DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION

OCTOBER 5, 2024

SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

(OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF SAINT FAUSTINA KOWALSKA, VIRGIN / BLESSED FRANCIS XAVIER SEELOS, PRIEST)

FIRST READING

JOB 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 OR (EPHESIANS 3:14-19)

1 Then Job answered the LORD: 2 "I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted. 3 `Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." 12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first Jemi'mah; and the name of the second Kezi'ah; and the name of the third Ker'en-hap'puch. 15 And in all the land there were no women so fair as Job's daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. 16 And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days.

The Word of the Lord
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALMS 118(119):66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130 OR (PSALMS 103:1-4, 8-9, 13-14, 17-18)

Response: Lord, let thy face shine on me.

Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in thy commandments.

R. Lord, let thy face shine on me.

It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn thy statutes.

R. Lord, let thy face shine on me.

I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right,
and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.

R. Lord, let thy face shine on me.

By thy appointment they stand this day;
for all things are thy servants.

R. Lord, let thy face shine on me.

I am thy servant; give me understanding,
that I may know thy testimonies!

R. Lord, let thy face shine on me.

The unfolding of thy words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.

R. Lord, let thy face shine on me.
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GOSPEL

Your names are written in heaven

LUKE 10:17-24 OR (MATTHEW 11:25-30)

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" 18 And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION

DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS

The power of the Kingdom of God, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"He also gave the holy apostles power and might even to raise the dead, cleanse lepers, heal the sick, and by the laying on of hands to call down from heaven the Holy Spirit on anyone they wanted. He gave them power to bind and to loose people's sins. His words are 'I say to you, whatever you will bind on earth, will be bound in heaven (Matthew 18:18). Whatever you will loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven.' These are the things we see ourselves possessing. Blessed are our eyes and the eyes of those of all who love him. We have heard his wonderful teaching. He has given us the knowledge of God the Father, and he has shown him to us in his own nature. The things that were by Moses were only types and symbols. Christ has revealed the truth to us. He has taught us that not by blood and smoke, but rather by spiritual sacrifices, we must honor him who is spiritual, immaterial and above all understanding."

(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 67)
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.