Blessed

First Reading Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 2Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads." 4And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel, 9After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen." 13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?" 14I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 24:1-6 1The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; 2for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. 3Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. 5He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of his salvation. 6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. [Selah] Second Reading 1 John 3:1-3 1See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Gospel Matthew 5:1-12 1Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. 2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Humble

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Reading Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29 1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Eli'jah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 11So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! 25Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brethren: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles come in, 26and so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob"; 27"and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins." 28As regards the gospel they are enemies of God, for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 94:12-13, 14-15, 17-18 12Blessed is the man whom thou dost chasten, O LORD, and whom thou dost teach out of thy law 13to give him respite from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. 14For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; 15for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. 17If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have dwelt in the land of silence. 18When I thought, "My foot slips," thy steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. Gospel Luke 14:1, 7-11 1One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. 7Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8"When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; 9and he who invited you both will come and say to you, `Give place to this man,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, `Friend, go up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Dropsy

First Reading Romans 9:1-5 1I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen by race. 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed for ever. Amen. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 147:12-15, 19-20 12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your sons within you. 14He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat. 15He sends forth his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 19He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 20He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD! Gospel Luke 14:1-6 1One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. 2And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?" 4But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go. 5And he said to them, "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a sabbath day?" 6And they could not reply to this.

Jerusalem

First Reading Romans 8:31-39 31What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? 33Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies; 34who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, "For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31 20May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my life! 21But thou, O GOD my Lord, deal on my behalf for thy name's sake; because thy steadfast love is good, deliver me! 25I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads. 26Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to thy steadfast love! 29May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle! 30With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. Gospel Luke 13:31-35 31At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." 32And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, `Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' 34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

Simon and Jude

First Reading Ephesians 2:19-22 19So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 19:2-5 1The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. 3There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; 4yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, Gospel Luke 6:12-16 12In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles; 14Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Seed

First Reading Romans 8:18-25 18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; 21because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 126:1-6 1When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." 3The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. 4Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb! 5May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! 6He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. Gospel Luke 13:18-21 18He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." 20And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."

Woman

First Reading Romans 8:12-17 12So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- 13for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 68:2, 4, 6-7, 20-21 1Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him! 3But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy! 5Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6God gives the desolate a home to dwell in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 19Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. [Selah] 20Our God is a God of salvation; and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death. Gospel Luke 13:10-17 10Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." 13And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. 14But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." 15Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? 16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" 17As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

See

First Reading Jeremiah 31:7-9 7For thus says the LORD: "Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, `The LORD has saved his people, the remnant of Israel.' 8Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who is in travail, together; a great company, they shall return here. 9With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and E'phraim is my first-born. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 126:1-6 1When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." 3The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. 4Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb! 5May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! 6He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. Second Reading Hebrews 5:1-6 1For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.2He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.3Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people.4And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.5So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee";6as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchiz'edek." Gospel Mark 10:46-52 46And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside. 47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." 52And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

Fig

First Reading Romans 8:1-11 1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, indeed it cannot; 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 24:1-6 1The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; 2for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. 3Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. 5He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of his salvation. 6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. [Selah] Gospel Luke 13:1-9 1There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? 3I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo'am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." 6And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7And he said to the vinedresser, `Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?' 8And he answered him, `Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Settle

First Reading Romans 7:18-25 18For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. 21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, 23but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I of myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 119:66, 68, 76-77, 93-94 66Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in thy commandments. 68Thou art good and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 76Let thy steadfast love be ready to comfort me according to thy promise to thy servant. 77Let thy mercy come to me, that I may live; for thy law is my delight. 93I will never forget thy precepts; for by them thou hast given me life. 94I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. Gospel Luke 12:54-59 54He also said to the multitudes, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, `A shower is coming'; and so it happens. 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57"And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper."

Division

First Reading Romans 6:19-23 19I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. 20When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 1:1-4, 6 1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. 6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Gospel Luke 12:49-53 49"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! 51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; 52for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; 53they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

Ready

First Reading Romans 6:12-18 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. 13Do not yield your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but yield yourselves to God as men who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 124:1-8 1If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say -- 2if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us, 3then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; 4then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; 5then over us would have gone the raging waters. 6Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! 7We have escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 8Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Gospel Luke 12:39-48 39But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour." 41Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" 42And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45But if that servant says to himself, `My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. 47And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. 48But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.

