Wednesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

Daily Mass Readings for Wednesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years.

• First Reading (Cycle 1) - 2 Corinthians 3:4-11: Our confidence in spreading the message of God comes from Him, not from ourselves, for He has given us the ability to communicate His love and grace through the Holy Spirit.
• First Reading (Cycle 2) - 1 Kings 18:20-39: Elijah challenged the people to choose between the true God and the false prophets, and through a powerful display of divine intervention, God revealed His supremacy by consuming Elijah's sacrifice with fire from heaven.
• Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 1) - Psalm 99: Let us praise and worship the Lord our God, recognizing His holiness and the way He answered the prayers of Moses, Aaron, Samuel, and the people, speaking to them through the pillar of cloud and forgiving them despite their misdeeds.
• Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 2) - Psalm 16: I seek refuge in God, declaring Him as my Lord, and I choose not to worship false gods; my hope lies solely in Him. God is my portion and protector, always by my side, guiding me on the path of life and granting eternal joy in His presence.
• Gospel - Matthew 5:17-19: Jesus assures His followers that He has not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them, emphasizing the significance of upholding God's commandments. He declares that whoever teaches and follows these commandments will be honored in the kingdom of heaven.

Themes for the Daily Mass Readings for Wednesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

• Fulfillment of the Law: Jesus emphasizes that He has come not to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them. This theme highlights the continuity between the Old Testament and Jesus' teachings, affirming the importance of the Law while adding a new perspective and deeper understanding.
• Authority of Jesus: Jesus asserts His authority as the Son of God by declaring that not even the smallest part of the Law will disappear until everything is accomplished. This theme emphasizes Jesus' divine role in bringing about the fulfillment of the Law and the establishment of God's kingdom.
• Importance of Obedience: Jesus underscores the significance of obedience to the commandments, teaching that whoever breaks even the least of the commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. This theme emphasizes the importance of faithfully following God's commands and teaching others to do the same.
• Teaching and Instruction: Jesus highlights the role of teaching and instructing others regarding the commandments. He warns against disregarding or misinterpreting God's laws and encourages the preservation and transmission of accurate teachings. This theme emphasizes the responsibility of believers to teach and live out the commandments faithfully.
• Greatness in the Kingdom: Jesus states that whoever keeps the commandments and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. This theme highlights the significance of living a righteous life, upholding the commandments, and sharing God's teachings with others as a path to greatness in the kingdom.
• Eternal Consequences: Jesus concludes by emphasizing the eternal consequences of our actions and teachings concerning the commandments. He warns that failure to uphold God's laws can result in being called least in the kingdom of heaven. This theme underscores the seriousness of our choices and the importance of aligning our lives with God's will.

Thoughts for Wednesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel for Wednesday of the 10th week in Ordinary Time, Jesus delivers a message about the Law and the Prophets. He assures his audience that his purpose is not to abolish the sacred teachings but to fulfill them. This declaration underscores the continuity and importance of the instructions and prophecies that preceded his coming. Jesus emphasizes that even the smallest aspects of the Law hold immense value, and none of its principles will fade away until all things are accomplished. The Law remains an enduring guide, deeply intertwined with God's plan.

Jesus calls us to recognize the weighty responsibility we bear regarding the Law. He stresses the importance of both practicing and teaching God's commandments. Those who disregard even the seemingly insignificant decrees and encourage others to do the same will be regarded as least in the kingdom of heaven. Conversely, those who faithfully observe and teach these commandments will be esteemed as great in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus invites us to reflect upon our role as custodians of God's teachings, entrusted with the duty to honor and share them.

This passage teaches us that as followers of Christ, we are called to uphold and reverence the Law and the wisdom of the prophets. It is insufficient to selectively follow certain commandments while neglecting others. Instead, we are invited to embrace the entirety of God's instructions and strive to live them out in our daily lives. In doing so, we become active participants in God's kingdom, contributing to its growth and embodying our love and devotion to Him. Our faithfulness to God's commandments reflects our commitment to being faithful disciples of Christ.

Prayer for Wednesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

Dear Jesus, guide us to live out the commandments with love and mercy in our hearts. May we seek righteousness and strive to imitate Your example in all that we do. Amen.