Joseph Kenny OP: Readings Lent Thursday 1

READINGS: LENT THURSDAY I

Invitatory Psalm & BACK

PSALMS and BACK
אֲשֲׁר בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה יֶהְגֶּה — פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ

Even Years: Exodus 12:1-20
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר׃ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם לְחָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה׃ דַּבְּרוּ אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר בֶּעָשֹׂר לַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה וְיִקְחוּ לָהֶם אִישׁ שֶׂה לְבֵית־אָבֹת שֶׂה לַבָּיִת׃ וְאִם־יִמְעַט הַבַּיִת מִהְיֹת מִשֶּׂה וְלָקַח הוּא וּשְׁכֵנוֹ הַקָּרֹב אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ בְּמִכְסַת נְפָשֹׁת אִישׁ לְפִי אָכְלוֹ תָּכֹסּוּ עַל־הַשֶּׂה׃ שֶׂה תָמִים זָכָר בֶּן־שָׁנָה יִהְיֶה לָכֶם מִן־הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן־הָעִזִּים תִּקָּחוּ׃ וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת עַד אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה וְשָׁחֲטוּ אֹתוֹ כֹּל קְהַל עֲדַת־יִשְׂרָאֵל בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם׃ וְלָקְחוּ מִן־הַדָּם וְנָתְנוּ עַל־שְׁתֵּי הַמְּזוּזֹת וְעַל־הַמַּשְׁקוֹף עַל הַבָּתִּים אֲשֶׁר־יֹאכְלוּ אֹתוֹ בָּהֶם׃ וְאָכְלוּ אֶת־הַבָּשָׂר בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה צְלִי־אֵשׁ וּמַצּוֹת עַל־מְרֹרִים יֹאכְלֻהוּ׃ אַל־תֹּאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ נָא וּבָשֵׁל מְבֻשָּׁל בַּמָּיִם כִּי אִם־צְלִי־אֵשׁ רֹאשׁוֹ עַל־כְּרָעָיו וְעַל־קִרְבּוֹ׃ וְלֹא־תוֹתִירוּ מִמֶּנּוּ עַד־בֹּקֶר וְהַנֹּתָר מִמֶּנּוּ עַד־בֹּקֶר בָּאֵשׁ תִּשְׂרֹפוּ׃ וְכָכָה תֹּאכְלוּ אֹתוֹ מָתְנֵיכֶם חֲגֻרִים נַעֲלֵיכֶם בְּרַגְלֵיכֶם וּמַקֶּלְכֶם בְּיֶדְכֶם וַאֲכַלְתֶּם אֹתוֹ בְּחִפָּזוֹן פֶּסַח הוּא לַיהוָה׃
וְעָבַרְתִּי בְאֶרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה וְהִכֵּיתִי כָל־בְּכוֹר בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מֵאָדָם וְעַד־בְּהֵמָה וּבְכָל־אֱלֹהֵי מִצְרַיִם אֶעֱשֶׂה שְׁפָטִים אֲנִי יְהוָה׃ וְהָיָה הַדָּם לָכֶם לְאֹת עַל הַבָּתִּים אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם שָׁם וְרָאִיתִי אֶת־הַדָּם וּפָסַחְתִּי עֲלֵכֶם וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה בָכֶם נֶגֶף לְמַשְׁחִית בְּהַכֹּתִי בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם׃ וְהָיָה הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה לָכֶם לְזִכָּרוֹן וְחַגֹּתֶם אֹתוֹ חַג לַיהוָה לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם חֻקַּת עוֹלָם תְּחָגֻּהוּ׃
שִׁבְעַת יָמִים מַצּוֹת תֹּאכֵלוּ אַךְ בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן תַּשְׁבִּיתוּ שְּׂאֹר מִבָּתֵּיכֶם כִּי כָּל־אֹכֵל חָמֵץ וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל מִיּוֹם הָרִאשֹׁן עַד־יוֹם הַשְּׁבִעִי׃ וּבַיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כָּל־מְלָאכָה לֹא־יֵעָשֶׂה בָהֶם אַךְ אֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל לְכָל־נֶפֶשׁ הוּא לְבַדּוֹ יֵעָשֶׂה לָכֶם׃
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־הַמַּצּוֹת כִּי בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה הוֹצֵאתִי אֶת־צִבְאוֹתֵיכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם חֻקַּת עוֹלָם׃ בָּרִאשֹׁן בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ בָּעֶרֶב תֹּאכְלוּ מַצֹּת עַד יוֹם הָאֶחָד וְעֶשְׂרִים לַחֹדֶשׁ בָּעָרֶב׃ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים שְׂאֹר לֹא יִמָּצֵא בְּבָתֵּיכֶם כִּי כָּל־אֹכֵל מַחְמֶצֶת וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מֵעֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּגֵּר וּבְאֶזְרַח הָאָרֶץ׃ כָּל־מַחְמֶצֶת לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ בְּכֹל מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם תֹּאכְלוּ מַצּוֹת׃

