Thursday June 6, 2024
ST NORBERT, BP (Opt. Mem.)
Office: Psalter Week 1
Mass and Preface of the day or Memorial
Vestment: Green/White
Today’s Rosary: The Luminous Mysteries
Vespers I of the Most Sacred Heart
FIRST READING
“The word of God is not chained. If we have died with him, we shall also live with him.”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:8- 15)
Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing chains like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which in Christ Jesus goes with eternal glory. The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself. Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm 25:4-5ab.8-9. 10 and 14 (R. 4a)
R/. O Lord, make me know your ways.
O Lord, make me know your ways.
Teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me;
for you are the God of my salvation. R/.
Good and upright is the Lord;
he shows the way to sinners.
He guides the humble in right judgement;
to the humble he teaches his way. R/.
R/. O Lord, make me know your ways.
All the Lord’s paths are mercy and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and commands.
The Lord’s secret is for those who fear him;
to them he reveals his covenant. R/.
ALLELUIA 2 Timothy 1:10
Alleluia. Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 12:28b-34)
At that time: One of the scribes came up and asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself. ’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbour as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any question.
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Writing to timothy, the apostle Paul made it clear that the way to living with the Lord is not different from the way of dying with the Lord. The chains on Saint Paul’s wrist could not deter him from the proclamation of the gospel of Christ. He endured suffering of diverse sorts doing the work of God for the salvation of the elect. The notion of a Christian and discipleship devoid of a cross is false. If we are to truly love God above all things and our neighbour as we love ourselves, we shall also experience suffering and wear chains in one way or another. Nevertheless, following the response of Jesus Christ to the affirmation given by the scribe concerning the first of all the commandments, whoever shall, despite the suffering and chains, love God and neighbour will be a candidate for heav