Awake

First Reading Romans 5:12, 15, 17-19, 20-21 12Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned -- 15But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 17If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18Then as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience many will be made righteous. 20Law came in, to increase the trespass; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 40:7-10, 17 6Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire; but thou hast given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering thou hast not required. 7Then I said, "Lo, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me;8I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart." 9I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; lo, I have not restrained my lips, as thou knowest, O LORD. 16But may all who seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; may those who love thy salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD!" Gospel Luke 12:35-38 35"Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, 36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants!

Barns

First Reading Romans 4:20-25 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness." 23But the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:69-75 69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; 72to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, 73the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, 74to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. Gospel Luke 12:13-21 13One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." 14But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' 20But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Serve

Isaiah 53:10-11 10Yet it was the will of the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand; 11he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 33:4-5, 18-20, 22 4For the word of the LORD is upright; and all his work is done in faithfulness. 5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. 18Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19that he may deliver their soul from death, and keep them alive in famine. 20Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield. 22Let thy steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in thee. Second Reading Hebrews 4:14-16 14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.15For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Gospel First OptionSecond Option Mark 10:35-45 35And James and John, the sons of Zeb'edee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." 36And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 38But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Acknowledge

Romans 4:13, 16-18 13The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 16That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants -- not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all, 17as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" -- in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your descendants be." Responsorial Psalm Psalms 105:6-9, 42-43 6O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. 8He is mindful of his covenant for ever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 9the covenant which he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant. 43So he led forth his people with joy, his chosen ones with singing. Gospel Luke 12:8-12 8"And I tell you, every one who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; 9but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

Fear not

1What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." 4Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due. 5And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. 6So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: 7"Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin." Responsorial Psalm Psalms 32:1-2, 5, 11 1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 5I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. [Selah] 11Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Gospel Luke 12:1-7 1In the meantime, when so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they trod upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. 4"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear him! 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Woe

Romans 3:21-30

21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,  22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction;  23since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  24they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,  25whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins;  26it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus.  27Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On the principle of works? No, but on the principle of faith.  28For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.  29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,  30since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith. 

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 130:1-6

1Out of the depths I cry to thee, O LORD! 2Lord, hear my voice! Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! 3If thou, O LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? 4But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 5I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6my soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 

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Gospel

Luke 11:47-54

47Woe to you! for you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed.  48So you are witnesses and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, `I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,'  50that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation,  51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechari'ah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. 52Woe to you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."  53As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard, and to provoke him to speak of many things,  54lying in wait for him, to catch at something he might say.

Woe

Romans 2:1-11

1Therefore you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge another; for in passing judgment upon him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. 2We know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who do such things.  3Do you suppose, O man, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God?  4Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?  5But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.  6For he will render to every man according to his works:  7to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;  8but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.  9There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,  10but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.  11For God shows no partiality. 

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 62:2-3, 6-7, 9

1For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly moved. 5For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. 6He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 8Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. [Selah] 

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Gospel

Luke 11:42-46

42"But woe to you Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.  43Woe to you Pharisees! for you love the best seat in the synagogues and salutations in the market places.  44Woe to you! for you are like graves which are not seen, and men walk over them without knowing it."  45One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying this you reproach us also."  46And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! for you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

Clean

Romans 1:16-25

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live."  18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth.  19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  20Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; 21for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened.  22Claiming to be wise, they became fools,  23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles.  24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,  25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen. 

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 19:2-5

1The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. 3There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; 4yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 

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Gospel

Luke 11:37-41

37While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in and sat at table. 38The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.  39And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness.  40You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.

Jonah

Romans 1:1-7

1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God  2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,  3the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh  4and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,  6including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;  7To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 98:1-4

1O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. 2The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. 3He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 4Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 

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Gospel

Luke 11:29-32

29When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.  30For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation.  31The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Rich

 

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading

Wisdom 7:7-11

7Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. 8I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. 9Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her. 10I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases. 11All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth. 

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 90:12-17

12So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 13Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on thy servants! 14Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15Make us glad as many days as thou hast afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil. 16Let thy work be manifest to thy servants, and thy glorious power to their children. 17Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

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Second Reading

Hebrews 4:12-13

12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

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Gospel

First Option

Second Option

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Mark 10:17-30

17And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  18And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.  19You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth."  21And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."  22At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.  23And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"  24And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  26And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?"  27Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."  28Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you."  29Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,  30who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Womb

Psalms 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

1The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 5The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. 11Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

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Gospel

Luke 11:27-28

27As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!"  28But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"