17th Week in Ordinary Time
Pio of Pietrelcina

1st Reading: Ezra 9:5–9
Gospel: Lk 9:1–6
Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases. And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He instructed them, “Don’t take anything for the journey, neither walking stick, nor bag, nor bread, nor silver coins; and don’t even take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. And wherever they don’t welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet: it will be as a testimony against them.”
So they set out and went through the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

Commentary
Ezra makes a penitent confession of sin, the sin of his people. Speaking of sin, he speaks as one much ashamed. Holy shame is as necessary in true repentance as holy sorrow. Ezra speaks as one much amazed. The discoveries of guilt cause amazement; the more we think of sin, the worse it looks. Ezra speaks as one much afraid. There is not a surer or sadder presage of ruin, than turning to sin, after great judgments and great deliverances. Everyone of us must wonder that we have not worn out God’s patience and brought destruction upon ourselves.
What then must be the case of those, who are ungodly? Although as true penitents, we can do nothing to plead on their behalf, Christ, the heavenly advocate, pleads most powerfully for them. The sacrifice, especially the evening sacrifice, was a type of the blessed Lamb of God, who, in the evening of the world, was to take away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. So, this is a comfort to us, true penitents, that although our sins might reach to the heavens, God’s mercy is there, in those heavens. All we need pray is: God be merciful to me, a sinner!

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