Joseph Kenny OP: Readings Lent Tuesday 1

READINGS: LENT TUESDAY I

Invitatory Psalm & BACK

PSALMS and BACK
ἰδοὺ νῦν καιρὸς εὐπρόσδεκτος, — ἰδοὺ νῦν ἡμέρα σωτηρίας

Even Years: Exodus 6:29—7:25
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר אֲנִי יְהוָה דַּבֵּר אֶל־פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי דֹּבֵר אֵלֶיךָ׃ וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי יְהוָה הֵן אֲנִי עֲרַל שְׂפָתַיִם וְאֵיךְ יִשְׁמַע אֵלַי פַּרְעֹה׃
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה רְאֵה נְתַתִּיךָ אֱלֹהִים לְפַרְעֹה וְאַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ יִהְיֶה נְבִיאֶךָ׃ אַתָּה תְדַבֵּר אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר אֲצַוֶּךָּ וְאַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ יְדַבֵּר אֶל־פַּרְעֹה וְשִׁלַּח אֶת־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאַרְצוֹ׃ וַאֲנִי אַקְשֶׁה אֶת־לֵב פַּרְעֹה וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶת־אֹתֹתַי וְאֶת־מוֹפְתַי בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם׃ וְלֹא־יִשְׁמַע אֲלֵכֶם פַּרְעֹה וְנָתַתִּי אֶת־יָדִי בְּמִצְרָיִם וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶת־צִבְאֹתַי אֶת־עַמִּי בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בִּשְׁפָטִים גְּדֹלִים׃ וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם כִּי־אֲנִי יְהוָה בִּנְטֹתִי אֶת־יָדִי עַל־מִצְרָיִם וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶת־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתּוֹכָם׃
וַיַּעַשׂ מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֹתָם כֵּן עָשׂוּ׃ וּמֹשֶׁה בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִים שָׁנָה וְאַהֲרֹן בֶּן־שָׁלֹשׁ וּשְׁמֹנִים שָׁנָה בְּדַבְּרָם אֶל־פַּרְעֹה׃
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹר׃ כִּי יְדַבֵּר אֲלֵכֶם פַּרְעֹה לֵאמֹר תְּנוּ לָכֶם מוֹפֵת וְאָמַרְתָּ אֶל־אַהֲרֹן קַח אֶת־מַטְּךָ וְהַשְׁלֵךְ לִפְנֵי־פַרְעֹה יְהִי לְתַנִּין׃ וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן אֶל־פַּרְעֹה וַיַּעַשׂוּ כֵן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אַהֲרֹן אֶת־מַטֵּהוּ לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה וְלִפְנֵי עֲבָדָיו וַיְהִי לְתַנִּין׃
וַיִּקְרָא גַּם־פַּרְעֹה לַחֲכָמִים וְלַמְכַשְּׁפִים וַיַּעֲשׂוּ גַם־הֵם חַרְטֻמֵּי מִצְרַיִם בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶם כֵּן׃ וַיַּשְׁלִיכוּ אִישׁ מַטֵּהוּ וַיִּהְיוּ לְתַנִּינִם וַיִּבְלַע מַטֵּה־אַהֲרֹן אֶת־מַטֹּתָם׃ וַיֶּחֱזַק לֵב פַּרְעֹה וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֲלֵהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה׃
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה כָּבֵד לֵב פַּרְעֹה מֵאֵן לְשַׁלַּח הָעָם׃ לֵךְ אֶל־פַּרְעֹה בַּבֹּקֶר הִנֵּה יֹצֵא הַמַּיְמָה וְנִצַּבְתָּ לִקְרָאתוֹ עַל־שְׂפַת הַיְאֹר וְהַמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר־נֶהְפַּךְ לְנָחָשׁ תִּקַּח בְּיָדֶךָ׃ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים שְׁלָחַנִי אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר שַׁלַּח אֶת־עַמִּי וְיַעַבְדֻנִי בַּמִּדְבָּר וְהִנֵּה לֹא־שָׁמַעְתָּ עַד־כֹּה׃ כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה בְּזֹאת תֵּדַע כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי מַכֶּה בַּמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר־בְּיָדִי עַל־הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר בַּיְאֹר וְנֶהֶפְכוּ לְדָם׃ וְהַדָּגָה אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹר תָּמוּת וּבָאַשׁ הַיְאֹר וְנִלְאוּ מִצְרַיִם לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם מִן־הַיְאֹר׃
