Readings for the Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbotReading 1 Gn 32:23-33 In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took his two wives,with the two maidservants and his eleven children,and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.After he had taken them across the streamand had brought over all his possessions,Jacob was left there alone.Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.When the man saw that he could not prevail over him,he struck Jacob's hip at its socket,so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled.The man then said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."But Jacob said, "I will not let you go until you bless me."The man asked, "What is your name?"He answered, "Jacob."Then the man said,"You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel,because you have contended with divine and human beingsand have prevailed."Jacob then asked him, "Do tell me your name, please."He answered, "Why should you want to know my name?"With that, he bade him farewell.Jacob named the place Peniel,"Because I have seen God face to face," he said,"yet my life has been spared."At sunrise, as he left Penuel,Jacob limped along because of his hip.That is why, to this day, the children of Israel do not eatthe sciatic muscle that is on the hip socket,inasmuch as Jacob's hip socket was struck at the sciatic muscle. Responsorial Psalm Ps 17:1b, 2-3, 6-7ab, 8b and 15 R. (15a) In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.Hear, O LORD, a just suit;attend to my outcry;hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.From you let my judgment come;your eyes behold what is right.Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;incline your ear to me; hear my word.Show your wondrous mercies,O savior of those who flee from their foes.R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.Hide me in the shadow of your wings.I in justice shall behold your face;on waking, I shall be content in your presence. R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord. Alleluia Jn 10:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;I know my sheep, and mine know me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 9:32-38 A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.The crowds were amazed and said,"Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."But the Pharisees said,"He drives out demons by the prince of demons."Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,teaching in their synagogues,proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,and curing every disease and illness.At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for thembecause they were troubled and abandoned,like sheep without a shepherd.Then he said to his disciples,"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;so ask the master of the harvestto send out laborers for his harvest." - - -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 Gn 28:10-22a Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran.When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set,he stopped there for the night.Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his headand lay down to sleep at that spot.Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground,with its top reaching to the heavens;and God's messengers were going up and down on it.And there was the LORD standing beside him and saying:"I, the LORD, am the God of your forefather Abrahamand the God of Isaac;the land on which you are lyingI will give to you and your descendants.These shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth,and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south.In you and your descendantsall the nations of the earth shall find blessing.Know that I am with you;I will protect you wherever you go,and bring you back to this land.I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you."When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed,"Truly, the LORD is in this spot, although I did not know it!"In solemn wonder he cried out: "How awesome is this shrine!This is nothing else but an abode of God,and that is the gateway to heaven!"Early the next morning Jacob took the stonethat he had put under his head,set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on top of it.He called the site Bethel,whereas the former name of the town had been Luz.Jacob then made this vow: "If God remains with me,to protect me on this journey I am makingand to give me enough bread to eat and clothing to wear,and I come back safe to my father's house, the LORD shall be my God.This stone that I have set up as a memorial stone shall be God's abode." Responsorial Psalm Ps 91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15ab R.(see 2b) In you, my God, I place my trust.You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,Say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust."R. In you, my God, I place my trust.For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,from the destroying pestilence.With his pinions he will cover you,and under his wings you shall take refuge. R. In you, my God, I place my trust.Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;I will be with him in distress. R. In you, my God, I place my trust. 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 Mt 9:18-26 While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward,knelt down before him, and said,""My daughter has just died.But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.""Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind himand touched the tassel on his cloak.She said to herself, ""If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.""Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,""Courage, daughter!  