DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

WEDNESDAY - MEMORIAL OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, PRIEST

FIRST READING

EZRA 9:5-9 OR (1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31)

5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle rent, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God, 6 saying: "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to thee, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 7 From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as at this day. 8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant, and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. 9 For we are bondmen; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.

The Word of the Lord
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

TOBIT 13:2-4, 7-8 OR (PSALMS 112:1-9)

Response: Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

For he afflicts, and he shows mercy;
he leads down to Hades, and brings up again,
and there is no one who can escape his hand.

R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

Acknowledge him before the nations, O sons of Israel;
for he has scattered us among them.
Make his greatness known there.

R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

And exalt him in the presence of all the living;
because he is our LORD and God,
he is our Father for ever.

R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

I exalt my God;
my soul exalts the King of heaven,
and will rejoice in his majesty.

R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

Let all men speak,
and give him thanks in Jerusalem.

R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
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GOSPEL

Jesus gave them authority over all demons and diseases

LUKE 9:1-6 OR (MATTHEW 9:35-38)

1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION

DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS

Jesus gave power and authority to his apostles, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"The grace bestowed upon the holy apostles is worthy of all admiration. But the bountifulness of the Giver surpasses all praise and admiration. He gives them, as I said, his own glory. They receive authority over the evil spirits. They reduce to nothing the pride of the devil that was so highly exalted and arrogant. They render ineffectual the demon's wickedness. By the might and efficacy of the Holy Spirit, burning them as if they were on fire, they make the devil come forth with groans and weeping from those whom he had possessed... He glorified his disciples, therefore, by giving them authority and power over the evil spirits and over sicknesses. Did he honor them without reason and make them famous without any logical cause? How can this be true? It was necessary, most necessary, that they should be able to work miracles, having been publicly appointed ministers of sacred proclamations. By means of their works, they then could convince men that they were the ministers of God and mediators of all beneath the heaven. The apostles then could invite them all to reconciliation and justification by faith and point out the way of salvation and of life that is this justification."

(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 47)
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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.