October 1
Wednesday

26th Week in Ordinary Time
Thérèse of the Child Jesus

First Reading: Job 9:1-12, 14-16

Then Job answered:
Very well I know that it is so.
But how can a mortal be just before God?
If one were to contend with him,
not once in a thousand times would he answer.
His power is vast, his wisdom profound.
Who has resisted him and come out unharmed?
He moves mountains before they are aware;
he overturns them in his rage.
He makes the earth tremble
and its pillars quake.
He commands the sun, and it does not shine;
he seals off the light of the stars.
He alone stretches out the skies
and thread on the waves of the seas.
He made the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and every constellation.
His wonders are past all reckoning,
his miracles beyond all counting.
He passes by, but I do not see him;
he moves on, but I do not notice him.
If he snatches away, who can stop him?
Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
How then can I answer him
and find words to argue with him?
If he does not answer when I am right,
shall I plead with my judge for mercy?
Even if I appealed and he answered,
I do not believe that he would have heard.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 88:10bc-11, 12-13, 14-15
Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

Gospel Reading: Lk 9:57-62

As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
To another Jesus said, "Follow me." But he answered, "Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Another said to him, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family." And Jesus said to him, "Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God."

Commentary
There is immediacy in Jesus' call. The Lord's invitation is direct and requires of us an immediate response. We cannot put off until tomorrow the task of following Jesus, nor can we ask Him to wait on us to make up our minds.
The opportunities that we have today to serve the Lord might never pass again. This day we have the opportunity to do so many great and wonderful things to help other people. Let us be resolved to do those things today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today. For the opportunities of this day might never pass again.

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October 2
Thursday

26th Week in Ordinary Time
Guardian Angels

First Reading: Ex 23:20-23

See, I am sending an Angel before you to keep you safe on the way and bring you to the place I have made ready.
Be on your guard in his presence and listen to him; do not resist him for he will not pardon your wrong-doing, for my name is in him.
If you listen to him and do what I say, I will be enemy to your enemies and the opponent of your opponents. My Angel will go before you and bring you to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; all these I will destroy.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 91:1-2, 3-4ab, 4c-6, 10-11
The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

Gospel Reading: Mt 18:1-5, 10

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples, and said, "I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me.
"See that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you: their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father."

Commentary
Do you believe in angels? The Bible and the Church are clear in teaching not only the existence of angels, but of their constant, loving presence in our world. The angels are God's messengers, and offer to us more help each day than we can possibly imagine.
God's ways are not our ways, and the Lord often acts in ways that we perceive only by looking back and realizing that without God's help we would never have made it through a difficult situation. May we offer thanks this day for our guardian angel, that spiritual creature who communicates God's personal interest in our lives.

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October 3
Friday

26th Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5

Then Yahweh answered Job out of the storm:
Have you ever commanded the morning,
or shown the dawn its place,
that it might grasp the earth by its edges
and shake the wicked out of it,
when it takes a clay color
and changes its tint like a garment;
when the wicked are denied their own light,
and their proud arm is shattered?
Have you journeyed to where the sea begins
or walked in its deepest recesses?
Have the gates of death been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of Shadow?
Have you an idea of the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all this.
Where is the way to the home of light,
and where does darkness dwell?
Can you take them to their own regions,
and set them on their homeward paths?
You know, for you were born before them,
and great is the number of your years!

Job said:
How can I reply, unworthy as I am!
All I can do is put my hand over my mouth.
I have spoken once, now I will not answer;
oh, yes, twice, but I will do no further.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab
Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Gospel Reading: Lk 10:13-16

Jesus said, "Alas for you Chorazin! Alas for you Bethsaida! So many miracles have been worked in you! If the same miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would already be sitting in ashes and wearing the sackcloth of repentance. Surely for Tyre and Sidon it will be better than for you on the Judgment Day. And what of you, city of Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to heaven? You will be thrown down to the place of the dead.
"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me; and he who rejects me, rejects the one who sent me."