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה אֱמֹר אֶל־אַהֲרֹן קַח מַטְּךָ וּנְטֵה־יָדְךָ עַל־מֵימֵי מִצְרַיִם עַל־נַהֲרֹתָם עַל־יְאֹרֵיהֶם וְעַל־אַגְמֵיהֶם וְעַל כָּל־מִקְוֵה מֵימֵיהֶם וְיִהְיוּ־דָם וְהָיָה דָם בְּכָל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וּבָעֵצִים וּבָאֲבָנִים׃ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵן מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה וַיָּרֶם בַּמַּטֶּה וַיַּךְ אֶת־הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר בַּיְאֹר לְעֵינֵי פַרְעֹה וּלְעֵינֵי עֲבָדָיו וַיֵּהָפְכוּ כָּל־הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹר לְדָם׃ ְהַדָּגָה אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹר מֵתָה וַיִּבְאַשׁ הַיְאֹר וְלֹא־יָכְלוּ מִצְרַיִם לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם מִן־הַיְאֹר וַיְהִי הַדָּם בְּכָל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם׃
וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵן חַרְטֻמֵּי מִצְרַיִם בְּלָטֵיהֶם וַיֶּחֱזַק לֵב־פַּרְעֹה וְלֹא־שָׁמַע אֲלֵהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה׃ וַיִּפֶן פַּרְעֹה וַיָּבֹא אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ וְלֹא־שָׁת לִבּוֹ גַּם־לָזֹאת׃ וַיַּחְפְּרוּ כָל־מִצְרַיִם סְבִיבֹת הַיְאֹר מַיִם לִשְׁתּוֹת כִּי לֹא יָכְלוּ לִשְׁתֹּת מִמֵּימֵי הַיְאֹר׃ וַיִּמָּלֵא שִׁבְעַת יָמִים אַחֲרֵי הַכּוֹת־יְהוָה אֶת־הַיְאֹר׃

29 Yahweh said to Moses, 'Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything that I am going to say to you.' 30 But Moses said to Yahweh's face, 'I am a poor speaker, so why should Pharaoh take any notice of me?'
7:1 Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Look, I have made you as a god for Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron is to be your prophet. 2 You must say whatever I command you, and your brother Aaron will repeat to Pharaoh that he is to let the Israelites leave his country. 3 But I myself shall make Pharaoh stubborn and shall perform many a sign and wonder in Egypt. 4 Since Pharaoh will not listen to you, I shall lay my hand on Egypt and with great acts of judgement lead my armies, my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I stretch out my hand against the Egyptians and lead the Israelites out of their country.'
6 Moses and Aaron did exactly as Yahweh had ordered. 7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, 9 'If Pharaoh says to you, "Display some marvel," you must say to Aaron, "Take your staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, and let it turn into a serpent!" ' 10 Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as Yahweh had ordered. Aaron threw down his staff in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it turned into a serpent.
11 Then Pharaoh in his turn called for the sages and sorcerers, and by their spells the magicians of Egypt did the same. 12 Each threw his staff down and these turned into serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up theirs. 13 Pharaoh, however, remained obstinate and, as Yahweh had foretold, refused to listen to Moses and Aaron.
14 Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Pharaoh is adamant. He refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh tomorrow morning as he makes his way to the water, confront him on the river bank and in your hand take the staff that turned into a snake. 16 Say to him, "Yahweh, God of the Hebrews, sent me to say: Let my people go and worship in the desert. Up till now, you have refused to listen. 17 This is what Yahweh says: You will know that I am Yahweh by this: with the staff that is in my hand I shall strike the waters of the River and they will turn to blood. 18 The fish in the river will die, and the River will stink, and the Egyptians will not be able to drink the river water."
