In the Epistle St. Paul relates how he received God’s Word through Divine mercy; how he then became Christ’s witness, testifying everywhere to Christ’s Resurrection which calls for our faith in His divinity. Before curing the man “deaf and dumb” Jesus took him apart. If we are to “hear”
His Voice at our Sunday Mass, we must go “apart” from the outside “multitude” of weekday distractions. Only then, like the cured deaf mute, shall we be able to return and “publish” the truth.
Realising our chronic indifference and frequenct defiance of His Word, let us cry, “O God, be not Thou silent” (Gradual) lest we shut out Thy Voice forever. The Prayer reveals how the Mercy of God is more willing to give than we are to ask or even deserve. This same Mercy will receive our offering of “His Sacrifice and ours” to “support our weakness” (Secret) and will bestow help for body and soul on receiving “His Sacrament and ours” (Postcommunion).
A commemoration of II Class Feast of St. Joachim, Father of the Most Pure Blessed Virgin Mary, is made
in the Mass and Office.