SAINT IGNATIUS OF LAYOLA, PRIEST

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS Act of Love beforeMass

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Mass Readings  Lectures de la Messe Reflection Saint Ignatius of Layola

      

First Reading Leviticus 25:1,8-17

The Law of the jubilee year

The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. He said: 

‘You are to count seven weeks of years – seven times seven years, that is to say a period of seven weeks of years, forty-nine years. And on the tenth day of the seventh month you shall sound the trumpet; on the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout the land. You will declare this fiftieth year sacred and proclaim the liberation of all the inhabitants of the land. This is to be a jubilee for you; each of you will return to his ancestral home, each to his own clan. This fiftieth year is to be a jubilee year for you: you will not sow, you will not harvest the ungathered corn, you will not gather from the untrimmed vine. The jubilee is to be a holy thing to you, you will eat what comes from the fields. 

‘In this year of jubilee each of you is to return to his ancestral home. If you buy or sell with your neighbour, let no one wrong his brother. If you buy from your neighbour, this must take into account the number of years since the jubilee: according to the number of productive years he will fix the price. The greater the number of years, the higher shall be the price demanded; the less the number of years, the greater the reduction; for what he is selling you is a certain number of harvests. Let none of you wrong his neighbour, but fear your God; I am the Lord your God.’

Responsorial Psalm

Let the peoples praise you, O God, let all the peoples praise you

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Happy those who are persecuted

in the cause of right,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Alleluia! Mt. 5:10

Gospel  Matt. 14:1-12

The beheading of John the Baptist

Herod the tetrarch heard about the reputation of Jesus, and said to his court, ‘This is John the Baptist himself; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ 

Now it was Herod who had arrested John, chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ He had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet. Then, during the celebrations for Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother she said, ‘Give me John the Baptist’s head, here, on a dish.’ The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given her, and sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.

Heavenly Father, God our Father, truly you deserve all praise, worship and adoration. YES Father, let the peoples praise you. O God, let all the peoples praise you.  Your merciful love and compassion over all your creatures is great.  

My Father, deliver me from the evil spirit of Herod. Father guard my heart, my soul and my spirit that may not be ruled by evil passion. Deliver me from the evil spirit of Herodias and may I never be possessed by her character.  Father deliver our children, may they be protected from the bad influence of evil adults.  May mothers be good mothers to their children, most expecially to their daughters.  May all women possess the virtues of our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ the gospel is full of so many vices that are in our world today. May your sacrifce in saving humanity not be in vain.  Heavenly Father, be merciful to us your Children. Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for us. Saint Joseph pray for us. Saint Ignatius of Layola pray for us.

A PROPHET IS ONLY DESPISED IN HIS OWN COUNTRY

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. 

Mass Readings  Lectures du jour Reflection 

First Reading  Leviticus Leviticus 23:1,4-11,15-16,27,34-3

The law of the festivals of the Lord

The Lord spoke to Moses. He said:

‘These are the Lord’s solemn festivals, the sacred assemblies to which you are to summon the sons of Israel on the appointed day. 

‘The fourteenth day of the first month, between the two evenings, is the Passover of the Lord; and the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of Unleavened Bread for the Lord. For seven days you shall eat bread without leaven. On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must do no heavy work. For seven days you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord. The seventh day is to be a day of sacred assembly; you must do no work.’ 

The Lord spoke to Moses. He said: ‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them: 

‘“When you enter the land that I give you, and gather in the harvest there, you must bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest, and he is to present it to the Lord with the gesture of offering, so that you may be acceptable. The priest shall make this offering on the day after the sabbath.

‘“From the day after the sabbath, the day on which you bring the sheaf of offering, you are to count seven full weeks. You are to count fifty days, to the day after the seventh sabbath, and then you are to offer the Lord a new oblation. 

‘“The tenth day of the seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. You are to hold a sacred assembly. You must fast, and you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord. 

‘“The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of Tabernacles for the Lord, lasting seven days. The first day is a day of sacred assembly; you must do no heavy work. For seven days you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly, you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord. It is a day of solemn meeting; you must do no heavy work. 

‘“These are the solemn festivals of the Lord to which you are to summon the children of Israel, sacred assemblies for the purpose of offering burnt offerings, holocausts, oblations, sacrifices and libations to the Lord, according to the ritual of each day.”’

Responsorial Psalm

Ring out your joy to God our strenght

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

The word of the Lord remains for ever:

What is this word?

It is the Good News that has been brought to you.

