Wednesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Col1:1-8
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in Heaven. Of this you have already heard through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you. Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you, from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth, as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 52:10, 11 (R.10)
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever. R.
I will thank You always for what You have done,
and proclaim the goodness of your name
before Your faithful ones. R.
Gospel – Lk 4:38-44
After Jesus left the synagogue, He entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with Him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to Him. He laid His hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that He was the Christ. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for Him, and when they came to Him, they tried to prevent Him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And He was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
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.
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