Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop
1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34; Psalm 106:6-7ab, 19-22; Mark 8:1-10
Theme
While Jeroboam leads Israel into idolatry, Jesus feeds the hungry multitudes with abundant mercy; Saints Cyril and Methodius brought the Gospel to new peoples in their own language.
Summary of Readings
Jeroboam, fearing that people going to Jerusalem's temple will return their loyalty to Rehoboam, sets up golden calves at Bethel and Dan, leading Israel into sin. The psalm confesses that our ancestors sinned and forgot God's wonders. In the Gospel, Jesus has compassion on a crowd who has been with him three days without food. With seven loaves and a few fish, he feeds four thousand people, and seven baskets of fragments remain.
Kyrie Invocations
DEACON/PRIEST: Lord Jesus, you have compassion on the hungry and feed them with abundance. PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON/PRIEST: Christ Jesus, you send apostles to every nation to preach the Gospel in every tongue. PEOPLE: Christ, have mercy.
DEACON/PRIEST: Lord Jesus, you satisfy our deepest hunger with the bread of life. PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
Universal Prayer
PRIEST: Remembering Saints Cyril and Methodius who brought Christ to the Slavic peoples, let us bring our prayers before the Lord who feeds all nations.
DEACON/LECTOR:
1. For the Church, for Pope Leo, and for all missionaries: that following the example of Saints Cyril and Methodius, she may continue to bring the Gospel to all cultures in languages they can understand, we pray to the Lord.
2. For government leaders: that they may not lead their people astray but seek the common good with integrity, we pray to the Lord.
3. For those who hunger, both physically and spiritually: that the Lord may feed them with his abundance and satisfy their deepest needs, we pray to the Lord.
4. For the families of our parish: that we may never forget God's wonders or turn to false gods, but worship him alone, we pray to the Lord.
5. For an increase of vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, or religious life, especially missionaries, and for those discerning good and holy marriages, we pray to the Lord.
6. For the faithful departed, especially those who served as missionaries: that they may share in the eternal banquet of heaven, we pray to the Lord.
PRIEST: Loving Father, you sent Saints Cyril and Methodius to bring the light of faith to new peoples. Receive our prayers and satisfy the hunger of all who seek you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Oración Universal
SACERDOTE: Recordando a los Santos Cirilo y Metodio que trajeron a Cristo a los pueblos eslavos, presentemos nuestras oraciones ante el Señor que alimenta a todas las naciones.
DIÁCONO/LECTOR:
1. Por la Iglesia, por el Papa León y por todos los misioneros: para que, siguiendo el ejemplo de los Santos Cirilo y Metodio, continúe llevando el Evangelio a todas las culturas en idiomas que puedan entender, roguemos al Señor.
2. Por los líderes de gobierno: para que no desvíen a su pueblo sino que busquen el bien común con integridad, roguemos al Señor.
3. Por los que tienen hambre, tanto física como espiritualmente: para que el Señor los alimente con su abundancia y satisfaga sus necesidades más profundas, roguemos al Señor.
4. Por las familias de nuestra parroquia: para que nunca olvidemos las maravillas de Dios ni nos volvamos a dioses falsos, sino que lo adoremos solo a él, roguemos al Señor.
5. Por un aumento de vocaciones al sacerdocio, al diaconado o a la vida religiosa, especialmente misioneros, y por aquellos que disciernen matrimonios buenos y santos, roguemos al Señor.
6. Por los fieles difuntos, especialmente los que sirvieron como misioneros: para que participen en el banquete eterno del cielo, roguemos al Señor.
SACERDOTE: Padre amoroso, enviaste a los Santos Cirilo y Metodio para llevar la luz de la fe a nuevos pueblos. Recibe nuestras oraciones y satisface el hambre de todos los que te buscan, por Jesucristo, nuestro Señor. Amén.
Homily Starter
- Saints Cyril and Methodius: 9th-century brothers, co-patrons of Europe. They created the Cyrillic alphabet to translate Scripture and liturgy for Slavic peoples. Inculturation at its finest.
- Valentine's Day: A coincidence—but love is still the theme. Cyril and Methodius loved the Slavs enough to learn their language. That's real love.
- Jeroboam's golden calves: Political convenience masked as religion. He created alternative worship to consolidate power. How do politics corrupt faith today?
- "They forgot his works": The psalm's repeated refrain. Memory is essential to faith. We celebrate liturgically so we won't forget.
- Three days without food: The crowd stayed with Jesus that long. What would make us stay without food for three days? How hungry are we for his word?
- Seven loaves, seven baskets: Different from the 5,000 feeding (twelve baskets). Numbers matter in Scripture—seven suggests fullness, completeness.
- Practical application: Cyril and Methodius made faith accessible. Who in your life needs the Gospel translated into "their language"—their concerns, their experiences? How might you do that?