Church Calendar

Reminiscere
Introit: Ps. 25:1-2a, 7-8, 11; antiphon: Ps. 25:6, 2b, 22
Gradual: Ps. 25:17-18
Old Testament: Gen. 32:22-32
Psalm 121 (antiphon: vv. 1-2)
Epistle: 1 Thess. 4:1-7
or Rom. 5:1-5\rTract: Ps. 106:1-4
Gospel: Matt. 15:21-28

Holding God to His Word\rJacob wrestled with God; he would not let Him go until he received a blessing from Him (Gen. 32:22-32). So it was with the Canaanite woman. Though Jesus seemed to ignore and reject her, she continued to call upon His name and look to Him for help (Mt. 15:21-28). Even when the Lord called her a little dog, she held on to Him in faith and would not let Him wriggle out of His words: "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." This Gentile woman shows herself to be a true Israelite, who struggles with God and man in Christ and prevails. "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire" (Mt. 15:27-28). This is the sanctifying will of God (1 Thess. 4:1-7)-to test your faith in order that it may be refined and strengthened. For tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope. And hope in Christ does not disappoint (Rom. 5:1-5).

At the beginning of the third century, the Roman emperor Septimus Severus forbade conversions to Christianity. Among those disobeying that edict were Perpetua, a young noblewoman, and her maidservant Felicitas. Both were jailed at Carthage in North Africa along with three fellow Christians. During their imprisonment, Perpetua and Felicitas witnessed to their faith with such conviction that the officer in charge became a follower of Jesus. After making arrangements for the well-being of their children, Perpetua and Felicitas were executed on March 7, 203. Tradition holds that Perpetua showed mercy to her captors by falling on a sword because they could not bear to put her to death. The story of this martyrdom has been told ever since as an encouragement to persecuted Christians.

Oculi
Introit: Ps. 25:1-2, 17-18, 20; antiphon: Ps. 25:15-16
Gradual: Ps. 9:19, 3
Old Testament: Ex. 8:16-24
or Jer. 26:1-15
Psalm 136:1-16 (antiphon: v. 26)
or Psalm 4 (antiphon: v. 8)
Epistle: Eph. 5:1-9
Tract: Ps. 123:1-3a
Gospel: Luke 11:14-28

Jesus Overcomes the Strong Man
Jeremiah was charged with speaking evil when he spoke the Word of the Lord (Jer. 26:1-15). So also, Jesus is accused of doing evil when in fact He is doing good. He casts out a demon from a mute man so that he is able to speak (Luke 11:14-28). But some said Jesus did this by the power of Beelzebub, Satan. Like Pharaoh of old, their hearts were hard (Ex. 8:16-24). They did not recognize the finger of God, the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through Jesus. Jesus is the Stronger Man who overcomes the strong man. He takes the devil's armor of sin and death and destroys it from the inside out by the holy cross. He exorcizes and frees us by water and the Word. We were once darkness, but now we are light in Christ the Lord (Eph. 5:1-9). As children of light, our tongues are loosed to give thanks to Him who saved us.

Patrick is one of the best-known of the missionary saints. Born to a Christian family in Britain around the year 389, he was captured as a teenager by raiders, taken to Ireland, and forced to serve as a herdsman. After six years he escaped and found his way to a monastery community in France. Ordained a bishop in 432, he made his way back to Ireland, where he spent the rest of his long life spreading the Gospel and organizing Christian communities. He strongly defended the doctrine of the Holy Trinity in a time when it was not popular to do so. His literary legacy includes his autobiography, Confessio, and several prayers and hymns still used in the church today. Patrick died around the year 466.

Laetare
Introit: Ps. 122:1-2, 6, 8; antiphon: Isaiah 66:10a, 11a
Gradual: Ps. 122:1, 7
Old Testament: Ex. 16:2-21
or Is. 49:8-13
Psalm 132:8-18 (antiphon: v. 13)
Epistle: Gal. 4:21-31
or Acts 2:41-47
Tract: Ps. 125:1-2, 5b
Gospel: John 6:1-15

The Lord Feeds His People
The Lord provided bread from heaven for His people in the wilderness (Ex. 16:2-21). Now He who is Himself the living bread from heaven miraculously provides bread for the five thousand (John 6:1-15). This takes place near the time of the Passover, after a great multitude had followed Jesus across the sea, and when He went up on a mountain. Seen in this way, Jesus is our new and greater Moses, who releases us from the bondage of Mount Sinai and makes us free children of the promise (Gal. 4:21-31). Five loaves become twelve baskets-that is, the five books of Moses find their goal and fulfillment in Christ, whose people continue steadfastly in the doctrine and fellowship of the twelve apostles, and in the breaking and receiving of the bread of life, which is the body of Christ together with His precious blood, and in the prayers (Acts 2:41-47). So it is that God's people "shall not hunger or thirst" (Is. 49:8-13). For He abundantly provides for us in both body and soul.

