23 September 2025 (Tuesday) / Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Priest on Tuesday of week 25 in Ordinary Time / Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

23 September 2025 (Tuesday)

Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Priest on Tuesday of week 25 in Ordinary Time.

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest.

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: Ezra 6: 7-8, 12b, 14-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
Alleluia: Luke 11: 28
Gospel: Luke 8: 19-21

First Reading : Ezra 6:7‐8,12,14‐20

King Darius wrote to the satrap of Transeuphrates and his colleagues: ‘Leave the high commissioner of Judah and the elders of the Jews to work on this Temple of God; they are to rebuild this Temple of God on its ancient site. This, I decree, is how you must assist the elders of the Jews in the reconstruction of this Temple of God: the expenses of these people are to be paid, promptly and without fail, from the royal revenue – that is, from the tribute of Transeuphrates. May the God who causes his name to live there overthrow any king or people who dares to defy this and destroy the Temple of God in Jerusalem! I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed to the letter!’ The elders of the Jews prospered with their building, inspired by Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building in accordance with the order of the God of Israel and the order of Cyrus and of Darius. This Temple was finished on the twenty‐third day of the month of Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The Israelites – the priests, the Levites and the remainder of the exiles – joyfully dedicated this Temple of God; for the dedication of this Temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs and, as a sacrifice for sin for the whole of Israel, twelve he‐goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. Then they installed the priests according to their orders in the service of the Temple of God in Jerusalem, as is written in the Book of Moses. The exiles celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Levites, as one man, had purified themselves; all were pure, so they sacrificed the passover for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves.

Responsive Psalm : Psalm 121(122):1‐5

I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’

I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’ And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.

I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’

Jerusalem is built as a city strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord.

I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’

For Israel’s law it is, there to praise the Lord’s name. There were set the thrones of judgement of the house of David.

I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’

Alleluia: Luke 11: 28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
28 Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.
(27. It happened that as he was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, 'Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you!'
28. But he replied, 'More blessed still are those who hear the word of God and keep it!')
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Luke 8:19‐21

The mother and the brothers of Jesus came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’

For our reflection today:

“To listen to the Word of God and practise it” are the only two “conditions” established by Jesus for those who want to follow him. To listen to the Word of God” and “put it into practise”. This, is the Christian life: nothing more. Simple, simple. Perhaps we have made it a bit difficult, with so many explanations that no one understands, but Christian life is like this: listening to the Word of God and practising it. Every time we open the Gospel and read a passage and ask ourselves: ‘Is God speaking to me with this, is he saying something to me’?”. This means “to listen to the Word of God, to listen with the ears and listen with the heart, to open the heart to God’s Word”. On the other hand, “Jesus’ enemies listened to Jesus’ words but they were close by in order to try and find a mistake, to make him slip up” and make him lose “authority. But they never asked themselves: ‘What is God telling me with these words’?”. Moreover, “God does not speak only to all but he speaks to each one of us. The Gospel was written for each one of us. And when I pick up the Bible, when I pick up the Gospel and read it, I must ask myself what the Lord is saying to me”. This, then, “is what Jesus says that true relatives do, his true brethren: they ‘listen to the Word of God with the heart’. And then, he says ‘they put it into practise’”. (Santa Marta, 23 September 2014)

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed  and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)