PM: Communion Fridays--18th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

You gave us bread from heaven, O Lord, having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste.

Wisdom 16:20

We hear similar words near the end of Eucharistic Adoration, just before we are blessed. How fitting it is that after that blessing, we sound out the Divine Praises.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--18th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options; the first is for Cycles A and B.

Moses prayed to the Lord his God, and said; Moses addressed this prayer to the Lord his God, and declared:  "Why, O Lord, is your anger enkindled against your people? Let the wrath your mind has conceived cease. Remember Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, to whom you swore to give a land flowing with milk and honey." And the Lord was dissuaded from accomplishing the evil which he had threatened to inflict upon his people.

Exodus 32: 11, 15, 13, 14

Moses reminds God of the covenant He made with His people and asks for forgiveness for all. God shows His fidelity to us who truly repent of their sins. 

Moses consecrated an altar to the Lord, and presented thereupon burnt offerings and sacrificial victims; he made an evening sacrifice as a fragrant offering to the Lord, in the presence of the sons of Israel.

Cf. Exodus 24: 4, 5

This is also the Offertory for the 24th. Sunday of Ordinary Time for Cycles A and B. Here Moses is an archetype for Jesus and all priests in his pleading for us; the asking of forgiveness through a sacrifice is nothing less than a foreshadowing of the Passion and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--18th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

O Lord God of my salvation, day and night have I called out unto you.

Ps. 87:2

As we pray always and everywhere, God hears us. Our saving, sanctifying grace only comes from Him.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--18th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options; the first is for Cycle A.

The eyes of all look towards you in hope, O Lord; and you give them their food in due season.

V. You open your hand and fill every living thing with your blessings.

Ps. 144:15; V. 16

We revisit the Gradual from the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. God will give us what we need when we need it; His grace will be sufficient.

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth

V. My soul will boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear and be glad.

Ps. 32:2; V. 3

There are echoes of the Magnificat and St. Paul's exhortations in these verses.When we speak of God's greatness, we give Him the adoration due Him.

PM: Introit Mondays--18th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two choices; the first is for Cycle A.

All you who are thirsty, come to the waters, says the Lord, and you who have no money, come, drink in gladness.

V. Attend, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Cf. Isaiah 55:1; V. Ps. 55

God gives freely His grace. Along with life-giving water, He gives His life-giving words.

O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me; let them be put to confusion and shame, my enemies who seek my life.

V. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor, who wish me evil.

Ps. 69:2, 3; V. 4

The beginning of many of the prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours, we ask for God's aid. We can only overturn the enemies of God with His power and might.

PM: Communion Fridays--17th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are three options; one for each Cycle.

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant seeking fine pearls; having found one of great worth, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Matt. 13:45, 46

And what is this "pearl of great price"? It is no less than God and our relationship with Him.

Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns shall be filled with abundance, and your presses shall run with wine.

Prov. 3:9, 10

We must acknowledge God in all we do, for we can do nothing without Him. Blessings shall follow if we do.

Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be open to you; for all who ask, receive, he who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened, alleluia.

Luke 11:9, 10 cf. Matt.7:7, 8 and 10:1

We must engage our whole being in our relationship to God. It is only then will we meet Him face to face and see Him as He Is.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--17th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and have not allowed my enemies to rejoice over me; O Lord, I called out unto you, and you healed me.

Ps. 29:2, 3

God has and will prevail over all evil. We give thanks He has saved us and made us whole again.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--17th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Rejoice in honor of God our helper; shout for joy to the God of Jacob; intone a most beautiful psalm with the harp.

Ps. 80:2, 3

This hearkens to other Psalms where we sing God's praise. As we prepare to listen to His Good News, "it is right and just" to voice our  love and adoration to Him.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--17th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options; the first is for Cycles A and C.

In God has my heart placed its trust and I have been helped; and my flesh has flowered anew, and with all my desire I will give thanks unto him.

V. Unto you, O Lord, do I cry; O my God, do not remain silent, depart not from me.

Ps. 27: 7; V. 1

Only in God alone shall we find aid. We are renewed when He answers our prayers; He is never far from us.

The eyes of all look towards you in hope, O Lord; and you give them their food in due season.

V. You open your hand and fill every living thing with your blessings.

Ps. 144:15; V. 16

We revisit the Gradual from Corpus Christi. Our loving God gives us what we need when we need it; all is gift, all is grace, all is good.

PM: Introit Mondays--17th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

God is in his holy dwelling place; the God who causes us to dwell together, one at heart, in his house; he himself will give power and strength to his people.

V. Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; and let those who hate him flee before his face.

Ps. 67: 6, 7, 36; V. 2

As did the Israelites, we set aside a place where we come to worship Him. Here we will receive His Word and Real Presence, his "power and strength".

PM: Communion Fridays--16th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two choices; the first is for Cycles A and B.

You will accept a sacrifice of righteousness, oblations and burnt offerings, placed on your altar, O Lord.

Ps. 50:21

God did accept that kind of sacrifice in the Passion of Jesus Christ. He Who is the the perfect offering is now offered to us.

Mary has chosen for herself the best portion, which shall never be taken away from her.