19 Yahweh said to Moses, 'Say to Aaron, "Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt 𔄤over their rivers and canals, their marshland, and all their reservoirs𔄤 and they will turn to blood. There will be blood throughout the whole of Egypt, even in sticks and stones." ' 20 Moses and Aaron did as Yahweh ordered. He raised his staff and struck the waters of the River, with Pharaoh and his officials looking on, and all the water in the River turned to blood. 21 The fish in the River died, and the River stank; and the Egyptians could no longer drink the River water. Throughout the whole of Egypt there was blood.
22 But by their spells the magicians of Egypt did the same; Pharaoh remained obstinate and, as Yahweh had foretold, refused to listen to Moses and Aaron. 23 Pharaoh turned away and went back into his palace, taking no notice even of this. 24 And the Egyptians all dug holes along the river-bank in search of drinking water, since they could not drink the River water. 25 After Yahweh struck the River, seven days went by.
Odd Years: Deuteronomy 9:7-21,25-29
7 זְכֹר אַל־תִּשְׁכַּח אֵת אֲשֶׁר־הִקְצַפְתָּ אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בַּמִּדְבָּר לְמִן־הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר־יָצָאתָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם עַד־בֹּאֲכֶם עַד־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה מַמְרִים הֱיִיתֶם עִם־יְהוָה׃
8 וּבְחֹרֵב הִקְצַפְתֶּם אֶת־יְהוָה וַיִּתְאַנַּף יְהוָה בָּכֶם לְהַשְׁמִיד אֶתְכֶם׃
9 בַּעֲלֹתִי הָהָרָה לָקַחַת לוּחֹת הָאֲבָנִים לוּחֹת הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר־כָּרַת יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם וָאֵשֵׁב בָּהָר אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַלְתִּי וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתִיתִי׃
10 וַיִּתֵּן יְהוָה אֵלַי אֶת־שְׁנֵי לוּחֹת הָאֲבָנִים כְּתֻבִים בְּאֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים וַעֲלֵיהֶם כְּכָל־הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם בָּהָר מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ בְּיוֹם הַקָּהָל׃
11 וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לָיְלָה נָתַן יְהוָה אֵלַי אֶת־שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת הָאֲבָנִים לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית׃
12 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי קוּם רֵד מַהֵר מִזֶּה כִּי שִׁחֵת עַמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָ מִמִּצְרָיִם סָרוּ מַהֵר מִן־הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִם עָשׂוּ לָהֶם מַסֵּכָה׃
13 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר רָאִיתִי אֶת־הָעָם הַזֶּה וְהִנֵּה עַם־קְשֵׁה־עֹרֶף הוּא׃
14 הֶרֶף מִמֶּנִּי וְאַשְׁמִידֵם וְאֶמְחֶה אֶת־שְׁמָם מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם וְאֶעֱשֶׂה אוֹתְךָ לְגוֹי־עָצוּם וָרָב מִמֶּנּוּ׃
15 וָאֵפֶן וָאֵרֵד מִן־הָהָר וְהָהָר בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ וּשְׁנֵי לֻחֹת הַבְּרִית עַל שְׁתֵּי יָדָי׃
16 וָאֵרֶא וְהִנֵּה חֲטָאתֶם לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם עֲשִׂיתֶם לָכֶם עֵגֶל מַסֵּכָה סַרְתֶּם מַהֵר מִן־הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶתְכֶם׃
17 וָאֶתְפֹּשׂ בִּשְׁנֵי הַלֻּחֹת וָאַשְׁלִכֵם מֵעַל שְׁתֵּי יָדָי וָאֲשַׁבְּרֵם לְעֵינֵיכֶם׃
18 וָאֶתְנַפַּל לִפְנֵי יְהוָה כָּרִאשֹׁנָה אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַלְתִּי וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתִיתִי עַל כָּל־חַטַּאתְכֶם אֲשֶׁר חֲטָאתֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה לְהַכְעִיסוֹ׃
19 כִּי יָגֹרְתִּי מִפְּנֵי הָאַף וְהַחֵמָה אֲשֶׁר קָצַף יְהוָה עֲלֵיכֶם לְהַשְׁמִיד אֶתְכֶם וַיִּשְׁמַע יְהוָה אֵלַי גַּם בַּפַּעַם הַהִוא׃
20 וּבְאַהֲרֹן הִתְאַנַּף יְהוָה מְאֹד לְהַשְׁמִידוֹ וָאֶתְפַּלֵּל גַּם־בְּעַד אַהֲרֹן בָּעֵת הַהִוא׃
21 וְאֶת־חַטַּאתְכֶם אֲשֶׁר־עֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת־הָעֵגֶל לָקַחְתִּי וָאֶשְׂרֹף אֹתוֹ בָּאֵשׁ וָאֶכֹּת אֹתוֹ טָחוֹן הֵיטֵב עַד אֲשֶׁר־דַּק לְעָפָר וָאַשְׁלִךְ אֶת־עֲפָרוֹ אֶל־הַנַּחַל הַיֹּרֵד מִן־הָהָר׃...
