Office of Readings –  Thursday of Holy Week

V. O Lord, open my lips.
R. And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Invitatory Antiphon:  
Christ the Lord was tempted and suffered for us.
Come, let us adore him.

[Psalm 94          A Call to praise God]

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord;
hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come before him, giving thanks,
with songs let us hail the Lord.   (Antiphon)

A mighty God is the Lord
a great king above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his.
To him belongs the sea, for he made it
and the dry land shaped by his hands.  (Antiphon)

Come in; let us bow and bend low;
let us kneel before the God who made us
for he is our God and we
the people who belong to his pasture,
the flock that is led by his hand.    (Antiphon)

O that to-day you would listen to his voice!
Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the desert
when your fathers put me to the test;
when they tried me, though they saw my work.  (Antiphon)

For forty years I was wearied of these people
and I said: 'Their hearts are astray,
these people do not know my ways.'
Then I took an oath in my anger:
'Never shall they enter my rest.'   (Antiphon)

 Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Invit. Ant:  
Christ the Lord was tempted and suffered for us.
Come, let us adore him.

 A suitable hymn or poem may be inserted at this point.

Batter my heart, three-personed God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That i may rise and stand, o'erthrow me and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like a usurped town to another due,
Labour to admit you, bu O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you and would be loved fain,
But am betrothed unto your enemy.
Divorce me, untie, or break that know again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall befree,
Nor ever chaste except you ravish me.

Holy Sonnets v of John Donne

Ant. 1: I am wearied with all my crying as I await my God.

[I burn with zeal for your house        Psalm 68 (69):2-22, 30-37
They gave him wine to drink mixed with gall (Mt 27:34)] 

Save me, O God,
for the waters have risen to my neck.

I have sunk into the mud of the deep
and there is no foothold.
I have entered the waters of the deep
and the waves overwhelm me.

I am wearied with all my crying,
my throat is parched.
My eyes are wasted away
from looking for my God.

More numerous than the hairs on my head
are those who hate me without cause.
Those who attack me with lies
are too much for my strength.

How can I restore
what I have never stolen?
O God, you know my sinful folly;
my sins you can see.

Let those who hope in you not be put to shame
through me, Lord of hosts:
let not those who seek you be dismayed
through me, God of Israel.

It is for you that I suffer taunts,
that shame covers my face,
that I have become a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my own mother's sons.
I burn with zeal for your house
and taunts against you fall on me.

When I afflict my soul with fasting
they make it a taunt against me.
When I put on sackcloth in mourning
then they make me a byword,
the gossip of men at the gates,
the subject of drunkards' songs.

 Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. 1: I am wearied with all my crying as I await my God.
Ant. 2: For food they gave me poison,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

This is my prayer to you,
my prayer for your favour.
In your great love, answer me, O God,
with your help that never fails:
rescue me from sinking in the mud;
save me from my foes.

Save me from the waters of the deep
lest the waves overwhelm me.
Do not let the deep engulf me
nor death close its mouth on me.

Lord, answer, for your love is kind;
in your compassion, turn towards me.
Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer quickly for I am in distress.
Come close to my soul and redeem me;
ransom me pressed by my foes.

You know how they taunt and deride me;
my oppressors are all before you.
Taunts have broken my heart;
I have reached the end of my strength.
I looked in vain for compassion,
for consolers; not one could I find.

For food they gave me poison;
in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. 2: For food they gave me poison,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Ant. 3: Seek the Lord and he will give life to your soul.

As for me in my poverty and pain
let your help, O God, lift me up.

I will praise God's name with a song;
I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
A gift pleasing God more than oxen,
more than beasts prepared for sacrifice.

The poor when they see it will be glad
and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord listens to the needy
and does not spurn his servants in their chains.
Let the heavens and the earth give him praise,
the sea and all its living creatures.

For God will bring help to Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah
and men shall dwell there in possession.
The sons of his servants shall inherit it;
those who love his name shall dwell there.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. 3: Seek the Lord and he will give life to your soul.

V. When I am lifted up from the earth,
R. I shall draw all things to myself.

THE FIRST READING                Heb 4:14 - 5:10

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews  

[Jesus Christ, our high priest]

Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed. For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us; but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help.

Every high priest has been taken out of mankind and is appointed to act for men in their relations with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; and so he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honour on himself, but each one is called by God, as Aaron was. Nor did Christ give himself the glory of becoming high priest, but he had it from the one who said to him: You are my son, today I have become your father, and in another text: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever. During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation and was acclaimed by God with the title of high priest of the order of Melchizedek.

