September 9, 2003, Memorial of St. Peter Claver, priest.

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians.

Brothers and Sisters

You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds.

God has now reconciled you in the fleshly body of Christ through his death,

to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him,

provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable,

and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard,

which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.

The word of the Lord.

The response is, God Himself is my help.

O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause.

O God, hear my prayer, hearken to the words of my mouth.

God Himself is my help.

Behold, God is my helper. The Lord sustains my life. Freely will I offer you sacrifice.

I will praise your name, O Lord, for its goodness. God himself is my help.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a Sabbath,

his disciples were picking the heads of grain,

rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.

Some Pharisees said,

Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?

...