25 וָאֶתְנַפַּל לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֵת אַרְבָּעִים הַיּוֹם וְאֶת־אַרְבָּעִים הַלַּיְלָה אֲשֶׁר הִתְנַפָּלְתִּי כִּי־אָמַר יְהוָה לְהַשְׁמִיד אֶתְכֶם׃
26 וָאֶתְפַּלֵּל אֶל־יְהוָה וָאֹמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה אַל־תַּשְׁחֵת עַמְּךָ וְנַחֲלָתְךָ אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ בְּגָדְלֶךָ אֲשֶׁר־הוֹצֵאתָ מִמִּצְרַיִם בְּיָד חֲזָקָה׃
27 זְכֹר לַעֲבָדֶיךָ לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב אַל־תֵּפֶן אֶל־קְשִׁי הָעָם הַזֶּה וְאֶל־רִשְׁעוֹ וְאֶל־חַטָּאתוֹ׃
28 פֶּן־יֹאמְרוּ הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָנוּ מִשָּׁם מִבְּלִי יְכֹלֶת יְהוָה לַהֲבִיאָם אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר לָהֶם וּמִשִּׂנְאָתוֹ אוֹתָם הוֹצִיאָם לַהֲמִתָם בַּמִּדְבָּר׃
29 וְהֵם עַמְּךָ וְנַחֲלָתֶךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָ בְּכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדֹל וּבִזְרֹעֲךָ הַנְּטוּיָה׃

7 Remember; never forget how you provoked Yahweh your God in the desert. From the very day that you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebels against Yahweh. 8 At Horeb, you provoked Yahweh, and Yahweh was so angry with you that he was ready to destroy you. 9 I had gone up the mountain to receive the stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant that Yahweh was making with you. I stayed forty days and forty nights on the mountain, with nothing to eat or drink. 10 Yahweh gave me the two stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God, exactly corresponding to what Yahweh had said to you on the mountain, from the heart of the fire, on the day of the Assembly.
11 After forty days and forty nights, having given me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant, 12 Yahweh said to me, "Get up, go down quickly, for your people, whom you have brought out of Egypt, are corrupting one another. They have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them; they have cast themselves a metal idol."
13 Yahweh then said to me, "I have seen this people, and what an obstinate people they are! 14 Leave me, I am going to destroy them and wipe out their name under heaven; and I shall make you into a mightier and more numerous nation than they are!"
15 I went back down the mountain, which was blazing with fire, and in my hands were the two tablets of the covenant. 16 When I looked, I saw that you had been sinning against Yahweh your God. You had cast yourselves a metal calf; you had been quick to leave the way marked out for you by Yahweh. 17 I seized the two tablets and with my two hands threw them down and broke them before your eyes. 18 Then I fell prostrate before Yahweh; as before, I spent forty days and forty nights with nothing to eat or drink, on account of all the sins which you had committed, by doing what was displeasing to Yahweh and thus arousing his anger. 19 For I was afraid of this anger, of the fury which so roused Yahweh against you that he was ready to destroy you.
And, once again, Yahweh heard my prayer. 20 Yahweh was enraged with Aaron and was ready to destroy him too; I also pleaded for Aaron on that occasion. 21 That work of sin, the calf you had made, I took and burned and broke to pieces; having ground it to the finest dust, I threw its dust into the stream that comes down from the mountain...