1 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 'This month must be the first of all the months for you, the first month of your year. 3 Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, "On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the flock for his family: one animal for each household. 4 If the household is too small for the animal, he must join with his neighbour nearest to his house, depending on the number of persons. When you choose the animal, you will take into account what each can eat. 5 It must be an animal without blemish, a male one year old; you may choose it either from the sheep or from the goats. 6 You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter it at twilight. 7 Some of the blood must then be taken and put on both door-posts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten. 8 That night, the flesh must be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with the head, feet and entrails. 10 You must not leave any of it over till the morning: whatever is left till morning you must burn. 11 This is how you must eat it: with a belt round your waist, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You must eat it hurriedly: it is a Passover in Yahweh's honour.
12 That night, I shall go through Egypt and strike down all the first-born in Egypt, man and beast alike, and shall execute justice on all the gods of Egypt, I, Yahweh! 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. When I see the blood I shall pass over you, and you will escape the destructive plague when I strike Egypt. 14 This day must be commemorated by you, and you must keep it as a feast in Yahweh's honour. You must keep it as a feast-day for all generations; this is a decree for all time.
15 For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you must clean the leaven out of your houses, for anyone who eats leavened bread from the first to the seventh day must be outlawed from Israel. 16 On the first day you must hold a sacred assembly, and on the seventh day a sacred assembly. On those days no work may be done; you will prepare only what each requires to eat.
17 You must keep the feast of Unleavened Bread because it was on that same day that I brought your armies out of Egypt. You will keep that day, generation after generation; this is a decree for all time. 18 In the first month, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day, you must eat unleavened bread. 19 For seven days there may be no leaven in your houses, since anyone, either stranger or citizen of the country, who eats leavened bread will be outlawed from the community of Israel. 20 You will eat nothing with leaven in it; wherever you live, you will eat unleavened bread.
Odd Years: Deuteronomy 12:1-14
1 אֵלֶּה הַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֶיךָ לְךָ לְרִשְׁתָּהּ כָּל־הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּם חַיִּים עַל־הָאֲדָמָה׃
2 אַבֵּד תְּאַבְּדוּן אֶת־כָּל־הַמְּקֹמוֹת אֲשֶׁר עָבְדוּ־שָׁם הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹרְשִׁים אֹתָם אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶם עַל־הֶהָרִים הָרָמִים וְעַל־הַגְּבָעוֹת וְתַחַת כָּל־עֵץ רַעֲנָן׃
3 וְנִתַּצְתֶּם אֶת־מִזְבּחֹתָם וְשִׁבַּרְתֶּם אֶת־מַצֵּבֹתָם וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ וּפְסִילֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם תְּגַדֵּעוּן וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת־שְׁמָם מִן־הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא׃
4 לֹא־תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃
5 כִּי אִם־אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מִכָּל־שִׁבְטֵיכֶם לָשׂוּם אֶת־שְׁמוֹ שָׁם לְשִׁכְנוֹ תִדְרְשׁוּ וּבָאתָ שָׁמָּה׃
6 וַהֲבֵאתֶם שָׁמָּה עֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְזִבְחֵיכֶם וְאֵת מַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶם וְאֵת תְּרוּמַת יֶדְכֶם וְנִדְרֵיכֶם וְנִדְבֹתֵיכֶם וּבְכֹרֹת בְּקַרְכֶם וְצֹאנְכֶם׃