Alleluia!  1pt. 1:25

Gospel   Matt. 13:54-58

A prophet is only despised in his own country

Coming to his home town, Jesus taught the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? His sisters, too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?’ And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Come Holy Spirit of God come dwell in my heart. Increase my faith Lord Jesus Christ.  Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you.  Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint joseph ray for me.

MEMORIAL OF SAINTS MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS Act of Love beforeMass

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Mass Readings  Lectures de la Messe Reflection Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

First Reading Exodus Exodus 40:16-21,34-38 

The Tabernacle is set up

Moses did exactly as the Lord had directed him. The tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. Moses erected the tabernacle. He fixed the sockets for it, put up its frames, put its crossbars in position, set up its posts. He spread the tent over the tabernacle and on top of this the covering for the tent, as the Lord had directed Moses. He took the Testimony and placed it inside the ark. He set the shafts to the ark and placed the throne of mercy on it. He brought the ark into the tabernacle and put the screening veil in place; thus he screened the ark of the Lord, as the Lord had directed Moses. 

The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because of the cloud that rested on it and because of the glory of the Lord that filled the tabernacle. 

At every stage of their journey, whenever the cloud rose from the tabernacle the sons of Israel would resume their march. If the cloud did not rise, they waited and would not march until it did. For the cloud of the Lord rested on the tabernacle by day, and a fire shone within the cloud by night, for all the House of Israel to see. And so it was for every stage of their journey.

Responsorial Psalm

How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord, God of hosts

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia! Jh. 8:12

Gospel  John 11:19-27

I am the resurrection and the life

Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to sympathise with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’ ‘Your brother’ said Jesus to her ‘will rise again.’ Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said:

‘I am the resurrection and the life.

If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live,

and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Do you believe this?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ she said ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’

Heavenly Father, my God I thank you for your faithfulness and love. Be with me Father in every journey of life.  Father may I have the spirit of generosity like Lazarus that my heart is constantly yearning for you.  That I welcome Jesus Christ into my heart. That Christ dwell in my heart always.

Father may I possess the spirit of Martha that I am ever willing to serve you through humanity, and to serve in your house in collaboration with your Priests and Religious. To love my fellow creatures  as Martha and ever willing to render assistance. That I may serve you in my vocation.  

Give me the spirit of Mary Father that I will have a heart yearning to listen to your voice and the voice of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ. That I will find joy and peace in your presence and in the presence of Jesus Christ.  Father this I ask of you through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus pray for me. My guardian angel protect me.

 

GOD'S KINGDOM A HIDDEN TREASURE

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. 

Mass Readings  Lectures du jour Reflection 

First Reading Exodus Exodus 34:29-35

Moses passes on to the people the orders given by the Lord

When Moses came down from the mountain of Sinai – as he came down from the mountain, Moses had the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands – he did not know that the skin on his face was radiant after speaking with the Lord. And when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, the skin on his face shone so much that they would not venture near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron with all the leaders of the community came back to him; and he spoke to them. Then all the sons of Israel came closer, and he passed on to them all the orders that the Lord had given him on the mountain of Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever he went into the Lord’s presence to speak with him, Moses would remove the veil until he came out again. And when he came out, he would tell the sons of Israel what he had been ordered to pass on to them, and the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he returned to speak with the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

You are holy O Lord our God

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia, alleluia!

I call you friends, says the Lord,

because I have made known to you

everything I have learnt from my Father.

Alleluia! Jn. 15:15

Gospel Matthew 13:44-46

He sells everything he owns and buys the field

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.’

God's commandment and the Hidden Kingdom: Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,  who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart, they do no wrong but follow his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.  Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!  Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.  I will praise you with an upright heart   as I learn your righteous laws.  I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.  How can a young person stay on the path of purity?   By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  Psalm 119:1-10

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Blessed Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me.

GOD OUR FATHER ADOPT US AS YOUR HERITAGE

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. 

Mass Readings  Lectures du jour Reflection 

First Reading Exodus Exodus 33:7-11,34:5-9,28 

They are a headstrong people but forgive us our faults

Moses used to take the Tent and pitch it outside the camp, at some distance from the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting. Anyone who had to consult the Lord would go out to the Tent of Meeting, outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the Tent, all the people would rise. Every man would stand at the door of his tent and watch Moses until he reached the Tent; the pillar of cloud would come down and station itself at the entrance to the Tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. When they saw the pillar of cloud stationed at the entrance to the Tent, all the people would rise and bow low, each at the door of his tent. The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would turn back to the camp, but the young man who was his servant, Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the Tent.  