25 So I fell prostrate before Yahweh and lay there those forty days and forty nights, Yahweh having said that he was going to destroy you. 26 And I pleaded with Yahweh. "My Lord Yahweh," I said, "do not destroy your people, your heritage whom in your greatness you have redeemed, whom you have brought out of Egypt with your mighty hand. 27 Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; take no notice of this people's stubbornness, their wickedness, and their sin, 28 so that, in the country from which you have brought us, it may not be said, 'Yahweh was not able to bring them to the country which he had promised them. He hated them; that was why he brought them out𔃉to slaughter them in the desert.' 29 But these are your people, your heritage, whom you yourself have brought out by your great power and your outstretched arm."

Even Years: Cyprian of Carthage, Treatise on the Lord's Prayer, 1-3 (CSEL 3, 267-268)
Evangelica praecepta, fratres dilectissimi, nihil sunt aliud quam magisteria divina, fundamenta aedificandae spei, firmamenta corroborandae fidei, nutrimenta fovendi cordis, gubernacula dirigendi itineris, praesidia obtinendae salutis, quae, dum docibiles credentium mentes in terris instruunt, ad caelestia regna perducunt. The Gospel precepts, dearest brothers, are nothing other than divine teachings, foundations for building hope, reinforcements for strengthening faith, nutriments for empowering the heart, steering instruments for guiding the journey, security structures for obtaining salvation. While they instruct the receptive minds of believers on earth, they lea them to heavenly kingdoms.
Multa et per prophetas servos suos dici Deus voluit et audiri; sed quanto maiora sunt quae Filius loquitur, quae Dei sermo, qui in prophetis fuit, propria voce testatur, non iam mandans ut paretur venienti via, sed ipse veniens et viam nobis aperiens et ostendens, ut, qui in tenebris mortis errantes improvidi et caeci prius fuimus, luce gratiae luminati iter vitae duce et rectore Domino teneremus. God want many things to be said and heard through his servants the prophets, but much greater are the things that the Son speaks, as God's own voice —spoken through the prophets— testifies. He was not commanding to prepare the way for someone coming, but he himself came, opened the way for us, and showed how we, who had been wandering helpless and blind, couls be enlightend by the light of grace and keep to the road of life with the Lord as our leader and director.
Qui inter cetera salutaria sua monita et praecepta divina, quibus populo suo consulit ad salutem etiam orandi ipse formam dedit, ipse quid precaremur monuit et instruxit. Qui fecit vivere, docuit et orare, benignitate ea scilicet, qua et cetera dare et conferre dignatus est, ut, dum prece et oratione quam Filius docuit apud Patrem loquimur, facilius audiamur. Among other salutary divine warnings and commands helpful for his people's salvation, he gave us a prayer formula, showing us what we should pray for. Having given us life, he also taught us how to pray. He did so from the same kindness by which he bestows on us other things, so that when we speak to the Father using the petition and prayer that the Son taught, we may more easily be heard.
Iam praedixerat horam vinire, quando veri adoratores adorarent Patrem in spiritu et veritate, et implevit quod ante promisit, ut, qui spiritum et veritatem de eius sanctificatione percepimus, de traditione quoque eius vere et spiritaliter adoremus. He had already said that the hour would come when true worshipers would adore the Father in spirit and truth. He fulfilled that promise when, having imbibed spirit and truth when he sanctified us, we also adore him in truth and in spirit by using the prayer he bequeathed us.
Quae enim potest esse magis spiritalis oratio quam quae a Christo nobis data est, a quo nobis et Spiritus Sanctus missus est; quae vera magis apud Patrem precatio quam quae a Filio, qui est veritas, de eius ore prolata est? Ut aliter orare quam docuit non ignorantia sola sit, sed et culpa, quando ipse posuerit et dixerit: Reicitis mandatum Dei, ut traditionem vestram statuatis. For what prayer could be more spiritual than that which Christ —from whom the Spirit was sent— gave us? What prayer is more true before the Father than that which came from the mouth of the Son, who is truth? To pray otherwise than the way he taught is not only ignorance, but also a sin, since he himself stated: You reject the commandment of God, to establish your own tradition.
