Reading 1 Ex 2:1-15a A certain man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman,who conceived and bore a son.Seeing that he was a goodly child, she hid him for three months.When she could hide him no longer, she took a papyrus basket,daubed it with bitumen and pitch,and putting the child in it,placed it among the reeds on the river bank.His sister stationed herself at a distanceto find out what would happen to him.Pharaoh's daughter came down to the river to bathe,while her maids walked along the river bank.Noticing the basket among the reeds, she sent her handmaid to fetch it.On opening it, she looked, and lo, there was a baby boy, crying!She was moved with pity for him and said,"It is one of the Hebrews' children."Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter,"Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew womento nurse the child for you?""Yes, do so," she answered.So the maiden went and called the child's own mother.Pharaoh's daughter said to her,"Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will repay you."The woman therefore took the child and nursed it.When the child grew, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter,who adopted him as her son and called him Moses;for she said, "I drew him out of the water."On one occasion, after Moses had grown up,when he visited his kinsmen and witnessed their forced labor,he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his own kinsmen.Looking about and seeing no one,he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.The next day he went out again, and now two Hebrews were fighting!So he asked the culprit,"Why are you striking your fellow Hebrew?"But the culprit replied,"Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us?Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?"Then Moses became afraid and thought,"The affair must certainly be known."Pharaoh, too, heard of the affair and sought to put Moses to death.But Moses fled from him and stayed in the land of Midian. Responsorial Psalm Ps 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34 R. (see 33) Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.I am sunk in the abysmal swampwhere there is no foothold;I have reached the watery depths;the flood overwhelms me.R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.But I pray to you, O LORD,for the time of your favor, O God!In your great kindness answer mewith your constant help.R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.But I am afflicted and in pain;let your saving help, O God, protect me;I will praise the name of God in song,and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live."See, you lowly ones, and be glad;you who seek God, may your hearts revive!For the LORD hears the poor,and his own who are in bonds he spurns not."R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live. Alleluia Ps 95:8 R. Alleluia, alleluia.If today you hear his voice,harden not your hearts.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 11:20-24 Jesus began to reproach the townswhere most of his mighty deeds had been done,since they had not repented."Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!For if the mighty deeds done in your midsthad been done in Tyre and Sidon,they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.But I tell you, it will be more tolerablefor Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.And as for you, Capernaum:Will you be exalted to heaven?You will go down to the netherworld.For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom,it would have remained until this day.But I tell you, it will be more tolerablefor the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Camillus de Lellis, priest - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Ex 1:8-14, 22 A new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt.He said to his subjects, "Look how numerous and powerfulthe people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than we ourselves!Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase;otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemiesto fight against us, and so leave our country."Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the children of Israelto oppress them with forced labor.Thus they had to build for Pharaohthe supply cities of Pithom and Raamses.Yet the more they were oppressed,the more they multiplied and spread.The Egyptians, then, dreaded the children of Israeland reduced them to cruel slavery,making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brickand all kinds of field work—the whole cruel fate of slaves.Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects,"Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews,but you may let all the girls live." Responsorial Psalm Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8 R. (8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.Had not the LORD been with us–let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–When men rose up against us,then would they have swallowed us alive,When their fury was inflamed against us. R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;The torrent would have swept over us;over us then would have swept the raging waters.Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave usa prey to their teeth. R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.We were rescued like a bird from the fowlers' snare;Broken was the snare, and we were freed.Our help is in the name of the LORD,who made heaven and earth.R. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Alleluia Mt 5:10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 10:34—11:1 Jesus said to his Apostles:"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.I have come to bring not peace but the sword.For I have come to seta man against his father,a daughter against her mother,and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;and one's enemies will be those of his household."Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;and whoever does not take up his crossand follow after me is not worthy of me.Whoever finds his life will lose it,and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."Whoever receives you receives me,and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophetwill receive a prophet's reward,and whoever receives a righteous manbecause he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward.And whoever gives only a cup of cold waterto one of these little ones to drinkbecause he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns. - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Is 55:10-11 Thus says the LORD:Just as from the heavensthe rain and snow come downand do not return theretill they have watered the earth,making it fertile and fruitful,giving seed to the one who sowsand bread to the one who eats,so shall my word bethat goes forth from my mouth;my word shall not return to me void,but shall do my will,achieving the end for which I sent it. Responsorial Psalm Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 R. (Lk 8:8) The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.You have visited the land and watered it;greatly have you enriched it.God's watercourses are filled;you have prepared the