Sunday 18 August 2013

Night Office Saint John Chrysostom 18 Aug 2013

 
TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY
First Reading                           Ephesians 1:1-14

Responsory                                                                                               Col 1:17-20
Christ exists before all things, and all things are held together in him. He is the head of the body, the Church. + He is the beginning and the first-born from the dead, so as to be first in every way.
V. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.+ He is the ...

Second Reading       From a homily by Saint John Chrysostom
In his great desire for the glory of his grace to be revealed, God the Father predestined us to be adopted as his children. This was his will and pleasure, says the Apostle, so that his glorious grace freely bestowed on us in his Beloved might redound to his praise.

Why does God wish to be praised and glorified by us if not to make our love for him more fervent? His desire is not to receive service or glory or anything else from us, but only for our salvation, and for this he made the whole world. Being filled with praise and wonder because of the grace bestowed on us will make us more diligent and zealous.

Imagine a man suffering from a repugnant and infectious disease, and afflicted as well by old age, poverty, and hunger. Suppose someone suddenly transforms him into a comely young man, surpassing all others in beauty, his cheeks glowing, his eyes shining more brightly than the sun; and suppose that having endowed him thus with the bloom of youth, he then clothes him in purple, puts a crown on his head, and gives him all the insignia of a king. Welt this is exactly what God has done for our soul: he has made it beautiful, desirable, and lovable. The angels, archangels, and all the powers of heaven desire to look upon such a soul. So has he made us pleasing and desirable in his eyes. As the Psalmist says: The King will desire your beauty.

Consider the hurtful things we used to say, and how full of grace are the words we use now. Think of the words spoken by the newly baptized. Could any speech be more beautiful than that we use in renouncing the devil and swearing allegiance to Christ, or than the profession of faith that we make before and after our baptism? But let the thought of how many of us have been unfaithful to our baptism fill us with sorrow, so that its grace may be renewed in us.

In his Beloved, says the Apostle, in whom we have redemption through his blood. The wonder is not only that God gave us his Son, but even more that he gave his Beloved to be sacrificed. There can be no greater marvel than this, that he gave his Beloved for his enemies. See how highly he values us! If he gave his Beloved when we hated him and were his enemies, what will he not give us in the future, now that we have been reconciled to him through grace?

Passing from the heights to the depths, the Apostle spoke first about adoption as children, sanctification and purity, and finally about suffering. Not that he considers suffering to be of less importance, for his subject matter is not arranged in an order proceeding from what is more to what is less wonderful, but indeed the reverse. Nothing is more astounding than the fact that Gods blood was shed for us; surpassing our adoption as his children and all his other gifts is the fact that he did not even spare his Son. For it is a great thing that our sins have been forgiven, but an even greater that they have been forgiven through the blood of our Lord.

Responsory                                                                 Ps 145:4-5.14
One age shall proclaim your works to another, shall declare your mighty deeds. +People will speak of your plendour and glory, and tell of your wonderful works.
V. The Lord supports all who stumble and raises all who are bowed down. + People will ...
John Chrysostom, Hom. 1 sur L’Ephesiens: Bareillle 18, 176-178.
A Word in Season. Readings for the Liturgy of the Hours. VI, Ordinary Time Year 1, pp.26-27. Augustinian Press 1995. 




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