7 וַאֲכַלְתֶּם־שָׁם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם בְּכֹל מִשְׁלַח יֶדְכֶם אַתֶּם וּבָתֵּיכֶם אֲשֶׁר בֵּרַכְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ׃
8 לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֲנַחְנוּ עֹשִׂים פֹּה הַיּוֹם אִישׁ כָּל־הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו׃
9 כִּי לֹא־בָּאתֶם עַד־עָתָּה אֶל־הַמְּנוּחָה וְאֶל־הַנַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ׃
10 וַעֲבַרְתֶּם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן וִישַׁבְתֶּם בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מַנְחִיל אֶתְכֶם וְהֵנִיחַ לָכֶם מִכָּל־אֹיְבֵיכֶם מִסָּבִיב וִישַׁבְתֶּם־בֶּטַח׃
11 וְהָיָה הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בּוֹ לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ שָׁם שָׁמָּה תָבִיאוּ אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם עוֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְזִבְחֵיכֶם מַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶם וּתְרֻמַת יֶדְכֶם וְכֹל מִבְחַר נִדְרֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר תִּדְּרוּ לַיהוָה׃
12 וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אַתֶּם וּבְנֵיכֶם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶם וְעַבְדֵיכֶם וְאַמְהֹתֵיכֶם וְהַלֵּוִי אֲשֶׁר בְּשַׁעֲרֵיכֶם כִּי אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק וְנַחֲלָה אִתְּכֶם׃
13 הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן־תַּעֲלֶה עֹלֹתֶיךָ בְּכָל־מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶה׃
14 כִּי אִם־בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַר יְהוָה בְּאַחַד שְׁבָטֶיךָ שָׁם תַּעֲלֶה עֹלֹתֶיךָ וְשָׁם תַּעֲשֶׂה כֹּל אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּךָּ׃

1 Now, these are the laws and customs which you must keep in the country which Yahweh, God of your ancestors, is giving you as yours, and which you must observe every day that you live in that country.
2 You must completely destroy all the places where the nations you dispossess have served their gods, on high mountains, on hills, under any spreading tree; 3 you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, burn their sacred poles, hack to bits the statues of their gods and obliterate their name from that place.
4 Not so must you behave towards Yahweh your God. 5 You must seek Yahweh your God in the place which he will choose from all your tribes, there to set his name and give it a home: that is where you must go. 6 That is where you must bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and offerings held high, your votive offerings and your voluntary offerings, and the first-born of your herd and flock; 7 and that is where you must eat in the presence of Yahweh your God, rejoicing over your labours, you and your households, because Yahweh your God has blessed you.
8 You must not behave as we are behaving here today, each of you doing what he himself sees fit, 9 since you have not yet come to the resting place and the heritage that Yahweh your God is going to give you.
10 You are about to cross the Jordan and live in the country given you by Yahweh your God as your heritage; he will grant you peace from all the enemies surrounding you, and you will live in safety. 11 To the place chosen by Yahweh your God as a home for his name, to that place you must bring all the things that I am laying down for you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and offerings held high, and all the best of your possessions dedicated by you to Yahweh. 12 That is where you will rejoice in the presence of Yahweh your God, you and your sons and daughters, your serving men and women, and the Levite living in your community since he has no share or heritage of his own among you.
13 Take care you do not offer your burnt offerings in all the sacred places you see; 14 only in the place that Yahweh chooses in one of your tribes may you offer your burnt offerings and do all the things which I have commanded you.

