READINGS: LENT TUESDAY VI

Invitatory Psalm & BACK

PSALMS and BACK

κἀγὼ ἐὰν ὑψωθῶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς, — πάντας ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν.

Even Years: Jeremiah 15:10-21 10 אוֹי־לִי אִמִּי כִּי יְלִדְתִּנִי אִישׁ רִיב וְאִישׁ מָדוֹן לְכָל־הָאָרֶץ לֹא־נָשִׁיתִי וְלֹא־נָשׁוּ־בִי כֻּלֹּה מְקַלְלַונִי׃ ס 11 אָמַר יְהוָה אִם־לֹא שָׁרוֹתִךָ לְטוֹב אִם־לוֹא הִפְגַּעְתִּי בְךָ בְּעֵת־רָעָה וּבְעֵת צָרָה אֶת־הָאֹיֵב׃ 12 הֲיָרֹעַ בַּרְזֶל בַּרְזֶל מִצָּפוֹן וּנְחֹשֶׁת׃ 13 חֵילְךָ וְאוֹצְרוֹתֶיךָ לָבַז אֶתֵּן לֹא בִמְחִיר וּבְכָל־חַטֹּאותֶיךָ וּבְכָל־גְּבוּלֶיךָ׃ 14 וְהַעֲבַרְתִּי אֶת־אֹיְבֶיךָ בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא יָדָעְתָּ כִּי־אֵשׁ קָדְחָה בְאַפִּי עֲלֵיכֶם תּוּקָד׃ ס 15 אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ יְהוָה זָכְרֵנִי וּפָקְדֵנִי וְהִנָּקֶם לִי מֵרֹדְפַי אַל־לְאֶרֶךְ אַפְּךָ תִּקָּחֵנִי דַּע שְׂאֵתִי עָלֶיךָ חֶרְפָּה׃ 16 נִמְצְאוּ דְבָרֶיךָ וָאֹכְלֵם וַיְהִי דְבָרֶיךָ לִי לְשָׂשׂוֹן וּלְשִׂמְחַת לְבָבִי כִּי־נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלַי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאוֹת׃ ס 17 לֹא־יָשַׁבְתִּי בְסוֹד־מְשַׂחֲקִים וָאֶעְלֹז מִפְּנֵי יָדְךָ בָּדָד יָשַׁבְתִּי כִּי־זַעַם מִלֵּאתָנִי׃ ס 18 לָמָּה הָיָה כְאֵבִי נֶצַח וּמַכָּתִי אֲנוּשָׁה מֵאֲנָה הֵרָפֵא הָיוֹ תִהְיֶה לִי כְּמוֹ אַכְזָב מַיִם לֹא נֶאֱמָנוּ׃ ס 19 לָכֵן כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה אִם־תָּשׁוּב וַאֲשִׁיבְךָ לְפָנַי תַּעֲמֹד וְאִם־תּוֹצִיא יָקָר מִזּוֹלֵל כְּפִי תִהְיֶה יָשֻׁבוּ הֵמָּה אֵלֶיךָ וְאַתָּה לֹא־תָשׁוּב אֲלֵיהֶם׃ 20 וּנְתַתִּיךָ לָעָם הַזֶּה לְחוֹמַת נְחֹשֶׁת בְּצוּרָה וְנִלְחֲמוּ אֵלֶיךָ וְלֹא־יוּכְלוּ לָךְ כִּי־אִתְּךָ אֲנִי לְהוֹשִׁיעֲךָ וּלְהַצִּילֶךָ נְאֻם־יְהוָה׃ 21 וְהִצַּלְתִּיךָ מִיַּד רָעִים וּפְדִתִיךָ מִכַּף עָרִצִים׃

10 A disaster for me, mother, that you bore me to be a man of strife and dissension for the whole country. I neither lend nor borrow, yet all of them curse me. 11 Have I not genuinely done my best to serve you, Yahweh? Have I not interceded with you in time of disaster and distress! 12 'Can iron break the iron of the north and the bronze? 13 Your wealth and your treasures I shall hand over to plunder, without repayment, because of all your sins, throughout your territory. 14 I shall enslave you to your enemies in a country which you do not know, for my anger has kindled a fire that will burn you up.' 15 Yahweh, you know! Remember me, take care of me, and avenge me on my persecutors. However long your anger endures, do not snatch me away. Realise that I suffer insult for your sake. 16 When your words came, I devoured them: your word was my delight and the joy of my heart; for I was called by your Name, Yahweh, God Sabaoth. 17 I never sat in the company of scoffers amusing myself; with your hands on me I held myself aloof, since you had filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my suffering continual, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, for me you are a deceptive stream with uncertain waters! 19 To which Yahweh replied, 'If you repent, I shall restore you to plead before me. If you distinguish between the precious and the base, you shall be as my own mouth. They will come back to you, but you must not go back to them. 20 As far as these people are concerned, I shall make you a fortified wall of bronze. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, because I am with you to save you and rescue you, Yahweh declares. 21 I shall rescue you from the clutches of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the violent.'

