Friday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:1-4 Humility

Mass: Ecc 3:1-11; Resp Ps 144; Lk 9:18-22

Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Before looking at the readings assigned for today's Mass, I read an interview in The Tablet (September 19, 2020, pp. 6-7) with Leroy Logan, who retired in 2013 after a successful 30-year career with Britain's Metropolitan Police. This is what was written about Mr Logan's faith: "Without his faith, he says, he would have 'buckled'. 'It gave me a resolve and a calmness. A lot of people commented on how I didn't appear stressed at work. My response was always, 'I'm too blessed to be stressed.' My attitude was, 'It's in God's hands. He'll deal with it'" (p. 7). 

Then came wisdom from the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes: "There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for everything under the sun ... God has made everything appropriate to its time and has put the timeless in [our] hearts without [us] ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done" (Ecc 3:1, 11).

May we be inspired by both and continue with the daily by recognizing "that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do well during life. For [all of us], moreover, to eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of all [our] labor is a gift of God. I recognized that whatever God does will endure forever; there is no adding to it, or taking from it. Thus God has done that he may be revered. What now is has already been; what is to be, already is; and God restores what would otherwise be displaced" (Ecc 3:12-15). 

JESUS, TREASURE OF THE FAITHFUL,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020

Thursday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 6 Restraint of Speech

Mass: Ecc 1:2-11; Resp Ps 90; Lk 9:7-9

In every age, Lord, you have been our refuge.

HEART OF JESUS, SOURCE OF ALL CONSOLATION,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's Gospel, Herod, who was "greatly perplexed" (LK 9:7), "kept trying to see Jesus" (Lk 9:9). Are we as diligent in our search for God? It may help to keep in mind something Pope Francis said in a homily on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 27, 2014: "God is always present, in front of us, waiting for us. When we arrive, He's there. When we look for Him, He has already been looking for us. He is always in front of us, waiting to receive us in His heart, in His love."

© Gertrude Feick 2020

Wednesday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) (1887-1968)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 5:14-19

Mass: Prov 30:5-9; Resp Ps 119; Lk 9:1-6

Your word, Lord, is a lamp for my feet.

We hear in the Book of Proverbs that God "is a shield to those who take refuge in Him" (Prov 30:5). Comforted and strengthened by Our God, we sing with the psalmist: "You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, Say to the Lord, 'My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.' God will rescue you from the fowler's snare, from the destroying plague, Will shelter you with pinion, spread wings that you may take refuge; God's faithfulness is a protecting shield ... " (Ps 91). With trust, then, we set out as did the Twelve and proclaim the good news (Lk 9:6).

PADRE PIO, 

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020

Tuesday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 5:1-13 Obedience

Mass: Prov 21:1-6, 10-13; Resp Ps 119; Lk 8:19-21

Lead me, Lord, along the path of your commands, for in it I take delight.

JESUS, TREASURE OF THE FAITHFUL,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

We hear this in the passage from the Book of Proverbs: "It is the Lord who proves hearts" (Pr 21:2). So how is your heart today? Is it open and ready to receive the Word of God? Jesus tells us: My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it (Lk 8:21). We are united, then, in faith and with all those who hear the word of God and act on it. This is so important now, at a time when so many are suffering. What is Jesus asking of you this day? Give me discernment, Lord, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart (Ps 119). 

MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS,

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020

Feast of Saint Matthew

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:63-78

Mass: Eph 4:1-7, 11-13; Resp Ps 19; Mt 9:9-13

Their message goes out through all the earth.

JESUS, TEACHER OF THE EVANGELISTS, 

HAVE MERCY ON US.

As we celebrate Saint Matthew, we are grateful for our ever merciful God and reflect on His many attributes of mercy as they were revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai: The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (Ex 34:6-7). This is Our God who showed mercy to "despised tax collector" Matthew. Our God, merciful and gracious, extends the same mercy to each and every one of us, at least those of us who are in need of a physician, for as Jesus says in today's Gospel: Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do (Mt 9:12). Jesus, the Divine Physician, did not come to call the righteous but sinners (Mt 9:13). We go forth, then, with Saint Matthew's intercession, and follow Jesus, taking with us Saint Benedict's last tool for good works: "And finally, never lose hope in God's mercy" (RB 4:74).

Mercy is most empowering, liberating, and transformative when it is directed at the undeserving. The people who haven't earned it, who haven't even sought it, are the most meaningful recipients of our compassion.

(Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy, p. 314)

SAINT MATTHEW, PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In other years: Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and companions, Korean Martyrs (18-19th century)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:44-62

Mass: Is 55:6-9; Ps 145; Ph 1:20c-24, 27a; Mt 20:1-16a

The Lord is good to all.

There is a line in Charlotte's Web that I can't get out of my mind. It is something Charlotte said to Wilbur: "Never hurry and never worry!" It is wise advice and something to consider if we heed Saint Paul's exhortation: "Conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ" (1 Cor 1:27a). May we be attentive and present when doing the work God gives us, and trust.

Mary, Most Holy, help us to feel everyday the joy and wonder of being called by God to work for Him, in His field which is the world, and His vineyard which is the Church.

(Pope Francis, Angelus Address, September 20, 2020)

SAINT ANDREW KIM TAEGON, PAUL CHONG HASANG, AND COMPANIONS,

PRAY FOR FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020

Saturday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Januarius, Bishop, Martyr (early 4th century)

Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:22-43

Mass: 1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49; Resp Ps 56; Lk 8:4-15

I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

MARY, QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH,

PRAY FOR US.

Jesus said this to a large crowd: Whoever has ears ought to hear (Lk 8:8). Today seems a good day to listen to the Word with the ear of our hearts, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance (Lk 8:15). After all, "the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two edged sword, penetrating between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart" (Heb 4:12). Furthermore, "no creature is concealed from Him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must render and account" (Heb 4:13). We carry on, then. "Oh, that today you would hear His voice: 'Harden not your hearts'" (Heb 4:7).

SAINT JANUARIUS,

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020