Even Years: Cyril of Alexandria, Paschal Homily 19, 2 (PG 77, 823-825)
Τεθύκασιν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ τὸν ἀμνὸν, παιδαγωγοῦντος Μωσέως, οἱ ἐξ αἵματος Ἰσραήλ. Προσετάττον τό γε μὴν ἀζύμους ἄρτους ἐσθίειν ἐπ' αὐτῷ, καὶ μὴν καὶ πικρίδας. Γέγραπται γὰρ ὡδί· Ἄζυμα ἐπὶ πικρίδων ἔδεσθε ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας. Ἆρ' οὖν, εἰπέ μοι, τοῖς ἐν τύπῳ καὶ σκιαῖς καὶ ἡμεῖς αὐτοὶ προεδρεύσωμεν; Εἶτα ὅποι ποτὲ βαδιεῖται λέγων ὁ νομομαθὴς ἀληθῶς καὶ σοφώτατος Παῦλος, Οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὁ νόμος πνευματικός ἐστιν; Εὐθυῤῥήμων δὲ ὅτι καὶ οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο ψευδοεπὴς ὁ Χριστὸν ἔχων ἐν ἑαυτῷ, πῶς ἂν ἐνδοιάσειέ τις; Πῶς οὖν ἄρα καὶ ἡμεῖς τὸν ἀρχαῖον ἐκεῖνον ἀποπερανοῦμεν νόμον, Χριστοῦ λέγοντος ἐναργῶς, Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι, ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι· λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν, ἰῶτα ἓν, ἢ μία κεραία οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου, ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται· ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ παρελεύσεται, οἱ δὲ λόγοι μου οὐ μὴ παρέλθωσιν; In Egypt the Israelites sacrificed a lamb at the bidding of Moses, who told them to eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. For seven days, says Scripture, you shall eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Must we then continue to observe customs that are only types and symbols? Remember the words of Paul, for he was truly learned in the Law and very wise. He says: We know that the Law is spiritual. Can anyone doubt that he who had Christ within him spoke the plain truth and did not deceive? Moreover, Christ himself said clearly: Do not imagine that 1 have come to do away with the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to fulfil them. I assure you that the Law will not lose a single dot or stroke until its purpose is achieved. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. In what way then must we also fulfil the ancient law?
Οὐκοῦν τέθυται δὲ καὶ ἡμῖν, τοῖς διὰ πίστεως κεκλημένοις εἰς ἁγιασμὸν, ὁ ἀμνὸς ὁ ἀληθινὸς, ὁ αἴρων τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου. Τροφὴν δὲ τὴν νοητὴν καὶ παγκάλην καὶ ἱερὰν ἀληθῶς ἐπ' αὐτῇ ποιησόμεθα· γραφομένην μὲν ὥσπερ ἐν ἄρτοις ἀζύμοις, κατὰ τὸν νόμον, νοουμένην δὲ πνευματικῶς. Ζύμη γὰρ ἀεὶ παρά γε ταῖς θεοπνεύστοις Γραφαῖς, φαυλότητος καὶ ἁμαρτίας εἰς τύπον παραλαμβάνεται. Καὶ γοῦν ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς ὁ Χριστὸς ἐνετείλατο τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ μαθηταῖς προσέχειν, οὕτω λέγων· Προσέχετε ἀπὸ τῆς ζύμης τῶν Γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων. Γράφει δὲ καὶ ὁ σοφώτατος Παῦλος, ζύμης καὶ ἀκαθαρσίας τῆς εἰς νοῦν καὶ καρδίαν ὡς ἀποτάτω τιθεὶς τοὺς ἡγιασμένους· Ἐκκαθάρατε οὖν τὴν παλαιὰν ζύμην, ἵνα ἦτε νέον φύραμα, καθώς ἐστε ἄζυμοι. For us who have been called to live a life of holiness through faith the true lamb has been sacrificed, the lamb that takes away the sin of the world. To this sacrifice we must add a food that is spiritual, wholly good and truly sacred, a food typified in the Law by the unleavened bread, which we now understand in a spiritual way. In the divinely inspired Scriptures yeast always signifies wickedness and sin. Our Lord Jesus Christ, warning his holy disciples to be on their guard, said: Beware of the yeast of the scribes and Pharisees. And Paul in his great wisdom wrote that those who have once been sanctified should put far from them the yeast of impurity that corrupts mind and heart. Purify yourselves of the old yeast, he urged, and become a fresh batch of bread, since you really are unleavened.
