Saturday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Eph 4:7-16
Brothers and sisters: Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it says: He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; He gave gifts to men. What does “He ascended” mean except that He also descended into the lower regions of the earth? The one who descended is also the one Who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. And He gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5 (R. 1)
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem. R.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD. R.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David. R.
Gospel – Lk 13:1-9
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them– do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” And He told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”
Featured Saints
St. Donatus of Fiesole, bishop (†circa 875). Irish noble who embarked on a pilgrimage in search of perfection. He was elected Bishop of Fiesole (Italy) when he was on his way to Rome.
Sts. Nunilo and Alodia, virgins and martyrs (†851). Daughters of a Muslim father, brought up in the Catholic Religion by their mother. They refused to abandon their Faith in Christ, for which they were decapitated in Huesca, Spain.
St. Mark of Jerusalem, bishop (†second century). First Bishop of gentile origin to occupy the See of Jerusalem.
St. Albercius, bishop (†third century). Bishop of Hierapolis, in Phrygia. He is said to he travelled to many different regions announcing the Christian Faith.
St. Leothadius of Auch, bishop (†seventh century). While Abbot of Fontenelle, he was elected Bishop of Auch, France.
St. Donatus of Fiesole, bishop (†circa 875). Irish noble who embarked on a pilgrimage in search of perfection. He was elected Bishop of Fiesole (Italy) when he was on his way to Rome.
St. Moderan, bbot (†c. 720). Bishop of Rennes, France, and subsequently abbot of the monastery of Berceto, Italy. He was a model of love of solitude and devotion to holy places.
Blessed Luís Maria of Our Lady of Mercy, priest and martyr (†1936). Priest from the Order of Discalced Carmelites, he shed his blood for Christ during the religious persecution in Spain.
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