PRAYER OF THE DAY

Eternal Rest

Eternal rest grant unto them,

O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God,

rest in peace.

Amen.

DAILY MASS READINGS

Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Reading

Phil 2:12-18

My beloved, obedient as you have always been,

not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,

work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

For God is the one who, for his good purpose,

works in you both to desire and to work.

Do everything without grumbling or questioning,

that you may be blameless and innocent,

children of God without blemish

in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,

among whom you shine like lights in the world,

as you hold on to the word of life,

so that my boast for the day of Christ may be

that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

But, even if I am poured out as a libation

upon the sacrificial service of your faith,

I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.

In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear?

The LORD is my life's refuge;

of whom should I be afraid?

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

One thing I ask of the LORD;

this I seek:

To dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD

and contemplate his temple.

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD with courage;

be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Gospel

Lk 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,

and he turned and addressed them,

"If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,

wife and children, brothers and sisters,

and even his own life,

he cannot be my disciple.

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me

cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower

does not first sit down and calculate the cost

to see if there is enough for its completion?

Otherwise, after laying the foundation

and finding himself unable to finish the work

the onlookers should laugh at him and say,

'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.'

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down

and decide whether with ten thousand troops

he can successfully oppose another king

advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?

But if not, while he is still far away,

he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.

In the same way,

everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions

cannot be my disciple."

SAINT OF THE DAY

November 7

St. Didacus (1400-1463)

Didacus is living proof that God "chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong" 
(1 Corinthians 1:27).

As a young man in Spain, Didacus joined the Secular Franciscan Order and lived for some time as a hermit. After Didacus became a Franciscan brother, he developed a reputation for great insight into God’s ways. His penances were heroic. 
He was so generous with the poor that the friars sometimes grew uneasy about his charity.

Didacus volunteered for the missions in the Canary Islands and labored there energetically and profitably. He was also the superior of a friary there.

In 1450 he was sent to Rome to attend the canonization of St. Bernardine of Siena. When many friars gathered for that celebration fell sick, Didacus stayed in Rome for three months to nurse them. After he returned to Spain, he pursued a life of contemplation full-time. 
He showed the friars the wisdom of God’s ways.

As he was dying, Didacus looked at a crucifix and said: "O faithful wood, O precious nails! You have borne an exceedingly sweet burden, for you have been judged worthy to bear the Lord and King of heaven" (Marion A. Habig, O.F.M., The Franciscan Book of Saints, p. 834).

San Diego, California, is named for this Franciscan, who was canonized in 1588.

OFFICE OF READINGS

O Lord, open my lips.

And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Invitatory Psalm

Psalm 94 (95)

Let us worship the Lord, for he made us.

– Let us worship the Lord, for he made us.

Come, let us rejoice in the Lord,

let us acclaim God our salvation.

Let us come before him proclaiming our thanks,

let us acclaim him with songs.

– Let us worship the Lord, for he made us.

For the Lord is a great God,

a king above all gods.

For he holds the depths of the earth in his hands,

and the peaks of the mountains are his.

For the sea is his: he made it;

and his hands formed the dry land.

– Let us worship the Lord, for he made us.

Come, let us worship and bow down,

bend the knee before the Lord who made us;

for he himself is our God and we are his flock,

the sheep that follow his hand.

– Let us worship the Lord, for he made us.

If only, today, you would listen to his voice:

“Do not harden your hearts

as you did at Meribah,

on the day of Massah in the desert,

when your fathers tested me –

they put me to the test,

although they had seen my works.”

– Let us worship the Lord, for he made us.

“For forty years they wearied me,

that generation.

I said: their hearts are wandering,

they do not know my paths.

I swore in my anger:

they will never enter my place of rest.”

– Let us worship the Lord, for he made us.

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.

– Let us worship the Lord, for he made us.

Hymn

Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal

Bright as fire in darkness,

Sharper than a sword,

Lives throughout the ages

God’s eternal word.

Father, Son and Spirit,

Trinity of might,

Compassed in your glory,

Give the world your light.

Psalm 88 (89)

The Lord's kindness to the house of David

Love and truth walk in your presence, Lord.

