Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr
Reading 1 Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Stephen, filled with grace and power,
was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and people from Cilicia and Asia,
came forward and debated with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.
When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven
and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and he said,
"Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,
and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17
R. (6) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Alleluia Psalm 118:26a, 27a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD:
the LORD is God and has given us light.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Matthew 10:17-22
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved."
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.
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 the Gospel Studies including Seek His Kingdom: A Meditation on Matthew , Listen to Him: A Meditation on Mark, and Abide in His Love: A Meditation on John. 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 was the Theological Editor of the Blessed Conversations Studies. Find out more about her here.
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