Commentary
The word repentance translates the Greek word that means to change one's mind. Believing in the Lord and following in His footsteps requires of us daily change in the way in which we live. So often we tend naturally toward selfishness and immediate gratification of the senses. The Lord tells us that we are better than that. In fact, St. Paul would put it thus, "Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind."
Being a follower of Jesus means acting in a manner different from the way others act. May we dare to be different.

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October 4
Saturday

26th Week in Ordinary Time
Francis of Assisi

First Reading: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17

This was the answer Job gave to Yahweh:
I know that you are all powerful;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
I spoke of things I did not understand,
too wonderful for me to know.
My ears had heard of you,
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I retract all I have said,
and in dust and ashes I repent.
Yahweh blessed Job's latter days much more than his earlier ones. He came to own fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-donkeys. He was also blessed with seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Dove, the second Cinnamon, and the third Bottle of Perfume. Nowhere in the land was there found any woman who could compare in beauty with Job's daughters. Their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.
Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. He died old and full of years.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130
Lord, let your face shine on me.

Gospel Reading: Lk 10:17-24

The seventy-two disciples returned full of joy. They said, "Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we called on your name." Then Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. You see, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the Enemy, so that nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, don't rejoice because the evil spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven."
At that time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to the little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, "Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see but did not, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."

Commentary
The disciples' joy sprang from their realization that they could accomplish such wonderful things when they used Jesus' name. On their own they could do nothing, but with Him their accomplishments were astounding. Their joy was sincere as they gave to the Lord the glory and honor that was His due. With His help there was no end to the good that they could do.
That same joy is ours when we express thanks to God for all of the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Gratitude is the womb of joy, for a person cannot be both grateful and unhappy at the same time.

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October 5
Sunday

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Is 5:1-7

Let me sing for my beloved the love song of my beloved about his vineyard.
My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up, cleared the stones, and planted the choicest vines. He built there a watchtower and hewed out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only wild grapes.
Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do that I have not done for my vineyard? Good grapes was the yield I expected, why did it yield only sour grapes?
Now I will let you know what I am going to do with my vineyard: I will remove its hedge and it will be burned; I will break down its wall and it will be trampled on. I will make it a wasteland, I will neither prune nor hoe it, and briers and thorns will grow there. I command the clouds, as well, not to send rain on it.
The vineyard of Yahweh Sabaoth is the people of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant vine. He looked for justice, but found bloodshed; He looked for righteousness but heard cries of distress.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20
The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Second Reading: Phil 4:6-9

Brothers and sisters, do not be anxious about anything. In everything resort to prayer and supplication together with thanksgiving and bring your requests before God. Then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with whatever is truthful, holy, just, pure, lovely and noble. Be mindful of whatever deserves praise and admiration. Put into practice what you have learned from me, what I passed on to you, what you heard from me or saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel Reading: Mt 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders, "There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a hole for the winepress, built a watchtower, leased the vineyard to tenants and then went to a distant country. When harvest time came, the landowner sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the harvest. But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another and stoned another.
"Again the owner sent more servants, but they were treated in the same way.
"Finally, he sent his son, thinking: 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they thought: 'This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard. Let us kill him and his inheritance will be ours.' So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
"Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do with the tenants when he comes?" They said to him, "He will bring those evil to an evil end, and lease the vineyard to others who will pay him in due time."
And Jesus replied, "Have you never read what the Scriptures say? The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing; and we marvel at it. Therefore I say to you: the kingdom of heaven will be taken from you and given to a people who will yield a harvest."

Commentary
How foolish of the tenants to think that they could get away with such actions! No court of law would recognize their claims upon the land of the owner, yet the ground ran with blood because of their presumption.
We presume upon the mercy of God when we are allured by the seductive whisper of the Evil One, the One who tells us of our sins "It's not so bad," and "Don't worry, everyone does it." How foolish we are when we allow ourselves to be convinced by the one whose promises are empty and whose aim is only to destroy our souls.

