Wednesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Jas 1:19-27
Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger for anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God. Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts; such a one shall be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Responsorial Psalm – 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5 (R.1b)
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the Lord.
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed. R.
Gospel – Mk 8:22-26
When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked, “Do you see anything?” Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”
Featured Saints
St. Juliana of Nicomedia, virgin and martyr (†fourth century). She was the only Christian in her family, in Nicomedia (Turkey). At 18, having refused to marry a pagan, she was imprisoned and later beheaded.
St. Maruthas, bishop (†a. 420). He presided the Council of Seleucia, restored the churches ruined in the persecutions of King Shapur and collected relics of the martyrs of Persia for veneration in his episcopal See, present-day Silvan, Turkey, which came to be called Martyropolis.
Blessed Nicholas Puglia, priest (+1256). Upon hearing St. Dominic preach in Bologna, he entered the Dominican Order, and became a most faithful companion of his founder. He drew many vocations to the Order and and founded the monastery of Trani and Perugia, where he died.
Blessed Joseph Allamano, priest (†1926). Animated by untiring zeal, he founded the two Congregations of the Missions of the Consolata in Italy: one for men and another for women.
Blessed Francis Toyama Jintaro, martyr (†1624). Samurai noble whose exemplary Christian life was a key factor in the conversion of many people. He was beheaded in Hiroshima, Japan for refusing to renounce the Faith.
Blessed Philippa Mareri, virgin (†1236). Of noble origin, she abandoned worldly riches and splendour, choosing to live on a property belonging to her family in Borgo San Pietro, Italy, following St. Clare’s way of life.
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