Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, August 10, 2020
 
 
 Entrance Antiphon: Psalm 74  … your covenant, O Lord… In the precious Blood of Jesus, we have union with God…. Your poor ones…. Those who seek you…. at the heart of my prayer practice, restful consenting to the Father who seeks me; my prayer is a spousal surrender to the Bridegroom, Christ.
 
Collect-Prayer: bring to perfection in our hearts the spirit of adoption…. To enter into the inheritance… promised.
 
 
First Reading: 1Kings 19:9a, 11-13a:  After the fire, there was a tiny whispering sound.  When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.  Always in my prayer there must be the silence of absolute adoration, openness to the Presence of the Lord: again like Moses before the burning bush—the Divine Name bearing the Presence.  That is why, O Jesus, Elijah and Moses appeared to you at your Transfiguration—perfect adorers in “spirit and in truth.”
 
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85 I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD—for he proclaims peace…. Glory dwelling …. Within me and the environment I create for others.  Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him.  Like Elijah, I wrap my face in my cloak: who am I to look upon the Lord.
 
 
 
Second Reading: Romans 9:1-5:  … the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises….and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever.  Amen.  Our union with the mystery of the Triune God, at the center of our souls and within the bosom of the Father, coexists within the unfolding of salvation history from the call of Abraham to the Risen and Ascended Lord, Jesus, who will come again to restore all to full humanity in the image of his glorified body.
 
Alleluia Verse:  I hope in the Lord, I hope in his word.
 
 
Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:22-33… Jesus had fed the people … made the disciples get in a boat … while he dismissed the crowds. … he went up the mountain by himself alone to pray.  When it was evening he as there alone.  In Greek (the original language of the Gospels) the word for “alone” is monos, from which the word “monk” is derived.  The monk is set apart for the worship of God alone by being voluntarily set apart for this one, alone, purpose.  It continues that aspect of the life of Jesus who frequently withdrew alone for prayer in an isolated place.
 
Our practice of daily contemplative prayer sessions continues this same aspect of the Christian life that is shown in today’s Gospel Reading.
 
 
Communion Antiphon: The bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.
 
Again, the mystery of Christ Jesus is the fulfilment of the covenant with Abraham, renewed with Moses and David:  O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord, who gives you your fill of finest wheat.
 
Prayer after Communion:  In this Communion … save us, O Lord, and confirm us in the light of your truth …. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
 




William Fredrickson, Obl. Secular OSB; D.Min.