Wednesday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
St. Peter Claver, priest (†1654). Optional Memorial. Jesuit born in Spain, who exercised his ministry in Cartagena, Colombia. For forty years, he dedicated himself with great compassion and charity to the spiritual assistance of African slaves. He was proclaimed by Pope Leo XIII as Patron of missions among African peoples. (Memorial in USA.)
Blessed George Douglas, priest and martyr (†1587). Scottish priest condemned to death in York, for refusing to recognize Elizabeth I as the supreme head of the Church in England.
Blessed Pierre Bonhomme, priest (†1861). Distinguished himself by his popular missions and evangelization of farmers in France. He founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Calvary, to care for youth, the sick and the needy.
St. Kieran, abbot (†549). One of the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland” who studied at Clonard Abbey under St. Finian, he there acquired fame for his holiness and wisdom, and later founded the Monastery of Clonmacnoise which became an important centre of learning and religious life.
Blessed James Desiré Laval, priest (†1864). French physician, he was ordained a priest and went as a missionary to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
Blessed Francisco Gárate Aranguren, religious (†1929). Jesuit lay brother; he served as porter for 42 years at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain.
Blessed Maria de la Cabeza, laywoman (†Twelfth century). Spouse of St. Isidore the Labourer, patron of Madrid. A model wife and mother, especially for her piety, patience and charity.
Blessed Maria Euthymia,virgin (†1955). Religious from the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy; she served God by serving the sick during the Second World War. She died in Münster, Germany.
Mass Readings
First Reading Col 3:12-171
Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one Body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6 (R.6)
R. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the LORD in his sanctuary,
praise him in the firmament of his strength.
Praise him for his mighty deeds,
praise him for his sovereign majesty. R.
Praise him with the blast of the trumpet,
praise him with lyre and harp,
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipe. R.
Praise him with sounding cymbals,
praise him with clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD! Alleluia. R.
Gospel Lk 6:27-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”
