Thursday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Eph 6:10-20
Brothers and sisters: Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the Devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.
Responsorial Psalm – 144:1B, 2, 9-10 (R.1b)
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. R.
My mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me. R.
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword. R.
Gospel – Lk 13:31-35
Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Featured Saints
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, religious (†1617). After losing his wife and son, he became a humble Jesuit brother and became renowned for his holiness while exercising the duty of porter for many years at the Jesuit college of Palma de Mallorca (Spain).
St. Antoninus, bishop (†c. 661). He worked untiringly to extinguish the Arian heresy among the Lombards.
Blessed Christopher of Romagnola, priest (†1272). Friar minor sent by St. Francis of Assisi to preach in Aquitaine. He died a centenarian in Cahors, France.
Blessed Leon Nowakowski, priest and martyr (†1939). Shot to death out of hatred of the Faith in Piotrków Kujawski during the military occupation of Poland.
Blessed Dominic Collins, religious and martyr (†1602). A former soldier who became a Jesuit coadjutor brother. He was imprisoned, tortured and hanged in Ireland, for refusing to renounce his Faith during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Blessed Thomas Bellacci of Florence, religious (†1447). Repenting of his dissolute life as a youth, he entered the Order of Friars Minor as a lay brother.
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