I will sing for ever of the kindnesses of the Lord:

to generation upon generation

my mouth will proclaim your faithfulness.

For you have said

“My kindness shall be established for ever”;

your faithfulness will be established in the heavens.

“I have made a covenant with my chosen one.

I have sworn to David my servant:

To all eternity I will set your descendants firm;

I shall build your house to last for all generations.”

The heavens will proclaim your wonders, O Lord,

the assembly of your holy ones will proclaim your faithfulness.

For who in the sky can be compared to the Lord?

Who could resemble the Lord among all the sons of God?

God is to be feared in the council of his holy ones,

great and terrible above all who surround him.

Lord God of hosts, who is like you?

Yours is the power, and faithfulness surrounds you.

You subdue the pride of the sea:

when its waves rise high, you calm them.

You have trampled Rahab underfoot, like a wounded man;

through the strength of your arm you have scattered your enemies.

Yours are the heavens and yours is the earth,

you set firm the globe and all it contains.

You made the north and the south,

Tabor and Hermon will rejoice in your name.

Your arm it is that has the power,

your hand is strong, your right hand held high.

Your throne is founded on justice and right,

kindness and faithfulness are your attendants.

Happy the nation that knows the cry of praise!

They will walk in the light of your presence, Lord,

and rejoice in your name all the day –

for you are the splendour of their strength,

and by your good will our standard is held high.

For our shields belong to the Lord,

and our king to the Holy One of Israel.

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.

Love and truth walk in your presence, Lord.

Psalm 88 (89)

The Son of God was born into the house of David 

when he came into this world.

In a vision you spoke to your holy ones.

You said, “I have given strength to a warrior,

I have raised a chosen one from the people.

I have found David my servant,

I have anointed him with my holy oil.

For my hand will always give him support,

my right arm will give him strength.

The enemy shall make no headway against him,

the son of iniquity shall have no power over him.

I will crush his foes in his sight

and strike down those who hate him.

My faithfulness and kindness shall be with him

and his strength will be triumphant through my name.

I shall extend his power over the sea,

and his right hand over the rivers.

He will call upon me: ‘you are my father,

my God and my safe refuge.’

And I shall make him my first-born,

supreme over all the kings of the earth.

My kindness to him will continue for ever,

my covenant with him will remain firm.

For all ages I shall establish his descendants,

and for all the days of heaven his throne will stand.”

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.

The Son of God was born into the house of David 

when he came into this world.

Psalm 88 (89)

Once for all, I have sworn to David my servant: 

his dynasty shall last for ever.

“But if his children abandon my law

and walk no more in the paths of my decrees;

if they profane my judgements

and do not keep to my commandments,

I will punish their transgressions with a rod,

I will punish their wickedness with a beating.

Even so, I will not turn my kindness away from him,

nor will I be untrue to my word.

I will not profane my covenant,

I will not go against the word I have spoken.

I have sworn in my sanctuary, once and for all:

I will not lie to David.

His seed shall remain for ever,

his throne firm as the sun in my sight,

just as the moon stays firm for ever,

a faithful witness in the sky.”

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.

Once for all, I have sworn to David my servant: 

his dynasty shall last for ever.

The words that you utter give light

– and understanding to the simple.

Reading

1 Maccabees 3:1-26

Then Mattathias’s son Judas, called Maccabaeus, took over his command. All his brothers, and all who had attached themselves to his father, supported him, and they fought for Israel with a will.

He extended the fame of his people.

He put on the breastplate like a giant

and girded on his war harness;

he engaged in battle after battle,

protecting the ranks with his sword.

He was like a lion in his exploits,

like a lion’s whelp roaring over its prey.

He pursued and tracked down the renegades,

he consigned those who troubled his people to the flames.

Renegades were abashed for terror of him,

all evil-doers were utterly confounded,

and deliverance went forward under his leadership.

He brought bitterness to many a king

and rejoicing to Jacob by his deeds,

his memory is blessed for ever and ever.

He went through the towns of Judah

and utterly destroyed the infidels in them,

turning wrath away from Israel.

