Friday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Kgs 11:29-32; 12:19
Jeroboam left Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road. The two were alone in the area, and the prophet was wearing a new cloak. Ahijah took off his new cloak, tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam: “Take ten pieces for yourself; the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp and will give you ten of the tribes. One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant, and of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’” Israel went into rebellion against David’s house to this day.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 81:10-11ab, 12-13, 14-15 (R.11a and 9a)
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”R.
“My people heard not my voice,
and Israel obeyed me not;
So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts;
they walked according to their own counsels.”R.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
Quickly would I humble their enemies;
against their foes I would turn my hand.” R.
Gospel – Mk 7:31-37
Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Featured Saints
Blessed Christina of Spoleto, widow (†1458). After the death of her husband, she led a wordly life for some time, but then underwent a conversion and entered the Secular Augustinian Order in Spoleto, Italy, where she led a life of penance, dedicated to prayer and works of mercy.
St. Castor, priest and hermit († fourth century). After studying in Treveris, Germany, in the school of St. Maximin, he withdrew to a solitary life along the banks of the Mosel River.
St. Benignus, priest and martyr († fourth century). Martyr of Todi, in Umbria, Italy, during the final persecution against the Christians, in time of Diocletian and Maximian.
St. Paul Liu Hanzuo, priest and martyr (†1818). Arrested while celebrating the Mass of the Assumption. When he was unable to pay the amount demanded for his release, he was brought to the Mandarin, before whom he confessed his Faith and received the death sentence.
St. Martinianus, hermit (†c. 398). He lived a solitary life in the rugged regions close to Caesarea, in Palestine. He later travelled to Athens, Greece, where he died
St. Paul Lê-Văn-Lôc, priest and martyr (†1859). He was beheaded at the gates of the Vietnamese city of Thi-Nghè during the reign of Emperor Tu Ðúc.
Blessed Jordan of Saxony, priest (†1237). First successor of St. Dominic as head of the Order of Preachers, he was ardent in spreading the Order. He died in a shipwreck near Acre, in Palestine.
Blessed Eustochium Bellini (†1469). Virgin of the Benedictine Order in Padua. By God’s permission, she suffered demonic attacks throughout her life. She was ardently devoted to the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
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