Today, September 24
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Readings of the Day
Book of Ecclesiastes 1,2-11.
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises. Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going. All speech is labored; there is nothing man can say. The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear filled with hearing. What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, "See, this is new!" has already existed in the ages that preceded us. There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them.
Psalms 90(89),3-4.5-6.12-13.14.17bc.
You turn man back to dust, saying, "Return, O children of men." For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, Which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. Prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands!
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 9,7-9.
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised from the dead" ; others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen." But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him.
Daily Reflection
Sun and moon illuminate our bodies and, even so, Christ and the Church illuminate our spirits. At least, they illuminate them provided we are not spiritually blind. For just as sun and moon never cease from shedding their brightness on the blind, who are unable, however, to receive their light, so Christ casts his light on our spirits but this illumination only takes place if our blindness does not set an obstacle. Let those who are blind, then, first of all follow Christ, crying: “Take pity on us, Son of David!” (Mt 9:27). And when, thanks to him they have found their sight again, they will be able to be irradiated with the splendor of his light. Yet not all who see are equally illuminated by Christ; each one is so to the extent he is able to receive the light (cf. Lk 23:8)… We don’t all go to him in the same manner but “each according to his own abilities” (Mt 25:15).