Odd Years: Lamentations 1:1-12,18-20 1 אֵיכָה יָשְׁבָה בָדָד הָעִיר רַבָּתִי עָם * הָיְתָה כְּאַלְמָנָה רַבָּתִי בַגּוֹיִם * שָׂרָתִי בַּמְּדִינוֹת הָיְתָה לָמַס׃ ס 2 בָּכוֹ תִבְכֶּה בַּלַּיְלָה - וְדִמְעָתָהּ עַל לֶחֱיָהּ * אֵין־לָהּ מְנַחֵם מִכָּל־אֹהֲבֶיהָ * כָּל־רֵעֶיהָ בָּגְדוּ בָהּ הָיוּ לָהּ לְאֹיְבִים׃ ס 3 גָּלְתָה יְהוּדָה מֵעֹנִי וּמֵרֹב עֲבֹדָה * הִיא יָשְׁבָה בַגּוֹיִם לֹא מָצְאָה מָנוֹחַ * כָּל־רֹדְפֶיהָ הִשִּׂיגוּהָ בֵּין הַמְּצָרִים׃ ס 4 דַּרְכֵי צִיּוֹן אֲבֵלוֹת מִבְּלִי בָּאֵי מוֹעֵד * כָּל־שְׁעָרֶיהָ שׁוֹמֵמִין כֹּהֲנֶיהָ נֶאֱנָחִים * בְּתוּלֹתֶיהָ נוּגוֹת וְהִיא מַר־לָהּ׃ ס 5 הָיוּ צָרֶיהָ לְרֹאשׁ אֹיְבֶיהָ * שָׁלוּ כִּי־יְהוָה הוֹגָהּ עַל רֹב־פְּשָׁעֶיהָ * עוֹלָלֶיהָ הָלְכוּ שְׁבִי לִפְנֵי־צָר׃ ס 6 וַיֵּצֵא מִן בַּת־צִיּוֹן כָּל־הֲדָרָהּ * הָיוּ שָׂרֶיהָ כְּאַיָּלִים לֹא־מָצְאוּ מִרְעֶה * וַיֵּלְכוּ בְלֹא־כֹחַ לִפְנֵי רוֹדֵף׃ ס 7 זָכְרָה יְרוּשָׁלַםִ יְמֵי עָנְיָהּ וּמְרוּדֶיהָ * כֹּל מַחֲמֻדֶיהָ אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ מִימֵי קֶדֶם * בִּנְפֹל עַמָּהּ בְּיַד־צָר וְאֵין עוֹזֵר לָהּ * רָאוּהָ צָרִים שָׂחֲקוּ עַל מִשְׁבַּתֶּהָ׃ ס 8 חֵטְא חָטְאָה יְרוּשָׁלַםִ עַל־כֵּן לְנִידָה הָיָתָה * כָּל־מְכַבְּדֶיהָ הִזִּילוּהָ כִּי־רָאוּ עֶרְוָתָהּ * גַּם־הִיא נֶאֶנְחָה וַתָּשָׁב אָחוֹר׃ ס 9 טֻמְאָתָהּ בְּשׁוּלֶיהָ לֹא זָכְרָה אַחֲרִיתָהּ * וַתֵּרֶד פְּלָאִים אֵין מְנַחֵם לָהּ * רְאֵה יְהוָה אֶת־עָנְיִי כִּי הִגְדִּיל אוֹיֵב׃ ס 10 יָדוֹ פָּרַשׂ צָר עַל כָּל־מַחֲמַדֶּיהָ * כִּי־רָאֲתָה גוֹיִם בָּאוּ מִקְדָּשָׁהּ * אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתָה לֹא־יָבֹאוּ בַקָּהָל לָךְ׃ ס 11 כָּל־עַמָּהּ נֶאֱנָחִים מְבַקְּשִׁים לֶחֶם * נָתְנוּ מַחֲמוֹדֵּיהֶם בְּאֹכֶל לְהָשִׁיב נָפֶשׁ * רְאֵה יְהוָה וְהַבִּיטָה כִּי הָיִיתִי זוֹלֵלָה׃ ס 12 לוֹא אֲלֵיכֶם כָּל־עֹבְרֵי דֶרֶךְ הַבִּיטוּ וּרְאוּ * אִם־יֵשׁ מַכְאוֹב כְּמַכְאֹבִי אֲשֶׁר עוֹלַל לִי * אֲשֶׁר הוֹגָה יְהוָה בְּיוֹם חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ׃... 18 צַדִּיק הוּא יְהוָה כִּי פִיהוּ מָרִיתִי * שִׁמְעוּ־נָא כָל־עַמִּים וּרְאוּ מַכְאֹבִי * בְּתוּלֹתַי וּבַחוּרַי הָלְכוּ בַשֶּׁבִי׃ ס 19 קָרָאתִי לַמְאַהֲבַי הֵמָּה רִמּוּנִי * כֹּהֲנַי וּזְקֵנַי בָּעִיר גָּוָעוּ * כִּי־בִקְשׁוּ אֹכֶל לָמוֹ וְיָשִׁיבוּ אֶת־נַפְשָׁם׃ ס 20 רְאֵה יְהוָה כִּי־צַר־לִי מֵעַי חֳמַרְמָרוּ * נֶהְפַּךְ לִבִּי בְּקִרְבִּי כִּי מָרוֹ מָרִיתִי * מִחוּץ שִׁכְּלָה־חֶרֶב בַּבַּיִת כַּמָּוֶת׃

