Reading 1 Gn 12:1-4a The LORD said to Abram: "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolkand from your father's house to a land that I will show you."I will make of you a great nation,and I will bless you;I will make your name great,so that you will be a blessing.I will bless those who bless youand curse those who curse you.All the communities of the earthshall find blessing in you."Abram went as the LORD directed him. Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22. R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.Upright is the word of the LORD,and all his works are trustworthy.He loves justice and right;of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,upon those who hope for his kindness,To deliver them from deathand preserve them in spite of famine.R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.Our soul waits for the LORD,who is our help and our shield.May your kindness, O LORD, be upon uswho have put our hope in you.R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. Reading 2 2 Tm 1:8b-10 Beloved:Bear your share of hardship for the gospelwith the strength that comes from God.He saved us and called us to a holy life,not according to our worksbut according to his own designand the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,who destroyed death and brought life and immortalityto light through the gospel. Verse Before the Gospel Cf. Mt 17:5 From the shining cloud the Father's voice is heard:This is my beloved Son, hear him. Gospel Mt 17:1-9 Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,conversing with him.Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here.If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."While he was still speaking, behold,a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;listen to him."When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrateand were very much afraid.But Jesus came and touched them, saying,"Rise, and do not be afraid."And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.As they were coming down from the mountain,Jesus charged them,"Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." - - -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 26:16-19 Moses spoke to the people, saying:"This day the LORD, your God,commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.Be careful, then,to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.Today you are making this agreement with the LORD:he is to be your God and you are to walk in his waysand observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,and to hearken to his voice.And today the LORD is making this agreement with you:you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you;and provided you keep all his commandments,he will then raise you high in praise and renown and gloryabove all other nations he has made,and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,as he promised." Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8 R. (1b)  Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!Blessed are they whose way is blameless,who walk in the law of the LORD.Blessed are they who observe his decrees,who seek him with all their heart.R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!You have commanded that your preceptsbe diligently kept.Oh, that I might be firm in the waysof keeping your statutes!R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!I will give you thanks with an upright heart,when I have learned your just ordinances.I will keep your statutes;do not utterly forsake me.R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! Verse Before the Gospel 2 Cor 6:2b Behold, now is a very acceptable time;behold, now is the day of salvation. Gospel Mt 5:43-48 Jesus said to his disciples:"You have heard that it was said,You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.But I say to you, love your enemies,and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be children of your heavenly Father,for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?Do not the tax collectors do the same?And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,what is unusual about that?Do not the pagans do the same?So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Casimir - - -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 Ez 18:21-28 Thus says the Lord GOD: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed,      if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,     he shall surely live, he shall not die.  None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;     he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.  Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?     says the Lord GOD.  Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way     that he may live? And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,     the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,     can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,     because he has broken faith and committed sin;     because of this, he shall die.  You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!”  Hear now, house of Israel:     Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,     it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,     does what is right and just,     he shall preserve his life;     since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed,      he shall surely live, he shall not die. Responsorial Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8 R.    (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;     LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive     to my voice in supplication.R.    If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,     LORD, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness,     that you may be revered. R.    If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? I trust in the LORD;     my soul trusts in his word. My soul waits for the LORD     more than sentinels wait for the dawn.     Let Israel wait for the LORD.R.    If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? For with the LORD is kindness     and with him is plenteous redemption; And he will redeem Israel     from all their iniquities.R.    If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? Verse before the Gospel Ez 18:31 Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Gospel Mt 5:20-26 Jesus said to his disciples:  “I tell you,  unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,  will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” 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 1 Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25 Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,had recourse to the LORD.She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said:"God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,for I am taking my life in my hand.As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathersthat you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,O LORD, my God."And now, come to help me, an orphan.Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lionand turn his heart to hatred for our enemy,so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.Save us from the hand of our enemies;turn our mourning into gladnessand our sorrows into wholeness." Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8 R. (3a)  Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,for you have heard the words of my mouth;in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;I will worship at your holy templeand give thanks to your name.R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.Because of your kindness and your truth;for you have made great above all thingsyour name and your promise.When I called, you answered me;you built up strength within me.R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.Your right hand saves me.The LORD will complete what he has done for me;your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;forsake not the work of your hands.R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. Verse Before the Gospel Ps 51:12a, 14a A clean heart create for me, O God;give me back the  joy of your salvation. Gospel Mt 7:7-12 Jesus said to his disciples:"Ask and it will be given to you;seek and you will find;knock and the door will be opened to you.For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stonewhen he asked for a loaf of bread,or a snake when he asked for a fish?If you then, who are wicked,know how to give good gifts to your children,how much more will your heavenly Father give good thingsto those who ask him."Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets." - - -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.