DO NOT TAKE SIN UPON YOURSELF

FIRST MONDAY OF LENT

YOUR HERITAGE THE PREPARED KINGDOM 

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.

First Reading(s) Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18 

Only pass judgement on your neighbour according to justice

The Lord spoke to Moses; he said: ‘Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them:   ‘“Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.

“You must not steal nor deal deceitfully or fraudulently with your neighbour. You must not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. You must not exploit or rob your neighbour. You must not keep back the labourer’s wage until next morning. You must not curse the dumb, nor put an obstacle in the blind man’s way, but you must fear your God. I am the Lord. 

“You must not be guilty of unjust verdicts. You must neither be partial to the little man nor overawed by the great; you must pass judgement on your neighbour according to justice. You must not slander your own people, and you must not jeopardise your neighbour’s life.

I am the Lord. You must not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. You must openly tell him, your neighbour, of his offence; this way you will not take a sin upon yourself. You must not exact vengeance, nor must you bear a grudge against the children of your people. You must love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.”’ Lectures

Responsorial Psalm Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life

Gospel  Matthew 25:31-46 I was naked and you clothed me; sick, and you visited me

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. 

‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”

‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” 

‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’ Reflections

Your Birthday Saints. Saints Perpetua and Felicity. May they pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.

My Father in heaven you alone are holy. I desire holiness of heart, soul, mind, body and spirit. God my Father, make me holy for you alone are holy. May your grace abide in me.  Father may I merit your blessings, my heritage, your kingdom prepared for me since the foundation of the world.

Father give me a generous heart. Give me a compassionate and merciful heart. I desire to be good. Make me sincere in my actions and deeds. May they be pleasing in your sight. Father deliver me from sins, deliver me from eternal punishment. Holy Spirit of God abide in me do not depart from me.

Lord Jesus Christ thank you for loving me. Jesus I trust in you. Be with me my Lord and Master. Blessed Virgin Mary pray for me, Saint Joseph pray for me, God's Holy Angels pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me, Protect me. Guard and guide me.

Pray the Hoy Rosary. Our Lady of Sorrows pray for us. Mother of Christ our Mother pray for us, bring us to your Son.