Who when He was reviled, did not revile: when He suffered, He threatened not, but delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly: who His own self bore our sins in His body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice; by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray: but you are now converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
R. Thanks be to God.
Christ is more than just our great Exemplar, but He is certainly that, and so we should imitate Him in the way we conduct ourselves. We should, like Him, be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. He asks no less of us than this. We are to set a guard upon our lips, tame our tongues and speak no guile, like Nathanael in order to be good, like our Master is good.
It may be that we will be called upon to suffer, that we will be mocked and ridiculed for clinging to Him in faith. So be it. It takes manful courage to endure hardship and the unjust judgments of those who despise us because of Him. It is not weakness to turn the other cheek when called upon to do so... rather, should God will it, it is noble and right to bear the burdens and carry the sorrows of others and to be crushed under that weight. To stand, as He did, in the breach; in defense of those who cannot defend themselves. This is what it is, in part, to follow His example. That is what it is to be a Shepherd entrusted with the care of souls, of sheep and of lambs.
Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia Luke 24:35. The disciples knew the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread. Alleluia John 10:14. I am the good Shepherd: and I know My sheep, and Mine know Me. Alleluia.
Praise the Lord! He makes Himself known to us, too, in the breaking of bread. 'This is My Body, broken for you'... to which we respond in faith, 'My Lord and my God!' We know Him when we see Him, high and lifted up, filling the temple of his Body with glory. We know Him and love Him because He first knew and loved us. O Lord, who are we, mere mortals that you should care for us, love us, come to us and save us? Praise the Lord!
Gospel
John 10:11-16.
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and flieth: and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep: and the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling, and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd: and I know Mine, and Mine know Me, as the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father: and I lay down My life for My sheep. And other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.
He said this to the Pharisees. He was rebuking them. It was clear that by presenting Himself as the good Shepherd He was also clearly identifying them as hirelings. Wage slaves who care for the paycheck or some other earthbound reward do not have a heart for the sheep, but a heart for Mammon. They are not blind to the dangers of being a shepherd, they clearly see the wolf coming and there isn't enough money in the world that would stiffen their spine enough to stand and face the danger the wolf brings. They run, abandoning their post, their final reward, and most importantly, the sheep. The wolf will tear them apart if they dare stand between it and the sheep. So they run because they care more for preserving their lives in this world than protecting the sheep for the next. When the wolf finds no resistance, the sheep are vulnerable to terrible attacks and those that survive are scattered.
Thank God we have at least one good Shepherd, the great Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. The wolf still comes, but there is one Shepherd who will not flee for fear of the wolves. He may lay down His life for the sheep in a fight to the death with the wolves, but He not only has power to lay it down, but has power to take it up again. He looks not to His death, but to His glorious future. He has other sheep, a world of Gentiles, who will come under his protection. He will bring them into his fold and establish His one fold, the Church, forever.
Offertory
Ps 62:2; 62:5 O God, my God, to Thee do I watch at break of day: and in Thy Name I will lift up my hands, Alleluia.
Break of day is always a time to contemplate the Resurrection of our Lord and to anticipate our own rising to glory in Him. Early on Sunday morning, the first day of the week, at the break of day, I will lift up my hands in prayer and praise to Him who give life to the dead and awakens my soul to sing to the glory of His Name. Jesus! Name above all names, I bend my knee and acknowledge You to be LORD.
Secret
May this holy offering, O Lord, always bring to us Thy healing blessing: that what it represents in a Mystery, it may accomplish with power.
This is my prayer as the heart of the Mass approaches, that the holy Sacrifice may have its healing effect on all those who are gathered for the great Offering, and those for whom It is offered. There is power in this divine Sacrament, for it is He, Himself who offers and is offered. It is the Most Holy Trinity who receives the Mystery of faith.
Preface of Easter
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially on this day when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the Lamb Who hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath destroyed our death: and by rising again hath restored us to life. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying: Holy, Holy, Holy…
Communion
John 10:14. I am the good Shepherd, alleluia: and I know My sheep, and Mine know Me, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Post Communion
Grant unto us, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that having received the grace of a new life, we may ever glory in Thy gift.
We received sanctifying grace in our Baptism, like those who have come through the font of life at the Vigil. In Confession and then in Communion we receive His life, healing and powerful. He comes to us, unites us freely to Himself and invites us to glory in so great a gift.
Praise the Lord! He makes Himself known to us, too, in the breaking of bread. 'This is My Body, broken for you'... to which we respond in faith, 'My Lord and my God!' We know Him when we see Him, high and lifted up, filling the temple of his Body with glory. We know Him and love Him because He first knew and loved us. O Lord, who are we, mere mortals that you should care for us, love us, come to us and save us? Praise the Lord!
Gospel
John 10:11-16.
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and flieth: and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep: and the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling, and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd: and I know Mine, and Mine know Me, as the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father: and I lay down My life for My sheep. And other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.
He said this to the Pharisees. He was rebuking them. It was clear that by presenting Himself as the good Shepherd He was also clearly identifying them as hirelings. Wage slaves who care for the paycheck or some other earthbound reward do not have a heart for the sheep, but a heart for Mammon. They are not blind to the dangers of being a shepherd, they clearly see the wolf coming and there isn't enough money in the world that would stiffen their spine enough to stand and face the danger the wolf brings. They run, abandoning their post, their final reward, and most importantly, the sheep. The wolf will tear them apart if they dare stand between it and the sheep. So they run because they care more for preserving their lives in this world than protecting the sheep for the next. When the wolf finds no resistance, the sheep are vulnerable to terrible attacks and those that survive are scattered.
Thank God we have at least one good Shepherd, the great Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. The wolf still comes, but there is one Shepherd who will not flee for fear of the wolves. He may lay down His life for the sheep in a fight to the death with the wolves, but He not only has power to lay it down, but has power to take it up again. He looks not to His death, but to His glorious future. He has other sheep, a world of Gentiles, who will come under his protection. He will bring them into his fold and establish His one fold, the Church, forever.
Offertory
Ps 62:2; 62:5 O God, my God, to Thee do I watch at break of day: and in Thy Name I will lift up my hands, Alleluia.
Break of day is always a time to contemplate the Resurrection of our Lord and to anticipate our own rising to glory in Him. Early on Sunday morning, the first day of the week, at the break of day, I will lift up my hands in prayer and praise to Him who give life to the dead and awakens my soul to sing to the glory of His Name. Jesus! Name above all names, I bend my knee and acknowledge You to be LORD.
Secret
May this holy offering, O Lord, always bring to us Thy healing blessing: that what it represents in a Mystery, it may accomplish with power.
This is my prayer as the heart of the Mass approaches, that the holy Sacrifice may have its healing effect on all those who are gathered for the great Offering, and those for whom It is offered. There is power in this divine Sacrament, for it is He, Himself who offers and is offered. It is the Most Holy Trinity who receives the Mystery of faith.
Preface of Easter
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially on this day when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the Lamb Who hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath destroyed our death: and by rising again hath restored us to life. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying: Holy, Holy, Holy…
Communion
John 10:14. I am the good Shepherd, alleluia: and I know My sheep, and Mine know Me, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Post Communion
Grant unto us, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that having received the grace of a new life, we may ever glory in Thy gift.
We received sanctifying grace in our Baptism, like those who have come through the font of life at the Vigil. In Confession and then in Communion we receive His life, healing and powerful. He comes to us, unites us freely to Himself and invites us to glory in so great a gift.
No comments:
Post a Comment