Churches of the Day

Thursday of the Third week in Ordinary Time, Year 2

FIRST READING                

A reading from the second book of the Prophet Samuel          7: 18-19, 24-29
Who am I, Lord, and what is my house?

After Nathan had spoken to David, the king went in and, seated before the Lord, said:

Who am I, Lord, and what is my House, that you have led me as far as this? Yet in your sight, Lord, this is still not far enough, and you make your promises extend to the House of your servant for a far-distant future. You have constituted your people Israel to be your own people for ever; and you, the Lord, have become their God. Now, Lord always keep the promise you have made your servant and his House, and do as you have said. Your name will be exalted for ever and men will say, "the Lord of hosts is God over Israel."

The House of your servant David will be made secure in your presence, since you yourself, the Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, "I will build you a House"; hence your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to you. 

Yes, Lord, you are God indeed, your words are true and you have made this fair promise to your servant.  Be pleased, then, to bless the House of your servant, that it may continue for ever in your presence; for you, Lord, have spoken; and with your blessing the House of your servant will be for ever blessed.'

The Word of the Lord           Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm        Ps 131:1-2, 5, 11-14
Response                              The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

1. O Lord, remember David and all the hardships he endured,
the oath he swore to the Lord, his vow to the Strong One of Jacob.           Response

2. 'I will not enter the house where 1 live nor go to the bed where I rest.
I will give no sleep to my eyes to my eyelids will give no slumber
till 1 find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Strong One of Jacob.'    Response

3. The Lord swore an oath to David; he will not go back on his word:
'A son, the fruit of your body will I set upon your throne.                            Response

4. 'If they keep my covenant in truth and my laws that 1 have taught them,
their sons also shall rule on your throne from age to age.'                           Response

5. For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling:
'This is my resting-place for ever, here have I chosen to live.'                     Response

Gospel  Acclamation              Phil 2: 15
Alleluia, alleluia!
You will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life.
Alleluia!

Or                                                    Ps 118: 105
Alleluia, alleluia!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds the seed will remain for ever.
Alleluia!

Gospel

The Lord be with you.                  And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark      4: 21-25        Glory to you, O Lord
A lamp is to be put on a lamp-stand. The amount you measure, out is the amount you will be given.seed will remain for ever.

Jesus said to the crowd,
'Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand?
For there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed, nothing kept secret except to be brought to light.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to this.'

He also said to them,
'Take notice of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given - and more besides; for the man who has will be given more;
from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.'

The Gospel of the Lord                Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Gospel Reflection            Thursday         Third Week in Ordinary Time             Mark 4:21-25

Today’s gospel reading from Mark follows immediately after yesterday’s gospel reading of the parable of the sower and its interpretation, which was a reflection on Jesus’ proclamation of God’s word and how it was being responded to. Today’s gospel reading suggests that God’s word is like a light that needs to be let shine. No one puts a lamp under a bed but on a lamp stand where it can give light to all. God’s word proclaimed by Jesus is a lamp for our way and a light for our steps. It needs constant proclamation. We are aware of various forms of darkness in our world; we are always on the lookout for some light. The words of Jesus allow God’s light to shine upon us. That is why, according to our gospel reading, we need to listen carefully to the Lord’s word. ‘Take notice of what you are hearing.’

Jesus declares that the more attentively we listen to God’s word, the more we will receive. ‘The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given – and more besides, for the one who has will be given more.’ The contrary is also true. If we fail to listen to the Lord’s word, if we turn away from it, we can easily lose what we may have gained from listening to it in the past. ‘The one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’ The Lord’s word is a wonderful light in our lives; it has the power to bring us life. However, it needs our response. The Lord who speaks needs us to listen, and if we give ourselves over to really listening to his word then we will receive more than we ever anticipated. In the words of Jesus from another of the gospels, ‘A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.’



The Scripture readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers.  http://dltbooks.com/
The Gospel reflection is available with our thanks from Reflections on the Weekday Readings My Words Will Not Pass Away by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Jesus revealed  the Beatitudes himself as his and his Father's, secret of happiness.
Jesus invites us to watch they was lived out in his life.

