Psalmody

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 When will I come to the end of my pilgrimage and enter the presence of God?

Psalm 42
Longing for the Lord’s presence in his Temple



Like the deer that yearns *
for running streams,
so my soul is yearning *
for you, my God.

My soul is thirsting for God, *
the God of my life;
when can I enter and see *
the face of God?

My tears have become my bread, *
by night, by day,
as I hear it said all the day long: *
“Where is your God?”

These things will I remember *
as I pour out my soul:
how I would lead the rejoicing crowd *
into the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving, *
the throng wild with joy.

Why are you cast down, my soul, *
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still, *
my savior and my God.

My soul is cast down within me *
as I think of you,
from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon, *
from the Hill of Mizar.

Deep is calling on deep, *
in the roar of waters:
your torrents and all your waves *
swept over me.

By day the Lord will send *
his loving kindness;
by night I will sing to him, *
praise the God of my life.

I will say to God, my rock: *
“Why have you forgotten me?”
Why do I go mourning, *
oppressed by the foe?”

With cries that pierce me to the heart, *
my enemies revile me,
saying to me all the day long: *
“Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, my soul, *
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still, *
my savior and my God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Father in heaven, when your strength takes possession of us we no longer say: Why are you cast down, my soul? So now that the surging waves of your indignation have passed over us, let us feel the healing calm of your forgiveness. Inspire us to yearn for you always, like the deer for running streams, until you satisfy every longing in heaven.

Ant. When will I come to the end of my pilgrimage and enter the presence of God?

Ant. 2 Lord, show us the radiance of your mercy.

Canticle: Sirach 36:1-5, 10-13
Prayer of entreaty for the holy city, Jerusalem



Come to our aid, O God of the universe, *
and put all the nations in dread of you!
Raise your hand against the heathen, *
that they may realize your power.

As you have used us to show them your holiness, *
so now use them to show us your glory.
Thus they will know, as we know, *
that there is no God but you.

Give new signs and work new wonders; *
show forth the splendor of your right hand and arm.

Gather all the tribes of Jacob, *
that they may inherit the land as of old.
Show mercy to the people called by your name; *
Israel, whom you named your first-born.

Take pity on your holy city, *
Jerusalem, your dwelling place.
Fill Zion with your majesty, *
your temple with your glory.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Lord, show us the radiance of your mercy.

Ant. 3 The vaults of heaven ring with your praise, O Lord.

Psalm 19A
Praise of the Lord, Creator of all



The heavens proclaim the glory of God *
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story *
and night unto night makes known the message.

No speech, no word, no voice is heard †
yet their span extends through all the earth, *
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.

There he has placed a tent for the sun; †
it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent, *
rejoices like a champion to run its course.

At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun; †
to the furthest end of the sky is its course. *
There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

To enlighten the world, Father, you sent to us your Word as the sun of truth and justice shining upon mankind. Illumine our eyes that we may discern your glory in the many works of your hand.

Ant. The vaults of heaven ring with your praise, O Lord.

1st Reading

Jer 28:1-17

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah

In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah,
   in the fifth month of the fourth year,
   the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon,
   said to me in the house of the LORD
   in the presence of the priests and all the people:
   “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
   ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Within two years I will restore to this place
   all the vessels of the temple of the LORD which Nebuchadnezzar,
   king of Babylon, took away from this place to Babylon.
And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah,
   son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
   and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the LORD,
   ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”

The prophet Jeremiah answered the prophet Hananiah
   in the presence of the priests and all the people assembled
   in the house of the LORD, and said:
   Amen! thus may the LORD do!
May he fulfill the things you have prophesied
   by bringing the vessels of the house of the LORD
   and all the exiles back from Babylon to this place!
But now, listen to what I am about to state in your hearing
   and the hearing of all the people.
From of old, the prophets who were before you and me prophesied
   war, woe, and pestilence against many lands and mighty kingdoms.
But the prophet who prophesies peace
   is recognized as truly sent by the LORD
   only when his prophetic prediction is fulfilled.

Thereupon the prophet Hananiah took the yoke
   from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it,
   and said in the presence of all the people:
   “Thus says the LORD:  ‘Even so, within two years
   I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
   from off the neck of all the nations.’”
At that, the prophet Jeremiah went away.

Some time after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke
   from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah,
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:
   Go tell Hananiah this:
   Thus says the LORD:
   By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke!
For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
   A yoke of iron I will place on the necks
   of all these nations serving Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
   and they shall serve him; even the beasts of the field I give him.

To the prophet Hananiah the prophet Jeremiah said:
   Hear this, Hananiah!
The LORD has not sent you,
   and you have raised false confidence in this people.
For this, says the LORD, I will dispatch you from the face of the earth;
   this very year you shall die,
   because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.
That same year, in the seventh month, Hananiah the prophet died.