Reading 1 Gn 8:6-13, 20-22 At the end of forty days Noah opened the hatch he had made in the ark,and he sent out a raven,to see if the waters had lessened on the earth.It flew back and forth until the waters dried off from the earth.Then he sent out a dove,to see if the waters had lessened on the earth.But the dove could find no place to alight and perch,and it returned to him in the ark,for there was water all over the earth.Putting out his hand, he caught the doveand drew it back to him inside the ark.He waited seven days more and again sent the dove out from the ark.In the evening the dove came back to him,and there in its bill was a plucked-off olive leaf!So Noah knew that the waters had lessened on the earth.He waited still another seven daysand then released the dove once more;and this time it did not come back.In the six hundred and first year of Noah’s life,in the first month, on the first day of the month,the water began to dry up on the earth.Noah then removed the covering of the arkand saw that the surface of the ground was drying up.Noah built an altar to the LORD,and choosing from every clean animal and every clean bird,he offered burnt offerings on the altar.When the LORD smelled the sweet odor, he said to himself:“Never again will I doom the earth because of mansince the desires of man’s heart are evil from the start;nor will I ever again strike down all living beings, as I have done.As long as the earth lasts,seedtime and harvest,cold and heat,Summer and winter,and day and nightshall not cease.” Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 R.  (17a)  To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise. or: R. Alleluia.  How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise. or: R. Alleluia. My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people. Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones. R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise. or: R. Alleluia. My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise. or: R. Alleluia. Alleluia  See Eph 1:17-18 R. Alleluia, alleluia.May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christenlighten the eyes of our hearts,that we may know what is the hopethat belongs to his call.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 8:22-26 When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida,people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked,“Do you see anything?”Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.”Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly;his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly.Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.” - - -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 Saints Cyril and Methodius, bishopsReading 1 Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10 When the LORD saw how great was man's wickedness on earth,and how no desire that his heart conceivedwas ever anything but evil,he regretted that he had made man on the earth,and his heart was grieved.So the LORD said:"I will wipe out from the earth the men whom I have created,and not only the men,but also the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air,for I am sorry that I made them."But Noah found favor with the LORD.Then the LORD said to Noah:"Go into the ark, you and all your household,for you alone in this age have I found to be truly just.Of every clean animal, take with you seven pairs,a male and its mate;and of the unclean animals, one pair,a male and its mate;likewise, of every clean bird of the air, seven pairs,a male and a female,and of all the unclean birds, one pair,a male and a female.Thus you will keep their issue alive over all the earth.Seven days from now I will bring rain down on the earthfor forty days and forty nights,and so I will wipe out from the surface of the earthevery moving creature that I have made."Noah did just as the LORD had commanded him.As soon as the seven days were over,the waters of the flood came upon the earth. Responsorial Psalm Ps 29:1a and 2, 3ac-4, 3b and 9c-10 R. (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace.Give to the LORD, you sons of God,give to the LORD glory and praise,Give to the LORD the glory due his name;adore the LORD in holy attire. R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.The voice of the LORD is over the waters,the LORD, over vast waters.The voice of the LORD is mighty;the voice of the LORD is majestic. R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.The God of glory thunders,and in his temple all say, "Glory!"The LORD is enthroned above the flood;the LORD is enthroned as king forever. R. The Lord will bless his people with peace. Alleluia Jn 14:23 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;and my Father will love himand we will come to him.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 8:14-21 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,guard against the leaven of the Phariseesand the leaven of Herod." They concluded among themselves thatit was because they had no bread.When he became aware of this he said to them,"Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?Do you not yet understand or comprehend?Are your hearts hardened?Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?And do you not remember,when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?"They answered him, "Twelve.""When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?"They answered him, "Seven."He said to them, "Do you still not understand?" - - -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 Gn 4:1-15, 25 The man had relations with his wife Eve,and she conceived and bore Cain, saying,“I have produced a man with the help of the LORD.”Next she bore his brother Abel.Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil.In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORDfrom the fruit of the soil,while Abel, for his part,brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,but on Cain and his offering he did not.Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen.So the LORD said to Cain:“Why are you so resentful and crestfallen.If you do well, you can hold up your head;but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door:his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.”Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.”When they were in the field,Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.Then the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”He answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”The LORD then said:  “What have you done!Listen: your brother’s blood cries out to me from the soil!Therefore you shall be banned from the soilthat opened its mouth to receiveyour brother’s blood from your hand.If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce.You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth.”Cain said to the LORD:  “My punishment is too great to bear.Since you have now banished me from the soil,and I must avoid your presenceand become a restless wanderer on the earth,anyone may kill me at sight.”