Reading 1 2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here;the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”“As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live,I will not leave you,” Elisha replied.And so the two went on together.Fifty of the guild prophets followed andwhen the two stopped at the Jordan,they stood facing them at a distance.Elijah took his mantle, rolled it upand struck the water, which divided,and both crossed over on dry ground.When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,“Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.”Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”“You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied.“Still, if you see me taken up from you,your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”As they walked on conversing,a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them,and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.When Elisha saw it happen he cried out,“My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!”But when he could no longer see him,Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him,and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah,Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,“Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over. Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:20, 21, 24 R. (25) Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.How great is the goodness, O LORD,which you have in store for those who fear you,And which, toward those who take refuge in you,you show in the sight of the children of men.R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.You hide them in the shelter of your presencefrom the plottings of men;You screen them within your abodefrom the strife of tongues.R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.Love the LORD, all you his faithful ones!The LORD keeps those who are constant,but more than requites those who act proudly.R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord. Alleluia Jn 14:23 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever loves me will keep my word,and my Father will love himand we will come to him.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 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 others to be fasting,except to your Father who is hidden.And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Romuald, abbot - - - 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 1 Kgs 21:17-29 After the death of Naboth the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite:"Start down to meet Ahab, king of Israel,who rules in Samaria.He will be in the vineyard of Naboth,of which he has come to take possession.This is what you shall tell him,'The LORD says: After murdering, do you also take possession?For this, the LORD says:In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth,the dogs shall lick up your blood, too.'"Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me out, my enemy?""Yes," he answered."Because you have given yourself up to doing evil in the LORD's sight,I am bringing evil upon you: I will destroy youand will cut off every male in Ahab's line,whether slave or freeman, in Israel.I will make your house like that of Jeroboam, son of Nebat,and like that of Baasha, son of Ahijah,because of how you have provoked me by leading Israel into sin."(Against Jezebel, too, the LORD declared,"The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.")"When one of Ahab's line dies in the city,dogs will devour him;when one of them dies in the field,the birds of the sky will devour him."Indeed, no one gave himself up to the doing of evilin the sight of the LORD as did Ahab,urged on by his wife Jezebel.He became completely abominable by following idols,just as the Amorites had done,whom the LORD drove out before the children of Israel.When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garmentsand put on sackcloth over his bare flesh.He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued.Then the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite,"Have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me?Since he has humbled himself before me,I will not bring the evil in his time.I will bring the evil upon his house during the reign of his son." Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 11 and 16 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.Turn away your face from my sins,and blot out all my guilt.Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;then my tongue shall revel in your justice.R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. Alleluia Jn 13:34 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I give you a new commandment;love one another as I have loved you.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:43-48 Jesus said to his disciples:"You have heard that it was said,You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.But I say to you, love your enemiesand pray for those who persecute you,that you may be children of your heavenly Father,for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?Do not the tax collectors do the same?And if you greet your brothers only,what is unusual about that?Do not the pagans do the same?So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." - - -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 1 Kgs 21:1-16 Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreelnext to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden,since it is close by, next to my house.I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or,if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.”Naboth answered him, “The LORD forbidthat I should give you my ancestral heritage.”Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the answerNaboth the Jezreelite had made to him:“I will not give you my ancestral heritage.”Lying down on his bed, he turned away from food and would not eat.His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him,“Why are you so angry that you will not eat?”He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreeliteand said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard, or,if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.’But he refused to let me have his vineyard.”His wife Jezebel said to him,“A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed!Get up. Eat and be cheerful.I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and,having sealed them with his seal,sent them to the elders and to the nobleswho lived in the same city with Naboth.This is what she wrote in the letters:“Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.Next, get two scoundrels to face himand accuse him of having cursed God and king.Then take him out and stone him to death.”His fellow citizens—the elders and nobles who dwelt in his city—did as Jezebel had ordered them in writing,through the letters she had sent them.They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people.Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation,“Naboth has cursed God and king.”And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death.Then they sent the information to Jezebelthat Naboth had been stoned to death.When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death,she said to Ahab,“Go on, take possession of the vineyardof Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you,because Naboth is not alive, but dead.”On hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his waydown to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,to take possession of it. Responsorial Psalm Ps 5:2-3ab, 4b-6a, 6b-7 R. (2b) Lord, listen to my groaning.Hearken to my words, O LORD,attend to my sighing.Heed my call for help,my king and my God!R. Lord, listen to my groaning.At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;no evil man remains with you;the arrogant may not stand in your sight. R. Lord, listen to my groaning.You hate all evildoers.You destroy all who speak falsehood;The bloodthirsty and the deceitfulthe LORD abhors.R. Lord, listen to my groaning. Alleluia Ps 119:105 R. Alleluia, alleluia.A lamp to my feet is your word,a light to my path.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:38-42 Jesus said to his disciples:"You have heard that it was said,An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.When someone strikes you on your right cheek,turn the other one to him as well.If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,hand him your cloak as well.Should anyone press you into service for one mile,go with him for two miles.Give to the one who asks of you,and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow." - - -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 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16 The LORD spoke to Nathan and said:“Go, tell my servant David,‘When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,and I will make his kingdom firm.It is he who shall build a house for my name.And I will make his royal throne firm forever.I will be a father to him,and he shall be a son to me.Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;your throne shall stand firm forever.’” Responsorial Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29 R.    (37)  The son of David will live for ever.The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.R.    The son of David will live for ever.“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,I have sworn to David my servant:Forever will I confirm your posterityand establish your throne for all generations.”R.    The son of David will live for ever.“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,my God, the Rock, my savior.’Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,and my covenant with him stands firm.”R.    The son of David will live for ever. Reading 2 Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22 Brothers and sisters:It was not through the lawthat the promise was made to Abraham and his descendantsthat he would inherit the world,but through the righteousness that comes from faith.For this reason, it depends on faith,so that it may be a gift,and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,not to those who only adhere to the lawbut to those who follow the faith of Abraham,who is the father of all of us, as it is written,I have made you father of many nations.He is our father in the sight of God,in whom he believed, who gives life to the deadand calls into being what does not exist.He believed, hoping against hope,that he would become the father of many nations,according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.That is why it was credited to him as righteousness. Verse Before the Gospel Ps 84:5 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord;they never cease to praise you. Gospel Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,but before they lived together,she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,yet unwilling to expose her to shame,decided to divorce her quietly.Such was his intention when, behold,the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,“Joseph, son of David,do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.For it is through the Holy Spiritthat this child has been conceived in her.She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.”When Joseph awoke,he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded himand took his wife into his home.orLk 2:41-51aEach year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,and when he was twelve years old,they went up according to festival custom.After they had completed its days, as they were returning,the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,but his parents did not know it.Thinking that he was in the caravan,they journeyed for a dayand looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,but not finding him,they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.After three days they found him in the temple,sitting in the midst of the teachers,listening to them and asking them questions,and all who heard him were astoundedat his understanding and his answers.When his parents saw him,they were astonished,and his mother said to him,“Son, why have you done this to us?Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”And he said to them,“Why were you looking for me?Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”But they did not understand what he said to them.He went down with them and came to Nazareth,and was obedient to them. - - - 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.