Gospel: October 24, 2025
October 24, 2025 (Friday)
29th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 1 (Green/White)
St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop
Ps 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94
Lord, teach me your statutes.
1st Reading: Romans 7:18-25a
Gospel: Luke 12:54-59
Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it happens. And when the wind blows from the south, you say, ‘It will be hot’; and so it is. You superficial people! You understand the signs of the earth and the sky, but you don’t understand the present times.
And why do you not judge for yourselves what is fit? When you go with your accuser before the court, try to settle the case on the way, lest he drag you before the judge, and the judge deliver you to the jailer, and the jailer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
Reflection:
“The virtue which the apostolic ministry needs most of all is love.”
St. Anthony Mary Claret, priest, missionary, archbishop and founder, possessed an incredible zeal for Christ. His quantity of publications was prodigious, his writings were read widely, and his preaching and example had a powerful effect, too. He saw that fundamental to a fruitful ministry was prayer, virtue, good catechesis and useful reading material to teach good doctrine.
However, above all, he believed that “the virtue which the apostolic ministry needs most of all is love.” If the missionary does not have love, “all his natural talents will prove useless.” St. Anthony Mary Claret saw that his mission lay in helping people to repent and return to the Lord. He wanted them to be able to read the signs of the times, to recognize that “this is the favorable time, this is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2).
This is Christ’s criticism of the crowd in today’s Gospel. They can see signs of change in the weather, but they are not alert to spiritual signs calling for a change in their lives. They have not heeded Christ’s call to repent and believe the Good News (Mk 1:15). Saint Anthony Mary Claret, help us to heed Christ’s call.
