I de tradisjonelle tidebønnene kommenterer lesningene nå i pinseoktaven hver dag messens evangelium. Slik er fredagens lesninger:

Lukas 5:17-26
En dag han holdt på med å lære folket, var det noen fariseere og lovlærere til stede; de var kommet fra alle landsbyene i Galilea, fra Judea og Jerusalem. Jesus hadde Herrens kraft så han kunne helbrede. Da kom det noen menn med en lam mann på en båre. De forsøkte å bære ham inn og legge ham ned foran Jesus. Men da det var uråd å få ham inn på grunn av trengselen, gikk de opp på taket, tok til side noen takstein og firte ham ned på båren, midt foran Jesus. Da Jesus så deres tro, sa han: «Venn, dine synder er deg tilgitt.» Men de skriftlærde og fariseerne tenkte straks: «Hva er dette for en, som spotter Gud? Hvem andre enn Gud kan tilgi synder?» Jesus visste hva de tenkte, og sa til dem: «Hva er det dere tenker? Hva er lettest å si, enten: Dine synder er deg tilgitt, eller: Stå opp og gå? Men for at dere skal vite at Menneskesønnen har makt på jorden til å tilgi synder» – og nå vendte han seg til den lamme – «så sier jeg deg: Stå opp, ta båren og gå hjem!» Og straks reiste mannen seg for øynene på dem, tok båren han hadde ligget på, og gikk hjem med lov og takk til Gud. De ble alle helt ute av seg av undring og priste Gud. De var grepet av frykt og sa: «I dag har vi sett det utrolige!»

Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. – Bk. v. on Luke v.
«And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy.» The healing of this paralytic was not idle, nor its fruits limited to himself. The Lord healed him, or ever he could ask, not because of the entreaties of others, but for example’s sake. He gave a pattern to be followed, and sought not the intercession of prayer. In the presence of the Pharisees and doctors of the law, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem, many sick folk were healed, but among them is specially described the healing of this paralytic. First of all, as we have before said, every sick man ought to engage his friends to offer up prayers for his recovery, that so the tottering framework of this our life, and the distorted feet of our works, may be righted by the healing power of the word from heaven.

Here ought therefore to be advisers, who should rouse up the minds of the sick to higher things, since when the body becometh languid with sickness, the mind is apt to follow its example. With the help of such friends he can be brought and laid on the ground before the Feet of Jesus, and seem worthy of a glance from the Lord for the Lord looketh upon such as lie lowly before Him, «for He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden » Luke ii. 48. » And when He saw their faith, He said unto him Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.» Great is the Lord, Who, for the sake of some, forgiveth the sins of others Who trieth some, and pardoneth the wanderings of others. Why should thine equal, O man, avail not with thee, if a slave have won power to intercede, and right to obtain, with God.

O Thou that judgest, learn to forgive thou that art sick, to pray. If thou doubt of the pardon of thy sins, because of their grievousness, get thee to the Church, that she may pray for thee, and that the Lord, accepting her countenance, may grant to her petitions what He refuses to thine. And although we are bound to accept this history as one of fact, and to believe that the body of the paralytic was healed yet remember thou also his inward cure, unto whom his sins were forgiven. The Jews said: «Who can forgive sins but God alone » And in these words they confessed the Godhead of Him Who forgave the sins of the paralytic, and themselves condemned their own unbelief in Him Whose work they acknowledged, but Whose Person they denied.

Her er et bilde av den tradisjonelle latinske messen i St Ansgars kirke i Kristiansand på mandag – med opptagelse og konfirmasjon også etter det gamle ritualet. Muligens kommer jeg med mer stoff om denne messen etter hvert.

I de tradisjonelle tidebønnene kommenterer lesningene nå i pinseoktaven hver dag messens evangelium. Slik er torsdagens lesninger:

Lukas 9:1-6
Jesus kalte sammen de tolv og gav dem myndighet over alle onde ånder og makt til å lege sykdommer. Så sendte han dem ut for å forkynne budskapet om Guds rike og helbrede syke. Og han sa til dem: «Ta ikke noe med dere på veien, verken stav eller veske eller brød eller penger, og heller ikke skal noen ha med to kjortler. Når dere har tatt inn i et hus, så bli der til dere drar videre. Men er det noen som ikke vil ta imot dere, skal dere dra bort fra den byen og riste støvet av føttene. Det skal være et vitnesbyrd mot dem.» Så gikk de ut og drog fra landsby til landsby, og overalt forkynte de det glade budskap og helbredet syke.

Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. – Bk. vi. on Luke ix.
We learn from the commandments of the Gospel what manner of men they ought to be who preach the glad tidings of the kingdom of God «Take nothing for your journey neither staves nor scrip, neither bread neither money.» Thus let the Apostle destitute of earthly help, and panoplies in faith, deem himself able to do all the more, as he needeth all the less Such as please may also put upon these words a spiritual interpretation in that a man may be said to lay as the encumbrances of the body, not only by abdicating power, and casting away riches, but also by denying the very body itself its pleasures. The first general commandment given to the Apostles touching their manners was to be bringers of peace, Matth. x. 13, and to be no gadders about, but keepers of the laws of guests. To wander from house to house, and to abuse the rights of hospitality, are things alien to a preacher of the kingdom of heaven.

But as the kindness of hospitality is to be met with courtesy, so also is it said » Whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet, for a testimony against them.» Hereby is it taught that hospitality doth meet with a good reward, since not only do we bring peace to such as receive us, but also, if they be shadowed by some earthly vanities, these defects are taken away, where enter the feet of them that bear the glad tidings of Apostolic preachment. It is well written in Matthew x. 11 «Into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy and there abide till ye go thence» thus avoiding any possible need of going from house to house. But no such selection is commanded to him that giveth hospitality, lest his hospitality itself should be lessened, while he picketh his guests.

This passage, taken according to the plain meaning, is a sacred commandment touching the religious duty of hospitality, but its heavenly words likewise hint at a mystery. When the house is chosen, it is asked if the master thereof be worthy. Let us see if this be not perchance a figure of the Church, and her Master, Christ. What worthier house can the Apostolic preacher enter, than the Holy Church? Or what host is more to be preferred before all others, than Christ, Whose use it is to wash the feet of His guests yea, Who suffereth not that any whom He receiveth into His house should dwell there with foul feet, but, defiled as they are by their former wanderings, doth vouchsafe to change them into new and clean livers. He Alone is He, from Whose house no man ought ever to go forth, nor change His roof for any other shelter, for unto Him it is well said » Lord, to whom shall we go Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe.» John vi. 68, 69.

I de tradisjonelle tidebønnene kommenterer lesningene nå i påskeoktaven hver dag messens evangelium. Slik er onsdagens lesninger:

Joh. 6:44-52 (51)
Ingen kan komme til meg uten at Faderen som har sendt meg, drar ham; og jeg skal reise ham opp på den siste dag. Det står skrevet hos profetene: Alle skal være opplært av Gud. Den som hører på Faderen og lærer av ham, kommer til meg. Jeg sier ikke at noen har sett Faderen; bare han som er fra Gud, har sett Faderen. Sannelig, sannelig, jeg sier dere: Den som tror, har evig liv. Jeg er livets brød. Fedrene deres spiste manna i ørkenen, men de døde. Det brødet som kommer ned fra himmelen, er slik at den som spiser av det, ikke dør. Jeg er det levende brød som er kommet ned fra himmelen. Den som spiser av dette brød, skal leve til evig tid. Og det brød jeg vil gi, er mitt legeme som jeg gir til liv for verden.

Homily by St Augustin, Bishop of Hippo. – 26th Tract on John.
Think not that thou art drawn against thy will the soul is drawn, not willingly only, but lovingly. Neither must we be afraid lest men who are great weighers of words, and very far from understanding the things of God, should catch us up upon this Gospel doctrine of the Holy Scriptures, and should say to us How can my faith be willing if am drawn I answer Thou art not drawn as touching thy will, but by pleasure. And, now, what is being drawn by pleasure Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Ps. xxxvi. 4. There is pleasure in that heart to which the Bread That came down from heaven is sweet. The poet is allowed to say His special pleasure draweth each, but pleasure, which so draweth, is not a necessity, not a bond, but a delight how much more strongly, may we say that men are drawn to Christ, who delight in truth, who delight in blessedness, who delight in righteousness, who delight in life everlasting, since truth and blessedness, and righteousness and everlasting life are all to be found in Christ? Or have the bodily senses pleasure, and the spiritual senses none? If the spiritual sense have no pleasures, wherefore is it written: And the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life, and in thy light shall we see light. Ps. xxxv. 8. …

