October 13
Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
7:45 AM – Parishioners of Holy Cross
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
Romans 2:1-11
You, O man, are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things. We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true. Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God, who will repay everyone according to his works, eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness. Yes, affliction and distress will come upon everyone who does evil, Jew first and then Greek. But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek. There is no partiality with God.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 62:2-3, 6-7, 9
R. (13b) Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
R. Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
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. Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!
R. Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Gospel Acclamation
John 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 11:42-46
The Lord said:
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”
“Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.”
Reflection
Today the theme for all of our readings is judgement. There are different sources of judgement in both our faith and in our world. Of course, God is the ultimate judge of who we are and what we have done in our lives. His decision as to whether or not we have done the things that will bring us to heaven is crucial to our eternal salvation. We are truly blessed then, that our God is a merciful and just God, because He offers us His mercy time after time when we sin against Him. The other sources of judgement include us, God’s creations. Believe it or not, we can be very judgmental. We look at other people in our world and make snap decisions about their looks, their clothing, their words and actions and many other parts of their lives. Most of the time, our judgement is not so good.
Paul tells us that when we judge each other, we condemn ourselves. He also gives us the wise advice that we should trust in the judgement of God because He will repay everyone according to his or her works. If we do good, we will receive goodness from God. If we do evil, then evil will be our reward.
If we needed an example of misplaced judgement, we need look no further than at the Pharisees and Scribes who Jesus is railing against in our Gospel. Jesus tells them that they are focused on all the wrong things, tithing even small things like herbs and spices but ignoring the widows and orphans who are suffering right in front of them. Jesus echoes Paul’s words when he notes that the Pharisees and Scribes are headed toward suffering and pain unless they change their ways. We can learn a lot from their mistakes.
Peace,
Deacon Dare
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