Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
October 15, 2021
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 471
Reading I
Brothers and sisters:
What can we say that Abraham found,
our ancestor according to the flesh?
Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works,
he has reason to boast;
but this was not so in the sight of God.
For what does the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
A worker’s wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.
But when one does not work,
yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is credited as righteousness.
So also David declares the blessedness of the person
to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven
and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record.
Responsorial Psalm
- (see 7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us;
who have put our hope in you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.”
Reflection: FAITH FORMATION
St Paul today tells us that it is faith in Jesus that makes us what God wants us to be, that makes us right before God. In contrast the Pharisees wanted us to serve God's moral and ritual laws perfectly. According to them man's obligation is to observe the law of God, and God's obligation to reward man. Jesus always objected to this subtle attitude of the Pharisees. Hence Paul says that we do not earn salvation but are saved by faith in Jesus. We see in the Gospel today, "the people had gathered in thousands and were treading on one another," a glimpse of the enormous popularity Jesus had and the desire of the people to encounter Him. 'They we e like sheep without a shepherd'. Jesus tells his disciples not to fear. He reminds them that God is always watching over them. He used the image of five sparrows that were sold for almost nothing but not one of the sparrows escapes God's attention. Each sparrow is important and significant meaning that we too are of greater value to God than sparrows and our hair. He loves us and paid a heavy price for us. God loves and care for us. Hence fear has no place in our life. We are deeply significant to God. So, let us pray for the grace to trust and believe like St Teresa that God loves us more than we can ever imagine.