Old Testament: 2 Sam. 7:4-16
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Sam.%207%3A4-16

Epistle:Rom. 4:13-18
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.%204%3A13-18

Holy Gospel:Matt. 2:13-15; Matt. 2:19-23
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.%202%3A13-15%3B%20Matt.%202%3A19-23

Collect:
Almighty God, from the house of Your servant David You raised up Joseph to be the guardian of Your incarnate Son and the husband of His mother, Mary. Grant us grace to follow the example of this faithful workman in heeding Your counsel and obeying Your commands; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 7:4-16
Psalm 127 (antiphon: v. 1a)
Epistle: Romans 4:13-18
Gospel:Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus
It was King David's idea to build a permanent house for the ark of the covenant and the Lord's name (2 Sam. 7:5-7). The temple he planned was built by King Solomon, but it was never really David or Solomon who housed and protected God. "The LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house" (2 Sam. 7:11). St. Joseph was not Jesus' true father, since the child "conceived in [Mary] is from the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 1:20). The Church commemorates him instead as the "guardian of Jesus." Heeding the word of God's angels, protecting the unborn Christ, sparing the infant Jesus from Herod's wrath, seeing Him "out of Egypt" again (Matt. 2:13-23) and bringing Him up "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4), Joseph is an example for all Christian fathers and guardians. But as with David "housing" the Lord who made a house for him, Joseph was never really the guardian. Christ was. His Name is "Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). The "offspring" promised to Abraham and renewed in the promises to David is the One "who gives life to the dead" (Rom. 4:16-18). He is David's King, Abraham's Lord, Joseph's Guardian and our Savior.

Old Testament: Isaiah 7:10-14
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%207%3A10-14

Epistle:Isaiah 7:10-14
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%207%3A10-14

Holy Gospel:Luke 1:26-38
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201%3A26-38

Collect:
O Lord, as we have known the incarnation of Your Son Jesus Christ by the message of the angel to the Virgin Mary, so by the message of His cross and passion bring us to the glory of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament: Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 45:7-17 (antiphon: v. 6)\rEpistle: Hebrews 10:4-10
Gospel:Luke 1:26-38

Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary, and Made Man
"It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (Heb. 10:4). But "nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). He opens ears to hear and wombs to conceive. "Let it be to me according to your Word," says St. Mary (Luke 1:38). The Most High who once dwelt in the tabernacle comes to overshadow Mary, who believes the angel's "annunciation" (Luke 1:35). "The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Is. 7:14). In Jesus Christ, God is with us-even from the moment of His conception. This miracle, that Mary should become the mother of God, will be a sign against the proud in Israel; but it is the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah and David. "I delight to do Your will, O my God," says Christ (Ps. 40:8). From Mary's flesh, the Most High has prepared a body for His Son (Heb. 10:5), a body to be offered "once for all" as the sacrifice that alone takes away sins and gives a righteousness apart from the Law (Heb. 10:10). Through His conception, life, and death, we have been sanctified. God favors us in this child. And like the Blessed Virgin Mary, blessed "are those who hear the Word of God and keep it" (Luke 11:28).

Judica
Introit: Ps. 43: 3-5; antiphon: Ps. 43:1-2a
Gradual: Ps. 143:9a, 10a; 18:48a,c
Old Testament: Gen. 22:1-14
Psalm 43 (antiphon: v. 5)
Epistle: Heb. 9:11-15
Tract: Ps. 129:1-4
Gospel: John 8:(42-45) 46-59

Jesus Is Our Redemption
In the temple Jesus said, "If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death" (John 8:51). For Jesus came to taste death for us-to drink the cup of suffering to the dregs in order that we might be released from its power. Clinging to His life-giving words, we are delivered from death's sting and its eternal judgment. Christ is our High Priest, who entered the Most Holy Place and with His own blood obtained everlasting redemption for His people (Heb. 9:11-15). He is the One who was before Abraham was, and yet is his descendant. He is the promised Son who carries the wood up the mountain for the sacrifice, who is bound and laid upon the altar of the cross. He is the ram who is offered in our place, who is willingly caught in the thicket of our sin, and who wears the crown of thorns upon His head (Gen. 22:1-14). Though Jesus is dishonored by the sons of the devil, He is vindicated by the Father through the cross.