Reading 1 Sirach 17:20-24 To the penitent God provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope and has chosen for them the lot of truth. Return to him and give up sin, pray to the LORD and make your offenses few. Turn again to the Most High and away from your sin, hate intensely what he loathes, and know the justice and judgments of God, Stand firm in the way set before you, in prayer to the Most High God. Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise? Dwell no longer in the error of the ungodly, but offer your praise before death. No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; You who are alive and well shall praise and glorify God in his mercies. How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him! Responsorial Psalm Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7 R. (11a)  Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord. Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile. R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD," and you took away the guilt of my sin. R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord. For this shall every faithful man pray to you in time of stress. Though deep waters overflow, they shall not reach him. R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord. You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round. R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord. Alleluia 2 Corinthians 8:9 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 10:17-27 As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, ""Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"" Jesus answered him, ""Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother."" He replied and said to him, ""Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."" Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, ""You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."" At that statement, his face fell,   and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ""How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!"" The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, ""Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Katharine Drexel, Virgin [In the Dioceses of the United States] - - - 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 I Sirach 27:4-7 When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do one’s faults when one speaks. As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in tribulation is the test of the just. The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind. Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 R (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you. It is good to give thanks to the LORD,             to sing praise to your name, Most High, To proclaim your kindness at dawn             and your faithfulness throughout the night. R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you. The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,             like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. They that are planted in the house of the LORD             shall flourish in the courts of our God. R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you. They shall bear fruit even in old age;             vigorous and sturdy shall they be, Declaring how just is the LORD,             my rock, in whom there is no wrong. R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you. Reading II 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 Brothers and sisters: When this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:             Death is swallowed up in victory.                         Where, O death, is your victory?                         Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Alleluia Philippians 2:15d, 16a R. Alleluia, alleluia. Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 6:39-45 Jesus told his disciples a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” - - - 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 Sirach 17:1-15 God from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him. He makes man return to earth again, and endows him with a strength of his own. Limited days of life he gives him, with power over all things else on earth. He puts the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts and birds. He created for them counsel, and a tongue and eyes and ears,   and an inventive heart, and filled them with the discipline of understanding. He created in them knowledge of the spirit; With wisdom he fills their heart; good and evil he shows them. He put the fear of himself upon their hearts, and showed them his mighty works, That they might glory in the wonder of his deeds and praise his holy name. He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance; An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his justice and his judgments he has revealed to them. His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard. He says to them, "Avoid all evil"; each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men. Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes. Over every nation he places a ruler, but God's own portion is Israel. All their actions are clear as the sun to him, his eyes are ever upon their ways. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 103:13-14, 15-16, 17-18 R. (see 17)  The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him, For he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust. R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him. Man's days are like those of grass; like a flower of the field he blooms; The wind sweeps over him and he is gone, and his place knows him no more. R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him. But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity to eternity toward those who fear him, And his justice toward children's children among those who keep his covenant. R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him. Alleluia Matthew 11:25 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 10:13-16 People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on 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.

Reading 1 Sirach 6:5-17 A kind mouth multiplies friends and appeases enemies,and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings.Let your acquaintances be many,but one in a thousand your confidant.When you gain a friend, first test him,and be not too ready to trust him.For one sort is a friend when it suits him,but he will not be with you in time of distress.Another is a friend who becomes an enemy,and tells of the quarrel to your shame.Another is a friend, a boon companion,who will not be with you when sorrow comes.When things go well, he is your other self,and lords it over your servants;But if you are brought low, he turns against youand avoids meeting you.Keep away from your enemies;be on your guard with your friends.A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter;he who finds one finds a treasure.A faithful friend is beyond price,no sum can balance his worth.A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy,such as he who fears God finds;For he who fears God behaves accordingly,and his friend will be like himself. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35 R. (35a)  Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.Blessed are you, O LORD;teach me your statutes.R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.In your statutes I will delight;I will not forget your words.R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.Open my eyes, that I may considerthe wonders of your law.R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.Make me understand the way of your precepts,and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.Give me discernment, that I may observe your lawand keep it with all my heart.R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.Lead me in the path of your commands,for in it I delight.R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. Alleluia John 17:17b, 17a R. Alleluia, alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 10:1-12 Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan.Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom,he again taught them.The Pharisees approached him and asked,"Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?"They were testing him.He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?"They replied,"Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorceand dismiss her."But Jesus told them,"Because of the hardness of your heartshe wrote you this commandment.But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.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,no human being must separate."In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this.He said to them,“Whoever divorces his wife and marries anothercommits adultery against her;and if she divorces her husband and marries another,she commits adultery.”  - - - 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.