grain.R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows,breaking up its clods,Softening it with showers,blessing its yield.R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.You have crowned the year with your bounty,and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;The untilled meadows overflow with it,and rejoicing clothes the hills.R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.The fields are garmented with flocksand the valleys blanketed with grain.They shout and sing for joy.R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest. Reading 2 Rom 8:18-23 Brothers and sisters:I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothingcompared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectationthe revelation of the children of God;for creation was made subject to futility,not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it,in hope that creation itselfwould be set free from slavery to corruptionand share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;and not only that, but we ourselves,who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,we also groan within ourselvesas we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower.All who come to him will have life forever.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 13:1-23 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.Such large crowds gathered around himthat he got into a boat and sat down,and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:"A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,and when the sun rose it was scorched,and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear."The disciples approached him and said,"Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said to them in reply,"Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heavenhas been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, becausethey look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:You shall indeed hear but not understand,you shall indeed look but never see.Gross is the heart of this people,they will hardly hear with their ears,they have closed their eyes,lest they see with their eyesand hear with their earsand understand with their hearts and be converted,and I heal them. "But blessed are your eyes, because they see,and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous peoplelonged to see what you see but did not see it,and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."Hear then the parable of the sower.The seed sown on the path is the onewho hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it,and the evil one comes and steals awaywhat was sown in his heart.The seed sown on rocky groundis the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the wordand it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soilis the one who hears the word and understands it,who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold." or Mt 13:1-9 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around himthat he got into a boat and sat down,and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:"A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,and when the sun rose it was scorched,and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit,a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the ChurchReading 1 Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26a Jacob gave his sons this charge:"Since I am about to be taken to my people,bury me with my fathers in the cave that liesin the field of Ephron the Hittite,the cave in the field of Machpelah,facing on Mamre, in the land of Canaan,the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittitefor a burial ground.There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried,and so are Isaac and his wife Rebekah,and there, too, I buried Leah–the field and the cave in itthat had been purchased from the Hittites."Now that their father was dead,Joseph's brothers became fearful and thought,"Suppose Joseph has been nursing a grudge against usand now plans to pay us back in full for all the wrong we did him!"So they approached Joseph and said:"Before your father died, he gave us these instructions:'You shall say to Joseph, Jacob begs youto forgive the criminal wrongdoing of your brothers,who treated you so cruelly.'Please, therefore, forgive the crime that we,the servants of your father's God, committed."When they spoke these words to him, Joseph broke into tears.Then his brothers proceeded to fling themselves down before himand said, "Let us be your slaves!"But Joseph replied to them:"Have no fear. Can I take the place of God?Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good,to achieve his present end, the survival of many people.Therefore have no fear.I will provide for you and for your children."By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them.Joseph remained in Egypt, together with his father's family.He lived a hundred and ten years.He saw Ephraim's children to the third generation,and the children of Manasseh's son Machirwere also born on Joseph's knees.Joseph said to his brothers: "I am about to die.God will surely take care of you and lead you out of this land to the landthat he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."Then, putting the sons of Israel under oath, he continued,"When God thus takes care of you,you must bring my bones up with you from this place."Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7 R. (see Psalm 69:33) Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;make known among the nations his deeds.Sing to him, sing his praise,proclaim all his wondrous deeds.R. Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!Glory in his holy name;rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!Look to the LORD in his strength;seek to serve him constantly.R. Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!You descendants of Abraham, his servants,sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!He, the LORD, is our God;throughout the earth his judgments prevail.R. Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad! Alleluia 1 Pt 4:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia.If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you,for the Spirit of God rests upon you.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 10:24-33 Jesus said to his Apostles: "No disciple is above his teacher,no slave above his master.It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher,for the slave that he become like his master.If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul,how much more those of his household!"Therefore do not be afraid of them.Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,nor secret that will not be known.What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;rather, be afraid of the one who can destroyboth soul and body in Gehenna.Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.Even all the hairs of your head are counted.So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.Everyone who acknowledges me before othersI will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.But whoever denies me before others,I will deny before my heavenly Father." - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.