Saturday September 30, 2017
ANGELS OF GOD
Introduction
“They did not understand it at all,” says the Gospel: about the disciples, when Jesus told them about his coming passion. Jesus speaks of himself as the “Son of Man,” the mysterious person of heavenly origin predicted by Daniel. “He must be delivered up,” for he is also the Suffering Servant of the songs of Second Isaiah. Indeed, all this, about one who comes from God, is a servant, and has to suffer and die, is hard to reconcile and accept, at least from the human viewpoint. And, to be told to follow his example is difficult to take too.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
it remains to us on occasion
a cause for wonderment
that your own Son had to suffer and die.
But of this we are sure:
that you knew what was best,
that you loved him very much,
and that he died to bring us your life and love.
Accept our thanks, Father,
and help us to keep always in mind
how dear we are to you in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Reading: ZEC 2:5-9, 14-15A
I, Zechariah, raised my eyes and looked:
there was a man with a measuring line in his hand.
I asked, "Where are you going?"
He answered, "To measure Jerusalem,
to see how great is its width and how great its length."
Then the angel who spoke with me advanced,
and another angel came out to meet him and said to him,
"Run, tell this to that young man:
People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country,
because of the multitude of men and beasts in her midst.
But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD,
and I will be the glory in her midst."
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people and he will dwell among you.
Responsorial Psalm 31:10, 11-12AB, 13
R. (see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd guards his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Alleluia 2 TM 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Christ Jesus destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: LK 9:43B-45
While they were all amazed at his every deed,
Jesus said to his disciples,
"Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men."
But they did not understand this saying;
its meaning was hidden from them
so that they should not understand it,
and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Intercessions
– That we may be patient and forgiving with those who hurt us, we pray:
– That by his way of the cross, Jesus may lighten the burden of all who suffer, we pray:
– That we may willingly share in the sufferings of Christ by accepting the pains of renewal and the trials that are part of life, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God,
we celebrate in these signs
the memory of the death and rising
of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Let our offering be not merely
a beautiful reminder of the past.
Give us today the mentality of Jesus,
that we too, may know how to love and serve
together with your perfect servant,
the Son of Man, Jesus Christ,
our Lord, for ever and ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
we are amazed at all that Jesus is doing
here in our midst.
He visits us, shares his table with us,
renews our strength.
May we pay close attention
to what he has told us and done for us
and help us to understand all this.
Take away our fear and hesitancy
to follow him on the way to Calvary
as well as on the road to glory and joy,
for we believe that all you want is
that we are happy, now and for ever.
Blessing
Jesus went about doing good. He preached a wonderful message about love. He healed many, in their bodies, in their hearts and mentalities. Yet, he would die a terrible death, denied, betrayed and crucified. How is that possible? How can we understand this? May God give you this understanding and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
