Tuesday May 26, 2020
Weekday of Easter (7)
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Death Anniversary: CALABAR: Archbishop Brian D. Usanga-26/05/2005

Entrance Antiphon   Rv 1:17-18
I am the first and the last, I was dead and am now alive. Behold, I am alive for ever and ever, alleluia.

Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty and merciful God, that the Holy Spirit, coming near and dwelling graciously within us, may make of us a perfect temple of his glory. Through our Lord…

In those days: From Miletus Paul went to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the Church. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”

The word of the Lord.

You poured down, O God, a generous rain;
when your people languished,
you restored their inheritance.
It was there that your flock began to dwell.
In your goodness, O God, you provided for the poor. R.

Day after day, may the Lord be blest.
He bears our burdens; God is our saviour.
This God of ours is a God who saves.
The Lord our Lord provides an escape from death. R.

ALLELUIA  John 14:16
Alleluia. I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor, to be with you for ever. Alleluia.

At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made. “I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection
In his farewell discourse, Jesus acknowledges that he has accomplished the work given to him by the Father. He now waits for the manifestation of the Father’s glory. Paul also acknowledges in his last testament that he has carried out the whole of God’s purpose entrusted to him, in the midst of difficulties and trials, without faltering. Discover God’s purpose you are called to accomplish on earth. When you finish your work, you receive the crown of glory.

Jesus was a child at one point in his life on earth and our Blessed Mother Mary took care of Him. Jesus loves little children and we should do the same if we are to be His true disciples.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, help me to always come before you like a child and may I be a means through which the little children of our world will find you and be blessed. Amen.  And May the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today’s Saint and Quote
St Bernadine of Siena – May 20th
Want to inspire your children to give their all in everything they do? Teach them about St. Bernadine

You must know that when you ‘hail’ Mary, she immediately greets you! Don’t think that she is one of those rude women of whom there are so many — on the contrary, she is utterly courteous and pleasant. If you greet her, she will answer you right away and converse with you

INTRODUCTION – We find in the Old Testament, the promise of a Saviour made by God was repeated by the Prophets, but repeatedly the people fell away. Their leaders depended not on the Law given them by God but on making alliances with foreign powers and the people followed the example of unbelieving people around them in adoring false gods. He sent His Prophets to speak in His name. The many appearances of God to these men were reminders of His presence and of His love for His people. Moses keeps reminding the people of this through the verses in Deuteronomy 7: 7-8. Today, through our faith we know that God has already sent us the promised Saviour – but still we are tempted in the same way. Our inclination is to run after materialism and individualism of the society in which we live, to put our hope of a good life in wealth and self indulgence and greed for power. Selfishness is the cause of constant tensions in our families, among our neighbours, the cause of bloodshed between nations and communities. The remedy lies in our turning to God. Let us.

PRAYER POINT:
Ask God’s mercy for the times you used spiritual gifts for selfish gains.

Surrenders your life anew to the Holy Spirit

V. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created
R. And you shall renew the face of the earth.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (7x)

2. ACT OF CONTRITION – O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins, and detest them above all things, because they have crucified my loving Saviour Jesus Christ, and, most of all, because they offend your infinite goodness; and I firmly resolve, by the help of your grace, never to offend you again, and carefully to avoid  the occasion of sin.
 

3. PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST:
O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who before ascending into Heaven didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thine Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy Divine truth; the Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, Dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples, and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen.
 

4. PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT:
Breathe into me Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit that my work too, may be holy.
Attract my heart Holy Spirit that I may love only what is holy. 
Strengthen me Holy Spirit that I may defend all that is holy. 
Protect me, Holy Spirit that I may always be holy.

5. BIBLE READING: Gal 3:24-28 and Matthew 17:1-9

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I know that my body is Your Temple. I believe and trust that You are the source of life, Almighty God, our Creator. My whole body is filled with Your life and love. Lord Jesus, touch me with Your Precious Blood and wash away all my sins.

I ask Your forgiveness for every sin of mine. Heal me of all the hurts, anger, guilt feelings and all painful memories that linger in my deepest being. I have sinned, Lord, against You and against my neighbour. Jesus, You are present in the Eucharist. Lord, do come into my heart. While You are in my heart, I have nothing to fear, for You are the Son of God, and in my heart You are near.

In You is life, and in Your life, Lord Jesus, I find life. You touched the bleeding woman and healed her. Have mercy on me, Lord. It is You Who guide me with Your strength and make me righteous in Your presence. Lord, God, You are almighty. You are merciful. You have touched me and healed me of all my ailments of soul, mind and body. I thank You specially for bringing me closer to You, for loving and protecting me and for healing me completely. With deep faith in my heart, I adore You my loving Jesus Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit are God for ever and ever. Amen.