Reading 1 Jos 24:1-13 Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,summoning their elders, their leaders,their judges and their officers.When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: In times past your fathers, down to Terah,father of Abraham and Nahor,dwelt beyond the River and served other gods.But I brought your father Abraham from the region beyond the Riverand led him through the entire land of Canaan.I made his descendants numerous, and gave him Isaac.To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.To Esau I assigned the mountain region of Seir in which to settle,while Jacob and his children went down to Egypt."Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and smote Egypt with the prodigieswhich I wrought in her midst.Afterward I led you out of Egypt, and when you reached the sea,the Egyptians pursued your fathers to the Red Seawith chariots and horsemen.Because they cried out to the LORD,he put darkness between your people and the Egyptians,upon whom he brought the sea so that it engulfed them.After you witnessed what I did to Egypt,and dwelt a long time in the desert,I brought you into the land of the Amoriteswho lived east of the Jordan.They fought against you, but I delivered them into your power.You took possession of their land, and I destroyed them, the two kings of the Amorites, before you.Then Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab,prepared to war against Israel.He summoned Balaam, son of Beor, to curse you;but I would not listen to Balaam.On the contrary, he had to bless you, and I saved you from him.Once you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho,the men of Jericho fought against you,but I delivered them also into your power.And I sent the hornets ahead of you that drove them(the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites)out of your way; it was not your sword or your bow."I gave you a land that you had not tilledand cities that you had not built, to dwell in;you have eaten of vineyards and olive groveswhich you did not plant." Responsorial Psalm Ps 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22 and 24 R. His mercy endures forever.Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,for his mercy endures forever;Give thanks to the God of gods,for his mercy endures forever;Give thanks to the LORD of lords,for his mercy endures forever.R. His mercy endures forever.Who led his people through the wilderness,for his mercy endures forever;Who smote great kings,for his mercy endures forever;And slew powerful kings,for his mercy endures forever.R. His mercy endures forever.And made their land a heritage,for his mercy endures forever;The heritage of Israel his servant,for his mercy endures forever;And freed us from our foes,for his mercy endures forever.R. His mercy endures forever. Alleluia See 1 Thes 2:13 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,but, as it truly is, the word of God.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 19:3-12 Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying,"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?"He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginningthe Creator made them male and female and said,For this reason a man shall leave his father and motherand be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?So they are no longer two, but one flesh.Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate." They said to him, "Then why did Moses commandthat the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?"He said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heartsMoses allowed you to divorce your wives,but from the beginning it was not so.I say to you, whoever divorces his wife(unless the marriage is unlawful)and marries another commits adultery."His disciples said to him,"If that is the case of a man with his wife,it is better not to marry."He answered, "Not all can accept this word,but only those to whom that is granted.Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so;some, because they were made so by others;some, because they have renounced marriagefor the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.Whoever can accept this ought to accept it." - - -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 Jos 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17 The LORD said to Joshua,"Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel,that they may know I am with you, as I was with Moses.Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenantto come to a halt in the Jordanwhen you reach the edge of the waters."So Joshua said to the children of Israel,"Come here and listen to the words of the LORD, your God.This is how you will know that there is a living God in your midst,who at your approach will dispossess the Canaanites.The ark of the covenant of the LORD of the whole earthwill precede you into the Jordan.When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD,the Lord of the whole earth,touch the water of the Jordan, it will cease to flow;for the water flowing down from upstream will halt in a solid bank."The people struck their tents to cross the Jordan,with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them.No sooner had these priestly bearers of the arkwaded into the waters at the edge of the Jordan,which overflows all its banksduring the entire season of the harvest,than the waters flowing from upstream halted,backing up in a solid mass for a very great distance indeed,from Adam, a city in the direction of Zarethan;while those flowing downstream toward the Salt Sea of the Arabah disappeared entirely.Thus the people crossed over opposite Jericho.While all Israel crossed over on dry ground,the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORDremained motionless on dry ground in the bed of the Jordanuntil the whole nation had completed the passage. Responsorial Psalm Ps 114:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. Alleluia!When Israel came forth from Egypt,the house of Jacob from a people of alien tongue,Judah became his sanctuary,Israel his domain.R. Alleluia!The sea beheld and fled;Jordan turned back.The mountains skipped like rams,the hills like the lambs of the flock.R. Alleluia!Why is it, O sea, that you flee?O Jordan, that you turn back?You mountains, that you skip like rams?You hills, like the lambs of the flock?R. Alleluia! Alleluia Ps 119:135 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Let your countenance shine upon your servantand teach me your statutes.