WEEK C
V. O God, make speed to save us;
R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
PSALMODY
Antiphon: Search me out, O God, and know my heart;*
try me and know my restless thoughts.
Opening (from Psalm 139)
You trace my journeys and my resting-places*
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Indeed there is not a word on my lips,*
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will cover me,*
and the light around me turn to night’,
Darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day;*
darkness and light to you are both alike.
Glory to the Father…
Psalm 84
How dear to me is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts!*
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of
the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young;*
by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
Happy are they who dwell in your house!*
they will always be praising you.
Happy are the people whose strength is in you!*
whose hearts are set on the pilgrims’ way.
Those who go through the desolate valley will find
it a place of springs,*
for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
They will climb from height to height,*
and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.
Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;*
hearken, O God of Jacob.
Behold our defender, O God;*
and look upon the face of your anointed.
For one day in your courts is better than
a thousand in my own room,*
and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is both sun and shield;*
he will give grace and glory;
No good thing will the Lord withhold*
from those who walk with integrity.
O Lord of hosts,*
happy are they who put their trust in you!
Glory to the Father . . .
God of pilgrims, teach us to recognize your dwelling-place in the love, generosity, and support of those with whom we share our journey, and help us to worship you in our response to those who need our care; for all the world is your temple and every human heart is a sign of your presence, made known to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Conclusion A Song of Pilgrimage (from Sirach 51)
While I was still young, before I began my travels,*
I sought for wisdom openly in my prayers.
I asked for her outside the temple sanctuary,*
and I will seek her to the end.
She has been the delight of my heart.*
from first blossom to early fruit.
I have kept firmly to the true path;*
I have followed her steps since my youth.
I bowed my ear a little and received her;*
I found wisdom and was well instructed.
Glory to the One who gives me wisdom!*
I will live according to her way.
From the beginning I gained understanding from her;*
therefore I will never be deserted.
Because I longed to find her with all my heart,*
I have gained a good possession.
As my reward the Lord has given me a tongue*
with which I shall sing his praises.
Glory to the Father…
Antiphon: Search me out, O God, and know my heart;*
try me and know my restless thoughts.
READING
Matthew 15.29-39
After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?’ Jesus asked them, ‘How many loaves have you?’ They said, ‘Seven, and a few small fish.’ Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
Silence
Response (Sirach 51:26)
V. Buy wisdom without money, take her yoke upon you.
R. Buy wisdom without money, take her yoke upon you.
V. Let your souls receive instruction.
R. Take her yoke upon you.
V. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. Buy wisdom without money, take her yoke upon you.
MAGNIFICAT
Magnificat Antiphon: Our spirits rejoice* in God our Saviour
[My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,]*
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant;*
from this day all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me*
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him*
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm;*
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones*
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,*
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,*
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our forebears,*
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father
Magnificat Antiphon: Our spirits rejoice* in God our Saviour
PRAYERS
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the time of trial,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
Collects
O God, you have assured the human family of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Deliver us from the death of sin and raise us to new life in him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Lord God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading light, glorious in all eternity. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing:
through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