Your faith has saved you.""And from that hour the woman was cured.When Jesus arrived at the official's houseand saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,he said, ""Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.""And they ridiculed him.When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,and the little girl arose.And news of this spread throughout all that land. - - -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 Zec 9:9-10 Thus says the LORD:Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!See, your king shall come to you;a just savior is he,meek, and riding on an ass,on a colt, the foal of an ass.He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,and the horse from Jerusalem;the warrior's bow shall be banished,and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.His dominion shall be from sea to sea,and from the River to the ends of the earth. Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14 R. (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.or:R. Alleluia.I will extol you, O my God and King,and I will bless your name forever and ever.Every day will I bless you,and I will praise your name forever and ever.R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.or:R. Alleluia.The LORD is gracious and merciful,slow to anger and of great kindness.The LORD is good to alland compassionate toward all his works.R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.or:R. Alleluia.Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,and let your faithful ones bless you.Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdomand speak of your might.R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.or:R.  Alleluia.The LORD is faithful in all his wordsand holy in all his works.The LORD lifts up all who are fallingand raises up all who are bowed down.R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.or:R. Alleluia. Reading 2 Rom 8:9, 11-13 Brothers and sisters:You are not in the flesh;on the contrary, you are in the spirit,if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,the one who raised Christ from the deadwill give life to your mortal bodies also,through his Spirit that dwells in you.Consequently, brothers and sisters,we are not debtors to the flesh,to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,you will live. Alleluia Cf. Mt 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 Mt 11:25-30 At that time Jesus exclaimed: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,for although you have hidden these thingsfrom the wise and the learnedyou have revealed them to little ones.Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father,and no one knows the Father except the Sonand anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.""Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am meek and humble of heart;and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, priest, and companions, martyrs - - -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 Gn 27:1-5, 15-29 When Isaac was so old that his eyesight had failed him,he called his older son Esau and said to him, "Son!""Yes father!" he replied.Isaac then said, "As you can see, I am so oldthat I may now die at any time.Take your gear, therefore–your quiver and bow–and go out into the country to hunt some game for me.With your catch prepare an appetizing dish for me, such as I like,and bring it to me to eat,so that I may give you my special blessing before I die."Rebekah had been listeningwhile Isaac was speaking to his son Esau.So, when Esau went out into the countryto hunt some game for his father,Rebekah [then] took the best clothes of her older son Esauthat she had in the house,and gave them to her younger son Jacob to wear;and with the skins of the kids she covered up his handsand the hairless parts of his neck.Then she handed her son Jacob the appetizing dishand the bread she had prepared.Bringing them to his father, Jacob said, "Father!""Yes?" replied Isaac.  "Which of my sons are you?"Jacob answered his father:  "I am Esau, your first-born.I did as you told me.Please sit up and eat some of my game,so that you may give me your special blessing."But Isaac asked, "How did you succeed so quickly, son?"He answered,"The LORD, your God, let things turn out well with me."Isaac then said to Jacob,"Come closer, son, that I may feel you,to learn whether you really are my son Esau or not."So Jacob moved up closer to his father.When Isaac felt him, he said,"Although the voice is Jacob's, the hands are Esau's."(He failed to identify him because his hands were hairy,like those of his brother Esau;so in the end he gave him his blessing.)Again he asked Jacob, "Are you really my son Esau?" "Certainly," Jacob replied.Then Isaac said, "Serve me your game, son, that I may eat of itand then give you my blessing."Jacob served it to him, and Isaac ate;he brought him wine, and he drank.Finally his father Isaac said to Jacob,"Come closer, son, and kiss me."As Jacob went up and kissed him,Isaac smelled the fragrance of his clothes.With that, he blessed him saying,"Ah, the fragrance of my sonis like the fragrance of a fieldthat the LORD has blessed!"May God give to youof the dew of the heavensAnd of the fertility of the earthabundance of grain and wine."Let peoples serve you,and nations pay you homage;Be master of your brothers,and may your mother's sons bow down to you.Cursed be those who curse you,and blessed be those who bless you." Responsorial Psalm Ps 135:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6 R.(3a) Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!or:R. Alleluia.Praise the name of the LORD;Praise, you servants of the LORDWho stand in the house of the LORD,in the courts of the house of our God.R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!or:R. Alleluia.Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;sing praise to his name, which we love;For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,Israel for his own possession.R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!or:R. Alleluia.For I know that the LORD is great;our LORD is greater than all gods.All that the LORD wills he doesin heaven and on earth,in the seas and in all the deeps. R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!or:R. Alleluia. 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 Mt 9:14-17 The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved." - - -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.