Saint of the Day, in Ireland, Feb 1 St Brigid, Abbess, Secondary Patron of Ireland
C/f A short life of this saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.

FIRST  READING

A reading from the book of the Prophet Zephaniah     2:3. 3:12-13
 In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people.

Seek the Lord, all you, the humble of the earth, who obey his commands.
Seek integrity, seek humility:  you may perhaps find shelter
on the day of the anger of the Lord.

In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people, and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord.
They will do no wrong, will tell no lies; and the perjured tongue will no longer be found in their mouths.
But they will be able to graze and rest with no one to disturb them.

The Word of the Lord        Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm    Ps 145: 7-10 R/v Mat 5:3
Response                          How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1. It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever, who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free.                     Response

2. It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind, who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger and upholds the widow and orphan.              Response

3. It is the Lord who loves the just but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever, Zion's God, from age to age.                             Response

SECOND READING  

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians  1:26-31
God chose what is foolish by human reckoning.

Take yourselves, brothers, at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families? No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen - those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything.

The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God have made members of Christ Jesus and by God's doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom.
As scripture says: 'If anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.'

The Word of the Lord                 Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation            Mt 11:25
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
Alleluia!

or                                          Mt 5: 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad: your reward will be great in Heaven.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL 

The Lord be with you.                    And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew     5:1-12       Glory to you, O Lord
'How happy are the poor in spirit.

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples.
Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

'How blessed are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

'Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.

The Gospel of the Lord    Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.



The scripture readings are taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with permission of the publishers.

For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here:  https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/

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Saint of the Day, Feb 1 St Brigid, Abbess, Secondary Patron of Ireland
C/f A short life of this saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.

Bridget patroness of those who have a care for the earth, for justice, equality and peace and also model for contemplative prayer.

Brigidine Sister Rita Minehan profiles St Brigid here as a model for contemplative prayer.

A great resurgence of interest in all aspects of our Celtic heritage is leading many individuals and groups to rediscover - and draw inspiration from - the lives of the early Irish saints. St Brigid, the patroness of Ireland, is emerging as one whose life has relevance and inspiration for us as we try to face the issues that confront our country and our world at this time. When we look at the life of Brigid and at some of these issues we can see more clearly why she continues to be relevant to us today. (The image left is of Brigid with lepers,  taken from  the mosaic in Armagh Cathedral.)

Carer of the Earth
The feast of St Brigid on the 1st of February is a celebration of the wonderful springing back of the earth from its winter sleep. It is the season when we celebrate new beginnings and new life on earth. The sod is turned. The day lengthens. Seeds are sown and sails are hoisted.

Many of the stories about Brigid tell of her milking the cows, churning the milk, making up the firkins of butter, shepherding her flocks of sheep, helping with the harvest and even brewing the ale! Brigid, in keeping with her Celtic traditions, was wonderfully attuned to the seasons and cycles of nature. She valued the elements of nature: earth, air, fire and water.

Light the Fire


Today, we are becoming more aware of the fragility of our planet. Lands are becoming barren, skies fouled, waters poisoned. Many individuals and groups concerned about the environment draw inspiration from the reverence and respect which Brigid had for the land. She is often referred to as the' Saint of Agriculture.' In a new hymn, composed by Fr Liam Lawton, Brigid is invoked 'to heal our wounds and green our earth again.'

"A Life of Brigid" (Vita Brigitae), composed by Cogitosus about 650 AD,  places great emphasis on Brigid's faith, her healing powers, her hospitality, her generosity, her great skill with animals, and her compassion for the poor and the oppressed. Twenty three of the thirty two chapters tell of her extraordinary concern for the poor. One of the Brigidine legends illustrates this very effectively.

