Psalmody

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Be true to your name, O Lord, and preserve my life, alleluia.

Psalm 143:1-11
Prayer in distress



Lord, listen to my prayer: *
turn your ear to my appeal.
You are faithful, you are just; give answer. †
Do not call your servant to judgment *
for no one is just in your sight.

The enemy pursues my soul; *
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me dwell in darkness *
like the dead, long forgotten.
Therefore my spirit fails; *
my heart is numb within me.

I remember the days that are past: *
I ponder all your works.
I muse on what your hand has wrought †
and to you I stretch out my hands. *
Like a parched land my soul thirsts for you.

Lord, make haste and answer; *
for my spirit fails within me.
Do not hide your face *
lest I become like those in the grave.

In the morning let me know your love *
for I put my trust in you.
Make me know the way I should walk: *
to you I lift up my soul.

Rescue me, Lord, from my enemies; *
I have fled to you for refuge.
Teach me to do your will *
for you, O Lord, are my God.
Let your good spirit guide me *
in ways that are level and smooth.

For your name’s sake, Lord, save my life; *
in your justice save my soul from distress.

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

Lord Jesus, early in the morning of your resurrection, you made your love known and brought the first light of dawn to those who dwell in darkness. Your death has opened a path for us. Do not enter into judgment with your servants; let your Holy Spirit guide us together into the land of justice.

Ant. Be true to your name, O Lord, and preserve my life, alleluia.

Ant. 2 I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, alleluia.

Canticle: Isaiah 66:10-14a
Joys of heaven



Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, *
all you who love her;
exult, exult with her, *
all you who were mourning over her!

Oh, that you may suck fully *
of the milk of her comfort,
That you may nurse with delight *
at her abundant breasts!

For thus says the Lord: †
Lo, I will spread prosperity over her like a river, *
and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent.

As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms, *
and fondled in her lap;
as a mother comforts her son, †
so will I comfort you; *
in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.

When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, *
and your bodies flourish like the grass.

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. I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, alleluia.

Ant. 3 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem and heals the brokenhearted, alleluia.

Psalm 147:1-11
The loving kindness of God who can do all he wills



Praise the Lord for he is good; †
sing to our God for he is loving: *
to him our praise is due.

The Lord builds up Jerusalem *
and brings back Israel’s exiles,
he heals the broken-hearted, *
he binds up all their wounds.
He fixes the number of the stars; *
he calls each one by its name.

Our Lord is great and almighty; *
his wisdom can never be measured.
The Lord raises the lowly; *
he humbles the wicked to the dust.
O sing to the Lord, giving thanks; *
sing psalms to our God with the harp.

He covers the heavens with clouds; *
he prepares the rain for the earth,
making mountains sprout with grass *
and with plants to serve man’s needs.
He provides the beasts with their food *
and young ravens that call upon him.

His delight is not in horses *
nor his pleasure in warriors’ strength.
The Lord delights in those who revere him, *
in those who wait for his love.

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

God our Father, great builder of the heavenly Jerusalem, you know the number of the stars and call each of them by name. Heal hearts that are broken, gather together those who have been scattered, and enrich us all from the plenitude of your eternal wisdom.

Ant. The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem and heals the brokenhearted, alleluia.

1st Reading

Acts 13:13-25

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

From Paphos, Paul and his companions
   set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia.
But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.
They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats.
After the reading of the law and the prophets,
   the synagogue officials sent word to them,
   “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation
   for the people, please speak.”

So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,
   “Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
   and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out,
   and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.
When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,
   he gave them their land as an inheritance
   at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.
After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet.
Then they asked for a king.
God gave them Saul, son of Kish,
   a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;
   of him he testified,
   I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
   he will carry out my every wish.
From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,
   has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
   to all the people of Israel;
   and as John was completing his course, he would say,
   ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
   I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’”