Wednesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Gn 15:1-12, 17-18
The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield; I will make your reward very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?” Abram continued, “See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.” He took him outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. He then said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” “O Lord GOD,” he asked, “how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He answered him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Abram brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up.1 Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him. When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants, I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River the Euphrates.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 (R. 8a)
R. The Lord remembers his covenant forever. or: R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.R.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.R.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth, his judgments prevail.R.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.R.
Gospel – Mt 7:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits, you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits, you will know them.”
Featured Saints
St. Eurosia, virgin and martyr (†c. 714). Princess of Bohemia who was promised in marriage to the prince of the throne of Aragon and Navarre in Spain, but was attacked close to Jaca by Moors, and died confessing her Faith.
St. Solomon III, martyr (+874). As King of Brittany, he upheld justice, favouring the construction of monasteries and the erection of Episcopal Sees in his kingdom. Having abdicated, he was blinded and killed in a church by his enemies.
St. William of Vercelli, abbot (†1142). Tireless apostle of prayer life and contemplation, he founded numerous monasteries in southern Italy and died in Goleto.
St. Maximus of Turin, bishop. († fifth century). Renowned preacher and prolific theological author. He participated in the Synod of Milan in 451 and in the Council of Rome in 465.
St. Adalbert, deacon and abbot (†740). Born in Northumbria, England, became a disciple of St. Willibrord, and accompanied on mission to Friesland (present-day Holland) and evangelized the Egmond region with great success.
St. Prosper of Aquitaine, monk (†circa 463). Fought against the Semipelagian heretics. He authored several theological works defending Augustinian doctrine on grace and the gift of perseverance. He served as chancellor to Pope St. Leo the Great.
Blessed John of Spain, monk (†1160). Born in Spain, he was the founder and first prior of the Chartreuse of Le Reposoir, Switzerland. At the request of the Superior General, Saint Anselm, he established the feminine branch.
Blessed Marie Lhuillier, virgin and martyr (†1794). Religious from the Canons Regular Hospitallers of the Mercy of Jesus, beheaded during the French Revolution in Laval, France, for her unwavering fidelity to the religious vows.
Blessed Dorothy of Montau, widow (†1394). After the death of her husband, she withdrew to a cell beside the Cathedral of Marienwerder, in Germany to dedicated herself to a life of prayer and penance.
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