Thursday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – 2 Kings 24:8-17
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his forebears had done. At that time the officials of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, himself arrived at the city while his servants were besieging it. Then Jehoiachin, king of Judah, together with his mother, his ministers, officers, and functionaries, surrendered to the king of Babylon, who, in the eighth year of his reign, took him captive. And he carried off all the treasures of the temple of the LORD and those of the palace, and broke up all the gold utensils that Solomon, king of Israel, had provided in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had foretold. He deported all Jerusalem: all the officers and men of the army, ten thousand in number, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None were left among the people of the land except the poor. He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon, and also led captive from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother and wives, his functionaries, and the chief men of the land. The king of Babylon also led captive to Babylon all seven thousand men of the army, and a thousand craftsmen and smiths, all of them trained soldiers. In place of Jehoiachin, the king of Babylon appointed his uncle Mattaniah king, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9 (R. 9)
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the corpses of your servants
as food to the birds of heaven,
the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth. R.
They have poured out their blood like water
round about Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury them.
We have become the reproach of our neighbors,
the scorn and derision of those around us.
O LORD, how long? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire? R.
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.
Gospel – Mt 7:21-29
Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
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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