Oremus itaque, fratres dilectissimi, sicut magister Deus docuit. Amica et familiaris oratio est Deum de suo rogare, ad aures eius ascendere Christi orationem. Led us pray therefore, dearest brothers, as God our teacher taught us. It is a friendly and familiar prayer to ask God concerning what belongs to him, when Christ's prayer ascends to his ears.
Agnoscat Pater Filii sui verba, cum precem facimus: qui habitat intus in pectore, ipse et in voce; et cum ipsum habeamus apud Patrem advocatum pro peccatis nostris, quando peccatores pro delictis nostris petimus, advocati nostri verba promamus. Nam cum dicat: Quia quodcumque petierimus a Patre in nomine eius dabit nobis, quanto efficacius impetramus quod petimus Christi nomine, si petamus ipsius oratione? May the Father recognize his Son's words when we pray. Let him who dwells in our hearts also speak through our mouth. Since he is our advocate with the Father regarding our sins, when we sinners pray for forgiveness, let us use the words of our advocate. Since he said, that whatever we ask of the Father in his name he will give us, how much more surely will we receive what we ask in Christ's name when we ask using his own prayer? [tr. —JKop]

Odd Years: John Chrysostom, Homily 14 on Romans, 8 (PG 60, 534-535)
Τί γὰρ οὐκ ἐποίησε δι' ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεός; Φθαρτὸν τὸν κόσμον δι' ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἄφθαρτον ἐποίησε δι' ἡμᾶς· κακωθῆναι τοὺς προφήτας συνεχώρησε δι' ἡμᾶς, εἰς αἰχμαλωσίαν ἔπεμψε δι' ἡμᾶς, εἰς κάμινον ἀφῆκεν ἐμπεσεῖν δι' ἡμᾶς, τὰ μυρία ὑπομεῖναι κακά. There is nothing that God has not done for us. He made the world corruptible on our account, and on our account again he made it incorruptible. For our sake he allowed his prophets to be ill-treated; for our sake he let them be taken into captivity, fall into the furnace, and undergo countless other afflictions.
Καὶ προφήτας δὲ δι' ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς ἐποίησε, καὶ ἀποστόλους δι' ἡμᾶς· τὸν Μονογενῆ δι' ἡμᾶς ἐξέδωκε, τὸν διάβολον δι' ἡμᾶς κολάζει· ἐκάθισεν ἡμᾶς ἐν δεξιᾷ· ὠνειδίσθη δι' ἡμᾶς· Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ γὰρ, φησὶ, τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσον ἐπ' ἐμέ. Ἀλλ' ὅμως μετὰ τοσαῦτα ἀφισταμένους ἡμᾶς οὐκ ἀφίησιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ παρακαλεῖ πάλιν, καὶ ἑτέρους παρασκευάζει παρακαλεῖν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα ἡμῖν χαρίσηται· ὅπερ ἐπὶ τοῦ Μωϋσέως γέγονε. Καὶ γὰρ ἐκείνῳ φησίν· Ἄφες με, καὶ ἐξαλείψω αὐτούς· ἵνα αὐτὸν ἐμβάλῃ εἰς τὴν ὑπὲρ ἐκείνων ἱκετηρίαν· Indeed it was for our sake that he called them to their prophetic task and summoned others to be apostles. It was for us that he gave up his only Son, and placed us at his right hand. For our sake the Son of God suffered opprobrium; in the words of Scripture: Taunts against you have fallen on me. And when we still rebel, even after receiving such great blessings, God does not abandon us, but calls us once more and raises up others to intercede for grace on our behalf. Moses was one of these; for it was only in order to move him to make entreaty for the people that God said to Moses: Let me destroy these people altogether.
