Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, martyrsReading 1 Jer 7:23-28 Thus says the LORD: This is what I commanded my people:Listen to my voice;then I will be your God and you shall be my people.Walk in all the ways that I command you,so that you may prosper.But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.They walked in the hardness of their evil heartsand turned their backs, not their faces, to me.From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day,I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed;they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.When you speak all these words to them,they will not listen to you either;when you call to them, they will not answer you.Say to them:This is the nation that does not listento the voice of the LORD, its God,or take correction.Faithfulness has disappeared;the word itself is banished from their speech. Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;let us joyfully sing psalms to him.R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.Come, let us bow down in worship;let us kneel before the LORD who made us.For he is our God,and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.Oh, that today you would hear his voice:"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,as in the day of Massah in the desert,Where your fathers tempted me;they tested me though they had seen my works."R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Verse Before the Gospel Jl 2:12-13 Even now, says the LORD,return to me with your whole heart,for I am gracious and merciful. Gospel Lk 11:14-23 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,and when the demon had gone out,the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,he drives out demons."Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.But he knew their thoughts and said to them,"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid wasteand house will fall against house.And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,by whom do your own people drive them out?Therefore they will be your judges.But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,his possessions are safe.But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,he takes away the armor on which he reliedand distributes the spoils.Whoever is not with me is against me,and whoever does not gather with me scatters." - - -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 4:1, 5-9 Moses spoke to the people and said:"Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decreeswhich I am teaching you to observe,that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decreesas the LORD, my God, has commanded me,that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.Observe them carefully,for thus will you give evidenceof your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,who will hear of all these statutes and say,'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.'For what great nation is therethat has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to uswhenever we call upon him?Or what great nation has statutes and decreesthat are as just as this whole lawwhich I am setting before you today?"However, take care and be earnestly on your guardnot to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,but teach them to your children and to your children's children." Responsorial Psalm PS 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! He spreads snow like wool; frost he strews like ashes. R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Verse Before the Gospel See Jn 6:63c, 68c Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;You have the words of everlasting life. Gospel  Mt 5:17-19 Jesus said to his disciples:“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letterwill pass from the law,until all things have taken place.Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandmentsand teaches others to do sowill be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.But whoever obeys and teaches these commandmentswill be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” - - -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 Dn 3:25, 34-43 Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:“For your name’s sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever,or make void your covenant.Do not take away your mercy from us,for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,To whom you promised to multiply their offspringlike the stars of heaven,or the sand on the shore of the sea.For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,brought low everywhere in the world this daybecause of our sins.We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader,no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense,no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.But with contrite heart and humble spiritlet us be received;As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks,or thousands of fat lambs,So let our sacrifice be in your presence todayas we follow you unreservedly;for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.And now we follow you with our whole heart,we fear you and we pray to you.Do not let us be put to shame,but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.Deliver us by your wonders,and bring glory to your name, O Lord.” Responsorial Psalm PS 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;teach me your paths,Guide me in your truth and teach me,for you are God my savior.R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.Remember that your compassion, O LORD,and your kindness are from of old.In your kindness remember me,because of your goodness, O LORD.R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.Good and upright is the LORD;thus he shows sinners the way.He guides the humble to justice,he teaches the humble his way.R. Remember your mercies, O Lord. Verse Before the Gospel Jl 2:12-13 Even now, says the LORD,return to me with your whole heart;for I am gracious and merciful. Gospel Mt 18:21-35 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 him 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 masterand 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 your brother from your heart.” - - -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 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab Naaman, the army commander of the king of Aram,was highly esteemed and respected by his master,for through him the LORD had brought victory to Aram.But valiant as he was, the man was a leper.Now the Arameans had captured in a raid on the land of Israela little girl, who became the servant of Naaman's wife."If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria,"she said to her mistress, "he would cure him of his leprosy."Naaman went and told his lordjust what the slave girl from the land of Israel had said."Go," said the king of Aram."I will send along a letter to the king of Israel."So Naaman set out, taking along ten silver talents,six thousand gold pieces, and ten festal garments.To the king of Israel he brought the letter, which read:"With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you,that you may cure him of his leprosy."When he read the letter,the king of Israel tore his garments and exclaimed:"Am I a god with power over life and death,that this man should send someone to me to be cured of leprosy?Take note! You can see he is only looking for a quarrel with me!"When Elisha, the man of God,heard that the king of Israel had torn his garments,he sent word to the king:"Why have you torn your garments?Let him come to me and find outthat there is a prophet in Israel."Naaman came with his horses and chariotsand stopped at the door of Elisha's house.The prophet sent him the message:"Go and wash seven times in the Jordan,and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean."But Naaman went away angry, saying,"I thought that he would surely come out and stand thereto invoke the LORD his God,and would move his hand over the spot,and thus cure the leprosy.Are not the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar,better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?"With this, he turned about in anger and left.But his servants came up and reasoned with him."My father," they said,"if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary,would you not have done it?All the more now, since he said to you,'Wash and be clean,' should you do as he said."So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven timesat the word of the man of God.His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.He returned with his whole retinue to the man of God.On his arrival he stood before him and said,"Now I know that there is no God in all the earth,except in Israel." Responsorial Psalm PS 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4 R. (see 42:3) Athirst is my soul for the living God.When shall I go and behold the face of God?As the hind longs for the running waters,so my soul longs for you, O God.R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.When shall I go and behold the face of God?Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.When shall I go and behold the face of God?R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.When shall I go and behold the face of God?Send forth your light and your fidelity;they shall lead me onAnd bring me to your holy mountain,to your dwelling-place.R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.When shall I go and behold the face of God?Then will I go in to the altar of God,the God of my gladness and joy;Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,O God, my God!R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.When shall I go and behold the face of God?Verse Before the Gospel See Ps 130:5, 7I hope in the LORD, I trust in his word;with him there is kindness and plenteous redemption. Gospel Lk 4:24-30 Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth:“Amen, I say to you,no prophet is accepted in his own native place.Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israelin the days of Elijahwhen the sky was closed for three and a half yearsand a severe famine spread over the entire land.It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.Again, there were many lepers in Israelduring the time of Elisha the prophet;yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”When the people in the synagogue heard this,they were all filled with fury.They rose up, drove him out of the town,and led him to the brow of the hillon which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.But he passed through the midst of them and went away. 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.