Wednesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
St. Verena, virgin (†fourth century). Born in Egypt, she settled in the region of Zurzach, in present-day Switzerland, where she spent the rest of her life caring for the poor and lepers. Her tomb became a famous centre of pilgrimage, where a monastery was later built.
St. Joshua. Son of Nun. After the death of Moses, of whom he was a disciple, he brought the people of Israel into the Promised Land.
St. Lupus of Sens, bishop (†c. 623). He was exiled for having courageously affirmed before a local dignitary that people should be guided by the priest and obey God more than princes.
Blessed Jane Soderini, virgin (†1367). Third Order Servite who died in Florence, Italy. She was a disciple of St. Juliana Falconieri.
St. Giles (Gilles), abbot (†6th/7th century). The city of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, France, where he built a monastery (of which he was abbot), was named after him.
Blessed Juliana of Collalto, abbess (†1262). From a noble family, she took the Benedictine habit at the age of 12. She founded the Monastery of St. Blaise, in Venice, where she was abbess.
Mass Readings
First reading: Col 1:1-8
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. Of this you have already heard through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you. Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you, from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth, as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 52:10, 11 (R.10)
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever. R.
I will thank you always for what you have done,
and proclaim the goodness of your name
before your faithful ones. R.
Gospel Lk 4:38-44
After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them.
At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.”
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