καὶ νῦν τὸ αὐτὸ ποιεῖ. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ χάρισμα εὐχῆς ἐδίδου. Ἐποίει δὲ τοῦτο, οὐκ αὐτὸς παρακλήσεως δεόμενος, ἀλλ' ἵνα ἡμεῖς μὴ, ἁπλῶς σωζόμενοι, φαυλότεροι καταστῶμεν. Διά τοι τοῦτο πολλάκις διὰ τὸν Δαυῒδ καὶ τὸν δεῖνα καὶ τὸν δεῖνά φησιν αὐτοῖς καταλλάττεσθαι, τοῦτο αὐτὸ κατασκευάζων πάλιν, ἵνα καὶ σχῆμα ἐπιτεθῇ τῇ καταλλαγῇ· καίτοι μειζόνως ἂν αὐτὸς ἐφάνη φιλάνθρωπος, εἰ μὴ διὰ τὸν δεῖνα καὶ τὸν δεῖνα, ἀλλὰ δι' ἑαυτὸν ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ἀφεῖναι τὴν ὀργήν. Ἀλλ' οὐχ οὕτω τοῦτο ἐσπούδακεν, ὡς τὸ τοῖς σωζομένοις μὴ γενέσθαι ῥᾳθυμίας ἀφορμὴν τὴν τῆς καταλλαγῆς ὑπόθεσιν. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τῷ Ἱερεμίᾳ ἔλεγε· Μὴ ἀξίου περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσακούσομαί σου· οὐχὶ παῦσαι αὐτὸν θέλων ἀξιοῦντα (πολὺ γὰρ ἐπιθυμεῖ τῆς σωτηρίας τῆς ἡμετέρας), ἀλλ' ἐκείνους φοβῆσαι· ὅπερ οὖν καὶ ὁ προφήτης συνιδὼν, οὐκ ἐπαύσατο ἀξιῶν Even now God acts in the same way. He grants the gift of prayer not because he needs our supplication, but to prevent our growing careless through receiving salvation that costs us no effort. Therefore he declares he has often been reconciled with his people for the sake of David or for the sake of this person or that; by such means he seeks to show the principle on which reconciliation with God is established. His love for his people might have appeared greater if he had told them that his anger was appeased on his own account instead of for the sake of someone else; but this would not have furthered his purpose, since he did not want reconciliation with God to be a matter of indifference to those who were saved. This is the explanation of his saying to Jeremiah: Do not pray for these people, because 1 will not listen to you. His intention was to put fear into the people, rather than to stop Jeremiah praying; the prophet understood, and continued to plead for them.
Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν Νινευϊτῶν ἀδιορίστως εἰπὼν τὴν ἀπόφασιν, καὶ μὴ ὑποτείνας χρηστὰς ἐλπίδας, μᾶλλον ἐφόβησε καὶ εἰς μετάνοιαν ἤγαγεν· οὕτω καὶ ἐνταῦθα ποιεῖ, ἐκείνους τε διεγείρων καὶ τὸν προφήτην αἰδεσιμώτερον κατασκευάζων, ἵνα κἂν οὕτως αὐτοῦ ἀκούσωσιν Just as God pronounced his decree to the Ninevites without qualification or offer of hope, and thus led them through fear to repentance, so his purpose in this episode was to stir up the people and inspire greater respect for their prophet, in order to induce them at least by this means to pay attention...
Τί γὰρ οὐκ ἔπασχον δι' αὐτούς; Ἐπρίζοντο, ἠλαύνοντο, ὠνειδίζοντο, ἐλιθάζοντο, μυρία ἔπασχον δεινά· καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἅπαντα, πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἔτρεχον πάλιν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Σαμουὴλ οὐ διέλειπε πενθῶν τὸν Σαοὺλ, καίτοι γε χαλεπῶς ὑβρισθεὶς παρ' αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ ἀνήκεστα παθών· ἀλλ' ὅμως οὐδενὸς ἐκείνων ἐμέμνητο. Τῷ δὲ Ἰουδαίων δήμῳ καὶ θρήνους γραπτοὺς ὁ Ἱερεμίας συνέθηκε· καὶ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ τῶν Περσῶν διδόντος αὐτῷ μετὰ ἀδείας οἰκεῖν καὶ ἐλευθερίας ἁπάσης ὅπου βούλοιτο, προετίμησε τῆς οἴκοι διατριβῆς τὴν τοῦ λαοῦ κακουχίαν καὶ τὴν ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ ταλαιπωρίαν. Was there anything the prophets did not suffer on account of the people? They were sawn asunder, driven out, reproached, stoned; they bore innumerable other injuries but each time they went back to the people again. Jeremiah composed and wrote down lamentations for the Jews, and although the Persian governor would have allowed him to live in security and complete freedom wherever he wished, he preferred to share the people's maltreatment and to endure the miseries of exile with them, rather than stay at home.

Prayer