And the Lord descended in the form of a cloud, and Moses stood with him there. 

He called on the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness; for thousands he maintains his kindness, forgives faults, transgression, sin; yet he lets nothing go unchecked, punishing the father’s fault in the sons and in the grandsons to the third and fourth generation.’ And Moses bowed down to the ground at once and worshipped. ‘If I have indeed won your favour, Lord,’ he said ‘let my Lord come with us, I beg. True, they are a headstrong people, but forgive us our faults and our sins, and adopt us as your heritage.’

Moses stayed there with the Lord for forty days and forty nights, eating and drinking nothing. He inscribed on the tablets the words of the Covenant – the Ten Words.

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord is compassion and love

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;

whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.

Alleluia!

Gospel  Matt. 13:46-43

As the darnel is gathered up and burnt, so will it be at the end of time

Leaving the crowds, Jesus went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain the parable about the darnel in the field to us.’ He said in reply, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

Merciful Father, God our Father to you be all glory and honor. Blessed be your holy name. True God our Father you are the Lord, you are God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness.  Father from generation unto generation you maintain your kindness, your forgiveness of our faults, our transgressions, our sins. Our God and Father nothing go unchecked in your sight. We must pay for the consequences of our actions. Punishing the father’s fault in the children and  grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.’ 

Loving Father do not call to mind the sins of our ancestors. Do not visit our ancestors iniquities upon us. Look upon the death of your Son Jesus Christ who paid our debt by shedding his precious blood. Father have mercy upon us. We  bow down to you in worship, adoration and thanksgiving. May your favor be upon us for you are full of compassion and love. Father forgive us our faults and our sins, and adopt us as your heritage.

Holy Spirit come dwell in our hearts that we may heed  to the warning of our Lord and Saviour,  Jesus Christ. May we be counted among the virtuous, may we shine like the sun in the kingdom of our God, our Father  when our journey on earth is done through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you, Virgin Mary Mother of Christ, Mother of  Church of Christ pray for us.

SAINT JOACHIM AND SAINT ANNE

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS Act of Love beforeMass

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Mass Readings  Lectures de la Messe Reflection

Saint Joachim and Saint Anne Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

First Reading Exodus Exodus 32:15-24,30-34

The golden calf

Moses made his way back down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, tablets inscribed on both sides, inscribed on the front and on the back. These tablets were the work of God, and the writing on them was God’s writing engraved on the tablets.

Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting. ‘There is the sound of battle in the camp’, he told Moses. Moses answered him:

‘No song of victory is this sound, no wailing for defeat this sound;

it is the sound of chanting that I hear.’

As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the groups dancing, Moses’ anger blazed. He threw down the tablets he was holding and broke them at the foot of the mountain. He seized the calf they had made and burned it, grinding it into powder which he scattered on the water; and he made the sons of Israel drink it. To Aaron Moses said, ‘What has this people done to you, for you to bring such a great sin on them?’ ‘Let not my lord’s anger blaze like this’ Aaron answered. ‘You know yourself how prone this people is to evil. They said to me, “Make us a god to go at our head; this Moses, the man who brought us up from Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” So I said to them, “Who has gold?,” and they took it off and brought it to me. I threw it into the fire and out came this calf.’

On the following day Moses said to the people, ‘You have committed a grave sin. But now I shall go up to the Lord: perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.’ And Moses returned to the Lord. ‘I am grieved,’ he cried ‘this people has committed a grave sin, making themselves a god of gold. And yet, if it pleased you to forgive this sin of theirs...! But if not, then blot me out from the book that you have written.’ The Lord answered Moses, “It is the man who has sinned against me that I shall blot out from my book. Go now, lead the people to the place of which I told you. My angel shall go before you but, on the day of my visitation, I shall punish them for their sin.’

Responsorial Psalm

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

By his own choice the Father made us his children 

by the message of the truth, so that we should 

be a sort of first-fruits of all that he created. Alleluia! James 1:18

Gospel Matthew 13:31-35

The smallest of all seeds grows into the biggest shrub of all

Jesus put a parable before the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest shrub of all and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and shelter in its branches.’ 

He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’

In all this Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; indeed, he would never speak to them except in parables. This was to fulfil the prophecy: I will speak to you in parables and expound things hidden since the foundation of the world.  The year is gone beyond recall

My God, my Father heaven forgive me for incuring your anger by my diobedience to your command. I too have made idols out ignorance. Whatever rules our passion beside you is an Idol. Most times Father the images of sins are created in our hearts whenever we disobey your commandments. They are  idols we do not realise.  These idols manifest through our actions towards self  and towards other creatures. These idols are the causes of evils in our world. 

The images we create in our hearts, our imaginations and thoughts if they are not attuned to your Holy Will Father, leads to evil which results to vices that rules and reign in our hearts and action instead of your Holy will and your Heavenly Kingdom Father.

Forgive me Father. Lord Jesus Christ send me your Holy Spirit to guide me, to teach me that I may understand your teaching.  May God's Spirit dwell in my heart to reveal and expound things hidden since the foundation of the world. The Secrets of the Kingdom of heaven. 

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary Pray for me, Saint Joseph pray for me.  Saint Joachim and Saint Anne pray for me.

THE FEEDING OF FIVE THOUSAND

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS    

Act of Love before Mass

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.  Mass Readings  Lectures du jour Reflection

First Reading  2 kings 4:42-44

They will eat and have some left over

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing Elisha, the man of God, bread from the first-fruits, twenty barley loaves and fresh grain in the ear.’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’, Elisha said. But his servant replied, ‘How can I serve this to a hundred men?’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’ he insisted ‘for the Lord says this, “They will eat and have some left over.”’ He served them; they ate and had some left over, as the Lord had said.

Responsorial Psalm

You open wide your hand O Lord and grant our desire

Second Reading Eph. 4:1-6

One body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one faith, one God

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

A great prophet has appeared among us;

God has visited his people.

Alleluia!  Lk. 7:16

Gospel  John 6:1-15

The Feeding of five thousand

Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover. 

Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.

My God, my loving Father, your love, your mercy, your generosity, your faithfulness is beyond beyond our imagination. Beyond our understanding.  Father thank you for you alone are God.  To you my God be all glory, honor, adoration and thanksgiving through Jesus Christ our Lord. Father you open wide your hands and grant us our desire for you are full of generosity. Your mercy goodness covers all your creatures. 

Father give me a generous heart. May I lead a life worthy of my vocation. Give me patience and forebearance. Give me a charitable heart. Make me  selfless in my serving you and my fellow creatures. Give me a gentle heart, and patience. May I strive to preserve the unity of the Spirit through peace that binds me together with my fellow brethren. Father you are God and Father of all, this makes us one body, and one Spirit in Christ Jesus your Son, and this is our calling into one and same hope, faith and baptism into Your family our God and Father of all.

Elisha fed hundreds, Lord Jesus Christ you fed five thousand men. Lord Christ Jesus, true image of God the Father, you open wide your hands and grant our desire. Jesus I trust in you. Blessed Virgin Mary pray for us. Saint Joseph pray for us

THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS    

Act of Love before Mass

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.  Mass Readings Lectures de la messe Reflection

First Reading Ex. 24:3-8

This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you

Moses went and told the people all the commands of the Lord and all the ordinances. In answer, all the people said with one voice, ‘We will observe all the commands that the Lord has decreed.’ Moses put all the commands of the Lord into writing, and early next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain, with twelve standing-stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he directed certain young Israelites to offer holocausts and to immolate bullocks to the Lord as communion sacrifices. Half of the blood Moses took up and put into basins, the other half he cast on the altar. And taking the Book of the Covenant he read it to the listening people, and they said, ‘We will observe all that the Lord has decreed; we will obey.’ Then Moses took the blood and cast it towards the people. This’ he said ‘is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you, containing all these rules.’

Responsorial Psalm

Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Accept and submit to the word

which has been planted in you

and can save your souls.

Alleluia!  Jm. 1:21

Gospel  Matt. 13:24-30

Let them both  grow till harvest

Jesus put another parable before the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants went to him and said, “Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” “Some enemy has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us to go and weed it out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.”’

Loving Father, my God I thank you for your mercy over all. Father thank you for your love and plan  for our redemption. Thank you for fulfiling your plan through the coming of Jesus Christ our redeemer.  Father with the same love your Son Jesus Christ love us and gave his life by shedding his precious blood to redeem us. Father protect us from being enemies to ourselves through disobedience to your commands. Protect us loving Father from external enemies and from evils in our world. Save us Father from eternal damnation. Father save us from falsehood. Loving Father you are full of patience and mercy, may we never take your love, your patience and mercy for granted through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Come Holy Spirit, come dwell in our hearts. Come be our advocate. Come Spirit of God, Spirit of Wisdom and Counsel. Come abide in us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank you Loving  Father. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus I trust in you. Blessed Virgin Mary pray for us. Saint Joseph pray for us.