Sunday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time
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Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Kgs 17:10-16
In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a bit of bread.” She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'” She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 (R. 1b)
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free. R.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers. R.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. R.
Second Reading – Heb 9:24-28
Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
Gospel – Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44
In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.” He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
OR:
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
Featured Saints
Sunday takes precedence over the Memorial of St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church (†461). St. Leo was born to an aristocratic family of Tuscany. He was the first Pope to receive the title “the Great” for his brilliant defence of the early Church against the many heresies of the time, such as Pelagianism, Manichaeism, and disputes surrounding Christology and papal authority. He is celebrated for personally confronting Attila the Hun in 452 and prevailing upon him to retreat, thereby averting the invasion of Rome.
Sts. Narses, bishop, and Joseph, martyrs (†343). They were beheaded in Persia for refusing to obey the order of King Shapur II to adore the sun.
St. Justus, bishop (†627). Benedictine monk sent by Pope St. Gregory the Great to assist St. Augustine in the evangelization of the Angles. He first became Bishop of Rochester, and was later appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
St. Andrew Avelino, priest (†1608). He held the offices of master of novices and then superior of the Congregation of Clerics Regular (the Theatines) in Italy, contributing greatly to its growth. He made a vow to progress daily in virtue.
St. Baudolino, hermit (†eighth century). Hermit favoured with the gifts of miracles and prophecy. He died in Villa del Foro, Italy.
Blessed Acisclo Piña Piazuelo, martyr (†1936). Religious of the Hospitallers of St. John of God, he was killed in Barcelona out of religious hatred, during the Spanish Civil War.
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