Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
October 5, 2021
Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Faustina Kowalska, virgin
Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 462
Reading I
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
- (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?
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
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.”
Readings for the Optional Memorial of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, priest
Reflection: A JESUS IN THE MAKING
Prophet Jonah changed his mind and obeyed the Lord. However, he did not obey the Lord in love. Jonah was angry when Ninevites repented and were spared from destruction. The Ninevites did not ask Jonah for a sign. Jesus too preached a change of heart to enter the kingdom of God. The Scribes and the Pharisees demanded a sian. Jesus gave them "the sign of Jonah" but they did not believe. God hates sin but he always loves the sinner. The Gospel presents to us, Jesus on the way to Jerusalem for his Passion, dropped in at Mary and Martha's house in Bethany. Jesus loved this family. He was loved there. He was recognized as Lord there (Luke 10:40). Martha and Mary were good disciples. He needed some rest and comfort. Mary understood this better. Jesus understood their clash of temperaments over priorities and he makes a point for reflection. Mary may have been better but Martha was good. Jesus impresses upon them that sitting at the feet of the Lord listening should always precede service and activity. Hours of prayer and meditation are the best preparation for our activity. To cut these hours for work is apt to make work empty, meaningless, outward activity. The teacher or the preacher who comes from the presence of God to the presence of men gives knowledge and light. Jesus own life showed that he was a contemplative in action.