Mass Readings

First Reading – 1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21

The LORD said to Elijah: “You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, as prophet to succeed you.” Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you.” Elijah answered, “Go back! Have I done anything to you?” Elisha left him, and taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 (R.cf. 5a)

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.” R.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. R.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. R.

You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever. R.

Second Reading – Gal 5:1, 13-18

Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.  For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.  I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Gospel – Lk 9:51-62

When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Featured Saints

Blessed Andrew Jacinto Longhin, bishop (†1936). Capuchin religious appointed Bishop of Treviso (Italy) by St. Pius X; he helped deserters and prisoners during World War I and defended the rights of the weakest members society.

St. José María Robles Hurtado, priest and martyr (†1927). Fervent propagator of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Out of religious hatred, he was hanged from a tree in Guadalajara during the Mexican revolution.

Sts. John and Paul, martyrs († fourth century Rome). Brothers who were beheaded for their Faith on Mount Coleius, under Julian the Apostate.

St. Pelagius of Córdoba, martyr (†925). In face of the lascivious
insinuations of Caliph Abderrahman III, this youth of 13 years was torn to pieces with iron pliers in Cordoba, Spain, for proclaiming his faith in Christ and defending his chastity.

St. Joseph Ma Taishun, martyr (†1900). Doctor and catechist who was put to death at sixty years of age, during the anti-Christian persecution in China.

Blesseds Nicholas Konrad, priest, and Vladimir Pryjma, martyrs (†1941). Nicholas was the pastor of Stradch, Ukraine, and Vladimir, conductor of the parish choir. Both were shot by Soviet police agents in the forest near Stradch, Ukraine, as they returned from a visit to a sick man, to whom they had brought the last Sacraments.

Blessed Jacob Ghazir Haddad, priest (†1954). Capuchin priest, founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross in Beirut, Lebanon.

Blessed Andrew Iscak, priest and martyr (†1941). Diocesan priest and professor of Theology in Lviv, Ukraine, gunned to death by Soviet Soldiersin his parish in Sykhiv .

Blessed Raymond Petiniaud de Jourgnac (†1794). For being a priest, he was imprisoned in inhumane conditions on a ship anchored in Rochefort, France, and died there consumed by wounds and vermin.