1 How deserted she sits, the city once thronged with people! Once the greatest of nations, she is now like a widow. Once the princess of states, she is now put to forced labour. 2 All night long she is weeping, tears running down her cheeks. Not one of all her lovers remains to comfort her. Her friends have all betrayed her and become her enemies. 3 Judah has gone into exile after much pain and toil. Living among the nations she finds no respite; her persecutors all overtake her where there is no way out. 4 The roads to Zion are in mourning; no one comes to her festivals now. Her gateways are all deserted; her priests groan; her young girls are grief-stricken; she suffers bitterly. 5 Her foes now have the upper hand, her enemies prosper, for Yahweh has made her suffer for her many, many crimes; her children have gone away into captivity driven in front of the oppressor. 6 And from the daughter of Zion all her splendour has departed. Her princes were like stags which could find no pasture, exhausted, as they flee before the hunter. 7 Jerusalem remembers her days of misery and distress; when her people fell into the enemy's clutches there was no one to help her. Her enemies looked on and laughed at her downfall. 8 Jerusalem has sinned so gravely that she has become a thing unclean. All who used to honour her despise her, having seen her nakedness; she herself groans aloud and turns her face away. 9 Her filth befouls her skirts̵she never thought to end like this, and hence her astonishing fall with no one to comfort her. Yahweh, look at my misery, for the enemy is triumphant! 10 The enemy stretched out his hand for everything she treasured; she saw the heathen enter her sanctuary, whom you had forbidden to enter your Assembly. 11 All her people are groaning, looking for something to eat; they have bartered their treasures for food, to keep themselves alive. Look, Yahweh, and consider how despised I am! 12 All you who pass this way, look and see: is any sorrow like the sorrow inflicted on me, with which Yahweh struck me on the day of his burning anger? 13 He sent fire from on high deep into my bones; he stretched a net for my feet, he pulled me back; he left me shattered, sick all day long. 14 He has watched out for my offences, with his hand he enmeshes me, his yoke is on my neck, he has deprived me of strength. The Lord has put me into clutches which I am helpless to resist. 15 The Lord has rejected all my warriors within my walls, he has summoned a host against me to crush my young men; in the winepress the Lord trampled the young daughter of Judah. 16 And that is why I weep; my eyes stream with water, since a comforter who could revive me is far away. My children are shattered, for the enemy has proved too strong. 17 Zion stretches out her hands, with no one to comfort her. Yahweh has commanded Jacob's enemies to surround him; they treat Jerusalem as though she were unclean. 18 Yahweh is in the right, for I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples, and see my sorrow. My young girls and my young men have gone into captivity. Qophp 19 I called to my lovers; they failed me. My priests and my elders expired in the city, as they searched for food to keep themselves alive. 20 Look, Yahweh. I am in distress! My inmost being is in ferment; my heart turns over inside me̵how rebellious I have been! Outside, the sword bereaves; inside it is like death.