Ἔστι τοίνυν οὐκ ἀσυντελὲς εἰς ὄνησιν, μᾶλλον δὲ ἤδη καὶ ἀναγκαῖον, ἐπειδήπερ ἡμῖν διὰ σπουδῆς τέθειται τῆς προὐργιαιτάτης, τὸ ἐν μεθέξει γενέσθαι τῇ πνευματικῇ τοῦ πάντων ἡμῶν Σωτῆρος Χριστοῦ, τὸν νοῦν ἀθόλωτον ἔχειν, καὶ ἀποτρίβεσθαι μολυσμοὺς, καὶ ἀποφοιτᾷν ἁμαρτίας, καὶ ἁπαξαπλῶς ἀπανίστασθαι παντὸς τοῦ καταμιαίνειν εἰωθότος. Ἀκαταιτίαυτον γὰρ οὔτω καὶ ἀνεπίπληκτον παντελῶς κατορθώσομεν τὴν ὡς ἐν μεθέξει πρόσοδον. This urgent plea prompted by concern for our well-being shows that spiritual communion with Christ the Saviour of us all is not only a benefit to us but also a real need. It also shows how important it is for us to keep our minds pure by refraining from sin and washing away every stain. In a word, we must avoid everything that defiled us in the past, for it is then, when no fault of ours bars the way and we are wholly free from reproach, that we shall open the way to this communion with Christ.
Ἐσθιέτω δέ τις καὶ πικρίδας, τουτέστι, διὰ πικρῶν ἡκέτω πόνων, καὶ τὸ ἔν γε τούτῳ τληπαθὲς ποιείσθω περὶ πολλοῦ. Καὶ γὰρ ἔστι τῶν ἀπωτάτων, τῆς εὐσεβείας τοὺς ἐραστὰς οἴεσθαί τε καὶ φρονεῖν ἑτέρως ἂν δύνασθαι καταπλουτεῖν ἀρετὴν, καὶ ταῖς ἀνωτάτω δόξαις ἐπισεμνύνεσθαι, μὴ προηθληκότας, καὶ τὴν τῆς ἀνδρείας ἐπίδειξιν εὖ μάλα πεποιημένους. Τραχεῖα μὲν γὰρ καὶ ἀνάντης ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ εἰς αὐτὴν ἀναφέρουσα, καὶ οὐ βάσιμος τοῖς πολλοῖς· εἴη δ' ἂν μόνοις εὐστιβὴς τοῖς, οἵ γε διᾴττειν ἐπείγονται, κατοῤῥωδοῦντες οὐδένα, ἀνταποδυόμενοι δὲ τοῖς πόνοις, καὶ τοῖς ἱδρῶσιν ἀντανιστάμενοι. But we also have to eat bitter herbs. These stand for the bitter sufferings we must undergo, and we should greatly value the endurance they demand. It would indeed be quite absurd if those desiring to serve God imagined they could achieve great virtue, and glory in the supreme reward, without having first contended for it and given proof of the most steadfast courage. The approach to this goal is rugged and steep, and it is inaccessible to most people. It becomes easy only for those whose desire to arrive is so strong that they are dismayed by nothing and are ready to face hardship and toil.
Καὶ πρός γε τοῦτο ἡμᾶς παραθήγει λέγων αὐτὸς ὁ Χριστός· Εἰσέλθετε διὰ τῆς στενῆς πύλης, ὅτι πλατεῖα ἡ πύλη καὶ εὐρύχωρος ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ἀπώλειαν, καὶ πολλοί εἰσιν οἱ εἰσπορευόμενοι δι' αὐτῆς. Στενὴ δὲ ἡ πύλη, καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ζωὴν, καὶ ὀλίγοι εἰσὶν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν. Christ's own words urge us to do this: Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road easy that leads to damnation, and those who enter by it are many. The gate is narrow and the road hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Odd Years: Fulgentius of Ruspe, Letter 14, 36-37 (CCL 91, 429-431)
Illud quippe primum attendendum est, quod in conclusione orationis "per iesum christum filium tuum dominum nostrum" dicimus. Per spiritum uero sanctum nullatenus dicimus. Quod utique non inaniter catholica concelebrat ecclesia, propter illud utique sacramentum, quo mediator dei et hominum factus est homo christus iesus, sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem melchisedech, qui per proprium sanguinem semel introiuit in sancta, non utique manufacta exemplaria ueritatis, sed in ipsum caelum, ubi est in dextera dei, et interpellat pro nobis. First of all, notice that we conclude our prayer by saying 'through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord' but never by saying, 'through the Holy Spirit'. It is not for nothing that the Catholic Church is united in this practice, based on the mystery that the man Jesus Christ was made mediator between God and men. He is a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek, who, taking his own blood, entered once for all into the Holy Place not made with hands; not into a copy of the true one but into heaven itself where, at the right hand of God, he intercedes for us.
