Monday

13

September

St. John Chrysostom

(349 – 407)

White

He was born in Antioch. After a thorough education, he took up the ascetic life. He was ordained to the priesthood and became a fruitful and effective preacher.

  He was elected Patriarch of Constantinople in 397, and was energetic in reforming the ways of the clergy and the laity alike. He incurred the displeasure of the Emperor and was twice forced into exile. When the second exile, to Armenia, had lasted three years, it was decided that he should be sent still further away, but he died on the journey, worn out by his hardships.

Entrance Antiphon: Dn 12: 3

Those who are wise will shine brightly like the splendour of the firmament and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars for ever.

Collect

O God, strength of those who hope in you, who willed that the Bishop Saint John Chrysostom should be illustrious by his wonderful eloquence and his experience of suffering, grant us, we pray, that, instructed by his teachings, we may be strengthened through the example of his invincible patience. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

First reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8

My advice is that, first of all, there should be prayers offered for everyone – petitions, intercessions and thanksgiving – and especially for kings and others in authority, so that we may be able to live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet. To do this is right, and will please God our saviour: he wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth. For there is only one God, and there is only one mediator between God and mankind, himself a man, Christ Jesus, who sacrificed himself as a ransom for them all. He is the evidence of this, sent at the appointed time, and I have been named a herald and apostle of it and – I am telling the truth and no lie – a teacher of the faith and the truth to the pagans. In every place, then, I want the men to lift their hands up reverently in prayer, with no anger or argument.

Psalm 27(28):2,7-9

R/     Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my cry.

1.     Hear the voice of my pleading as I call for help, as I lift up my hands in prayer to your holy place.

2.     The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts. I was helped, my heart rejoices and I praise him with my song.

3.     The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress where his anointed find salvation. Save your people; bless Israel your heritage. Be their shepherd and carry them for ever.

Gospel Acclamation: Ps118:27

Alleluia, alleluia! Make me grasp the way of your precepts, and I will muse on your wonders.  Alleluia!

Gospel: Luke 7:1-10

When Jesus had come to the end of all he wanted the people to hear, he went into Capernaum. A centurion there had a servant, a favourite of his, who was sick and near death. Having heard about Jesus he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus they pleaded earnestly with him. ‘He deserves this of you’ they said ‘because he is friendly towards our people; in fact, he is the one who built the synagogue.’ So Jesus went with them, and was not very far from the house when the centurion sent word to him by some friends: ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘do not put yourself to trouble; because I am not worthy to have you under my roof; and for this same reason I did not presume to come to you myself; but give the word and let my servant be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard these words he was astonished at him and, turning round, said to the crowd following him, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found faith like this.’ And when the messengers got back to the house they found the servant in perfect health.

Prayer over the Offerings

May the sacrifice which we gladly present in commemoration of Saint John Chrysostom be pleasing to you, O God, for, taught by him, we, too, give ourselves entirely to you in praise. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Cor 1: 23-24

We proclaim Christ crucified; Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Prayer after Communion

Grant, O merciful God, that these mysteries we have received as we commemorate Saint John Chrysostom, may confirm us in your love and enable us to be faithful in confessing your truth. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

One who has experienced the power of God will certainly speak like this centurion: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say a word and I shall be healed.” A commander who has people under him knows what it means to give and to obey commands. The centurion’s faith attracts the attention of the Lord.  It is his unconditional faith in Jesus that brought healing to his servant nearing death. The cure from a distance demonstrates how strong the healing power of Jesus is. Let us, like this centurion, believe in the healing power of Jesus.