Even Years: Cyprian of Carthage, The value of patience, 6-7 (CCL III A, 121-122) Et qui ad hoc descendisse se dixerat ut uoluntatem patris faceret, inter cetera mirabilia uirtutum quibus indicia diuinae maiestatis expressit paternam quoque patientiam tolerantiae tenore seruauit. Omnis denique actus eius ab ipso statim aduentu patientia comite signatur, quod primum de illa sublimitate caelesti ad terrena descendens non aspernatur dei filius carnem hominis induere et cum peccator ipse non esset aliena peccata portare, immortalitate interim posita fieri se mortalem patitur ut innocens pro nocentium salute perimatur. Dominus baptizatur a seruo et remissam peccatorum daturus ipse non dedignatur lauacro regenerationis corpus abluere. Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, said that he had come down to earth to do his Father's will. Among the virtues that revealed his divine majesty was the endurance that mirrored his Father's patience. Every act of his, from the moment of his first appearing, bore the stamp of the patience with which it was carried out. He was no sinner, but the Son of God; yet when he descended to earth from the heights of heaven, he did not disdain to assume human nature and bear the sins of men. Laying aside his immortality for a while, he suffered himself to be made mortal, in order that the innocent could die to save the guilty. He, the Lord, was baptized by a servant, and though he had come to grant forgiveness of sins he did not think it beneath him to wash in the life-giving waters. Diebus quadraginta ieiunat per quem ceteri saginantur: esurit et famem sentit, ut qui in fame sermonis et gratiae fuerant caelesti pane saturentur. Cum diabolo temptante congreditur et inimicum tantum uicisse contentus nihil ultra uerba conatur. He fasted for forty days, yet it is through him that others are filled with good things. If he hungered and thirsted, it was to enable those who were faint for want of the word and grace of God to be filled with bread from heaven He engaged in combat with the devil who tempted him, but was content to defeat his enemy by words alone. Discipulis non ut seruis dominica potestate praefuit, sed benignus et mitis fraterna eos caritate dilexit, dignatus etiam pedes apostolorum lauare, ut dum circa seruos talis est dominus, exemplo suo doceret qualis circa compares et aequales debeat esse conseruus. He did not govern his disciples as a master rules his slaves. He was kind and gentle, loving them as brothers, even washing the feet of the apostles, showing by his example how a servant should bear himself toward his equals when his master dealt in such a way with his servants. Nec mirandum quod circa obaudientes talis extiterit qui iudam potuit usque ad extremum longa patientia sustinere, cibum cum inimico capere, hostem domesticum scire nec palam ostendere, traditoris osculum non recusare No wonder he could show such goodness to the disciples who obeyed him, if he was able to bear so long and so patiently with Judas, eating and drinking with his enemy, recognizing the foe in his own household yet neither exposing him publicly nor refusing his treacherous kiss. Sub ipsa autem passione et cruce, priusquam ad crudelitatem necis et effusionem sanguinis ueniretur, quae conuiciorum probra patienter audita, quae contumeliarum tolerata ludibria, ut insultantium sputamina exciperet qui sputo suo caeci oculos paulo ante formasset et cuius nomine a seruis nunc eius diabolus cum angelis suis flagellatur flagella ipse pateretur, coronaretur spinis qui martyres floribus coronat aeternis, palmis in faciem uerberaretur qui palmas ueras uincentibus tribuit, spoliaretur ueste terrena qui indumento immortalitatis ceteros uestit, cibaretur felle qui cibum caelestem dedit, aceto potaretur qui salutari poculo propinauit. At the time of his Passion and Cross, even before it had gone as far as the inhuman crucifixion and the shedding of his blood, how patiently he bore reviling and reproach, insult and mockery! A little while before, he had cured the eyes of a blind man with his spittle, yet now he allowed his tormentors to spit in his face. His servants today scourge the devil and his angels in the name of Christ, but at the time of his Passion Christ himself submitted to being scourged. He crowns the martyrs with never-fading flowers, though he himself was crowned with thorns. Others he clothes in the garment of immortality, yet he himself was stripped of his earthly garments. He had fed them with bread from heaven, yet he himself was fed with gall; and he who had poured out the saving cup was offered vinegar to drink. Ille innocens, ille iustus, immo innocentia ipse et ipse iustitia inter facinorosos deputatur et testimoniis falsis ueritas premitur, iudicatur iudicaturus et dei sermo ad uictimam tacens ducitur. He the innocent, he the just, he rather who is the embodiment of innocence and justice, is counted among evil-doers. Truth is confuted by false evidence. The future judge is subjected to judgment; the Word of God is led to the Cross in silence. Et cum ad crucem domini confundantur sidera, elementa turbentur, contremescat terra, nox diem claudat, sol ne iudaeorum facinus aspicere cogatur et radios et oculos suos subtrahat, ille non loquitur nec mouetur nec maiestatem suam sub ipsa saltem passione profitetur: usque ad finem perseueranter ac iugiter tolerantur omnia ut consummetur in christo plena et perfecta patientia. At the Lord's crucifixion the stars are thrown into confusion, the elements are disturbed, earth trembles, and night swallows up day. But he himself is silent, unmoved, hiding every sign of his godhead throughout the whole duration of his Passion. Enduring all things, he perseveres to the end, so that in him patience may be brought to its full measure of perfection.

