VIATICUM

SCRUTATIO SCRIPTURAE

VIATICUM

(FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY)

Scrutatio 

for the 

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE MOST HOLY CROSS

=and=

 THE 14^th SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME/KINGDOMTIDE/TIME OF THE CHURCH 

FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE SOLEMNITY

Readings from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Isaiah 45:21-25 / Psalm 98 / Philippians 2:5-11 or Galatians 6:14-18 / John 12:31-36a

Readings for the Pauline/Vatican II Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Numbers 21: 4b-9 / Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38. / Philippians 2:6-11 / John 3:13-17

Readings for the Tridentine Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Introit: Galatians 6:14 and Psalm 67:1 

Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11

Gradual and Alleluia: Philippians 2:8-9 

Alleluia, alleluia. 

V.: Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the load that hangs on thee: thou only wast worthy to bear up the King and Lord of heaven. Alleluia. 

Gospel 

John 12:31-36

Offertory: 

By the sign of the holy Cross, O Lord, protect Thy people from the wiles of all our enemies that we may be able to do Thee worthy service, and that our sacrifice may be well-pleasing in Thy sight. Alleluia. 

Communion Antiphon: 

By the sign of the Cross, deliver us from our enemies, O Thou our God. 

THE 14^th SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME/KINGDOMTIDE/TIME OF THE CHURCH 

Readings from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 27:30-28:7 / Psalm 103 / Romans 14:5-12 / Matthew 18:21-35

Readings for the Pauline/Vatican II Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 27:30—28:7 / Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10 and 11-12 / Romans 14:7-9 / Matthew 18:21-35

Readings for the Tridentine Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Introit: Psalm 84:9-10 and 1

Epistle: Galatians 5:16-24

Gradual and Alleluia: Psalm 118:8-9 and 92:1

Gospel

Matthew 6:24-33

Offertory:

Psalm 34:7-8

Communion Antiphon: Matthew 6:23

August 3, 2014.

Part of my ministry as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC, colloquially known as “Lay Ministers”) is to bring JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE, to our dear brothers and sisters who are sick and is already bedridden. 

It was my first time to administer the SACRED VIATICUM. 

When Kuya Jo Cabanes and I were about to visit the 5th house for the day, I felt compassion for the condition of this sick brother of ours who is already weak, dirty (I don’t know if he was not able to be cleaned by those who are taking care of him before our visit), and due to his condition, he is not anymore capable of going to the comfort room, an orange plastic bucket with a plywood for covering is used instead for his relief. 

I do admit that I am not capable in enduring even the mildest of stench, but I was able to go through the Rite of Holy Communion due to one thing: The faith of that suffering sick man in JESUS, THE LAMB OF GOD WHO HAS BORNE OUR SINS, CARRIED OUR SORROWS AND ENDURED OUR WOUNDED HUMAN NATURE.

His face, in beholding HIM WHO IS THE BREAD OF LIFE ETERNAL, suddenly becomes radiant, filled with joy, for on that day, HE will surely be with him, HE will be on board the boat of his life, HE will accompany him even amidst the battering waves of his sickness, HE will give him HIS PEACE and his strength will be the TREMENDOUS JOY OF BEING IN UNION WITH HIM.

What a wonderful sight to behold, that in the midst of human suffering and seeming hopelessness in this world of ours which is but transitory along with all its joys, its extravagance, its “power” and its “grandeur”, JESUS IS OUR ETERNITY! HE IS OUR GLORIOUS BEGINNING AND OUR AWESOME END.

And this is what I have learned on that rainy Sunday, within the walls of the little house of that sick man who may have been physically bedridden for quite some time now, yet is still strong and full of vigor in his faith in HIM WHO IS THE BREAD OF IMMORTALITY!

Indeed IN HIM WE LIVE, MOVE AND HAVE THE FULLNESS OF OUR BEING! 

And all I can say is thank you! 

Thank you for letting me be a servant, for letting me be as CHRIST to you!

Thank you for letting me see HE WHO IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE through your radiant faith and joyful face!

THANK LORD FOR THIS WONDERFUL ENCOUNTER!