Friday of the First Week of Advent
Reading 1 Isaiah 29:17-24
Thus says the Lord GOD:
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book;
And out of gloom and darkness,
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Matthew 9:27-31
As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
"Son of David, have pity on us!"
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
"Do you believe that I can do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
"Let it be done for you according to your faith."
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
"See that no one knows about this."
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.
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.
Walk With Us this Advent
Get Your Prayerful Planner