His name resounded to the ends of the earth

and he rallied those who were on the point of perishing.

But Apollonius mustered the pagans and a large force from Samaria to fight against Israel. When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him and routed and killed him. Many fell wounded, and the survivors took to flight. Their spoils were seized and the sword of Apollonius was taken by Judas, who used it to fight with throughout his life. On hearing that Judas had raised a mixed force of believers and seasoned fighters. Seron, commander of the Syrian troops, said, ‘I will make a name for myself and gain honour in the kingdom if I fight Judas and those supporters of his who are so contemptuous of the king’s orders.’ He therefore launched another expedition, with a strong army of infidels to support him in taking revenge on the Israelites. He had nearly reached the descent of Beth-horon when Judas went out to confront him with a handful of men. But as soon as these saw the force advancing to meet them they said to Judas, ‘How can we, few as we are, engage such overwhelming numbers? We are exhausted as it is, not having had anything to eat today.’ ‘It is easy’ Judas answered ‘for a great number to be routed by a few; indeed in the sight of heaven deliverance, whether by many or by few, is all one; for victory in war does not depend on the size of the fighting force; it is from heaven that strength comes. They are coming against us in full-blown insolence and lawlessness to destroy us, our wives and our children, and to plunder us; but we are fighting for our lives and our laws, and he will crush them before our eyes; do not be afraid of them.’ When he had finished speaking, he made a sudden sally against Seron and his force and overwhelmed them. Judas pursued him down from Beth-horon as far as the plain. About eight hundred of their men fell, and the rest took refuge in the country of the Philistines. Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and alarm seized the surrounding peoples. His name even reached the king’s ears, and in every nation there was talk of Judas and his battles.

Responsory

They come against us in great pride and lawlessness; as for you, do not be afraid of them:

it is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends,

since strength comes from heaven.

We fight for our lives and our laws,

and the Lord himself will crush them before us.

It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends,

since strength comes from heaven.

Reading

From the Instructions to Catechumens by St Cyril of Jerusalem

The power of faith transcends man's strength

The one word “faith” can have two meanings. One kind of faith concerns doctrines. It involves the soul’s assent to and acceptance of some particular matter. It also concerns the soul’s good according to the words of the Lord: Whoever hears my voice and believes in him who sent me has eternal life, and will not come to be judged. And again: He who believes in the Son is not condemned, but has passed from death to life.

How great is God’s love for men! Some good men have been found pleasing to God because of years of work. What they achieved by working for many hours at a task pleasing to God is freely given to you by Jesus in one short hour. For if you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved and taken up to paradise by him, just as he brought the thief there. Do not doubt that this is possible. After all, he saved the thief on the holy hill of Golgotha because of one hour’s faith; will he not save you too since you have believed?

The other kind of faith is given by Christ by means of a special grace. To one wise sayings are given through the Spirit, to another perceptive comments by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing. Now this kind of faith, given by the Spirit as a special favour, is not confined to doctrinal matters, for it produces effects beyond any human capability. If a man who has this faith says to this mountain move from here to there, it will move. For when anybody says this in faith, believing it will happen and having no doubt in his heart, he then receives that grace.

It is of this kind of faith, moreover, that it is said: If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed. The mustard seed is small in size but it holds an explosive force; although it is sown in a small hole, it produces great branches, and when it is grown birds can nest there. In the same way faith produces great effects in the soul instantaneously. Enlightened by faith, the soul pictures God and sees him as clearly as any soul can. It circles the earth; even before the end of this world it sees the judgement and the conferring of promised rewards. So may you have the faith which depends on you and is directed to God, that you may receive from him that faith too which transcends man’s capacity.

Responsory

We know that no man is ever justified by doing what the law demands,

but only through faith in Christ Jesus;

so we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus,

in order that we may be justified through faith in him.

God designed him to be the means of expiating sin by his sacrificial death,

effective through faith;

so we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus,

in order that we may be justified through faith in him.

Let us pray.

God of power and mercy,

by whose grace your people give you praise and worthy service,

save us from faltering

on our way to the joys you have promised.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

– Thanks be to God.