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October 6
Monday

27th Week in Ordinary Time
Bruno

First Reading: Gal 1:6-12

I am surprised at how quickly you have abandoned God who called you according to the grace of Christ, and have gone to another gospel. Indeed, there is no other gospel, but some people who are sowing confusion among you want to turn the Gospel of Christ upside down.
But even if we ourselves were giving you another gospel different from the one we preached to you, or if it were an angel from heaven, I would say: let God's curse be on him! As I have said I now say again: if anyone preaches the Gospel in a way other than you received it, fire that one. Are we to please humans or obey God? Do you think that I try to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel we preached to you is not a human message, nor did I receive it from anyone, I was not taught of it but it came to me as a revelation from Christ Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 111:1b-2, 7-8, 9 and 10c
The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

Gospel Reading: Lk 10:25-37

Then a teacher of the Law came and began putting Jesus to the test. And he said, "Master, what shall I do to receive eternal life?" Jesus replied, "What is written in the Scripture? How do you understand it?" The man answered, "It is written: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus replied, "What a good answer! Do this and you shall live." The man wanted to keep up appearances, so he replied, "Who is my neighbor?"
Jesus then said, "There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
It happened that a priest was going along that road and saw the man, but passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite saw the man and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, too, was going that way, and when he came upon the man, he was moved with compassion. He went over to him and treated his wounds with oil and wine and wrapped them with bandages. Then he put him on his own mount and brought him to an inn where he took care of him.
The next day he had to set off, but he gave two silver coins to the innkeeper and told him: 'Take care of him and whatever you spend on him, I will repay when I come back.'"
Jesus then asked, "Which of these three, do you think, made himself neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The teacher of the Law answered, "The one who had mercy on him." And Jesus said, "Go then and do the same."

Commentary
The priest and the Levite were probably upstanding citizens. They erred in thinking that someone else would come to the aid of the injured man, and that he was not their responsibility.
We do a good thing when we accept responsibility for the well-being of those less fortunate than ourselves. Making a monetary contribution to assist those in need is an act of kindness and is to be praised. Deserving of even more admiration are those acts of mercy that put us in direct contact with the poor. For whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do for the Lord.

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October 7
Tuesday

27th Week in Ordinary Time
Our Lady of the Rosary

First Reading: Gal 1:13-24

You have heard of my previous activity in the Jewish community; I furiously persecuted the Church of God and tried to destroy it. For I was more devoted to the Jewish religion than many fellow Jews of my age, and I defended the traditions of my ancestors more fanatically.
But one day God called me out of his great love, he who had chosen me from my mother's womb; and he was pleased to reveal in me his Son, that I might make him known among the pagan nations. Then I did not seek human advice nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me. I immediately went to Arabia, and from there I returned again to Damascus. Later, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to meet Cephas, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other apostle except James, the Lord's brother. On writing this to you, I affirm before God that I am not lying.
After that I went to Syria and Cilicia. The churches of Christ in Judea did not know me personally; they had only heard of me: "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith he tried to uproot." And they praised God because of me.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Gospel Reading: Lk 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he entered a village and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her house. She had a sister named Mary who sat down at the Lord's feet to listen to his words. Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving and finally she said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the serving?"
But the Lord answered, "Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her."

Commentary
In listening to the words of Jesus, Mary anticipates the good things that are in store for us in heaven, when we will enjoy a blessed communion with the Lord and all the saints. Being busy with the daily concerns of life is important, but even more important is taking time to pray from the heart and to attend to the Lord in contemplative silence.
Martha is honored as a saint, yet Mary is identified as having chosen the better part. May we find ourselves committed to finding time each day for quiet prayer, for in so doing we store up for ourselves spiritual treasure.

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October 8
Wednesday

27th Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Gal 2:1-2, 7-14

After fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and Titus came with us. Following a revelation, I went to lay before them the Gospel that I am preaching to the pagans. I had a private meeting with the leaders-lest I should be working or have worked in a wrong way.
They recognized that I have been entrusted to give the Good News to the pagan nations, just as Peter has been entrusted to give it to the Jews. In the same way that God made Peter the apostle of the Jews, he made me the apostle of the pagans.
James, Cephas and John acknowledged the graces God gave me. Those men who were regarded as the pillars of the Church stretched out their hand to me and Barnabas as a sign of fellowship; we would go to the pagans and they to the Jews. We should only keep in mind the poor among them. I have taken care to do this.
When later Cephas came to Antioch, I confronted him since he deserved to be blamed. Before some of James' people arrived, he used to eat with non-Jewish people. But when they arrived, he withdrew and did not mingle anymore with them, for fear of the Jewish group. The rest of the Jews followed him in this pretense, and even Barnabas was part of this insincerity. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas publicly: If you who are Jewish agreed to live like the non-Jews, setting aside the Jewish customs, why do you now compel the non-Jews to live like Jews?

