SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

26th July 2020

Entrance Antiphon

God is in his holy place

God who. Unites those who dwell in his house;

He himself gives might and strength to his people.

Collect

O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy,

Bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide

We may use the good things that pass in such a way as to. Hold fast even now

To those that ever endure. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit

One God, for ever and ever

FIRST READING

A reading from the first book of Kings.    3:5, 7-12

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you’. Solomon replied, ‘Lord, my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you have chosen, a people so many it’s numbers cannot be counted or reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’, the Lord said, ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and and none will have after you’.

The Word of the Lord

RESPONSORIAL PSALM.    Ps 118

R. Lord how I love your law!

1. My part, I have resolve, O Lord

Is to obey your word

The law from your mouth means more to me

Than silver and gold.

R. Lord how I love your law

2. Let your love be ready to console me

By your promise to your servant

Let your love come to me and I shall live

For your law is my delight

R. Lord how I love your law!

3. That is why I love your commands

More than finest gold

That is why I rule my life by your precepts:

I hate false ways

R.Lord how I love your law!

4. Your will is wonderful indeed;

Therefore I obey it

The unfolding of your word gives light

And teaches the simple

R. Lordhow I love your law!

SECOND READING

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans.  8.28-30

We know that by turning everything to their good God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those that he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.

The Word of the Lord

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!

GOSPEL READING

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.   13:44-46

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.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Prayer over the Offerings

Accept , O Lord, we pray, the offerings which we bring fro the abundance of your gifts,

That through the powerful working of your grace these most sacred mysteries may sanctify our present way of life

And lead us to eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord

Communion Antiphon

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And never forget all his benefits.

Prayer after communion 

We have consumed, O Lord, this divine Sacrament, the perpetual memorial of the Passion of your Son;

Grant, we pray, that this gift, which he himself gave us with love beyond all telling,

May profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.

SIXTEENTH  SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

19th July 2020

Entrance Antiphon

See, I have God for my help, the Lord sustains my soul. I will sacrifice to you with willing heart, and praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.

Collect

Show favour, O Lord, to your servants and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace,that, made fervent in hope, faith & charity, they may be ever watchful in keeping your commands. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the HolySpirit, one God, for ever and ever.

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of Wisdom.     12:13. 16-19

After sin you will grant repentance

There is no god, other than you, who cares for everything, to whom you might have to prove that you never judged unjustly. Your justice has its source in strength, your sovereignty over all makes you lenient to all. You show your strength when your sovereign power is questioned and you expose the insolence of those who know it; but, disposing of such strength, you are mild in judgement, you govern us with great lenience, for you have only to will, and your power is there. By acting thus you have taught a lesson to your people how the virtuous man must be kindly to his fellow men, and you have given your sons the good hope that after sin you will grant repentance.

This is the word of the Lord

RESPONSORIAL PSALM                           Ps 85:5-6. 9-10. 15-16. Rv5

R. O Lord, you are good and forgiving

1. O Lord you are good and forgiving

Full of love to all who call

Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer

And attend to the sound of my voice

R. O Lord, you are good and forgiving

1. All the nations shall come to adore you

And glorify your name, O Lord

For you are great and do marvellous deeds

You who alone are God

R. O Lord, you are good and forgiving

1. But you, God of mercy and compassion

Slow to anger, O Lord

Abounding in love and truth

Turn and take pity on me

R. O Lord, you are good and forgiving

SECOND READING

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans.       8:26-27

The Spirit expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words 

The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what he means, and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God.

This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind,

So that we can see what hope his call holds for us.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL READING

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.        13:24-30

Let them both grow till the harvest

Jesus put a parable before the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who showed 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 owners 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 unto my barn’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Prayer over the Offerings

O God, who is the one perfect sacrifice brought to completion varied offerings of the law, accept, we pray, this sacrifice from your faithful servants and make it holy, as you blessed the gifts of Abel, so that what each has offered to the honor of your majesty may benefit the salvation of all, through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon

The Lord, the gracious, the merciful has made a memorial of his wonder he gives food to those who fear him.

Or

Behold, I stand at the door and knock, says the Lord. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door to me, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.

Prayer after Communion

Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries, to pass from former ways to newness I’d life, Through Christ our Lord.