October 26
Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
First Reading
EPH 4:32–5:8 Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.
Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
Responsorial Psalm
PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
R. (see Eph. 5:1) Behave like God as his very dear children.
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.
He is like a tree planted near running water, That yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.
Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.
Alleluia
JN 17:17B, 17A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
LK 13:10-17
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.
Give a Mass Offering
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
“Behave like God as his very dear children.”
Readings & Reflection
Kindness and compassion are the theme of today’s readings. Often in our lives, we are the recipient of a kindness that results from a request made on our behalf. Today, we see Christ healing without the woman asking for help. His demonstration of kindness toward the afflicted woman, and his astute assessment of what the woman needs shows his Godlike compassion. Do we share Christs’ concern and ability to sense what others need?
Certainly, we all know that we are not God. However, we should not forget that Christ does dwell deep within us. We do have the ability to show compassion and offer healing in Christ’s name to those whom we encounter. Personally, one of my greatest sins is the sin of omission. I have the ability, in weaker moments, to walk by the person I sense is in need. Often, the reason I commit this sin is out of fear. Fear comes in many forms. Each of us knows what we fear. Remember, God knows as well!
We do not see Christ experiencing fear as he deals with those around him. He is the one who offers a friendly hand, even to sinners. He heals, teaches, and preaches to those who are most in need even if they fail to listen to Him. Today, let us try to be Christ to one other person. Let us look for an opportunity to reach out to one who is in need. We may shock that person by our kind action. We too may be surprised at what we are capable of doing with God’s help.
Peace,
Fr. John Kurgan
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