Old Stuff

Thursday of the Twenty-Sixth Week of Ordinary Time

Second Reading from the Office of Readings of the Liturgy of the Hours for Thursday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

From a letter to the Philippians by Saint Polycarp, bishop and martyr

(Cap. 12, 1--14: Funk 1, 279-283)

May Christ build you up in faith and in truth

I am sure that you are well grounded in the Scriptures and nothing of their message escapes you. I, however, have not been so fortunate. As these same Scriptures put it: Be angry and do not sin and do not let the sun set on your anger. Blessed is the man who bears this in mind, as I am sure you do.

May God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal high priest himself, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and in truth and in great gentleness. May you never know anger, but be patient, long-suffering, persevering and chaste. May he grant you a place among his saints; and may he give the same to us along with you, as well as to all on earth who put their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and in his Father who has raised him from the dead.

Keep all the saints in your prayers. Pray, too, for our rulers, for our leaders, and for all those in power, even for those who persecute and hate you, and for those who are enemies of the cross. In this way, your good works will be seen by all men, and you will be perfected in him.

Both you and Ignatius have written me to ask whether anyone going to Syria will deliver your letter as well as ours. If the opportunity offers itself, I will do it; if I cannot, I will send a representative.

As you request, we have returned to you the letters Ignatius sent us and as many other letters as we had; they are being enclosed with this letter. You will derive great benefit from them, for they are full of faith and patience, and great edification in all that refers to our Lord. Send us any certain information you may possess about Ignatius and his companions.

I am sending this letter to you by Crescens, whom I commended to you when I was present, and do so again. He has lived blamelessly among us, as I am sure he will among you. When his sister comes to you, she too will come with our commendation.

May you find protection in the Lord Jesus Christ, and may his grace be with all who are yours. Amen.

Responsory Hebrews 13:20, 21; 2 Maccabees 1:3

May the God of peace give you all
that is good so that you may do his will;
--may he accomplish in you all that is
pleasing to him through Jesus Christ.

May he give to all of you a heart
to worship him and to do his will.
--May he accomplish in you all that is
pleasing to him through Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Father,
you show your almighty power
in your mercy and forgiveness.
Continue to fill us with your gifts of love.
Help us to hurry toward the eternal life you promise
and come to share in the joys of your kingdom.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Let us praise the Lord.
--And give him thanks.

Posted by billw at October 3, 2002 07:09 AM | TrackBack