Pinseoktaven – onsdagLes mer »

I de tradisjonelle tidebønnene kommenterer lesningene nå i pinseoktaven hver dag messens evangelium. Slik er tirsdagens lesninger:

Joh. 10:1-10
«Sannelig, sannelig, jeg sier dere: Den som ikke går inn til sauene gjennom døren, men klyver over et annet sted, han er en tyv og en røver. Men den som kommer inn gjennom døren, er hyrde for sauene. Vaktmannen åpner for ham, og sauene hører stemmen hans. Han kaller sine egne sauer ved navn og fører dem ut. Og når han har fått ut alle sine, går han foran dem, og sauene følger ham, for de kjenner hans stemme. Men en fremmed følger de ikke; de flykter for ham, fordi de ikke kjenner stemmen til den fremmede.» Denne lignelsen fortalte Jesus, men de skjønte ikke hva den betydde. Da sa Jesus: «Sannelig, sannelig, jeg sier dere: Jeg er døren inn til sauene. Alle de som er kommet før meg, er tyver og røvere, men sauene har ikke hørt på dem. Jeg er døren. Den som går inn gjennom meg, skal bli frelst, og han skal gå inn og ut og finne beite. Tyven kommer bare for å stjele, drepe og ødelegge. Jeg er kommet for at dere skal ha liv og overflod. »

Homily by St Augustin, Bishop of Hippo. – 45 th Tract on John.
In the words of the Gospel which are this day read, the Lord has spoken unto us in similitudes, touching His flock, and the Door whereby entry is made into their fold. The Pagans therefore may say, «We have good lives,» but if they enter not in the Door, what doth that profit them whereof they make their boast good life is profitable to a man if lead unto life everlasting, but if he not to have life everlasting, what shall his good life profit him Neither indeed can it be truly said that they live good lives, who are either so blinded as not to know, or so puffed up as to despise, the end of a good life. And no man can* have a true and certain hope of life everlasting, unless he know the true Life, Which is Christ, and enter in by that Door into the sheepfold.

There are many such, who try to persuade men to live good lives but not to be Christians. These are they who would fain «climb up some other way,» «for to kill and to destroy,» and are not as the Good Shepherd, Who is come to keep and to save. There have been philosophers who have treated many subtle questions of right and wrong, who have been the authors of many distinctions and definitions, who have completed many exceedingly clever arguments, who have filled many books, and have proclaimed their own wisdom with braying trumpets. These dared to say to men » Follow us embrace our school of thought, and you will find therein the secret of an happy life.» But these were not of them who enter in by the Door they came not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

Thouching these, what shall I say? Behold, the Pharisees themselves read of Christ, and therefore talked of Christ they looked for His coming, and when He came, they knew Him not. They boasted that they themselves were among the Seers, that is, of the wise ones, and they denied Christ, and entered not in by the Door. Therefore they, if they led away any, led them away only to kill and to destroy, not to free them. So much for them. Now let us see if all they who boast the name of Christian enter in by the Door. Some there are, and their number cannot be reckoned, who not only boast that they themselves are among the Seers, but would fain appear as though their hearts were enlightened by Christ but they are heretics.

I de tradisjonelle tidebønnene er matutin kortere enn vanlige dager nå i pinseoktaven (som i påskeoktaven), med bare tre salmer (men lange salmer) og tre lesninger. Lesningene kommenterer hver dag messens evangelium. Slik er mandagens lesninger:

Joh. 3:16-21
For så høyt har Gud elsket verden at han gav sin Sønn, den enbårne, for at hver den som tror på ham, ikke skal gå fortapt, men ha evig liv. Gud sendte ikke sin Sønn til verden for å dømme verden, men for at verden skulle bli frelst ved ham. Den som tror på ham, blir ikke dømt. Den som ikke tror, er allerede dømt, fordi han ikke har trodd på Guds enbårne Sønns navn. Og dette er dommen, at lyset er kommet til verden, og menneskene elsket mørket høyere enn lyset, fordi deres gjerninger var onde. For den som gjør det onde, hater lyset og vil ikke komme til lyset, for at hans gjerninger ikke skal bli avslørt. Men den som følger sannheten, kommer til lyset, for at det skal bli klart at hans gjerninger er gjort i Gud.

