Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
St. Januarius, bishop and martyr (†305). Optional Memorial. Martyred in Pozzuoli (Italy). His blood, reserved in the Cathedral of Naples, liquefies miraculously at least three times a year.
St. Theodore, bishop (†690). Appointed by Pope St. Vitalian as Archbishop of Canterbury. He is praised in the writings of St. Bede for his extensive travels and labours in favour of the unity and harmony of the Church in England.
St. Marianus, hermit (†sixth century). From an illustrious family of Bourges, France, he left the world to become a hermit in Berry, living thenceforth on only wild fruits and honey.
St. Charles Hyon Sŏng-mun martyr (†1846). Catechist who worked assiduously for the entrance of missionaries into Korea. He was imprisoned and beheaded along with other Christians.
St. Frithuswith, virgin and abbess (†735). An English princess, she fled marriage with a neighbouring prince and founded a convent dedicated to the Blessed Virgin in Oxford. She is the patroness of the city of Oxford and its university.
St. Maria of Cervelló, virgin (†1290). The first Mercedarian nun. She was untiring in her care of the poor and sick.
St. Marie Emilie de Rodat, virgin and foundress (†1852). She founded the Congregation of the Holy Family in Villefranche, France, for the formation of youth. She was a great devotee of the Holy Mass and of the Via Sacra. She combatted the Jansenist spirit which, under guise of humility, discouraged the frequent reception of the Eucharist.
Blessed Francisca Cualladó Baixauli, virgin and martyr (†1936). A lay seamstress, she prayed the Rosary and partook in the Eucharist daily. She was executed by firing squad in Benifaiós (Spain) during the Spanish Civil War.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Wis 2:12, 17-20
The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8 (R.6b)
R. The Lord upholds my life.
O God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth. R.
For the haughty have risen up against me,
the ruthless seek my life;
they set not God before their eyes. R.
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness. R.
Second Reading – Jas 3:16—4:3
Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Gospel – Mk 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
They had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”
