Friday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Wis 13:1-9
All men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan; But either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water, or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods. Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods, let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these; for the original source of beauty fashioned them. Or if they were struck by their might and energy, let them from these things realize how much more powerful is he who made them. For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen. But yet, for these the blame is less; For they indeed have gone astray perhaps, though they seek God and wish to find him. For they search busily among his works, but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair. But again, not even these are pardonable. For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world, how did they not more quickly find its Lord?
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 19:2-3, 4-5ab (R.2a)
R. The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge. R.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message. R.
Gospel – Lk 17:26-37
Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.” They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”
Featured Saints
St. Serapion, religious and martyr (†1240). Leaving a military career, he became a Mercedarian religious dedicated to the liberation of Christian prisoners. He was crucified and quartered in Algeria, Northern Africa.
St. Rufus, bishop (fourth century). First head of the Catholic community of Avignon, France.
St. Lawrence O’Toole, bishop (†1180). Archbishop of Dublin, Ireland; he reformed ecclesiastical discipline and dedicated himself to establishing peace between princes.
St. Stephen Theodore Cuénot, bishop and martyr (†1861). He suffered martyrdom in Vietnam, after twenty-five years of apostolic labour there.
Sts. Nicholas Tavelic, Deodato Aribert, Stephen of Cuneo and Peter of Narbona, priests and martyrs (†1391). Franciscan friars burned alive by the Saracens in Jerusalem, where they preached Christianity.
St. Siard, abbot (†1230). Premonstratensian Abbot of Mariëngaarde in Holland, outstanding in observance to the rule and generosity toward the poor.
Blessed John Liccio, priest (†1511). Dominican religious, he stood out for his tireless charity toward neighbour, dedication in preaching the Holy Rosary and the observance of the Rule. He died in Caccamo, Italy, at 111 years of age.
Blessed Maria Teresa of Jesus, virgin (†1889). She founded the Institute of the Sisters of Our Lady of Carmel in Montevarchi, Italy.
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