Thursday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Heb 10:19-25
Brothers and sisters: Since through the Blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 (R. see 6)
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers. R.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain. R.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. R.
Gospel – Mk 4:21-25
Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Featured Saints
Blessed Columba Marmion, abbot (†1923). Native of Ireland, he was superior of the Benedictine monastery of Maredsous, Belgium, where he shone as a director of souls as well as for his spiritual doctrine and eloquence.
St. Bathildis, queen (†680). From the land of the Angles, she married Clovis II, King of the Franks, after whose death she served as regent until their son Clothaire III came of age to assume the throne. She then retired to the monastery of Chelles, which she had founded.
St. Matthias, Bishop of Jerusalem. († second century).
St. Thomas Khuông, priest and martyr (†1860). Dominican priest beheaded in Vietnam for declaring himself Christian during the persecution of Emperor Tu Đúc.
St. David Galvan, priest and martyr (†1915). During the Mexican persecution, he was arrested and shot without a trial, for defending the sanctity of Matrimony.
St. Adelelmus, abbot (†1097). First abbot of the Benedictine Monastery of St. John the Evangelist in Burgos, Spain, and is a patron of this city.
St. Mutien-Marie Wiaux, religious (†1917). Member of the Christian Brothers; he consecrated his life to educating youth in Namur, Belgium.
St. Adelgundis, Virgin and abbess. France, seventh century.
St. Hyacintha Mariscotti, virgem (†1640). Franciscan tertiary religious from Viterbo, Italy. After living in that state for fifteen years immersed in worldly frivolity, she embraced an austere life and went on to establish confraternities for the service of the needy and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Blessed Carmen Garcia Moyon, martyr (†1937). Catechist burned alive in Torrent, Spain, during the religious persecution in the country.
Image gallery
