July 5, 2023 — Wednesday, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time — Odd Year — The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures — Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew (Mt 8: 28-34)

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes,
two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.
They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out,

“What have you to do with us, Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”

Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
The demons pleaded with him,

“If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”

And he said to them,

“Go then!”

They came out and entered the swine,
and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned.
The swineherds ran away,
and when they came to the town they reported everything,
including what had happened to the demoniacs.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,
and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.