Lk 11:15–26 "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house."

 

First Reading: Joel 1:13–15; 2:1–2

Gird yourselves and weep, O priests!
wail, O ministers of the altar!
Come, spend the night in sackcloth,
O ministers of my God!
The house of your God is deprived
of offering and libation.
Proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the elders,
all who dwell in the land,
Into the house of the Lord, your God,
and cry to the Lord!

Alas, the day!
for near is the day of the Lord,
and it comes as ruin from the Almighty.

Blow the trumpet in Zion,
sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all who dwell in the land tremble,
for the day of the Lord is coming;
Yes, it is near, a day of darkness and of gloom,
a day of clouds and somberness!
Like dawn spreading over the mountains,
a people numerous and mighty!
Their like has not been from of old,
nor will it be after them,
even to the years of distant generations.

 

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R./ The Lord will judge the world with justice.

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart; 
I will declare all your wondrous deeds. 
I will be glad and exult in you; 
I will sing praise to your name, Most High. 
R./ The Lord will judge the world with justice.

You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; 
their name you blotted out forever and ever. 
The nations are sunk in the pit they have made; 
in the snare they set, their foot is caught. 
R./ The Lord will judge the world with justice.

But the Lord sits enthroned forever; 
he has set up his throne for judgment. 
He judges the world with justice; 
he governs the peoples with equity. 
R./ The Lord will judge the world with justice.

 

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:15–26

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: 
"By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, 
he drives out demons." 
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. 
But he knew their thoughts and said to them, 
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste 
and house will fall against house. 
And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? 
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. 
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, 
by whom do your own people drive them out? 
Therefore they will be your judges. 
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, 
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, 
his possessions are safe. 
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, 
he takes away the armor on which he relied 
and distributes the spoils. 
Whoever is not with me is against me, 
and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 

"When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, 
it roams through arid regions searching for rest 
but, finding none, it says, 
'I shall return to my home from which I came.' 
But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. 
Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits 
more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, 
and the last condition of that man is worse than the first."  

Liturgy Alive

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY - Memorial
October 7

Introduction

The opening words of the Hail Mary, which are taken from the words of the angel and of Elizabeth to Mary, point out the place of Mary in the history of salvation: she is chosen by God to give Christ to the world. This is why in the rosary, we meditate on the mysteries of Christ, in which Mary was his associate. With her, we too, have to let God's Word become flesh and blood in us and in others.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God
you let Jesus, your Word, become one of us
and gave him to the world
through the Blessed Virgin Mary.
With her, may we give shape
to the living Word of Jesus
by making him come to life
in our words and deeds
and bringing his hope and peace,
his forgiveness and joy to the world,
for he is our Lord for ever.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
Mary, the Mother of Jesus,
placed herself with all she was and had
in the service of your Son.
Through this bread and wine,
we commit ourselves
to your Son and his work.
Accept our offering
and confirm us in our purpose
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
your Word became flesh in Mary;
your Word became flesh among us
here in this Eucharist.
With the help of the prayers
of the woman full of grace,
let us become a free gift of grace
to all whom we encounter,
that Jesus Christ may live among us,
now and for ever.