Homily by St Augustin, Bishop of Hippo – 12th Tract on John
The Physician cometh that, as often as in him lieth, he may heal the sick man. He is his own destroyer who will not keep the commandments of the Physician. Into the world came the Saviour. Why is He called the Saviour of the world but because He came «into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved»? If thou willest not be saved through Him, thou wilt be condemned of thyself. And why say I that thou wilt be condemned Because it is written » He that believeth in Him is not condemned.» What then canst thou hope that He will say of » him that believeth not,» but that He will be condemned And indeed He doth say farther » He that believeth not is condemned already.» He is condemned already, though the condemnation be not yet openly pronounced.

He is condemned already, for » the Lord knoweth them that are His.» He knoweth them for whom is laid up the crown, and likewise them that are reserved unto the fire. His eye seeth in the field of the world the distinction of the wheat and of the straw, of the and of the tares. » He that believeth not is condemned already.» And why » Because he hath not believed in the Name of the Only-begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.» » Because their deeds were evil » but, my brethren, is there one man of whom God findeth that his works are good No, not one. God findeth all works to be (in themselves) bad. How then do we hear that some there be who do truth, and come to the light For these words come anon » But he that doeth truth, cometh to the light.»

But the Lord saith [of such as these, who are condemned already, because they believe not in Him] » They loved darkness rather than light.» And here He maketh the great point [of difference between such, and them that do the truth.] There are many who have loved their sins there are many who have confessed their sins and he that confessed and denounceth his sin, is working already with God. God denounceth thy sins, and if thou denounce them likewise, then dost thou join thyself with God in His act. The man and the sinner are two different things. God made the man, and the man made the sinner. Put away thy work, and God will save His. Thou art behoven to hate in thyself thine own work, and to love God’s work. When thine own works begin to displease thee, then is it that thou beginnest to do well, because thou denouncest thine own evil works. The first thing to do, if thou wouldest do good works, is to acknowledge thine evil ones.

I de tradisjonelle tidebønnene, til matutin, leser vi i dag utdrag at pave Gregor den stores preken over dagens evangelietekst fra Joh 14:13-31:

Homily by Pope St Gregory the Great – 30th on the Gospels.

Dearly beloved brethren, our best way will be to run briefly through the words which have been read from the Holy Gospel, and thereafter rest for a while quietly gazing upon the solemn subject of this great Festival. This is the day whereon «suddenly there came a sound from heaven,» and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles, and, for fleshly minds, gave them minds wherein the love of God was shed abroad and, while without «there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them,» within, their hearts were enkindled. While they received the visible presence of God in the form of fire, the flames of His love enwrapped them. The Holy Ghost Himself is love whence it is that John says «God is love.» Whosoever therefore loves God with all his soul, already has obtained Him Whom he loves for no man is able to love God, if He have not gained Him Whom he loves.

But, behold, now, if I shall ask any one of you whether he loves God, he will answer with all boldness and quietness of spirit » I do love him.» But at the very beginning of this day’s Lesson from the Gospel, you have heard what the Truth says » If a man love Me, he will keep My word.» The test, then, of love, is whether it is showed by works. Hence the same John hath said in his Epistle I. iv. 20, v. 3 «If a man say, I love God, and keeps not His commandments, He is a liar.» Then do we indeed love God, and keep His commandments, if we deny ourselves the gratification of our appetites. Whosoever still wanders after unlawful desires, such an one plainly loves not God, for he says, Nay, to that which God wills.

And My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.» O my dearly beloved brethren, think what a dignity is that, to have God abiding as a guest in our heart Surely if some rich man or some powerful friend were to come into our house, we would hasten to have our whole house cleaned, lest, perchance, when he came in, he should see aught to displease his eye. So let him that would make his mind an abode for God, cleanse it from all the filth of works of iniquity. Lo, again, what says the Truth? «We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.» There are some hearts whereunto God comes, but makes not His abode therein with a certain pricking they feel His Presence, but in time of temptation they forget that which has pricked them and so they turn again to work unrighteousness, even as though they had never repented.