SEPTEMBER 30 Mon Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Memorial

Zec 8:1-8/Lk 9:46-50 

OCTOBER 1 Tue Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Zec 8:20-23/Lk 9:51-56 

2 Wed The Holy Guardian Angels Memorial

Neh 2:1-8 (457)/Mt 18:1-5,

3 Thu Weekday

Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12/Lk 10:1-12 

4 Fri Saint Francis of Assisi Memorial

Bar 1:15-22/Lk 10:13-16 

5 Sat Weekday

[USA: Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, Priest;]

Bar 4:5-12, 27-29/Lk 10:17-24 

TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 Hb 1:2-3; 2:2-4/2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14/Lk 17:5-10 (141)

St. Therese, the Little Flower, follows St.Jerome, the great scripture scholar, in the church calendar. Both are doctors of the church. One entered the scriptures mostly through the mind, the other through the heart. 

The Book of Nehemiah read this week is an important source for understanding the Restoration that took place after the Babylonian exile, when the Jews returned to Judah to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Nehemiah was the leader who rebuilt the walls and structures of the city; Esra was the scribe who read out the Torah, the Jewish scriptures, to the people. He also encouraged them the celebrate the Jewish feasts.

Good reading for a church rebuilding, like ours.