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 117:1bc, 2
Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:1-4

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." And Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say this:
Father, hallowed be your name,
may your kingdom come,
give us each day the kind of bread we need,
and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive all who do us wrong,
and do not bring us to the test."

Commentary
This simple oration can be memorized by small children, yet it holds within it every prayer that we could ever need. When we pray for daily bread, we ask the Lord for material sustenance along our earthly journey, yet we ask for much more as well. The daily bread that we truly need is the bread of His sacred presence, the precious gift of His Body and Blood given to us in Holy Communion.
Without food for our stomach we cannot survive, nor can we live without food for the soul. Through the power of the Lord's Prayer, may we never be far from the Holy Eucharist.

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October 9
Thursday

27th Week in Ordinary Time
Denis and Companions / John Leonardi

First Reading: Gal 3:1-5

How foolish you are, Galatians! How could they bewitch you after Jesus Christ has been presented to you as crucified? I shall ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by the practice of the Law, or by believing the message? How can you be such fools: you begin with the Spirit and end up with the flesh!
So you have experienced all this in vain! Would that it were not so! Did God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you, because of your observance of the Law or because you believed in his message?

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to his house in the middle of the night and says: 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine who is traveling has just arrived and I have nothing to offer him.' Maybe your friend will answer from inside: 'Don't bother me now; the door is locked and my children and I are in bed, so I can't get up and give you anything.' But I tell you, even though he will not get up and attend to you because you are a friend, yet he will get up because you are a bother to him, and he will give you all you need.
"And so I say to you, 'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For the one who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
"If your child asks for a fish, will you give a snake instead? And if your child asks for an egg, will you give a scorpion? Even you evil people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more then will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those who ask him!"

Commentary
Persistence pays in obtaining what we want in human relationships. The best price in the marketplace is often the fruit of lengthy negotiation and tireless efforts. If that is so in our dealings with others, why should we not persevere in our prayer?
The popular anagram puts it thus: "PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens!" We per-severe in our prayer not because God does not listen, but because so often something happens within us the more we pray. In fact, persistence in prayer bears fruit in abundance when our minds and hearts are conformed more and more to the will of God.

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October 10
Friday

27th Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Gal 3:7-14

Understand then that those who follow the way of faith are sons and daughters of Abraham.
The Scriptures foresaw that by the way of faith, God would give true righteousness to the non-Jewish nations. For God's promise to Abraham was this: In you shall all the nations be blessed. So now those who take the way of faith receive the same blessing as Abraham who believed; but those who rely on the practice of the Law are under a curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not always fulfill everything written in the Law.
It is plainly written that no one becomes righteous, in God's way, by the Law: by faith the righteous shall live. Yet the Law gives no place to faith, for according to it: the one who fulfills the commandments shall have life through them.
Now Christ rescued us from the curse of the Law by becoming cursed himself for our sake, as it is written: there is a curse on everyone who is hanged on a tree. So the blessing granted to Abraham reached the pagan nations in and with Christ, and we received the promised Spirit through faith.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6
The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:15-26

When Jesus was casting out a devil some of the people said, "He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons." So others wanted to put him to the test by asking him for a heavenly sign.
But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin, and will fall. If Satan also is divided, his empire is coming to an end. How can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Beelzebul? If I drive them out by Beelzebul, by whom do your fellow members drive out demons? They will be your judges, then.
"But suppose I drive out demons by the finger of God; would not this mean that the kingdom of God has come upon you? As long as the strong and armed man guards his house, his goods are safe. But when a stronger one attacks and overcomes him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on and disposes of his spoils.
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters.
"When the evil spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry lands looking for a resting place. And finding none, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' When it comes, it finds the house swept and everything in order. Then it goes to fetch seven other spirits even worse than itself. They move in and settle there, so that the last state of that person is worse than the first."

