29/07/2026
Wednesday 29 July 2026
Wednesday of week 17 in Ordinary Time
SAINTS MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS - (Memorial)
Readings at Mass
Entrance Antiphon
Cf. Lk 10: 38
Jesus entered a village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.
Collect
O God, whose Son called Lazarus back to life from the grave and was pleased to be a guest in the home of Martha, grant us, we pray, that, faithfully serving him in our brothers and sisters, we, with Mary, may be found worthy to be nourished by the contemplation of his word.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Or:
Collect
Grant we pray, almighty God, that the example of your Saints may spur us on to a better life, so that we, who celebrate the memory of Saint Martha, Mary and Lazarus, may also imitate without ceasing their deeds, Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
FIRST READING
Jeremiah 15: 10.16-21
Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. I did not sit in the Company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail? Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 59: 2-3.4.10-11.17.18
(R. 17d)
R/. God is my refuge in the day of my distress.
Rescue me from my foes, O God; protect me from those who attack me. O rescue me from those who do evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.
R/.
See, they lie in wait for my life; the strong band together against me. For no offence, no sin of mine, O Lord.
R/.
O my Strength, for you will I watch, for you, O God, are my stronghold, the God who shows me merciful love. Now God will proceed before me, God will let me look upon my foes.
R/.
As for me, I will sing of your strength, and acclaim your mercy in the morning, for you have been my stronghold, a refuge in the day of my distress.
R/.
O my Strength, to you I will sing praise, for you, O God, are my stronghold, the God who shows me merciful love.
R/.
ALLELUIA
John 15: 15b
Alleluia.
I have called you friends, says the Lord, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 10: 38-42
At that time: Jesus entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Or:
GOSPEL
John 11:19-27
Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to sympathise with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’ ‘Your brother’ said Jesus to her ‘will rise again.’ Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said:
‘I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’
‘Yes, Lord,’ she said ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
*TODAY’S REFLECTION*
In the Gospel Jesus highlights the need to contemplate God’s word without at the same time underestimating the importance of the active apostolate. In the story of Martha and Mary, Jesus would like us all to understand that active apostolate cannot take the place of prayer and contemplation in the life of a believer; hence, there has to be a balance between the two with greater emphasis on the latter. Our contemplation of the Lord leads us to serve others and at the same time our service to people leads us back to contemplating and experiencing the love of the Lord in prayer.
*PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL*
‘Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; all the good things I have come from you.” Psalm 16:1, 2
-Lord, God of love remember all whose businesses are facing challenges. Intervene and grant new life to them.
-Lord, I praise you as my perpetual benefactor and I call upon you as my merciful defender. Grant me total peace and joy.
Let Us Pay,
O Lord, I am weak and broken, surrounded on all sides by corruption and perversion. Lord have mercy on me: protect me from my enemies who devour me, and guide me in the way of perfection. No matter what happens to me, whether it be an attack or a seduction, may my love for you protect me from falling into sin. May I live a holy life no matter what others do around me – Amen.
