FLM TOBY FANANTENANA 67 Ha
Communion’s prayer, Sunday XII after Trinity
Week, from 04 to 09 September 2017
“Rejoice in God”
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Introduction: Rejoicing is without doubt an attribute of God, and surely He loves to rejoice. He loves to rejoice over his works. If we look closely at the statement in the book of Genesis, it is written: “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good” Gen 1:31a. This means that He found satisfaction and fulfillment with it. And because of his great love for human, whom He placed at the top of his creations, God desires us to rejoice just as He does, and to rejoice over his deeds. Therefore the first thing He had done to make humans rejoice was to create them in His image, so that they may communicate closely and share joy with Him. For it is written: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness … So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him” Gen 1:26-27. To delight him, He gave him authority over all his creatures as said in Genesis 1: 28-30. And to give him further joy and satisfaction, He gave him a life partner, saying: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” Gen 2:18. To sum up, God truly teaches us to rejoice in Him, to rejoice in His love for us. The climax of his love is the gift of salvation through Christ, his Son, as it is written: “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” Jn 3:16. Rejoice in God who loves and cares for his people, yes, “Rejoice in the Lord always” Phil 4:4. This finds its fulfillment in Jesus, for whoever has Him will be able to exclaim with the composer who said: “I have Jesus, this is enough for me.”
Monday 04: Rejoice in God!
“Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart” Ps 32:11.
Reading 1: Lk 1:46-55; Reading 2: Ps 32:8-11; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Ps 32:11. Other references:
– “Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance” 1 Sam 2:1.
– “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Rom 5:11.
Tuesday 05: Rejoice in hearing the Word of God.
“But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” Lk 10:42.
Reading 1: Deu 30:1-10; Reading 2: Lk 10:38-42; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Lk 10:42. Other references:
– “Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach” Pr 22:17.
– “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” Rev 1:3.
Wednesday 06: God, source of joy for the poor.
“The needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel” Is 29:19b.
Reading 1: Jn 15:7-11; Reading 2: Is 29:18-19; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Is 29:19. Other references:
– “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” Ps 37:4.
– “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” Jn 16:22.
Thursday 07: Rejoice in serving in the Spirit.
“So that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” Rom 7:6b
Reading 1: Acts 5:29-42; Reading 2: Rom 7:1-6; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Rom 7:6. Other references:
– “So he said to me: ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’, says the Lord Almighty” Zec 4:6.
– “But the fruit of the Spirit is … joy” Gal 5:22b.
Friday 08: Be joyful doing good deeds in God.
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good” Mt 12:33a.
Reading 1: Rev 22:1-5; Reading 2: Mt 12:33-37; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mt 12:33. Other references:
– “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” Eph 2:10.
– “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” Rom 12:11.
– “So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Tim 3:17.
Saturday 09: Rejoice with God’s joy.
“Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep” Lk 15:6b.
Reading 1: Is 25:1-5; Reading 2: Lk 15:1-7; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Lk 15:6. Other references:
– “His master replied: ‘well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Mt 25: 21,23.
– “Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate” Lk 15:23-24.
Note: This pericope is published in Malagasy, French, English and German, and can be seen on the sites “www.flm67ha.org and www.hifi-madanet.org and on Facebook “Hira sy Filazantsara”.
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