Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

 

Foreword: During Ordinary Time, the entrance and communion antiphons of the Sunday liturgy are repeated throughout the week. In this way, the themes developed at the Sunday Mass are enriched and expanded as they interact with the different readings found on each day of the following week in much the same way that a kaleidoscope presents a constantly changing view of colors, forms, and designs.


In today’s entrance antiphon, we hear the words of the Angel Gabriel who announces to Mary that Jesus has taken on our human nature in all its sinfulness in order to redeem us: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Cf. Lk 1:28,42). St. Paul tells us, “what the law, weakened by the flesh, was powerless to do, this God has done by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Rom 8:3). Through Mary’s “yes”, she was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit so that God’s plan of redemption could be fulfilled: “the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you” (Rom 8:11). The responsory psalm calls to mind “those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1) and today we think especially of Mary: “who may stand in his holy place? [The one] whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain” (Ps 24:3b-4).

The gospel presents us with the beautiful parable of God as the patient gardener who cultivates and fertilizes the barren fig tree that “it may bear fruit in the future” (Lk 13:9). Mary is presented to us today as the model of one who has borne good fruit—fruit which is the source of our salvation. It is thus that we sing at communion time: “Glorious things are spoken of you, O Virgin Mary, for he who is mighty has done great things for you” (Cf. Ps 87(86):3; Lk 1:49).

Prayer for today: Lord God, help me to realize your gift of grace in my life. Assist me in nurturing that grace that it may bear fruit in my life for the good of all those I meet this day.

Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB