>>Sts. Joachim and Anne (Parents of Mary) – Pray for Us!
THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE
Introduction
We know nothing more about the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary than that the Protevangelium of James, (an apocryphal infancy gospel from the third century), gives them the names Joachim and Anne. Their feast comes from Oriental rites, in which parents are often honoured with their children when these become famous.
In any case, the liturgy reminds us that people are often instrumental in bringing us God’s salvation.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
there were many deeply believing
and simple, poor people
waiting for the coming of the Messiah.
We thank your for these believers
and we ask you today
at this celebration of the parents of Mary
that we may be longing for a deeper coming
of your Son Jesus Christ among us
May many more accept him
as their Saviour and their Lord. Amen!
1 Reading – JEREMIAH 14:17-22
Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over her incurable wound. If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword; If I enter the city, look! those consumed by hunger. Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not. Have you cast Judah off completely? Is Zion loathsome to you? Why have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed? We wait for peace, to no avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead. We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you. For your name’s sake spurn us not, disgrace not the throne of your glory; remember your covenant with us, and break it not. Among the nations’ idols is there any that gives rain? Or can the mere heavens send showers? Is it not you alone, O LORD, our God, to whom we look? You alone have done all these things.
Responsorial PSALM 79:8, 9, 11 AND 13
R. (9) For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low. R.
Help us, O God our saviour,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake. R.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise. R.
Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel – MATTHEW 13:36-43
Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Intentions
– That intimate prayer to the Lord may lighten up our faces and our lives, we pray:
– That however humble our task in the Church is, the Spirit of the Lord may give us the courage to speak out for what is right and good, we pray:
– That we may not usurp God’s task of separating the weeds from the wheat in the Church, but leave the judgment to him, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
we are ready to listen and accept
the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
We bring before you
these simple offerings of bread and wine
Let them express that we want
to be open to your secrets with unsophisticated hearts,
For you reveal yourself
to those who listen with their hearts.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
make us attentive to the words
which Jesus has spoken to us at his table
and keep stirring in us the love he has shown us.
Let our faith be more than formulas
that do not change our life in any way.
Make the story of our life speak to those around us
that we have understood how much you care
and that we may respond to you
with all that is in us.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
God lets his sun shine on good and bad alike. We are not the judges of the Church or of the world: let God do the judging. Pray that he keep us faithful. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!