October 2023: Mass Readings and Resources

The readings for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time for Year A focus on staying on the path of discipleship. So topics for this weekend might include obedience, Church authority, and discipleship.

Each of us has a guardian angel who watches over us.October 2 is the Memorial of the Guardian Angels.

In the gospel for Tuesday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus shows us a different way. Instead of wanting revenge when we are rejected, we must hold fast to the path of discipleship. In fact, at this point Jesus is headed toward Jerusalem and the cross, the ultimate rejection of his message.

St. Francis of Assisi was a 13th century Italian. He was the son of a wealthy merchant, but he gave away his possessions and started a religious order. October 4 is his feast day.

St. Faustina is known for her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Her family had ten children and was very poor. She joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and experienced several visions of Jesus. She is known for her diary and for promoting devotion to Jesus as the King of Mercy which is particularly done by praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

In the gospel for Thursday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells the disciples to go out and preach the Good News. He knows he must send out laborers to spread his message. He cannot do it alone. And he does not tell them to go alone, but he sends them in pairs.

In the gospel for Friday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus has stern words for those who reject his message. We all have the choice to accept or reject the Good News.

October 7 is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary, also known as Our Lady of Victory. This feast day commemorates a victory at sea to fend off Turkish invaders in the 16th century. Europeans were encouraged to pray the rosary to avoid invasion. Pope St. Pius V attributed the victory to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary afterwards.

The readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A focus on discipleship and our choice to follow Jesus or not. So topics for this weekend might include faithfulness and also protection for those who speak the truth. Here are some ideas

In the gospel for Monday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. He asks us to reflect on who we see as our neighbors.

In the gospel for Tuesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus visits Martha and Mary in Bethany. There is a great contrast between the way these two sisters respond to his presence. We can reflect if we are more like Martha or Mary.

In the gospel for Wednesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time, the disciples say to Jesus, Teach us to pray. The response is a different version of the Our Father than the more familiar version we hear in the gospel of Matthew, but it still includes the familiar elements.

In the gospel for Thursday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus speaks of persistence. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Don’t give up.

In the gospel for for Friday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus talks about being with or against him. He warns that nothing which is internally divided can stand. Jesus always seeks to bring us closer to him and each other.

In the gospel for Saturday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus declares that those who hear the word of God and observe it are blessed. This is what it means to be a member of his family.

The readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A tell of the abundance of the Kingdom of God. So topics for this weekend might gratitude for the abundance in our lives and for the care of our loving Father.

In the gospel for Monday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus admonishes the people for asking for signs. They are seeking miracles, not a closer relationship with God.

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was a 17th century mystic. She was a Visitation nun. When she started having visions of Jesus, members of her order and theologians did not believe her. Eventually her visions were accepted.

In the gospel for Tuesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus criticizes Pharisees for failing to see what is important. They were concerned with appearing completely observant, but they missed the heart of the law. Their devotion lacked authenticity.

St. Luke is the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He is thought to be the Luke identified by St. Paul in the epistles. He is thought to have been a physician.

The North American Martyrs were a group of eight Jesuits who served as missionaries to the Hurons in Canada. Their feast day is October 19.

The gospel for Friday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells us that God cares about us. He knows us intimately, he values us, and we can trust in him.

In the gospel for Saturday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells us that we will experience opposition and persecution as his followers. And he tells us not to worry!

The readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A speak of allegiance and responsibility. o topics for this weekend might include our willingness to give our time and gifts back to God. We could also talk about the need to work to change unjust laws and systems.

In the gospel for Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells us that what matters to God is not the amount of our material wealth but our willingness to use what we have for the good of all God’s children.

In the gospel for Tuesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells us that we must be ready, like a servant waiting for the master’s return.

In the gospel for Wednesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells us that much will be required of us. When the end comes, we should be ready.

In the gospel for Thursday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus talks about setting the earth on fire and divisions in families. Where is the peaceful Jesus we love so much?

In the gospel for for Friday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells us to read the signs of the times. God speaks to us through the events of our lives today.

St. Jude is called the saint of lost causes. St. Simon is the other Simon, also known as Simon the Zealot or Simeon. It is thought that he and St. Jude traveled to Persia to preach the gospel there. Both were eventually martyred.

The readings for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A are a call to love. So possible themes for this Sunday are social justice topics, a discussion of different types of love, or discipleship.

In the gospel for for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath. The church elders are not impressed. They don’t think the Sabbath is a time for healing.