Woman of Compassion
One day when Brigid was on a long journey she stopped to rest by the wayside. A rich lady heard about this and brought her a beautiful basket of choice apples. No sooner had she received them than a group of very poor people came by and begged her for food. Without a moment's hesitation, Brigid gave them the choice apples. The rich lady was utterly disgusted and she complained to Brigid, "I brought those apples for you, not for them." Brigid's reply was: "What is mine is theirs." This Brigidine legend poses a challenge to all of us in terms of our world today, where forty-five thousand people die from hunger and hunger-related diseases every day and where twenty percent of the population own and consume about eighty percent of the earth's resources. The poverty gap continues to widen both within and between countries, as the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer. This legend challenges us to work for a more equitable distribution of the world's resources.

Model of Equality
It is generally accepted that Brigid established her abbey and church in Kildare around 480 AD, on the site now occupied by St Brigid's Cathedral. Brigid held a unique position in the Irish Church and society of her day. As Abbess, she presided over the local Church of Kildare and was leader of a double monastery for men and women.

Tradition suggests that she invited Conleth, a hermit from Old Connell near Newbridge, to assist her in Kildare. Cogitosus tells us that 'they governed their Church by means of a mutually happy alliance.'

What emerges from many of these stories and legends about Brigid is the portrait of a strong and gentle woman, a powerful leader, a good organiser, a skillful healer and a wise spiritual guide. Brigid has become - for men as well as women - a potent symbol of Christian womanhood, showing us in so many different ways the feminine face of God.

Woman of Peace
There was no lack of domestic strife in the Ireland of Brigid's day, where feuds between clans were commonplace. She is often depicted as a peacemaker who intervened in disputes between rival factions and brought healing and reconciliation. Folklorists tell us that in some parts of Ireland a St Brigid's cross was often used as a token of goodwill between neighbours, indicating a desire for peace and friendship after a local quarrel.

One of the best-known stories associated with St Brigid is that of her giving away her father's precious sword to a poor man so that he could barter it for food to feed his family. Thus, a sword, a weapon of war, was transformed into a life-giving instrument. This story offers an important lesson for our world today where every minute thirteen million pounds is being spent on weapons of war. One wonders what links Brigid would make today between the massive expenditure on arms and the welfare of the poor people of the world?

Woman of Contemplation
Brigid emerges as a woman of action in the stories, legends and poems about her. If one, however, were to seek the source from which she drew her strength and energy, one could probably find the answer in this story.

One day, St Brendan the Navigator stood on a cliff top and watched two whales engaging in fierce combat. Suddenly, the smaller whale, in a human voice, cried out for help not to Brendan but to Brigid, who was not even present. The cry was answered immediately, and the combat ceased. Brendan was puzzled as to why he had been ignored. 'Do you always think about God?' asked Brigid, when the two met. 'Yes,' replied Brendan, 'except at times when my boat is caught in a storm at sea and I have to concentrate on keeping it afloat.' 'That's the explanation,' Brigid answered. 'From the moment I first knew God I have never let him out of my mind, and I never shall.'

An old Irish poem, written in the seventh century, speaks of her contemplation of the Trinity:

Deeper than the seas,
Greater than words can express,
Three persons in one only God;
Overflowing with wonder.'

Woman of Inspiration
Even today, poets, writers and artists still find inspiration in the symbols, customs and folklore surrounding Brigid. One writer recently referred to her as 'the woman who, above all others, embodies the spirit of pre-Christian and Christian Ireland'.

In a beautiful leadlight window in Kildare College Chapel, Holden Hill, South Australia, the artist depicts Brigid dancing the dance of the new life of creation, carrying the Spirit of Jesus into the twenty-first century.

Many of the values associated with Brigid are captured in this delightful poem:
Lady, from winters dark,
Star of Imbolc, rise!
Dance around our threshold,
Scattering warm laughter,
Seeds of hospitality,
Tolerance, forgiveness!
Return again to the folk;
You the spring we yearn for!

What a lovely image to carry with us into the future!

This article first appeared in The Messenger (February 2002), a publication of the Irish Jesuits. c/f  c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

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Memorable Irish Proverbs for today

I should like a great lake of ale, for the King of Kings.
I should like the family of heaven to be drinking it through time eternal.