Readings for the Year BReadings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent Reading I 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a The LORD said to Samuel: “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,  for I have chosen my king from among his sons.” As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice,  Samuel looked at Eliab and thought,  “Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.” But the LORD said to Samuel:  “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,  because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see,  because man sees the appearance  but the LORD looks into the heart.” In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,  but Samuel said to Jesse,  “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him;  we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.” Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold  and making a splendid appearance. The LORD said, “There—anoint him, for this is the one!” Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,  anointed David in the presence of his brothers;  and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David. Responsorial Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 R. (1)  The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.     In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me;     he refreshes my soul.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. He guides me in right paths     for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley     I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff     that give me courage.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. You spread the table before me     in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil;     my cup overflows.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Only goodness and kindness follow me     all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD     for years to come.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.   Reading II Eph 5:8-14 Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness,  but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,  for light produces every kind of goodness  and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;  rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention  the things done by them in secret;  but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,  for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:     “Awake, O sleeper,     and arise from the dead,     and Christ will give you light.” Verse Before the Gospel Jn 8:12 I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Gospel Jn 9:1-41 As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,  that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned;  it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him,  “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,  “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is, “ but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went there and washed and was able to see.” And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.” They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again,  “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” Now the Jews did not believe  that he had been blind and gained his sight  until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” His parents answered and said,  “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed  that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.” So a second time they called the man who had been blind  and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.” He replied, “If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.” So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” They ridiculed him and said,  “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses,  but we do not know where this one is from.” The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing,  that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners,  but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said,  “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment,  so that those who do not see might see,  and those who do see might become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this  and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin;  but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains. OR: Jn 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him,  “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” — which means Sent —. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,  “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is, “ but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again,  “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said,  “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. - - - 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 Hos 6:1-6 "Come, let us return to the LORD,it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.He will revive us after two days;on the third day he will raise us up,to live in his presence.Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;as certain as the dawn is his coming,and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!He will come to us like the rain,like spring rain that waters the earth."What can I do with you, Ephraim?What can I do with you, Judah?Your piety is like a morning cloud,like the dew that early passes away.For this reason I smote them through the prophets,I slew them by the words of my mouth;For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Responsorial Psalm  PS 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab R. (see Hosea 6:6) It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.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. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.For you are not pleased with sacrifices;should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.Be bountiful, O LORD, to Zion in your kindnessby rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices,burnt offerings and holocausts.R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.Verse Before the Gospel Ps 95:8If today you hear his voice,harden not your hearts. Gospel Lk 18:9-14 Jesus addressed this parableto those who were convinced of their own righteousnessand despised everyone else.“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.I fast twice a week,and I pay tithes on my whole income.’But the tax collector stood off at a distanceand would not even raise his eyes to heavenbut beat his breast and prayed,‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Frances of Rome, religious - - -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 Hos 14:2-10 Thus says the LORD:Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;you have collapsed through your guilt.Take with you words,and return to the LORD;Say to him, "Forgive all iniquity,and receive what is good, that we may renderas offerings the bullocks from our stalls.Assyria will not save us,nor shall we have horses to mount;We shall say no more, 'Our god,'to the work of our hands;for in you the orphan finds compassion."I will heal their defection, says the LORD,I will love them freely;for my wrath is turned away from them.I will be like the dew for Israel:he shall blossom like the lily;He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,and put forth his shoots.His splendor shall be like the olive treeand his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.Again they shall dwell in his shadeand raise grain;They shall blossom like the vine,and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?I have humbled him, but I will prosper him."I am like a verdant cypress tree"– Because of me you bear fruit!Let him who is wise understand these things;let him who is prudent know them.Straight are the paths of the LORD,in them the just walk,but sinners stumble in them. Responsorial Psalm Ps 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17 R. (see 11 and 9a) I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.An unfamiliar speech I hear:"I relieved his shoulder of the burden;his hands were freed from the basket.In distress you called, and I rescued you."R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice."Unseen, I answered you in thunder;I tested you at the waters of Meribah.Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;O Israel, will you not hear me?"R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice."There shall be no strange god among younor shall you worship any alien god.I, the LORD, am your Godwho led you forth from the land of Egypt."R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice."If only my people would hear me,and Israel walk in my ways,I would feed them with the best of wheat,and with honey from the rock I would fill them."R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice. Verse Before the Gospel Mt 4:17 Repent, says the Lord;the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Gospel Mk 12:28-34 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,"Which is the first of all the commandments?"Jesus replied, "The first is this:Hear, O Israel!The Lord our God is Lord alone!You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.The second is this:You shall love your neighbor as yourself.There is no other commandment greater than these."The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.You are right in saying,He is One and there is no other than he.And to love him with all your heart,with all your understanding, with all your strength,and to love your neighbor as yourselfis worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,he said to him,"You are not far from the Kingdom of God."And no one dared to ask him any more questions. Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint John of God, religious - - -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 Optional Memorial of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, martyrsReading 1 Jer 7:23-28 Thus says the LORD: This is what I commanded my people:Listen to my voice;then I will be your God and you shall be my people.Walk in all the ways that I command you,so that you may prosper.But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.They walked in the hardness of their evil heartsand turned their backs, not their faces, to me.From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day,I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed;they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.When you speak all these words to them,they will not listen to you either;when you call to them, they will not answer you.Say to them:This is the nation that does not listento the voice of the LORD, its God,or take correction.Faithfulness has disappeared;the word itself is banished from their speech. Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;let us joyfully sing psalms to him.R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.Come, let us bow down in worship;let us kneel before the LORD who made us.For he is our God,and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.Oh, that today you would hear his voice:"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,as in the day of Massah in the desert,Where your fathers tempted me;they tested me though they had seen my works."R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Verse Before the Gospel Jl 2:12-13 Even now, says the LORD,return to me with your whole heart,for I am gracious and merciful. Gospel Lk 11:14-23 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,and when the demon had gone out,the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,he drives out demons."Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.But he knew their thoughts and said to them,"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid wasteand house will fall against house.And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,by whom do your own people drive them out?Therefore they will be your judges.But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,his possessions are safe.But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,he takes away the armor on which he reliedand distributes the spoils.Whoever is not with me is against me,and whoever does not gather with me scatters." - - -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.