“Not so!” the LORD said to him.“If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold.”So the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.Adam again had relations with his wife,and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth.“God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel,” she said,“because Cain slew him.” Responsorial Psalm Ps 50:1 and 8, 16bc-17, 20-21 R. (14a)  Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,from the rising of the sun to its setting.“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,for your burnt offerings are before me always.”R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.“Why do you recite my statutes,and profess my covenant with your mouthThough you hate disciplineand cast my words behind you?”R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.“You sit speaking against your brother;against your mother’s son you spread rumors.When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?Or do you think that I am like yourself?I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.”R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise. Alleluia Jn 14:6 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;no one comes to the Father except through me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 8:11-13 The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,“Why does this generation seek a sign?Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”Then he left them, got into the boat again,and went off to the other shore. - - -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 Sir 15:15-20 If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;if you trust in God, you too shall live;he has set before you fire and waterto whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.Before man are life and death, good and evil,whichever he chooses shall be given him.Immense is the wisdom of the Lord;he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.The eyes of God are on those who fear him;he understands man's every deed.No one does he command to act unjustly,to none does he give license to sin. Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!Blessed are they whose way is blameless,who walk in the law of the LORD.Blessed are they who observe his decrees,who seek him with all their heart.R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!You have commanded that your preceptsbe diligently kept.Oh, that I might be firm in the waysof keeping your statutes!R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!Be good to your servant, that I may liveand keep your words.Open my eyes, that I may considerthe wonders of your law.R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,that I may exactly observe them.Give me discernment, that I may observe your lawand keep it with all my heart.R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! Reading 2 1 Cor 2:6-10 Brothers and sisters:We speak a wisdom to those who are mature,not a wisdom of this age,nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.Rather, we speak God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden,which God predetermined before the ages for our glory,and which none of the rulers of this age knew;for, if they had known it,they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.But as it is written:What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,and what has not entered the human heart,what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Alleluia cF. mt 11:25 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:17-37 Jesus said to his disciples:"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letterwill pass from the law,until all things have taken place.Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandmentsand teaches others to do sowill be called least in the kingdom of heaven.But whoever obeys and teaches these commandmentswill be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.I tell you, unless your righteousness surpassesthat of the scribes and Pharisees,you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.But I say to you,whoever is angry with his brotherwill be liable to judgment;and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,'will be answerable to the Sanhedrin;and whoever says, 'You fool,'will be liable to fiery Gehenna.Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,and there recall that your brotherhas anything against you,leave your gift there at the altar,go first and be reconciled with your brother,and then come and offer your gift.Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,and the judge will hand you over to the guard,and you will be thrown into prison.Amen, I say to you,you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.But I say to you,everyone who looks at a woman with lusthas already committed adultery with her in his heart.If your right eye causes you to sin,tear it out and throw it away.It is better for you to lose one of your membersthan to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.And if your right hand causes you to sin,cut it off and throw it away.It is better for you to lose one of your membersthan to have your whole body go into Gehenna."It was also said,Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.But I say to you,whoever divorces his wife -  unless the marriage is unlawful - causes her to commit adultery,and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,Do not take a false oath,but make good to the Lord all that you vow.But I say to you, do not swear at all;not by heaven, for it is God's throne;nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.Do not swear by your head,for you cannot make a single hair white or black.Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'Anything more is from the evil one." or MT 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37 Jesus said to his disciples:"I tell you, unless your righteousness surpassesthat of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.But I say to you,whoever is angry with his brotherwill be liable to judgment."You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.But I say to you,everyone who looks at a woman with lusthas already committed adultery with her in his heart."Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,Do not take a false oath,but make good to the Lord all that you vow.But I say to you, do not swear at all.Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,'and your 'No' mean 'No.'Anything more is from the evil one." - - -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.