Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
St. Zechariah, Prophet. Foretold the end of the Babylonian exile and made many announcements regarding the Messiah, including the entrance into Jerusalem commemorated on Palm Sunday: “Exult greatly, O daughter of Zion, […] Behold: your king is coming to you, a just saviour is he, humble and riding on a donkey” (cf. Zec 9:9).
Sts. Donatian, Praesidius, Mansuetus, Germanus, Fusculus and Laetus, bishops (†Fifth century). Cruelly scourged and exiled from Africa by Hunneric, the Arian king of the Vandals, for their proclamation of true doctrine. Laetus was burned alive after a long imprisonment.
St. Cagnoald, bishop (†circa 632). Disciple of St. Columban, he was his sole assistant in the Hermitage of Bregenz, beside Lake Constance. He died in Laon, France, as bishop of that diocese.
St. Onesiphorus (†First century). Disciple of St. Paul, who collaborated closely with him in Ephesus and during his imprisonment in Rome.
St. Eleutherius, Italian abbot, Sixth century.
St. Bega, virgin (†660). An Irish princess who renounced marriage with a Norwegian prince to embrace the monastic life. She founded the Priory of St Bees, in England, and served as its abbess until her death.
Blessed Michael Czartoryski, martyr († 1944). Priest of the Dominican Order, killed in Warsaw (Poland) during the Communist invasion.
Mass Readings
First Reading Col 1:24–2:3
Brothers and sisters: I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his Body, which is the Church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you and for those in Laodicea and all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 62:6-7, 9 (R.8)
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed. R.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge! R.
Gospel Lk 6:6-11
On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up and stand before us.”
And he rose and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them,
“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
“Stretch out your hand.”
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