Commentary
These words about evil spirits are from the Lord, and we must take them seriously. The Prayer to St. Michael speaks about the evil spirits who prowl the world seeking the ruin of souls. Insidious and deceptive are these spirits, who strive to convince us that we need not keep the commandments, and that our separation from the Lord is nothing to worry about.
Evil spirits are powerful, and we should maintain constant vigilance against them, always by abiding in the Lord Jesus, the good and gentle shepherd whose power over our enemies is without compare.

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October 11
Saturday

27th Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Gal 3:22-29

But the written Law has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ, would be accomplished in those who believe.
Before the time of faith had come, the Law confined us and kept us in custody until the time in which faith would show up. The Law then was serving as a slave to look after us until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. With the coming of faith, we are no longer submitted to this guidance.
Now, in Christ Jesus, all of you are sons and daughters of God through faith. All of you who were given to Christ through baptism, have put on Christ. Here there is no longer any difference between Jew or Greek, or between slave or freed, or between man and woman: but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Christ, you are of Abraham's race and you are to inherit God's promise.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:27-28

As Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to him, "Blessed is the one who bore you and nursed you!" Jesus replied, "Surely blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it as well."

Commentary
The image of the closeness of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her beloved Son is always before us, for she is the model of discipleship, the first one to hear the Word of God and keep it.
During the month of October we express our devotion to the Blessed Mother through frequent and public recitation of the Most Holy Rosary. The mysteries of the Rosary are scriptural and focused upon the life, death and resurrection of our Lord. Meditating upon these mysteries every day of our life is a tried and true way of growing closer to Jesus and being more faithful in keeping His Holy Word.

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October 12
Sunday

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Is 25:6-10a

On this mountain
Yahweh Sabaoth will prepare
for all peoples a feast
of rich food and choice wines,
meat full of marrow,
fine wine strained.
On this mountain he will destroy
the pall cast over all peoples,
this very shroud
spread over all nations,
and death will be no more.
The Lord Yahweh will wipe away
the tears from all cheeks and eyes;
he will take away
the humiliation of his people
all over the world: for Yahweh has spoken.
On that day you will say: This is our God.
We have waited for him to save us,
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
For on this mountain the hand of Yahweh rests.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Second Reading: Phil 4:12-14,19-20

Brothers and sisters, I know what it is to be in want and what it is to have plenty. I am trained for both: to be hungry or satisfied, to have much or little. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
However you did right in sharing my trials.
God himself will provide you with everything you need, according to his riches, and show you his generosity in Christ Jesus. Glory to God, our Father, for ever and ever: Amen.

Gospel Reading: Mt 22:1-14

Jesus went on speaking to the chief priests and elders in parables: "This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king celebrated the wedding of his son. He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding feast, but the guests refused to come.
"Again he sent other servants ordering them to say to the invited guests: 'I have prepared a banquet, slaughtered my fattened calves and other animals, and now everything is ready; come then, to the wedding feast.' But they paid no attention and went away, some to their fields, and others to their work. While the rest seized the servants of the king, insulted them and killed them.
"The king became angry. He sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. Then he said to his servants: 'The wedding banquet is prepared, but the invited guests were not worthy. Go, then, to the crossroads and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast.'
"The servants went out at once into the streets and gathered everyone they found, good and bad alike, so that the hall was filled with guests.
"The king came in to see those who were at table, and he noticed a man not wearing the festal garment. So he said to him: 'Friend, how did you get in without the wedding garment?' But the man remained silent. So the king said to his servants: 'Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the dark where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

Commentary
The banquet hall must be filled! This is the master's command to the servants, one that would ensure a grand celebration of his son's wedding feast.
The wedding feast of the Bridegroom, the Son of God, is the eternal banquet awaiting us in heaven, a banquet that is anticipated in every celebration of the Holy Eucharist. This banquet celebrates the victory of the Lord over the enemy, a celebration in which the Lord intends to include every person. May we never be so foolish as to excuse ourselves from the Lord's invitation. May His banquet hall be filled!