 R.  Although he was the Son of God, Christ learnt to obey through suffering, * and he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.
 V.  During his life on earth he offered up prayer aloud, and he submitted so  humbly that his prayer was heard,* and he became for all who obey him the  source of eternal salvation.

THE SECOND READING                Nn 65-71
A reading from the homily of Melito of Sardis on the Pasch

[The Lamb slain in sacrifice rescued us from death to life.]

The prophets announced many wonderful things about the Passover mystery which is Christ. To him be glory forever, Amen!

He descended from heaven to earth for the sake of suffering mankind, clothed himself with a human nature through the Virgin Mary, and appearing in our midst as man with a body capable of suffering, took upon himself the suffering of those who suffered. By his Spirit which could not die, he slew death, the slayer of men. Led forth like a lamb, slain like a sheep, he ransomed us from the servitude of the world, just as he ransomed Israel from the land of Egypt. He freed us from the slavery of the devil, just as he had freed Israel from the hand of Pharaoh, and he has marked our souls with the signs of his own blood. He has clothed death with dishonour and he has grieved the devil, just as Moses dishonoured and grieved Pharaoh. He has punished wickedness and taken away the children of injustice, just as Moses punished Egypt and unchilded it. He has brought us from slavery to freedom, from darkness to light, from death to life, from tyranny to an eternal kingdom.

He is the Passover of our salvation. He was present in many so as to endure many things. In Abel he was slain; in Isaac bound; in Jacob a stranger; in Joseph sold; in Moses exposed; in David persecuted; in the prophets dishonoured. He became incarnate of the Virgin. Not a bone of his was broken on the tree. He was buried in the earth, but he rose from the dead, and was lifted up to the heights of heaven. He is the silent lamb, the slain lamb, who was born of Mary the fair ewe. He was seized from the flock and dragged away to slaughter. Toward evening he was sacrificed, and at night he was buried. But he who had no bone broken upon the Cross, was not corrupted in the earth, for he rose from the dead and raised up man from the depths of the grave.

R. All men have sinned and are far away from God’s saving presence, but by the  free gift of God’s grace they are all redeemed through Christ Jesus, who sets  them free.* God offered him so that by his death he should become the  means by which men’s sins are forgiven, through their faith in him.

V. Look, there is the Lamb of God; it is he who takes away the sin of the world.
 * God offered him….

Celebrant: 
Let us pray.
Love of you with our whole heart, Lord God, is holiness.
Increase then your gifts of divine grace I us, 
so that, as in your Son’s death, you made us hope for what we believe, 
you may likewise in his resurrection, 
make us come to you, our final end.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God or ever and ever.
All:  Amen.

Morning Prayer -  Thursday in Holy Week

Hymn

   The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
   He makes me down to lie
   In pastures green he leadeth me
   The quiet waters by.

   My soul he doth restore again;
   And me to walk doth make
   Within the paths of righteousness,
   Even for his own name’s sake.

   Goodness and mercy all my life
   Shall surely follow me;
   And in God’s house forevermore
   My dwelling place shall be.

Ant 1: Look, Lord, and answer quickly, for I am in distress.

[Lord, come to visit your vine       Psalm 79 (80)
Come, Lord Jesus (Rev 22:20)]

O shepherd of Israel, hear us,
 you who lead Joseph's flock,
 shine forth from your cherubim throne
 upon Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh.
 O Lord, rouse up your might,
 O Lord, come to our help.

 God of hosts bring us back;
 let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

 Lord God of hosts, how long
 will you frown on your people's plea?
 You have fed them with tears for their bread,
 and abundance of tears for their drink.
 You have made us the taunt of our neighbours,
 our enemies laugh us to scorn.

 God of hosts, bring us back;
 let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

 You brought a vine out of Egypt;
 to plant it you drove out the nations.
 Before it you cleared the ground;
 it took root and spread through the land.
 The mountains were covered with its shadow,
 the cedars of God with its boughs.
 It stretched out its branches to the sea,
 to the Great River it stretched out its shoots.

 Then why have you broken down its walls?
 It is plucked by all who pass by.
 It is ravaged by the boar of the forest,
 devoured by the beasts of the field.

 God of hosts, turn again, we implore,
 look down from heaven and see.
 Visit this vine and protect it,
 the vine your right hand has planted.
 Men have burnt it with fire and destroyed it.
 May they perish at the frown of your face.

 May your hand be on the man you have chosen,
 the man you have given your strength.
 And we shall never forsake you again;
 give us life that we may call upon your name.

 God of hosts, bring us back;
 let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

 Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. 1: Look, Lord, and answer quickly, for I am in distress.

Ant. 2: See now that God is my salvation: I have trust and no fear.

[The rejoicing of a redeemed people         Canticle: Is 12:1-6
If any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink (Jn 7:37)]

I thank you, Lord, you were angry with me
but your anger has passed and you give me comfort.

