Thursday 21 November 2013 Thursday of week 33 of the year (The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary) Reflection Like Jerusalem, who implored the Creator for peace, so to does every individual. We pray and beg God for peace and the answers we need to attain peace, yet though the answers and Person is presented to achieve that goal, we often remain deaf and blind. We celebrate and honor those like Mary, who have shown us how to overcome these maladies which prevent us, yet we often make the choice to continue down our own path, complaining and begging for help even when that help is provided us. Be it done unto me according to thy word Lord Like she who received the fullness of heaven within her, teach us to surrender to the gift presented to the world. May I surrender today even more to recognize this gift and welcome Him within me, that in doing so I may hear and see with wisdom that which Ive been blind and deaf to: Your gift of peace Readings at Mass ________ Entrance Antiphon Hail, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King who rules heaven and earth for ever. ________ Collect As we venerate the glorious memory of the most holy Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, O Lord, through her intercession, that we, too, may merit to receive from the fullness of your grace. 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. ________ First reading 1 Maccabees 2:15-29 The commissioners of King Antiochus who were enforcing the apostasy came to the town of Modein to make them sacrifice. Many Israelites gathered round them, but Mattathias and his sons drew apart. The king’s commissioners then addressed Mattathias as follows, ‘You are a respected leader, a great man in this town; you have sons and brothers to support you. Be the first to step forward and conform to the king’s decree, as all the nations have done, and the leaders of Judah and the survivors in Jerusalem; you and your sons shall be reckoned among the Friends of the King, you and your sons shall be honoured with gold and silver and many presents.’ Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, ‘Even if every nation living in the king’s dominions obeys him, each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees, I, my sons and my brothers will still follow the covenant of our ancestors. Heaven preserve us from forsaking the Law and its observances. As for the king’s orders, we will not follow them: we will not swerve from our own religion either to right or to left.’ As he finished speaking, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein as the royal edict required. When Mattathias saw this, he was fired with zeal; stirred to the depth of his being, he gave vent to his legitimate anger, threw himself on the man and slaughtered him on the altar. At the same time he killed the king’s commissioner who was there to enforce the sacrifice, and tore down the altar. In his zeal for the Law he acted as Phinehas did against Zimri son of Salu. Then Mattathias went through the town, shouting at the top of his voice, ‘Let everyone who has a fervour for the Law and takes his stand on the covenant come out and follow me.’ Then he fled with his sons into the hills, leaving all their possessions behind in the town. At this, many who were concerned for virtue and justice went down to the desert and stayed there. ________ Psalm Psalm 49:1-2,5-6,14-15 I will show God’s salvation to the upright. The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion’s perfect beauty he shines. I will show God’s salvation to the upright. ‘Summon before me my people who made covenant with me by sacrifice.’ The heavens proclaim his justice, for he, God, is the judge. I will show God’s salvation to the upright. Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God and render him your votive offerings. Call on me in the day of distress. I will free you and you shall honour me.’ I will show God’s salvation to the upright. ________ Gospel Acclamation Ps118:135 Alleluia, alleluia! Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your decrees. Alleluia! Or Ps94:8 Alleluia, alleluia! Harden not your hearts today, but listen to the voice of the Lord. Alleluia! ________ Gospel Luke 19:41-44 As Jesus drew near Jerusalem and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said, ‘If you in your turn had only understood on this day the message of peace! But, alas, it is hidden from your eyes! Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all round you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you – and all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it!’ ________ Prayer over the Offerings Receive, O Lord, we ask, the prayers of your people with the sacrificial offerings, that, through the intercession of Blessed Mary, the Mother of your Son, no petition may go unanswered, no request be made in vain. Through Christ our Lord. or May the humanity of your Only Begotten Son come, O Lord, to our aid, and may he, who at his birth from the Blessed Virgin did not diminish but consecrated her integrity, by taking from us now our wicked deeds, make our oblation acceptable to you. Through Christ our Lord. ________ Communion Antiphon Cf. Lk 11: 27 Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the eternal Father. ________ Prayer after Communion As we receive this heavenly Sacrament, we beseech, O Lord, your mercy, that we, who rejoice in commemorating the Blessed Virgin Mary, may by imitating her serve worthily the mystery of our redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 12:42:31 +0000
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