Odd Years: Hilary of Poitier, On Psalm 131, 6-7 (CSEL 22, 666-667) Domino nostro Iesu Christo unigenito dei filio, qui omnia humanae salutis sacramenta tamquam iuratus expleuit et quem a prophetis Dauid significatum docuimus, hoc opus maximum fuit, ut hominem ad scientiam diuinam eruditum dignum habitaculo dei redderet. et esse hominem sedem atque habitationem deo ita docemur, deo ipso per prophetam loquente: quia inhabitabo in his et in illis ambulabo et ero illorum deus, et ipsi erunt mihi populus, et rursum: in aeternum exultabunt, et inhabitabo in illis. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, whom the Prophet David foreshadowed, carried out as though under oath all the mysteries of human salvation. His principal work was to make men, once instructed in divine knowledge, into worthy dwelling-places for God. We are taught that the human person is the seat and dwelling-place of God, for God himself says through the Prophet: I will dwell in their midst and walk among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Dominus autem ipse in euangelio ait: si quis diligit me, et uerbum meum seruabit, et pater meus diliget eum, et ueniemus et mansionem apud eum faciemus. apostolus quoque ait: uos estis templum dei, et spiritus dei habitat in uobis. The Lord himself said in the Gospel: If anyone loves me and keeps my word, my Father will love him, and we will come and make our dwelling in him." The Apostle also said: You are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you. Habitat autem deus religiosorum mentes non corporali habitu neque naturae grauioris ingressu, ut alibi non degens illic tantum, quo se intulerit, insistat: sed spiritali uirtute in uacua se a terrenis labibus corda permittit sese que luminis modo in patentes innocentiae foribus mentes inluminaturus infundit. God dwells in the minds of religious peope not in a bodily way, nor by entering a heavier nature, in such a way that he leaves where he was and moves to a new destination. But by a spiritual power he permits himself [to enter] hearts which are empty of earthly debris, and he pours himself like illuminating light into minds open with the pores of innocence. Adsumpto igitur corpore unigenitus deus neque ante se cum homine suo ingressurum tabernaculum domus suae iurat, id est in caelestem habitationem suam esse rediturum, quam haec religiosi pectoris loca domino inueniat. Sed neque stratum lecti sui ascensurum se esse uouit. stratum requies humanorum laborum est et fessorum corporum refectio. sed in caelo semper quiescitur et, quia indefessa illa natura laborem nescit, semper in strato, id est semper est in quiete. Having taken on a body, the only-begotten God swears that he will not, with his humanity, enter the tabernacle of his house, that is, his heavenly dwelling place, before he finds those places of a religious heart for the Lord. Nor would get onto his bed, which is rest from human labor and refreshment of tired bodies. But in heaven he always rests and, since that never-tiring [divine] nature does not struggle, he is always on his bed, that is he is always at rest. Dominus noster in forma dei manens formam serui accepit et oboediens usque ad mortem fuit, et mortem crucis, ut plus nescio quid morte pateretur. ob id autem tantum oboediens usque ad crucis mortem est, ut nos habitatione dei dignos esse praestaret. mori igitur uoluit, qui uita est, et effici se indefessa uirtus ad habitationem corporis non recusauit infirmam, ut in forma dei manens formam serui acciperet. Our Lord, remaining in the form of God, took the form of a slave, and was obedient until death, death on a cross, so that he suffered more than any death I can imagine. The purpose of his being so obedient unto death on the cross was to make us worthy of God's dwelling in us. So he willed to die, because he is life, and his inexaustable power did not turn down the weak dwelling-place of a boy, so that, remaining in the form of God, he took on the form of a slave. Excessit ergo ex illo aeternae beatitudinis suae strato cum per oboedientiam uoluntatis paternae ex deo homo, ex potente infirmus, ex uiuificante mortuus, ex aeterno saeculorum iudice crucis reus dicitur, tum stratum eius in infirmitate conuertitur. So he got out of the bed of his eternal beatitude when, in obedience to his Father's will, from God he became man, from powerful he became weak, from a giver of life he became dead, from being the eternal judge of the universe he became the guilty man on a cross, when his bed became one of pain.

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