Saturday, February 8, 2025
Happy Saturday, friend! We are so excited to share with you what's coming up this week as we all prepare our hearts by praying with readings for Sunday, the day of rest with our Lord.
Live Liturgically // This Week’s Feast Days
Saturday, February 8 (today!) // Optional Memorial of Saint Jerome Emiliani; Optional Memorial of Saint Josephine Bakhita, Virgin
Sunday, February 9 // Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Monday, February 10 // Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin
Tuesday, February 11 // Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes
Friday, February 14 // Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk; and Methodius, Bishop
Letter from the Editor //
Dear Sister,
On the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we hear that because of grace we are much more than ordinary. Saint Paul writes of his conversion saying, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul had confidence in the Lord, knowing that he could only do great things with God’s help. Like the Psalmist prayed, he knew that the Lord would “complete what he has done for” him, and that the Lord’s kindness “endures forever” (Psalm 138:8).
While we may feel that we are not worthy or able to do what the Lord asks, we must have confidence in His grace and be willing to “[p]ut out into deep water” (Luke 5:4). In seeing His greatness and our own weakness, our impulse towards the Lord might be like Saint Peter who said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). It is true that we are not enough without Him, but He wants to make us extraordinary with His grace. He may push us to our limits but He will not abandon us. At our Baptism and with each Confession He purifies us as Isaiah was purified by the burning coal in the First Reading (Isaiah 6:6). When we hear the Lord’s question, “Whom shall I send?” let us respond, “Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) And, like the Apostles in the Gospel, leave everything and follow Him (see Luke 5:11).
In Christ’s Love,
Susanna
Read the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time:
First Reading // Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8
Psalm // Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8
Second Reading // 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Gospel // Luke 5:1-11
Prayer Practice // Reflect on the Lord’s call in your life. How can you give a greater yes today?
Susanna Spencer holds a master's in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and is the Devotions Editor for Blessed is She. She is a freelance writer and editor and a teacher-in-training living with her philosopher husband and four kids in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She loves reading theology, attending beautiful liturgies, cooking delicious food, and casually following baseball. She is the author of all of the Blessed is She Gospel Meditation Studies. She was narrator for Found: Advent With the Good Shepherd and Rescued: Lent With the Lamb of God and a contributing author and editor for our children’s devotional prayer book, Rise Up. She is the Theological Editor of the Blessed Conversations Studies. Find out more about her here.
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