Thursday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Amos 7:10-17
Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam, king of Israel: “Amos has conspired against you here within Israel; the country cannot endure all his words. For this is what Amos says: Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land.” To Amos, Amaziah said: “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.” Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ Now hear the word of the LORD!” You say: prophesy not against Israel, preach not against the house of Isaac. Now thus says the LORD: Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city, and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by measuring line, and you yourself shall die in an unclean land; Israel shall be exiled far from its land.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (R. 10cd)
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple. R.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye. R.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just. R.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb. R.
Gospel – Mt 9:1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
Featured Saints
Blessed Peter of Luxembourg, Bishop (†1387). A Belgian noble, he was appointed bishop at a very young age. A great devotee of the Passion and often favoured with visions of Our Lord Crucified.
Blessed Eugenie Joubert, virgin (†1904). Religious of the Congregation of the Holy Family of the Sacred Heart, in Le-Puy-en-Velay, France. She taught catechism to young children and died of tuberculosis in Liege, Belgium.
St. Swithun, bishop (+862). Bishop of Winchester; according to tradition, he was chaplain of King Egbert of Wessex and tutor of his son, the prince Ethelwulf. Miracles were associated with his relics, but his shrine in Winchester was destroyed during the Reformation.
St. Bernardine Realino, priest (†1616). Italian Jesuit, outstanding preacher, spiritual director, and confessor.
St. Lidanus of Sezze, abbot (†1118). Benedictine monk who founded an abbey in Sezze, Italy.
Sts. Liberatus, abbot, Boniface, deacon, Servus and Rusticus, subdeacons, Rogatus and Septimus, monks, (†484). They were cruelly tortured during the Vandals persecution in Carthage.
St. Monegunda, hermit (†570). With the consent of her spouse, she withdrew to a grotto outside of Tours, France, to lead a hermetic life.
Blesseds John and Peter Becchetti, priests (†circa 1420). Hermit Priests of St. Augustine, belonging to the same family. They died in the monastery of the Order in Fabriano, Italy.
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