December 26., csütörtök SZENT ISTVÁN VÉRTANÚ

ApCsel 6,8-10; 7,54-59; Zs 30; Mt 10,17-22
“Uram, kezedbe ajánlom lelkemetk szabadítását”

Vértanúnak lenni dicsőség. Azonban ezt a dicsőséges halált
csak az képes felvállalni, aki hétköznapi életében is Jézus
tanúja. Szent István szeretetszolgálattal, a szegények és
elnyomottak megsegítésével készült fel a vértanúságra.
Életében eszköze volt Isten gondoskodó szeretetének.
Halálában pedig bátor hitvalló, hirdetője Isten Igéjének.

István diakónus példáján elgondolkodva tegyük fel magunknak
a kérdést: Vajon észreveszem a körülöttem élő szegényeket?
Megsegítem az anyagi javakban szűkölködőket és a túlhajszolt
életben összeroppantakat? Kézzel foghatóvá teszem Isten
szeretetét? Bátran megvallom minden körülmények között, hogy
ki életem ura?
Vértanúvá válni nem egy pillanat műve, hanem tudatos
megvallása és követése az Úrnak, Jézus Krisztusnak.

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St. Stephen – December 26

Daily Prayer
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Collect:
Grant, Lord, we pray,
that we may imitate what we worship,
and so l
earn to love even our enemies,
for we celebrate
the heavenly birthday
of a man who knew how to pray even for his persecutors.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
*

Today’s Readings – Lectionary # 696

Daily Meditation:
The gates of heaven opened for Stephen, the first of the martyrs;
in heaven, he wears the crown of victory. Entrance Antiphon

We remember the first martyr today to emphasize the invitation we have
as followers of Jesus to witness to his presence in our world, even when
it is unpopular, counter-cultural, or may even cost us our lives.

May we ask for the grace today to pray for our enemies and to
surrender even our lives in sharing this Good News with others.

Today’s Daily Reflection

Intercession:
Our Savior’s faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses
who shed their blood for the Word of God.
Let us praise him in remembrance of them:
You redeemed us by your blood.

Your martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith,
– give us the true freedom of the Spirit, O Lord.

Your martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood,
– give us a faith, O Lord, that is constant and pure.

Your martyrs followed in your footstep by carrying the cross,
– help us to endure courageously the misfortunes of life.

Your martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb,
– Help us to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

Closing Prayer:
God of all great love,

you know how full of courage Stephen was
and how full of fears I am.

Help me to have the strength to be a witness for my faith,
standing up for those who are weaker,
speaking out for what I believe,
and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.

Also give me a share in your compassion and understanding
that I might pray for those who oppose me,
those who ridicule me,
and those who dismiss me.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


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Christmas Day

Daily Prayer

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Entrance Antiphon:
A child is born for us,
and a son is given to us;
his scepter of power rests upon his shoulder,
and his name will be called Messenger of great counsel
. (Isaiah 9:5)

Collect:
O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature
and still more wonderfully restored it,
grant, we pray,
that we may share in the divinity of Christ
who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.*

Today’s Readings

Daily Meditation:
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God
.
John 1

We plan to celebrate the family Christmas morning, with our traditional customs,
perhaps with a Christmas tree gift sharing with the children.
When we come to church to celebrate our faith together,
there is a different feel than midnight Mass or even an early
morning Mass.
Still, the choir draws us in immediately.
We look at each other and smile and we see the bright eyes of
the elderly and single friends around the community.
We know why we are here, and it is easy to join in the singing.

Let us give thanks today. Let us repeat the sounding joy of a faith-filled Christmas.
Let’s go forth to share glad tidings with our family and friends.
Let’s help our Lord usher in an age of justice and peace,
beginning in our our hearts this day.

Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various way to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son. Hebrews 1

Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
At the birth of Jesus, angels proclaimed peace to the world.
We worship him now with joy, and we pray with hearts full of faith:
May your birth bring peace to all.

Lord, fill your holy people with whatever good they need,
– let the mystery of your birth be the source of our peace.

You came as chief shepherd and guardian of our lives,
– let the pope and bishops be faithful channels of your many gifts of grace.

King from all eternity, you desired to be born within time
and to experience the day-to-day life of men and women,
– share your gift of unending life with us, weak people doomed to death.

Awaited from the beginning of the world, you came only in the fullness of time,
-now reveal your presence to those who are expecting you.

You became one of us and gave new life to our human condition in the grip of death,
-now give the fullness of life to all who have died.


Closing Prayer:
This day feels so different already, dear Lord.
You promised the glory of this day by the birth of Jesus.
So humble, so simple, such a complete act of love.

Make me one of your people of the light
and help me to be faithful to your word.
I am filled with the joy of the world
and ask you to fill my heart
with a longing for your justice and peace.

My savior – you are here with me on this day,
bringing life to the waiting world.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


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December 25., szerda KARÁCSONY: JÉZUS KRISZTUS SZÜLETÉSE

Iz 52,7-10; Zs 97; Zsid 1,1-6; Jn 1,1-18
“Látták a földön mindenütt Istenünk szabadítását”

Az igazi világosság, aki minden embert megvilágosít,
a világba jött. A világban volt, a világ őáltala lett, de a
világ nem ismerte fel őt.