Truly, God is my salvation,
I trust, I shall not fear.
For the Lord is my strength, my song,
he is my saviour.

With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name!
Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples.

Declare the greatness of his name,
sing a psalm to the Lord!
For he has done glorious deeds;
make them known to all the earth.

People of Sion, sing and shout for joy
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, 
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. 2: See now that God is my salvation: I have trust and no fear.

Ant. 3: The Lord fed us with finest wheat,
he filled us with honey from the rock.

[Solemn renewal of the covenant       Psalm 80 (81)
Take care that no one among you has a wicked, unbelieving heart
(Heb 3:12)]

 Ring out your joy to God our strength,
 shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.

 Raise a song and sound the timbrel,
 the sweet-sounding harp and the lute;
 blow the trumpet at the new moon,
 when the moon is full, on our feast.

 For this is Israel's law,
 a command of the God of Jacob.
 He imposed it as a rule on Joseph,
 when he went out against the land of Egypt.

 A voice I did not know said to me:
 "I freed your shoulder from the burden;
 your hands were freed from the load.
 You called in distress and I saved you.

 I answered, concealed in the storm cloud;
 at the waters of Meribah I tested you.
 Listen, my people, to my warning.
 O Israel, if only you would heed!

 Let there be no foreign god among you.
 no worship of an alien god.
 I am the Lord your God,
 who brought you from the land of Egypt.
 Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

 But my people did not heed my voice
 and Israel would not obey,
 so I left them in their stubbornness of heart
 to follow their own designs.

 O that my people would heed me,
 that Israel would walk in my ways!
 At once I would subdue their foes,
 turn my hand against their enemies.

 The Lord's enemies would cringe at their feet
 and their subjection would last for ever.
 But Israel I would feed with finest wheat
 and fill them with honey from the rock."

 Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. 3: The Lord fed us with finest wheat,
he filled us with honey from the rock.

Scripture Reading

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews             (2:9b-10)

We see in Jesus one who is now crowned with glory and splendour because he submitted to death; by God’s grace he had to experience death for all mankind.  As it was his purpose to bring a great many of his sons into glory, it was appropriate for God, for whom everything exists and through whom everything exists, would make perfect through suffering, the leader who would take them to their salvation.

Short Responsory
V. You have redeemed us, Lord by your Blood.
R. You have redeemed us, Lord by your Blood.

V. From every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
R. You have redeemed us, Lord by your Blood.

V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. You have redeemed us, Lord by your Blood.

Benedictus Antiphon:
I have longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

 Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel!
 He has visited his people and redeemed them.
 
 He has raised up for us a mighty saviour
 in the house of David, his servant,
 As he promised by the lips of holy men,
 those who were his prophets from of old.

 A saviour who would free us from our foes,
 from the hands all who hate us.
 So his love for our fathers is fulfilled
 and his holy covenant remembered.

 He swore to Abraham, our father, to grant us
 that free from fear and safe from the hands of our foes,
 we might serve him with holiness and justice
 all the days of our life in his presence.
 
 As for you little child,
 you shall be called a prophet of God the most high.
 You shall  go ahead of the Lord
 to prepare his ways before him,

 To make known to his people their salvation
 through forgiveness of all their sins,
 The loving kindness of the heart of our God
 who visits us like the dawn from on high.

 To give light to those in darkness,
 those who dwell in the shadow of death,
 and guide us into the way of peace.

 Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
 
Benedictus Antiphon:
I have longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Intercessions
Let us humbly pray to Christ, the eternal priest, whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit to proclaim release for captives.  R. Lord, have mercy on us.

You went up to Jerusalem to endure the passion and enter into glory; lead your Church into the paschal feast of eternal life. R. Lord, have mercy on us.

Your heart was pierced with a lance; heal the wounds of our human weakness.  R. Lord, have mercy on us.

You made the cross the tree of life; share your victory with all the baptised.   R. Lord, have mercy on us.

You gave salvation to the repentant thief; pardon all our sins.    R. Lord, have mercy on us.

Celebrant:  Let us now pray in the words our Saviour gave us:

All:   
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

Concluding Prayer
Celebrant: 
Love of you with our whole heart, Lord God, is holiness.
Increase then your gifts of divine grace in us, so that,
as in your son’s death, you made us hope for what we believe,
you may likewise, in his resurrection, make us come to you, our final end.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God or ever and ever

All:  Amen.

Final Blessing & Dismissal

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
All:   And also with you.

Celebrant: May almighty God bless you, Father, Son + and Holy Spirit.
All:   Amen.

Celebrant: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All:   Thanks be to God.