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 18:21–19:1 Peter approached Jesus and asked him,"Lord, if my brother sins against me,how often must I forgive him?As many as seven times?"Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a kingwho decided to settle accounts with his servants.When he began the accounting,a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.Since he had no way of paying it back,his master ordered him to be sold,along with his wife, his children, and all his property,in payment of the debt.At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'Moved with compassion the master of that servantlet him go and forgave him the loan.When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servantswho owed him a much smaller amount.He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,'Pay back what you owe.'Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'But he refused.Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prisonuntil he paid back the debt.Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,they were deeply disturbed,and went to their master and reported the whole affair.His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,as I had pity on you?'Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturersuntil he should pay back the whole debt.So will my heavenly Father do to you,unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."When Jesus finished these words, he left Galileeand went to the district of Judea across the Jordan. - - -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 Dt 34:1-12 Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo,the headland of Pisgah which faces Jericho,and the LORD showed him all the land—Gilead, and as far as Dan, all Naphtali,the land of Ephraim and Manasseh,all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea,the Negeb, the circuit of the Jordanwith the lowlands at Jericho, city of palms,and as far as Zoar.The LORD then said to him, "This is the landwhich I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacobthat I would give to their descendants.I have let you feast your eyes upon it, but you shall not cross over."So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the LORD,died as the LORD had said; and he was buried in the ravineopposite Beth-peor in the land of Moab,but to this day no one knows the place of his burial.Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died,yet his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated.For thirty days the children of Israel wept for Mosesin the plains of Moab, till they had completedthe period of grief and mourning for Moses.Now Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom,since Moses had laid his hands upon him;and so the children of Israel gave him their obedience,thus carrying out the LORD's command to Moses.Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses,whom the LORD knew face to face.He had no equal in all the signs and wondersthe LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egyptagainst Pharaoh and all his servants and against all his land,and for the might and the terrifying powerthat Moses exhibited in the sight of all Israel. Responsorial Psalm Ps 66:1-3a, 5 and 8, 16-17 R. (see 20a and 10b) Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;sing praise to the glory of his name;proclaim his glorious praise.Say to God: "How tremendous are your deeds!"R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!Come and see the works of God,his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.Bless our God, you peoples; loudly sound his praise.R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me.When I appealed to him in words,praise was on the tip of my tongue.R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire! Alleluia 2 Cor 5:19 R. Alleluia, alleluia.God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,And entreating to us the message of reconciliation.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 18:15-20 Jesus said to his disciples:"If your brother sins against you,go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you,so that every fact may be establishedon the testimony of two or three witnesses.If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church.If he refuses to listen even to the Church,then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.Amen, I say to you,whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earthabout anything for which they are to pray,it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.For where two or three are gathered together in my name,there am I in the midst of them." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Stephen of Hungary - - -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 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryReadings for the VigilReading 1 RV 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed One.” Responsorial Psalm PS 45:10, 11, 12, 16 R. (10bc)  The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,forget your people and your father’s house.R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.So shall the king desire your beauty;for he is your lord.R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.They are borne in with gladness and joy;they enter the palace of the king.R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold. Reading 2 1 COR 15:20-27 Brothers and sisters:Christ has been raised from the dead,the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since death came through man,the resurrection of the dead came also through man.For just as in Adam all die,so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,but each one in proper order:Christ the firstfruits;then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;then comes the end,when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father,when he has destroyed every sovereigntyand every authority and power.For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.The last enemy to be destroyed is death,for “he subjected everything under his feet.” Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.Mary is taken up to heaven;a chorus of angels exults.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel LK 1:39-56 Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. - - -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.