Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Jer 14:17-22
Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, Over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over her incurable wound. If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword; If I enter the city, look! those consumed by hunger. Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not. Have you cast Judah off completely? Is Zion loathsome to you? Why have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed? We wait for peace, to no avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead. We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you. For your name’s sake spurn us not, disgrace not the throne of your glory; remember your covenant with us, and break it not. Among the nations’ idols is there any that gives rain? Or can the mere heavens send showers? Is it not you alone, O LORD, our God, to whom we look? You alone have done all these things.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13 (R.9)
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low. R.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake. R.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise. R.
Gospel – Mt 3:36-43
Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Featured Saints
St. Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, religious (+1946). After avoiding an imposed marriage and shunning riches, she was admitted into the Malabarian Clarists. She offered herself as an expiatory victim for priests, religious and consecrated souls, and suffered almost continual illness. She died in Bharananganan, in the state of Kerala, India.
St. Victor I, Pope (†circa 200). Of African origin, he condemned heresies against the Blessed Trinity and established several canonical rules, including the day for the celebration of Easter for the entire Church.
St. Pedro Poveda Castroverde, priest and martyr (†1936). Founder of the Teresian Association, dedicated to the formation of teachers he was killed out of hatred for the Faith during the Spanish Civil War.
St. Samson of York, bishop and abbot (†565). Of Welsh birth, he lived as a hermit for many years. After being consecrated Bishop, he undertook an mission to spread the Gospel and monastic discipline in Brittany, France, following the divine call. There he founded the Abbey of Dol, around which grew a new diocese.
Sts. Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolaus, Deacons. Five of the seven “men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3) chosen by the multitude of the disciples to assist the Apostles.
St. James Hilario Barbal Cosán, martyr (†1937). As a Christian Brother, he was a dedicated teacher until being arrested by the anti-Catholic authorities and executed by firing squad in Catalunia, Spain, during the Civil War.
St. Melchoir Garcia Sampedro, bishop and martyr (†1858). Dominican bishop, imprisoned and brutally killed in Nam Dinh, Vietnam, by order of Emperor Tu Ðuc.
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