Wednesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memmorial of Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, priests, and companions, martyrs (Memorial in US). Eight Jesuit missionaries from France who evangelized among the native peoples of North America, particularly of the Huron tribe, and were captured, tortured and killed by the Iroquois on various dates over a seven-year period. (Feast in Canada on Sept. 26) ; Optional Memorial of St. Paul of the Cross, priest (†1775, Rome). Mystic and founder of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, or the Passionists. (USA: transferred to Oct. 20.)
Mass Readings
Mass Readings
First Reading – Eph 3:2-12
Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier. When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of His power. To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in Him.
Responsorial Psalm – Is 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6 (R. see 3)
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and He has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation. R.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim His name;
among the nations make known His deeds,
proclaim how exalted is His name. R.
Sing praise to the LORD for His glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel! R.
Gospel – Lk 12:39-48
Jesus said to His disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Featured Saints
St. Luke Alonso Gorda, priest, and Mathhew Kohioye, religious, martyrs (†1634). Intrepid Dominican preachers of the Gospel in the Philippines and in Japan, where they suffered martyrdom.
St. Varus, martyr (†307). Egyptian soldier who embraced the Faith while guarding six holy Christian monks awaiting execution, was imprisoned along with them and put to death amidst terrible tortures, in Alexandria.
St. Frideswide, virgin (†735). She left court life and founded a Convent dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Oxford, England, of which she became abbess. She is the patroness of the city of Oxford and of its university.
Blessed Thomas Helye, priest (†1257). He exercised his priestly ministry during the day and dedicated himself to prayer and penance at night, in the Diocese of Coutances, France.
Blessed George Popieluszko, priest and martyr (†1984). Priest of the Diocese of Warsaw who was killed at the age of 37 by communist agents who apprehended him on the road, beat, bound and threw him into a water reservoir to drown.
Blessed Agnes of Jesus Galand, virgin (†1634). Prioress of the Dominican Monastery of Langeac, France, she offered Christ her prayers and sufferings for the intention of the good formation of priests.
