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First Reading: Zech 8:20-23
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
There shall yet come peoples,
the inhabitants of many cities;
and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another,
and say, "Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD";
and, "I too will go to seek the LORD."
Many peoples and strong nations shall come
to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem
and to implore the favor of the LORD.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
In those days ten men of every nationality,
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
"Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7
R./God is with us.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves: The gates of Zion, more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you, O city of God!
R./ God is with us.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon among those that know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia: "This man was born there."
And of Zion they shall say: "One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her is the Most High LORD."
R./ God is with us.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
"This man was born there."
And all shall sing, in their festive dance: "My home is within you."
R./ God is with us.
Gospel Reading: Lk 9:51-56
As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. He had sent ahead of him some messengers who entered a Samaritan village to prepare a lodging for him. But the people would not receive him because he was on his way to Jerusalem. Seeing this, James and John, his disciples said, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to reduce them to ashes?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, Priest
Memorial
September 23
Introduction
We commemorate today St. Vincent de Paul (1581–1660), a man with a heart. All his life, he was a friend of the poor and the suffering. To evangelize rural areas, he founded the Congregation of the Mission or Lazarists and for the benefit of the proletarian masses the Daughters of Charity, to whom he gave as their convents the streets of the city, the houses of the poor and the rooms of hospitals. He did also much for improving the education of future priests in the seminaries. The Church of France owes very much to this man of vision for its revival in the 17th century. He is the patron saint of works for the poor.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
in a man of vision, St. Vincent de Paul,
we see your deep concern for the poor
and for the needs of the Church of his time.
Make us too, poor and free,
let us weep with those who mourn,
hunger and thirst with those
who seek what is right and just,
that we may understand deeply
the needs of those who are in need.
Grant us this through Christ, our Lord.
General Intercessions
- That each of the young churches may be deeply rooted in its own people as a community of faith and love that enriches the whole Church, we pray:
- That those who search and grope for faith may encounter the Lord Jesus in the witness of faith and love of our communities, we pray:
- That the universal Church, the local churches and missionary societies may proclaim Christ to the world not by power and prestige but by humble service, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Our God and Father,
here are bread and wine,
simple food and the drink of joy.
By this gesture of offering,
we assume our responsibility for the poor.
With your Son, let us never remain indifferent
to the human and spiritual misery
of our brothers and sisters in need.
Accept the poverty of our hearts
and be our lasting riches,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God, Father of the poor,
your Son has been here among us
and he has knocked at the doors of our hearts.
We have welcomed him,
but it was he who gave us to eat.
May we keep receiving him
and making him feel comfortable
every time someone begs for help
or when in need, is too timid
to express where it hurts.
We ask you for this sensitivity
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
