October 5
Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
7:45 AM – Parishioners of Holy Cross and Debi Luke / Blake Family
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.
Readings
First Reading
Jonah 3:1-10
The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: “Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish.” When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 130:1b-2, 3-4ab, 7-8
R. (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Let Israel wait for the LORD,
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Gospel Acclamation
Luke 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
“If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?”
Reflection
It is difficult to know where our focus should be. We know that Jesus teaches us to focus on the needs of others, but still, often we misinterpret what those needs are. We see this demonstrated in today’s gospel reading.
The story of Martha and Mary may be so familiar to us. Upon the occasion of Jesus visiting their home, Mary chooses to sit at the feet of Jesus while Martha is doing what most of us would do. Martha is trying to get everything just perfect because she wants to honor Jesus. We can imagine her preparing the house, making sure the food is prepared, and that all is ready. While doing this, Martha misses the opportunity to be with the guest for whom she is working so diligently. Jesus does not need everything to be perfect. We do not need things to be perfect either, because Jesus is perfect, and He is all that really matters!
We all tend to miss what is important because of our frenetic business. Today, let us slow down, set aside some time to quietly sit with Jesus, in church or in our home. Just spend some time with our savior, and do not worry about anything else.
Peace,
Fr. John
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