index calendar

October 13
Monday

28th Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Gal 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1

It says that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman, the other by the free woman, his wife. The son of the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of God's promise.
Here we have an allegory and the figures of two covenants. The first is the one from Mount Sinai, represented through Hagar: her children have slavery for their lot.
But the Jerusalem above, who is our mother, is free. And Scripture says of her: Rejoice, barren woman without children, break forth in shouts of joy, you who do not know the pains of childbirth, for many shall be the children of the forsaken mother, more than of the married woman.
Brethren, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Christ freed us to make us really free. So remain firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7
Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:29-32

As the crowd increased, Jesus began to speak in this way, "People of the present time are evil people. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be a sign for this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here there is greater than Solomon. The people of Nineveh will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for Jonah's preaching made them turn from their sins, and here there is greater than Jonah."

Commentary
The Old Testament prophets called the people of God to conversion of heart, and Jonah went forth to call the pagans in Nineveh to repentance.
We are to pay special heed to the words of Jesus, for He is far greater than any of the prophets. The daily reading of the Bible is important if we are to conform our will to His, and if we are to live as His ambassadors. As we read daily from the Bible, may we ask the important "conversion" question, "What must I change in my life, now that I have heard the Word of God?"

October 14
Tuesday

28th Week in Ordinary Time
Callistus I

First Reading: Gal 5:1-6

Christ freed us to make us really free. So remain firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. I, Paul, say this to you: if you receive circumcision, Christ can no longer help you. Once more I say to whoever receives circumcision: you are now bound to keep the whole Law. All you who pretend to become righteous through the observance of the Law have separated yourselves from Christ and have fallen away from grace.
As for us, through the Spirit and faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. In Christ Jesus it is irrelevant whether we be circumcised or not; what matters is faith working through love.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 119:41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48
Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:37-41

As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to have a meal with him. So he went and sat at table. The Pharisee then wondered why Jesus did not first wash his hands before dinner. But the Lord said to him, "So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves you are full of greed and evil. Fools! He who made the outside, also made the inside. But according to you, by the mere giving of alms everything is made clean."

Commentary
Without interior conversion, we are no better than the Pharisee.
Through our daily reading of the Bible, and through regular and frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist, we allow the Lord Jesus into our lives so that He might accomplish within us the renewal that He intends.
Interior renewal always effects exterior changes: our words and actions become more Christ-like, and a sense of peace and well-being surrounds us. Others will want to know the secret of our serenity, and we will be quick to tell them of the good things that the Lord has done for us.

October 15
Wednesday

28th Week in Ordinary Time
Teresa of Jesus

First Reading: Gal 5:18-25

But when you are led by the Spirit you are not under the Law.
You know what comes from the flesh: fornication, impurity and shamelessness, idol worship and sorcery, hatred, jealousy and violence, anger, ambition, division, factions, and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like. I again say to you what I have already said: those who do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy and peace, patience, understanding of others, kindness and fidelity, gentleness and self-control. For such things there is no Law or punishment. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its vices and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us live in a spiritual way.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:42-46

Jesus said, "A curse is on you, Pharisees; for the Temple you give a tenth of all, including mint and rue and the other herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. This ought to be practiced, without neglecting the other. A curse is on you, Pharisees, for you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplace. A curse is on you for you are like tombstones of the dead which can hardly be seen; people don't notice them and make themselves unclean by stepping on them."
Then a teacher of the Law spoke up and said, "Master, when you speak like this, you insult us, too." And Jesus answered, "A curse is on you also, teachers of the Law. For you prepare unbearable burdens and load them on the people, while you yourselves don't move a finger to help them."

Commentary
Jesus continues his criticism of the Pharisees by pointing our their hypocrisy. They are concerned only with themselves, and neglect the fundamental commandment to love their neighbor.
All of our outward religious observance is for naught if we do not concern ourselves with the well-being of others, especially those less fortunate than ourselves. We cannot show God the respect and reverence that is His due unless we also show respect for His children-our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Care and concern for others is the hallmark of discipleship, the means by which others will know that we truly love the Lord.