Hoc in eo pontificatus officium intuens apostolus ait: per ipsum ergo offeramus hostiam laudis semper deo, id est fructum labiorum confitentium nomini eius. Per ipsum ergo hostiam laudis atque orationis offerimus, quia per eius mortem reconciliati sumus cum inimici essemus. Per ipsum enim qui pro nobis hostia dignatus est fieri, potest in conspectu dei nostra hostia acceptabilis inueniri. Propterea nos beatus petrus admonet, dicens: et uos tamquam lapides uiui aedificamini in domum spiritalem, in sacerdotium sanctum, offerentes spiritales hostias, acceptabiles deo per iesum christum. Hac igitur ratione dicimus deo patri "per iesum christum filium tuum dominum nostrum" Nam bene nostri nonnumquam dici "per sacerdotem aeternum filium tuum dominum nostrum iesum christum". This mystery of Jesus Christ the high priest is reflected in the apostle Pauls statement: Through him, then, let us always offer the sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of lips that profess belief in his name. We were once enemies of the Father, but have been reconciled through the death of Christ. Through him then we offer our sacrifice of praise, our prayer to God. He became our offering to the Father, and through him our offering is now acceptable. It is for this reason that Peter the apostle urges us to be built up as living stones into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. This then is the reason why we offer prayer to God our Father, but through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Cum ergo sacerdotis fit mentio, quid aliud quam mysterium dominicae incarnationis ostenditur, quo dei filius, cum in forma dei esset, semetipsum exinaniuit, formam serui accipiens; secundum quam se humiliauit, factus oboediens usque ad mortem; minoratus scilicet paulo minus ab angelis, et aequalitatem paternae possidens unitatis? eo quippe minoratus est filius, aequalis permanens patri, quod in similitudine hominum dignatus est fieri. Ipse autem se minorem fecit, quando semetipsum exinaniuit, formam serui accipiens. When mention is made of the Priest, this refers to the mystery of the Lord's incarnation, whereby the Son of who, though he was in the form of God, emptied himself, taking the form of a servant; and in that way humbled himself and became obedient unto death. Though he possessed equality with the Father's divinity, for a little while he was made lower than the angels. For, while remaining equal to the Father, the Son was made lower in that he was born in the likeness of men. He it was who lowered himself when he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. The lowering of Christ is precisely this emptying. And the emptying is nothing other than his acceptance of the form of a servant.
Christi porro minoratio, ipsa est exinanitio; nec tamen alia est exinanitio quam formae seruilis acceptio. Christus ergo in forma dei permanens, vnigenitus deus, cui cum patre hostias offerimus, formam serui accipiens, sacerdos est factus, per quem hostiam uiuam, sanctam, deo placentem offerre possimus. Nec tamen a nobis offerri hostia potuisset, si christus pro nobis factus hostia non fuisset, in quo ipsa natura nostri generis, uera est hostia salutaris... So, while remaining in the form of God, Christ is the only-begotten Son of God, to whom, together with the Father, we offer sacrifices; but by taking the form of a servant, Christ was made a Priest through whom we can offer a living, holy sacrifice, pleasing to God. Indeed, if Christ become a victim for us, we could not offer any sacrifice; for it is in him that human -nature becomes a true and saving sacrifice.
Nam cum nos ostendimus per aeternum sacerdotem dominum christum nostras orationes offerre, ueram in eo carnem nostri generis confitemur; secundum illud quod apostolus dicit: omnis enim pontifex ex hominibus assumptus, pro hominibus constituitur in his quae sunt ad deum, ut offerat dona et sacrificia pro peccatis. When we affirm that our prayers are offered through our Lord the eternal Priest, we profess our faith that the true flesh of our race is in him, according to the words of the Apostle: For every High Priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
Cum uero dicimus: filium tuum, et adicimus: qui te cum uiuit et regnat in unitate spiritus sancti, illam utique unitatem commemoramus, quam naturaliter habet pater et filius et spiritus sanctus, ubi ostenditur idem ipse christus pro nobis sacerdotali functus officio, cui naturalis est unitas cum patre et spiritu sancto. Hence, we do not only say 'your Son', but add: 'who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit'. In this way we commemorate that unity which belongs to the nature of the Father and the Son and the Spirit: and we profess that it is one and the same Christ, one in nature with the Father and the Holy Spirit, who exercises the priestly office on our behalf.

Prayer