Reading 1 Jl 2:12-18 Even now, says the LORD,return to me with your whole heart,with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;Rend your hearts, not your garments,and return to the LORD, your God.For gracious and merciful is he,slow to anger, rich in kindness,and relenting in punishment.Perhaps he will again relentand leave behind him a blessing,Offerings and libationsfor the LORD, your God.Blow the trumpet in Zion!proclaim a fast,call an assembly;Gather the people,notify the congregation;Assemble the elders,gather the childrenand the infants at the breast;Let the bridegroom quit his roomand the bride her chamber.Between the porch and the altarlet the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people,and make not your heritage a reproach,with the nations ruling over them!Why should they say among the peoples,'Where is their God?'"Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his landand took pity on his people. Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17 R. (see 3a)  Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.Thoroughly wash me from my guiltand of my sin cleanse me.R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.For I acknowledge my offense,and my sin is before me always:"Against you only have I sinned,and done what is evil in your sight."R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.A clean heart create for me, O God,and a steadfast spirit renew within me.Cast me not out from your presence,and your Holy Spirit take not from me.R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.Give me back the joy of your salvation,and a willing spirit sustain in me.O Lord, open my lips,and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. Reading 2 2 Cor 5:20—6:2 Brothers and sisters:We are ambassadors for Christ,as if God were appealing through us.We implore you on behalf of Christ,be reconciled to God.For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.Working together, then,we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.For he says:In an acceptable time I heard you,and on the day of salvation I helped you.Behold, now is a very acceptable time;behold, now is the day of salvation. Verse Before the Gospel See Ps 95:8 If today you hear his voice,harden not your hearts. Gospel Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples:"Take care not to perform righteous deedsin order that people may see them;otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.When you give alms,do not blow a trumpet before you,as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streetsto win the praise of others.Amen, I say to you,they have received their reward.But when you give alms,do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,so that your almsgiving may be secret.And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."When you pray,do not be like the hypocrites,who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street cornersso that others may see them.Amen, I say to you,they have received their reward.But when you pray, go to your inner room,close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."When you fast,do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.They neglect their appearance,so that they may appear to others to be fasting.Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.But when you fast,anoint your head and wash your face,so that you may not appear to be fasting,except to your Father who is hidden.And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." - - -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 2:1-11 My son, when you come to serve the LORD,stand in justice and fear,prepare yourself for trials.Be sincere of heart and steadfast,incline your ear and receive the word of understanding,undisturbed in time of adversity.Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not;thus will you be wise in all your ways.Accept whatever befalls you,when sorrowful, be steadfast,and in crushing misfortune be patient;For in fire gold and silver are tested,and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.Trust God and God will help you;trust in him, and he will direct your way;keep his fear and grow old therein.You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy,turn not away lest you fall.You who fear the LORD, trust him,and your reward will not be lost.You who fear the LORD, hope for good things,for lasting joy and mercy.You who fear the LORD, love him,and your hearts will be enlightened.Study the generations long past and understand;has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken?  has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?Compassionate and merciful is the LORD;he forgives sins, he saves in time of troubleand he is a protector to all who seek him in truth. Responsorial Psalm Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40 R. (see 5)  Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.Trust in the LORD and do good,that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.Take delight in the LORD,and he will grant you your heart's requests.R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;their inheritance lasts forever.They are not put to shame in an evil time;in days of famine they have plenty. R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.Turn from evil and do good,that you may abide forever;For the LORD loves what is right,and forsakes not his faithful ones. R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.The salvation of the just is from the LORD;he is their refuge in time of distress.And the LORD helps them and delivers them;he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,because they take refuge in him. R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you. Alleluia Gal 6:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia.May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 9:30-37 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them,"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him,and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." But they did not understand the saying,and they were afraid to question him.They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,he began to ask them,"What were you arguing about on the way?" But they remained silent.For they had been discussing among themselves on the waywho was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,"If anyone wishes to be first,   he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,   and putting his arms around it, he said to them,"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;and whoever receives me,receives not me but the One who sent me." Readings for the Memorial of Saint Peter Damian, bishop and doctor of the Church - - -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.