O Lord, Be My Help
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Hear, O LORD, have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper.” Psalms 30:11
Today we encounter readings that draw us into the mystery of suffering and death. In the past few years we have witnessed the devastation of life and property through earthquakes and hurricanes. So many lifted their lament to God, simply asking, “Why?” This is an honest expression of anger toward a God who we believe is the giver of life. When we lose a loved one, we can wonder why the presence of Christ is not enough to make that person rise, even from death, as did the little girl in today’s Gospel passage. Again we raise our voices and ask, “Why?” At moments such as these, let us make the prayer of the psalmist our own: “Hear, O Lord, and have pity on me; O Lord, be my helper.” Let us pray that our mourning will one day be turned into dancing.
J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.
Readings for the Week
Monday: Am 2:6-10, 13-16; Ps 50:16bc-23; Mt 8:18-22
Tuesday: Eph 2:19-22; Ps 117:1bc, 2; Jn 10:24-29
Wednesday: Am 5:14-15, 21-24; Ps 50:7-13, 16bc-17; Mt 8:28-34 or, for Independence Day, any readings from the Mass “For the Country or a City,” nos. 882-886, or “For Peace and Justice,” nos. 887-891
Thursday: Am 7:10-17; Ps 19:8-11; M 9:1-8
Friday: Am 8:4-6, 9-12; Ps 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131; Mt 9:9-13
Saturday: Am 9:11-15; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Mt 9:1417
Sunday: Ez 2:2-5; Ps 123:1-4; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Mk 6:1-6a
Saints & Special Observances
Sunday: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday: St. Thomas
Wednesday: Independence Day
Thursday: St. Elizabeth of Portugal; St. Anthony Zaccaria
Friday: St. Maria Goretti; First Friday
Saturday: Blessed Virgin Mary; First Saturday