Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 01, 2025
Wednesday – 26th Week in Ordinary Time
01st October 2025 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 2
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Nehemiah 2:1-8
In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 R. (6ab)
R/. O let my tongue cleave to my palate if I remember you not
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. I count everything as loss, because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and be found in him
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 9:57-62
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – 26th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: If only we understand what real greatness is and the real secret to obtaining it, we will experience great joy and fulfilment of life
1. We celebrate the feast of St Therese of Child Jesus on 01 October. She is truly great in the kingdom of heaven, because she truly turned and became like a little child; because she humbled herself like a child.
2. This is what Jesus taught: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? … whoever humbles himself like a child”; “Unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”.
3. Becoming childlike becomes the essential condition both for entry as well as greatness in the kingdom of heaven. In light of the three readings and also childlike character, we can focus on four main characteristics of the childlike Teresa: her passionate love for Jesus, her humility, her surrender and measureless benevolence toward others.
4. Little Teresa had a big heart for Jesus. She loved him with all her heart with passion. For her, all that mattered was Jesus and to love him in everything and every time. Whatever she did in her community, however small and ordinary it be, was an act of love for Jesus.
5. She poured all her tenderness and affection on Jesus. Like a little child, she would kiss him, embrace him and caress him. She was ever on fire for Jesus. It is this passion that blossoms her in holiness and devotion.
6. Her humility was remarkable. She always considered herself insignificant and unworthy. She always humbled herself before God and others. There were never traces of pride or arrogance.
7. An outstanding mark of Teresa’s childlikeness was her total surrender to Jesus. She would consider herself a little toy in the hands of child Jesus; he is totally free to play with the toy as he likes.
8. She submitted her entire life with all its activities to the will and holy pleasure of God. The misunderstandings, the insults, the criticisms and blame, the jealousies – all that she faced in the community were offered to Jesus as acts of love.
9. Her holiness was testified in her concrete life of benevolence to others. What gentleness, patience, magnanimity, forgiveness and generosity she showered upon others! She was truly a missionary of prayer and charity!
My Practice: Therese of Child Jesus is the patron of missions, though she never worked in missions. She is a Doctor of the church, though she never mastered degrees. This is a clear testimony that mission and knowledge are matters of love and the wisdom of God