Luke 10:42

Mary chose to be in full communion with the Real Presence, in a spirit of adoration and contemplation. May we also chose to do likewise.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--16th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

The ordinances of the Lord are right, bringing joy to all hearts, sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. Therefore your servant will observe them.

Ps. 18: 9, 10, 11, 12

A case where God's "foolishness" is better than our wisdom. If we are truly wise, we will obey this "folly".

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--16th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Deliver me from my enemies, O God, and defend me from those who have risen up against me.

Ps. 58:2

Again, another Psalm which echo the final petition of the Lord's Prayer. While we must turn to God always and in all ways, it is even more important when we are at the limits of our being.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--16th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options; the first is for Cycles A and C.

O Lord, our governor, how admirable is your name in all the earth!

V. For your magnificence is elevated above the heavens.

Ps. 8:2

There is an echo of  St. Paul's letter to the Philippians here. We must always acknowledge Jesus Christ as "King of kings and Lord of lords".

Though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, O Lord.

V. Your rod and your staff have comforted me.

Ps. 22:4

We place our trust in God and Him alone. He will shepherd us through "this vale of tears".

PM: Introit Mondays--16th. Sunday Of Oridnary Time

Behold, God is my helper, and the Lord is the upholder of my soul; turn back all the evil, against my enemies, destroy them in your fidelity, O Lord, the protector of my life.

V. Save me, O God, by your name, and render justice unto me in your strength.

Ps. 53:6, 7; V. 3

Again, there are hints of the the Lord's Prayer here. The seventh petition, being delivered from evil, resonates in this verse.

PM: Communion Fridays--15th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

UPDATE: 7/12/2016

There are two choice for this day.

The sparrow has found herself a home, and the turtle dove a nest in which to lay her young:  at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God! Blessed are they who dwell in your house, they shall praise you for ever and ever.

Ps. 83:4,5

If the birds of the air can dwell in the presence of the Lord, so can we. We shall give Him eternal praise and receive an everlasting blessing.

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, abides in me, and I in him, says the Lord.

John 6:57

We revisit a Communion antiphon from the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, where His most radical command is met with His most radical promise. His word is worthy, but do we come to receive Him likewise?

PM: Offertory Thursdays--15th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Unto you, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul; O my God, I trust in you, let me not be put to shame; do not allow my enemies to laugh at me; for none of those who are awaiting you will be disappointed.

Ps. 24:1-3

We place our lives into God's hand. In this abandonment do we find total confidence.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--15th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

It is fitting, O God, to sing a hymn unto you on Mount Zion, and our vows shall be carried out for you in Jerusalem.

Ps. 64:2

We praise God in His holy temple and carry out His work in the world. This is the meaning of "Ite, missa est."

Two Times Three Cubed Time

If those who like math have done the calculation correctly or you remember what time of the year this is, it is that time in my life again.

I have lived another year on this earth, hoping my toil will gain me an everlasting reward.

I am reminded of the old saw that if one does not think birthdays are important, skip having the next one.

I do think it important to mark this passage of time, this rite of existence, this day of my nativity.

It is the time to give thanks that "we live and move and have our being".

It is a time to be grateful for what we have been given.

It is a time to look back and look forward (and maybe even Go Forward).

It is a time to acknowledge the ultimate status quo--that you are.

Pray that I may see the next one.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--15th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options; the first is for Cycles A and C.

Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of your eye; shield me under the shadow of your wings.

V. Let judgment in my favor come forth in your presence; may your eyes discern what is right.

Ps. 16:8; V. 2

Precious in the sight of the Lord are those whom he loves. He cares for all, as we are worth more than the sparrows or the lilies.

Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

V. Lord, you have blessed your land, you have put an end to Jacob's captivity.

Ps. 84:8; V. 2

This is the basis for the rarely used "B" option of the Penitential Rite in the Liturgy of the Word. We ask for God's forgiveness so we may truly appreciate His bountiful approach to us.

PM: Introit Mondays--15th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

UPDATE: 7/5/2016

There are two options for this day.

When I cried out to the Lord, he heeded my call against my assailants; he who is before the beginning of the world and who endures forever has humbled them. Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will sustain you.

V. Hear my prayer, O God, and despise not my supplication; be attentive to me and hear me.

Ps. 17, 18, 19, 20, 23; V. 2

This is a call to pray to God always and all the time. As we ask for "our daily bread", we shall receive fish instead of stones.

As for me, I will appear before your righteousness; I will be satisfied when your glory is made manifest.

V. Give heed, O Lord, to my righteousness; be attentive to my supplication.

Ps. 16:15; V. 1

Is this not why we assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? As the Gloria says, "We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give you thanks for Your great glory."

 

July 2016 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

Universal Intention - Indigenous Peoples.  That indigenous peoples, whose identity and very existence are being threatened, will be shown due respect.

Evangelization Intention - Latin America and the Caribbean. That the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean, by means of her mission to the continent, may announce the Gospel with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.

Reflections for these intentions are found here.

PM: Communion Fridays--14th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

O taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man who trusts in him.

Ps. 33:9

Could this not be the Communion verse for every Mass? To receive the Body and Blood of Christ, His Real Presence, is to taste and see Him.