Reading I Dt 6:2-6 Moses spoke to the people, saying: "Fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more, in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey. "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!  Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.  Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today." Responsorial Psalm Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 R. (2)    I love you, Lord, my strength. I love you, O LORD, my strength,     O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. R. I love you, Lord, my strength. My God, my rock of refuge,     my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,     and I am safe from my enemies. R. I love you, Lord, my strength. The LORD lives!  And blessed be my rock!     Extolled be God my savior. You who gave great victories to your king     and showed kindness to your anointed. R. I love you, Lord, my strength. Reading II Heb 7:23-28 Brothers and sisters: The levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him,  since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself.  For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever. Alleluia Jn 14:23 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my father will love him and we will come to him. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 12:28b-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 yourself' is 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 Martin de Porres, 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.

The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day. Reading I Wis 3:1-9 The souls of the just are in the hand of God,     and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;     and their passing away was thought an affliction     and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished,     yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,     because God tried them     and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them,     and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine,     and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,     and the Lord shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth,     and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,     and his care is with his elect. Responsorial Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 R.    (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or: R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. 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. or: R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. 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. or: R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. 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. or: R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. 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. or: R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. Reading II Rom 6:3-9 Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus  were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,  so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead  by the glory of the Father,  we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his,  we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him,  so that our sinful body might be done away with,  that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. Alleluia Mt 25:34 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:37-40 Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” - - - 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 Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,holding the seal of the living God.He cried out in a loud voice to the four angelswho were given power to damage the land and the sea,"Do not damage the land or the sea or the treesuntil we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,one hundred and forty-four thousand markedfrom every tribe of the children of Israel.After this I had a vision of a great multitude,which no one could count,from every nation, race, people, and tongue.They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.They cried out in a loud voice:"Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,and from the Lamb."All the angels stood around the throneand around the elders and the four living creatures.They prostrated themselves before the throne,worshiped God, and exclaimed:"Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,honor, power, and mightbe to our God forever and ever. Amen."Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,"Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?"I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who knows."He said to me,"These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;they have washed their robesand made them white in the Blood of the Lamb." Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;the world and those who dwell in it.For he founded it upon the seasand established it upon the rivers.R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?or who may stand in his holy place?One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,who desires not what is vain.R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,a reward from God his savior.Such is the race that seeks him,that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face. Reading 2 1 Jn 3:1-3 Beloved:See what love the Father has bestowed on usthat we may be called the children of God.Yet so we are.The reason the world does not know usis that it did not know him.Beloved, we are God's children now;what we shall be has not yet been revealed.We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,for we shall see him as he is.Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,as he is pure. Alleluia Mt 11:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,And I will give you rest, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:1-12a When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:"Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.Blessed are they who mourn,for they will be comforted.Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the land.Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be satisfied.Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.Blessed are the clean of heart,for they will see God.Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children of God.Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute youand utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.Rejoice and be glad,for your reward will be great in heaven." - - - 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 EPH 6:10-20 Brothers and sisters: Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the Devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must. Responsorial Psalm 144:1B, 2, 9-10 R. (1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock! Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock! My mercy and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, My shield, in whom I trust, who subdues my people under me. R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock! O God, I will sing a new song to you; with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise, You who give victory to kings, and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword. R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!     Alleluia See LK 19:38; 2:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel LK 13:31-35 Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”   - - - 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.