Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
St. Willibrord, bishop (†739). Born in 658, in Northumbria (Northern England). From his first monastic master, St. Wilfrid, he acquired the two ideals of his life: fidelity to the Chair of Peter, and missionary zeal. After his ordination and many years of studies, he embarked with 12 companions on his mission as an apostle to Frisia. Pope Sergius I appointed him as the First Bishop of Utrecht (Netherlands).
Sts. Hyacinth Castañeda and Vincent Lê Quang Liêm, spriests and martyrs (†1773). Dominicans martyred in Ket Cho, Vietnam, during the reign of Trinh Sâm.
St. Vicent Grossi, priest (†1917). Founder of the Institute of the Daughters of the Oratory in Cremona, Italy.
St. Lazarus (†1054). stylite (†1054). He lived for many years atop a column, wearing iron chains and living on bread and water.
St. Peter Wu Guosheng, martyr (†1814). Converted to the Catholic Faith, he left his position as innkeeper to become a catechist. Refusing to renounce the Faith, he was strangled to death in Zunyi, China, becoming the first Chinese martyr of the Imperial persecution.
Blessed Anthony Baldinucci, priest (†1717). Jesuit religious; he desired to be a missionary to the Orient, but due to poor health, he was entrusted with missions in Italy, where he experienced notable success by his virtuous example and ardent preaching .
In USA: St. Diego of Alcalá, religious (†1463). Spanish Franciscan lay brother who spent some years in the Canary Islands mission, where he distinguished himself for his humility and charity. He died in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. The first Californian mission was named after him, hence the name of the Californian city of San Diego (celebrated on November 13 in the General Calendar).
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. 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.”
