Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading I 1 Kings 17:7-16
The brook near where Elijah was hiding ran dry,
because no rain had fallen in the land.
So the LORD said to Elijah:
“Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there.
I have designated a widow there to provide for you.”
He left and went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
“Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.”
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
“Please bring along a bit of bread.”
She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked;
there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die.”
Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
‘The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’”
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 4:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8
R. (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us.
When I call, answer me, O my just God,
you who relieve me when I am in distress;
Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart?
Why do you love what is vain and seek after falsehood?
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.
Tremble, and sin not;
reflect, upon your beds, in silence.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart,
more than when grain and wine abound.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
Alleluia Matthew 5:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your light shine before others
That they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”
- Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor of the Church
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.
June 9, 2026 // Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time //
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Psalm: 4:2–3, 4–5, 7b–8
Reflect on the Word //
During Lent, every Sunday before Mass I would begin prayer by looking at Jesus crucified. I wished I had blinders like the ones horses use during races so I could remove the swarm of distractions that provoked me. Even in this space of desiring silence, I couldn’t reach it. I had been here before spiritually. Wandering but anchored in the hope of the risen Lord. Putting one foot in front of the other even though I was anticipating the fall. Trusting but at the same time noticing that doubt was around the corner. I was running various scenarios of how things could have played out differently during the last seven months. I was trying so hard to make sense of God.
I had been so used to reducing my own cross as I accompanied so many in prayer that I forgot to let Him look at me. “Lord, let your face shine on us” in today’s Responsorial Psalm is the cry I was experiencing silently but didn’t know how to verbalize (Psalm 4:7a). Relationships that I thought were safe and resilient had broken, and the fragmentation had left me with feelings of betrayal, bitterness, and hurt—and so many questions. While I was trying to rewind each scenario and figure out what went wrong, I hid from God even though I was looking directly at Him. I was so busy with my shame, humiliation, and woundedness that my gaze was one of solution-based prayer rather than allowing Him to “put gladness into my heart” (Psalm 4:8).
What happens when we take our attention away from what we are doing and focus on what God wants to do in us? How does returning to the practices of Lent in Ordinary Time help us allow God to let His face shine on us? We may experience rejection from people who were deeply rooted in our lives, but God doesn’t want us to live in that. His gaze of unlimited mercy pleads for us to know that He isn’t afraid of anything we have endured on this side of Heaven.
Relate to the Lord // Pray with a crucifix today. Meditate on Jesus’ loving sacrifice for you.
