Tuesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial for Sts. Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, priest, martyrs (†c. 236 Sardinia – Italy). Condemned to forced labour in the mines of Sardinia, they died there under ill-treatment.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ez 2:8—3:4
The Lord GOD said to me: As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you: be not rebellious like this house of rebellion, but open your mouth and eat what I shall give you. It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me, in which was a written scroll which he unrolled before me. It was covered with writing front and back, and written on it was: Lamentation and wailing and woe! He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat. Son of man, he then said to me, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131 (R.103a)
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches. R.
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors. R.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces. R.
How sweet to my palate are your promises,
sweeter than honey to my mouth! R.
Your decrees are my inheritance forever;
the joy of my heart they are. R.
I gasp with open mouth,
in my yearning for your commands. R.
Gospel – Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”
Featured Saints
St. Radegunde (†587). Queen of the Francs. While her husband, King Clotaire was still alive, she entered the monastery of the Holy Cross of Poitiers, France, where she dedicated herself to prayer and works of charity for more than thirty years.
St. John Berchmans, religious (†1621). Jesuit brother who died in Rome, at 22 years of age, after a brief illness.
Blessed Mark of Aviano, priest (†1699). Capuchin priest, great preacher and miracle worker. Through his influence on the Holy League, he played an essential role in the victory at the Battle of Vienna.
Blessed Gertrude, abbess (†1297). Daughter of St. Elizabeth of Hungary; she was consecrated to God as a girl, and governed the Premonstratensian convent of Altenberg, Germany, for 48 years.
St. Maximus the Confessor, abbot (†662). Abbot of Chrysopolis Monastery; mutilated, imprisoned and exiled from Constantinople by Emperor Constans II, for his zeal in combatting Monothelitism.
St. Benilde, religious (†1862). Religious of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, he dedicated his life to youth formation in Saugues, France.
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