Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ez 24:15-23
The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, by a sudden blow I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes, but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears. Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead, bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread. That evening my wife died, and the next morning I did as I had been commanded. Then the people asked me, “Will you not tell us what all these things that you are doing mean for us?” I therefore spoke to the people that morning, saying to them: Thus the word of the LORD came to me: Say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: I will now desecrate my sanctuary, the stronghold of your pride, the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul. The sons and daughters you left behind shall fall by the sword. Ezekiel shall be a sign for you: all that he did you shall do when it happens. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD. You shall do as I have done, not covering your beards nor eating the customary bread. Your turbans shall remain on your heads, your sandals on your feet. You shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away because of your sins and groan one to another.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18 (R.18a)
R. You have forgotten God who gave you birth!
You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you.
You forgot the God who gave you birth.
When the LORD saw this, he was filled with loathing
and anger toward his sons and daughters. R.
“I will hide my face from them,” he said,
“and see what will then become of them.
What a fickle race they are,
sons with no loyalty in them!” R.
“Since they have provoked me with their ‘no-god’
and angered me with their vain idols,
I will provoke them with a ‘no-people’;
with a foolish nation I will anger them.” R.
Gospel – Mt 9:16-22
A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Featured Saints
St. Eusebius, Pope (†310). During his pontificate of four months, he was a courageous witness of Christ. He died in Sicily where he had been deported by the Emperor.
St. Clare of the Cross, virgin (†1308). At age six, she entered the Augustinian Monastery of the Holy Cross of Montefalco, Italy, headed by her sister. Elected superior after her sister’s death, she was greatly devoted to Chist’s Passion and the practice of penance.
St. Beatrix of Silva, virgin (†1492). A young lady of high nobility in Portugal, noted for her beauty; she founded the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.
St. Mammes of Caesarea, martyr (†273/274). Shepherd who lived a solitary life in the forests of the mountains of Cappadocia in Turkey; he was put to death for proclaiming his Faith during the persecution of Aurelian.
St. Joan Delanoue, virgin (†1736). Moved by charity, she cared for orphans, the poor and aged in her home, and went on to found the Sisters of Saint Anne of Providence in Saumur, France to better attend to this calling.
Blessed Noël-Hilaire Le Conte, priest and martyr (†1794). For his fidelity to his Faith and his ministry during the religious persecutions of the French Revolution, he was left to die on a disease-infested and overcrowded prision-ship in the harbour of Rochefort, France.
Photo gallery
