Before I reflect on the Collect (Opening Prayer), I wish to advise my readers that today onwards, I will use the new English Translation of the Mass. However, for the purpose of the Blog, I will still refer to it as the Opening Prayer Series, but refer to it as the Collect.
In the new English translation of the Mass, the Opening Prayer is now called the Collect, which, in fact was what it was originally called. Why the change? Simply, its name reflects is purpose.
At the end of the Introductory Rite in the Mass is the Collect (Opening Prayer). The
priest invites us to pray silently for a moment, and then, in our name,
expresses the theme of the day’s celebration and petitions to God the
Father through the mediation of Christ in the Holy Spirit. In other
words, he ‘collects’ or gathers up all the prayers on our behalf and
offers them to God. He reads it from the Book of the Chair. In the new translation of the Mass, the stucture of the sentences are longer and more complex, but with careful listening, we will learn to be able pray them in our hearts.
The Collect has a unfolding structure which is as follows:
An invitation to prayer: ‘Let us pray’,
A time of silence: a time to present our intentions to God.
The invocation:
these can be varied but they all address God in some form- for example-
Father, Eternal Father, Lord, God of mercy and power, Father of love.
The anamnesis or thanksgiving:
The request: Give,
The affirmation of the mediation of Christ in unity with the Holy Spirit: ‘Through Christ our Lord’ who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
Our response: ‘Amen’.
O God, who on this day revealed Your Only Begotten Son to the nations
by the guidance of a star,
grant by Your mercy, that we, who love You already by faith,
may be brought to behold the beauty of Your subline glory.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,
who lives and reigns, with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God for ever and ever.
Are you able to identify the structure of this week's prayer?
In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflection questions emerged:
- What does the feast of the Epiphany mean to me?
- What value is it to me to be like the 3 wise men and be guided by the light of the star in my life?
- How would I consider my readiness for meeting God face to face this week? What changes need to be made in my life?
- Reflect on the mercy of God in my life and how God's mercy has brought me closer to Him.
- What hold me back from accepting God's invitation to His mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week?
- What is the quality of my faith and how will I strengthen this virtue this week?
What does today's Gospel from Matthew chapter 2 offer us?
In Chapter 2, there are 4 stories interwoven into the chapter namely
1.
The Visit of the Magi,
2. The flight into Egypt,
3. The Massacre of the
Innocents and
4. The return from Egypt.
It should be noted that in today's Gospel we hear only the first part of the story- the visit of the Magi. However,since today is also the closing of the Christmas season, I have chosen to reflect on the whole of chapter 2 to present the 4 interwoven stories to give a complete picture. After all the visit of the Magi are our last Christmas characters to emerge.
The
Magi were probably wise men who studied astrology, but later tradition
portrays them as kings, who because of their knowledge knew that the
star that appeared for them was something they had to follow. Their
gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh symbolized Christ’s royalty,
divinity and passion.
They listened to what Herod had to say to them, giving him respect, but were not drawn into his dishonest behaviour, since they seemingly seemed aware of his insincerity and fear.
It is interesting to note the reaction of Herod who was governed by power and who
They listened to what Herod had to say to them, giving him respect, but were not drawn into his dishonest behaviour, since they seemingly seemed aware of his insincerity and fear.
It is interesting to note the reaction of Herod who was governed by power and who
- felt threatened at the possibility there may be another king ( someone to threaten his job),
- played the game pretending he wanted to worship also ( sought out information about the threat and how he might overcome the enemy).
The
Magi however stayed focused on what they came to seek- they were guided
by the star, which filled them with delight because it helped them find
what they came to seek- Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the manger. They were
able to do him homage and offer their gifts.
We then encounter the flight into Egypt. Joseph is not a procrastinator. He does what the angel tells him without delay ' He got up and taking the child and his mother with him left that night for Egypt.' One senses the urgency and the worry and the fear of knowing that Herod wanted Jesus killed- not the type of start to being the foster father of Jesus that Joseph may have hoped for. Yet, Joseph as we know was a man of faith and believed in God's providence towards him and Mary. His faith and obedience to God sustained him in this difficult journey.
The wise men and Joseph’s fear of Herod is justified as we read the next phase of chapter 2 where Herod has all male children up to the age of 2 killed since he was outwitted by the wise men. He took revenge because he did not get his own way and made as many people suffer because of it.
Then in the final section of this chapter is the story of Joseph returning with Mary and the baby from Egypt after Herod’s death back to the land of Israel. However, as Herod’s son had succeeded Herod, Joseph was warned in a dream not to go there but settled in the region of Galilee- at Nazareth.
What can we learn for our lives from these 4 connecting stories in this chapter?
This week as we reflect on chapter 2, we may wish to:
We then encounter the flight into Egypt. Joseph is not a procrastinator. He does what the angel tells him without delay ' He got up and taking the child and his mother with him left that night for Egypt.' One senses the urgency and the worry and the fear of knowing that Herod wanted Jesus killed- not the type of start to being the foster father of Jesus that Joseph may have hoped for. Yet, Joseph as we know was a man of faith and believed in God's providence towards him and Mary. His faith and obedience to God sustained him in this difficult journey.
The wise men and Joseph’s fear of Herod is justified as we read the next phase of chapter 2 where Herod has all male children up to the age of 2 killed since he was outwitted by the wise men. He took revenge because he did not get his own way and made as many people suffer because of it.
Then in the final section of this chapter is the story of Joseph returning with Mary and the baby from Egypt after Herod’s death back to the land of Israel. However, as Herod’s son had succeeded Herod, Joseph was warned in a dream not to go there but settled in the region of Galilee- at Nazareth.
What can we learn for our lives from these 4 connecting stories in this chapter?
This week as we reflect on chapter 2, we may wish to:
- Stay focused and to give the Christ child homage, by bending our knees and offering our gifts to Him. We need to place God first in our lives at all times
- Be guided by the light of the star of faith just as the wise men followed the signs given to them. God gives us signs to follow through the church and the sacraments.
- Be attentive to what God is telling us to do. We need to be pro-active and responsive as Joseph. Spend some time in reflection to hear what God is speaking to us.
- Have compassion for parents who suffer and grieve through loss of a baby/child either through miscarriage,abortion or tragedy. We may wish to learn more about the issue of abortion
- Be alert and listen to the stirrings of God within us, since He desires the best path for us.
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