REFLECTION FOR FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT ( YEAR C)
WEEK BEGINNING 9 MARCH 2025
For the 6 Sundays of the Holy Season of Lent, this Reflection section will examine the structure of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass i.e. the layout of the weekly missalette will be divided into 6 parts thus:
March 9th: Entrance Antiphon; the Penitential Act (Rite); Opening Prayer: Collect.
March 16th:1st Reading; Responsorial Psalm; 2nd Reading.
March 23rd: the Gospel; the Homily; the Creed; Bidding Prayers.
March 30th:Liturgy of the Eucharist; Prayer over the Gifts.
April 6th: The Preface; the Eucharistic Prayer.
April 13th: The Communion Rite; Conclusion.
So, this Sunday (March 9th) we open with the
Entrance Antiphon and the Penitential Rite.
Due to having an Entrance Hymn, the Entrance Antiphon is never said aloud. This ‘missing out’ is rather a shame. For March 9th, the Antiphon gives God’s assurance that He always answers the genuine call to Him by any ‘disciple’ today. He will grant long-life (an abundance of days). God’s word in this immediate context relates to the king (i.e. David) and his fortunes each day – his triumph in any actual or pending battle – for we know that many psalms were penned by David. Yet, God’s words always have a much broader remit in such Antiphons for, to the end of time, His followers (believers) will always be in “battle” with good versus evil, temptation and sin etc. The Penitential Act (Rite) is the first obvious part of the Mass. We have entered the House of our great God and so must openly express unto Him all our unworthiness when compared to His greatness. There will be various formulae enabling us to do this – the most traditional one being the ‘Confiteor’ (the “I confess…”). The great reality that God created each and all of us in His very Image and Likeness should make us have a real urgency in expressing sorrow to Him. All venial sins are forgiven for all present for the Penitential Rite. It is so important, therefore, not to be late for Mass. The opening section of the Mass ends with the Opening Prayer (the ‘Collect’) – so-called because it collects together all present as one before God. The ‘Gloria’ is never said or sung during Lent – it is reserved for Easter. The ‘Collect’ is always addressed to God the Father. Next will come the Liturgy of the Word – the theme of next Sunday’s ‘Reflection’ here
Good Shepherd Catholic Church 