Akkor sem és ma sem ismerte fel a világ, hogy eljött hozzá a
világosság. Nem fogadták be, nem segítettek rajta – pedig
csak egy ártatlan kisgyermeket láttak, akin bárki érző
embernek megesne a szíve… De ha ma nem látjuk meg a
világosságot a szakadt, koszos, éhes, összefagyott emberben,
akkor mondhatunk bármit, mi sem nyitottunk volna ajtót ott
Betlehemben az Úrnak. Jézus a legkisebbként jött közénk,
ezért is hívta fel a figyelmet a legkisebbekről való
gondoskodásra. Mert Ő visszatér Atyjához, így hiába keressük
arcát az emberek között – hacsak fel nem fedezzük vonásait
azokban, akiken otthagyja jelét, hogy felismerhessük őt. Ha
pedig megláttuk világosságát, akkor már könnyebb követni azt.
És talán nemcsak karácsony idején…

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Fourth Tuesday of Advent

Daily Advent Prayer
“Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

December 24th

Collect:
Come quickly, we pray, Lord Jesus,
and do not delay,
that those who trust in your compassion
may find solace and relief in your coming.

Who live and reign with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *

Today’s Readings

Daily Meditation:
“Behold, when the fullness of time had come,
God sent his Son into the world. Galatians 4:4

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

On this final morning of anticipation,
we await the celebration of our Savior’s birth.
May our hearts be open to receive the light
come into all darkness.
May our hearts be open to accept the lowliness of his way of coming among us.

Today’s Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
To Christ our Lord, the light of the world , let us cry
with joy:
Come Lord Jesus!

Dispel our darkness with the light of your presence,
– and make us worthy of your gifts.

Save us, Lord our God,
– that we may praise your holy name this day.

Enkindle in our hearts the flame of your love,
– and make us long to be united with you.

You bore our infirmity,
-aid the sick and those who are to die this day.

Closing Prayer:
Oh, God-With-Us,
For so long you have promised
forgiveness, peace, salvation.
Now in my heart, I am filled with joy
because of your coming.

Thank you for your promises
and for the way I can trust in you.
I feel a new freedom in my life
and a courage I have not known before.

I know you came to save me and bring new life
and I am so grateful to you.
Let me show my thankfulness
with my life.
You have brought me through the darkness
and into the light of your saving grace.

Guide my feet on the way of peace.

O, Come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphet!

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


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December 24., kedd

2Sám 7,1-5.8b-11.16; Zs 88; Lk 1,67-79
“A te házad és királyságod örökre megmarad”

Az Istentől távol lévő, elszakított ember érzelmei,
gondolatai töltik be a 88. zsoltárt. Üresek, nyomorultak,
halottak vagyunk az isteni szeretet nélkül. Fásultak,
lehangoltak, gondterheltek, depressziósak, szorongók,
önzők, irigyek, anyagiasak, veszekedők, ingerültek,
unalmasak.

Az első lépést nem nekünk kell megtenni. Megtette
helyettünk az Isten. Azon a bizonyos betlehemi éjszakán
az emberi sors minden gyötrelmét és szépségét magára
vállalva jött közel hozzánk, hogy örökérvényűen és
sorsfordítóan szóljon bele az egyes emberek életébe, és a
világtörténelem folyamatába. Közel jött, hogy megmutassa,
lehet másként, tartalmasan, teljesen, boldogan élni.

De ehhez nekünk is lépnünk kell. Muszáj megtenni,
különben ugyanolyanok maradunk, mint a zsoltáros. Muszáj
az egocentrikus szemléletünket teocentrikussá, Istenre
figyelővé változtatni. Muszáj nekünk is cselekvőnek
lenni, hiszen a hit is halottá válik a szeretet tettei
nélkül. Muszáj engedni, hogy a Karácsony éjszakáján
megszülető piciny fény szétáradhasson bennünk. Muszáj
szeretnünk egymást, mert nincs más esélyünk az életben
maradásra.
Szeretetre hívott el minket az Isten!

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Fourth Monday of Advent

Daily Advent Prayer
“Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

December 23rd

Collect:

Almighty ever-living God,
as we see how the Nativity of your Son
according to the flesh draws near,
we pray that to us, your unworthy servants,
mercy may flow from your Word,
who chose to become flesh of the Virgin Mary
and establish among us his dwelling,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Today’s Readings

Daily Meditation:
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”

Mary could become the “temple of God’s Word”
because she was so ready to do God’s will.
As we approach this anniversary of our redemption,
let’s spend the day placing our life in God’s hands
embracing the ways he will come to us
and let us be his instruments for others.

Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

Today’s Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
To Christ our Lord, the light of the world , let us cry
with joy:
Come Lord Jesus!

Dispel our darkness with the light of your presence,
– and make us worthy of your gifts.

Save us, Lord our God,
– that we may praise your holy name this day.

Enkindle in our hearts the flame of your love,
– and make us long to be united with you.

You bore our infirmity,
-aid the sick and those who are to die this day.


O EMMANUEL,

God with us,
Our King and Lawgiver,
the expected of the nations and their Saviour:
Come to save us, O Lord our God.

Closing Prayer:

Oh, Emmanuel,
“God-with-Us,”
You have touched me;
you are God-with-Me.

Thank you for these weeks of prayer.
In the spirit of the season
my waiting, my patience,
feels sacred.

Refine and purify my heart
with the hottest flame of your love.
Give me the courage of your prophets
and let me do what is right
even when others don’t understand.

Bless my heart with generosity
and make me ready to receive you.

Come, Lord Jesus!  Come!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.



 

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