Mass Readings

First Reading – Hos 8:4-7, 11-13

Thus says the LORD: They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority; they established princes, but without my approval. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction. Cast away your calf, O Samaria! my wrath is kindled against them; How long will they be unable to attain innocence in Israel? The work of an artisan, no god at all, Destined for the flames — such is the calf of Samaria! When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind; The stalk of grain that forms no ear can yield no flour; Even if it could, strangers would swallow it. When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin, his altars became occasions of sin. Though I write for him my many ordinances, they are considered as a stranger’s. Though they offer sacrifice, immolate flesh and eat it, the LORD is not pleased with them. He shall still remember their guilt and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 115:3-4, 5-6, 7AB-8, 9-10 (R.9a)

R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men. R.

They have mouths but speak not;
they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
they have noses but smell not. R.

They have hands but feel not;
they have feet but walk not.
Their makers shall be like them,
everyone that trusts in them. R.

Gospel – Mt 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Featured Saints

St. Athanasius of Jerusalem, martyr (†451). Deacon killed by a heretic monk for spreading the doctrine of the Council of Chalcedon against Monophysitism.

St. Athanasius the Athonite, monk (†c. 1004). Instituted a small monastery on Mount Athos, Greece, initiating cenobitic life there.

St. Cyrilla, martyr (†fourth century). Widow killed for her faith during the Diocletian persecution in Cyrene, Libya. After sustaining red-hot coals with incense in her hands at length, rather than throw them to the ground and thus seem to offer incense to the gods, she was cruelly scourged with hooks.

Sts. Teresa Chen Jinxie and Rosa Chen Aixie, virgins and martyrs (†1900). They died in defence of their virginity during the Boxer Rebellion persecution in China.

St. Martha, laywoman (†551). Mother of St. Simon Stylite, whom she educated in the Faith.

Blessed George Nichols and Richard Yaxley, priests, and Thomas Belson, and Humphrey Pritchard, laymen, martyrs (†1589). Martyred in Oxford, England, during the anti-Catholic persecutions of Elizabeth I.