Reading 1 1 Mc 6:1-13 As King Antiochus was traversing the inland provinces,he heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais,famous for its wealth in silver and gold,and that its temple was very rich,containing gold helmets, breastplates, and weaponsleft there by Alexander, son of Philip,king of Macedon, the first king of the Greeks.He went therefore and tried to capture and pillage the city.But he could not do so,because his plan became known to the people of the citywho rose up in battle against him.So he retreated and in great dismay withdrew from thereto return to Babylon.While he was in Persia, a messenger brought him newsthat the armies sent into the land of Judah had been put to flight;that Lysias had gone at first with a strong armyand been driven back by the children of Israel;that they had grown strongby reason of the arms, men, and abundant possessionstaken from the armies they had destroyed;that they had pulled down the Abominationwhich he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem;and that they had surrounded with high wallsboth the sanctuary, as it had been before,and his city of Beth-zur.When the king heard this news,he was struck with fear and very much shaken.Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed.There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow,for he knew he was going to die.So he called in all his Friends and said to them:"Sleep has departed from my eyes,for my heart is sinking with anxiety.I said to myself: 'Into what tribulation have I come,and in what floods of sorrow am I now!Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.'But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem,when I carried away all the vessels of gold and silverthat were in it, and for no causegave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed.I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me;and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land." Responsorial Psalm Ps 9:2-3, 4 and 6, 16 and 19 R. (see 16a) I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;I will declare all your wondrous deeds.I will be glad and exult in you;I will sing praise to your name, Most High.R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.Because my enemies are turned back,overthrown and destroyed before you.You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;their name you blotted out forever and ever.R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.The nations are sunk in the pit they have made;in the snare they set, their foot is caught.For the needy shall not always be forgotten,nor shall the hope of the afflicted forever perish.R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord. Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed deathand brought life to light through the Gospel.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 20:27-40 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,"Teacher, Moses wrote for us,If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child,his brother must take the wifeand raise up descendants for his brother.Now there were seven brothers;the first married a woman but died childless.Then the second and the third married her,and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?For all seven had been married to her."Jesus said to them,"The children of this age marry and remarry;but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming ageand to the resurrection of the deadneither marry nor are given in marriage.They can no longer die,for they are like angels;and they are the children of Godbecause they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will riseeven Moses made known in the passage about the bush,when he called 'Lord'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,for to him all are alive." Some of the scribes said in reply,"Teacher, you have answered well."And they no longer dared to ask him anything. Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr - - -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 Saint Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Priest, and Companions, MartyrsReading 1 1 Mc 4:36-37, 52-59 Judas and his brothers said,"Now that our enemies have been crushed,let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it."So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month,that is, the month of Chislev,in the year one hundred and forty-eight,they arose and offered sacrifice according to the lawon the new altar of burnt offerings that they had made. On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it,on that very day it was reconsecratedwith songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals.All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven,who had given them success.For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altarand joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrificesof deliverance and praise.They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields;they repaired the gates and the priests' chambersand furnished them with doors.There was great joy among the peoplenow that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israeldecreed that the days of the dedication of the altarshould be observed with joy and gladnesson the anniversary every year for eight days,from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev. Responsorial Psalm 1 Chr 29:10bcd, 11abc, 11d-12a, 12bcd R. (13b) We praise your glorious name, O mighty God."Blessed may you be, O LORD,God of Israel our father,from eternity to eternity."R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God."Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,majesty, splendor, and glory.For all in heaven and on earth is yours."R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God."Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;you are exalted as head over all.Riches and honor are from you."R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God."You have dominion over all,In your hand are power and might;it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all."R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God. Alleluia Jn 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;I know them, and they follow me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 19:45-48 Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive outthose who were selling things, saying to them,"It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,but you have made it a den of thieves."And every day he was teaching in the temple area.The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,were seeking to put him to death,but they could find no way to accomplish their purposebecause all the people were hanging on his words. - - -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 Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary TimeReadings for the Thanksgiving DayThursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time Thanksgiving Day Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Clement I, pope and martyrReadings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Columban, abbotReadings for the Optional Memorial of Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, priest and martyr - - -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 Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyrReading 1 2 Mc 7:1, 20-31 It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrestedand tortured with whips and scourges by the king,to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother,who saw her seven sons perish in a single day,yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord.Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage,she exhorted each of themin the language of their ancestors with these words:"I do not know how you came into existence in my womb;it was not I who gave you the breath of life,nor was it I who set in orderthe elements of which each of you is composed.Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universewho shapes each man's beginning,as he brings about the origin of everything,he, in his mercy,will give you back both breath and life,because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law."Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words,thought he was being ridiculed.As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him,not with mere words, but with promises on oath,to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs:he would make him his Friendand entrust him with high office.When the youth paid no attention to him at all,the king appealed to the mother,urging her to advise her boy to save his life.After he had urged her for a long time,she went through the motions of persuading her son.In derision of the cruel tyrant,she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language:"Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months,nursed you for three years, brought you up,educated and supported you to your present age.I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earthand see all that is in them;then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things;and in the same way the human race came into existence.Do not be afraid of this executioner,but be worthy of your brothers and accept death,so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them."She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said:"What are you waiting for?I will not obey the king's command.I obey the command of the law given to our fathers through Moses.But you, who have contrived every kind of affliction for the Hebrews,will not escape the hands of God." Responsorial Psalm Ps 17:1bcd, 5-6, 8b and 15 R. (15b) Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.Hear, O LORD, a just suit;attend to my outcry;hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.My steps have been steadfast in your paths,my feet have not faltered.I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;incline your ear to me; hear my word.R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.Keep me as the apple of your eye;hide me in the shadow of your wings.But I in justice shall behold your face;on waking, I shall be content in your presence.R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. Alleluia See Jn 15:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I chose you from the world,to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 19:11-28 While people were listening to Jesus speak,he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalemand they thought that the Kingdom of Godwould appear there immediately.So he said,"A nobleman went off to a distant countryto obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coinsand told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.'His fellow citizens, however, despised himand sent a delegation after him to announce,'We do not want this man to be our king.'But when he returned after obtaining the kingship,he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money,to learn what they had gained by trading.The first came forward and said,'Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.'He replied, 'Well done, good servant!You have been faithful in this very small matter;take charge of ten cities.'Then the second came and reported,'Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.'And to this servant too he said,'You, take charge of five cities.'Then the other servant came and said,'Sir, here is your gold coin;I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man;you take up what you did not lay downand you harvest what you did not plant.'He said to him,'With your own words I shall condemn you,you wicked servant.You knew I was a demanding man,taking up what I did not lay downand harvesting what I did not plant;why did you not put my money in a bank?Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.'And to those standing by he said,'Take the gold coin from himand give it to the servant who has ten.'But they said to him,'Sir, he has ten gold coins.'He replied, 'I tell you,to everyone who has, more will be given,but from the one who has not,even what he has will be taken away.Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,bring them here and slay them before me.'"After he had said this,he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. - - -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.