Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Sent In Poverty
Other Celebrations for this Day:
Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II
Introduction
Year II. The author admits his ignorance and attests to the solid value of divine wisdom. He prays for faithfulness and a life of neither abundance nor want.
Gospel. Luke, more than the other evangelists, stresses the poverty of the apostle and thus spiritualizes the mission of the herald of the gospel. Still, he has to take people in the concrete. They are to be healed from illness, which expresses the power of evil over sinful humanity; for the Bible considers sickness a consequence of sin through this link: that the spiritual illness of sin leads to physical illness. The apostle, then, must go to the whole person in a spirit of poverty. All he has to offer is the good news, and nothing may obscure it.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
your mercy extends to everyone.
Let your missionary Church go out to all
without any self-imposed, useless baggage
that obscures the pure message of the gospel
but with great humility before the good will
and the hospitality of people.
May thus our receptivity to people
make them in turn receptive to the good news
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Every word of God is true; he is a shield in whom man can find refuge.
Add nothing to his words or he might rebuke you and accuse you of lying.
O Lord, I ask two things of You: do not deny them to me before I die.
Keep lying and falsehood far away from me; give me neither poverty nor riches. Just provide enough food to meet my needs, lest I become full and deny you or become poor
and steal satisfied, I deny you and say: “Who is the Lord?” Or else, out of necessity, I steal and profane the name of my God.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
R. (105) Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Your word, O LORD, endures forever;
it is firm as the heavens.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Through your precepts I gain discernment;
therefore I hate every false way.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Falsehood I hate and abhor;
your law I love.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
He gave them these instructions:
And wherever they don’t welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust off your feet; it will serve as a testimony against them.
So they set out and traveled through the villages, spreading the good news and healing people everywhere.
Prayers of the Faithful
– Lord, they were only fishers cleaning their nets, but you called the apostles to spread your good news. Make us fearless to speak your word, we pray:
– Lord, he was only a tax collector behind his desk, but you called Matthew to ho heal people and cast out devils. Wounded as we are, make us healers too, we pray:
– Lord, they are only plain, unpretentious people, but you call your faithful in our communities to tolerate no injustice, and to defend the poor. Speak through all of us what is right and good, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Creator of the whole world
and lover of all, our God,
we join your Son Jesus Christ in his sacrifice
whereby he redeemed the world.
Through the Spirit of your Son,
enlighten and guide us
to bring his good news as a light
to shine on all nations
and as the healing power
that reconciles all humanity with you,
our God for ever and ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
your Son has again given us his command
to bring his message of hope and salvation
to all who are willing to listen.
We pray you now for those
whom you call especially for this task.
Let them be so much in the grip of the gospel
that they go out and place themselves
without fear or hesitation in the hands of people,
trusting in you and in the power of the gospel
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
The whole Church is mission. Missionaries must leave behind their luggage of their culture and big means, but go in all simplicity with the good news of Jesus and must be ready also to be rejected like their Master. May almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Luke 9:1-6
Sent with empty hands but merciful hearts
Jesus sends the Twelve with divine power to confront evil, heal the sick, and proclaim God’s kingdom. Yet he tells them to take nothing for the journey: no staff, bag, bread, money, or tunic. Their poverty is a declaration that the Gospel is proclaimed through God’s power, not through possessions or status.
Padre Pio lived this missionary dependence in a hidden way. He did not travel through many villages, yet people came seeking mercy. Prayerfully united with Jesus Crucified, he allowed his suffering to become intercession and his ministry to become a doorway to reconciliation.
Pope Francis called Padre Pio “a servant of mercy” who practised the “apostleship of listening” to the point of exhaustion. In the confessional, he became the Father’s caress, healing the wounds of sin and reviving hearts. His strength came from remaining connected to the source: Christ crucified.
When the Gospel is rejected, disciples should not be disheartened; they should move on. This act isn't meant as a warning or to teach a lesson. Mission demands courage without being aggressive, conviction without seeking to dominate, and perseverance without bitterness. We present Christ freely, trusting Him to bring about the results.
On this memorial, Jesus sends us into the villages of family, work, parish, and community. What unnecessary baggage—fear, pride, resentment, or approval—slows our witness? May Padre Pio’s example teach us to pray deeply, listen patiently, carry suffering lovingly, and make mercy tangible. With empty hands but hearts filled with Christ, may we bring healing, peace, and hope wherever the Lord sends us.