Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saints: Saint Oliver Plunkett (1625-1681); Blessed Junipero Serra (1713-1784); Blessed Nazju Falzon (1813-1865)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 24 Degrees of Excommunication

Mass: Amos 8:4-6, 9-12; Resp Ps 119; Mt 9:9-13

With all my heart I seek you.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

All peoples clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

Welcome to July. 

One of my favorite lines comes in today's Gospel: Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do (Mt 9:12). We are all in need of the merciful and compassionate healing touch of the Divine Physician. Let us be about receiving the mercy of God and extending it to others. As Jesus says: I desire mercy, not sacrifice (Mt 9:13). 

During difficult moments, let us not close in on ourselves, shutting Jesus out. Let us seek Jesus, return to Him, to His forgiveness, to those wounds that have healed us. In this way, we too will become capable of compassion, of approaching the wounds of others.

(Pope Francis)

Let God's grace reign, as it does reign: the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord, the one Son of God, the one Lord.

(Saint Augustine on the Predestination of the Saints, in Office of Readings, Friday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time)

SAINT OLIVER PLUNKETT,

BLESSED JUNIPERO SERRA,

BLESSED NAZIO FALZON,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: The way of truth I have chosen. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022