Opening Prayer
Faithful and healing God, Paul wept because religious people who knew better were not open to Your saving action in Jesus. Yet, I must admit that sometimes I miss the point of faith and our relationship. I miss the ways You act, because I am so focused on my needs and expectations, rather than looking and listening for You! I am sorry that sometimes I have reduced You to a stern lawgiver rather than the passionate Lover. My need to do it right and strictly adhere in obedience to laws sometimes seems more important than growing closer to You and freely responding. I’m sorry for the way I shrink You to a function of my need for security and power. The Pharisees were dumbfounded at the way you placed human compassion above the law. Inspire our religious leaders to free, and not to imprison our hearts. Cure me, as you cured the sick man on the Sabbath. Calm my heart to rest, trusting in your great compassion, rather than Your stern and serious side.
You are so wonderfully determined, gentle Therese. You knew that your call to Carmel was from God – and even as you received resistance from many sources, you were not deterred. On this day, in 1887, you fixed your hair to look older and courageously went to see your local Bishop to seek his permission to enter the Carmel early. You knew he could override the others, but were not stymied when he vacillated. Help us to remain faithful to calls from God deep within, even when others do not agree or affirm. Keep us faithful to our vocation of life.
Reading 1 Romans 9:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie;
my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness
that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ
for the sake of my own people,
my kindred according to the flesh.
They are children of Israel;
theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
theirs the patriarchs, and from them,
according to the flesh, is the Christ,
who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Alleluia 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 14:1-6
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy.
Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,
"Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?"
But they kept silent; so he took the man and,
after he had healed him, dismissed him.
Then he said to them
"Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,
would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?"
But they were unable to answer his question.
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.