Reading 1 Ez 1:2-5, 24-28c On the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year,that is, of King Jehoiachin's exile,The word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel,the son of Buzi,in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.—There the hand of the LORD came upon me.As I looked, a stormwind came from the North,a huge cloud with flashing fire enveloped in brightness,from the midst of which (the midst of the fire)something gleamed like electrum.Within it were figures resembling four living creaturesthat looked like this: their form was human.Then I heard the sound of their wings,like the roaring of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty.When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army.And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.Above the firmament over their headssomething like a throne could be seen, looking like sapphire.Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum;downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire;he was surrounded with splendor.Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy daywas the splendor that surrounded him.Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. Responsorial Psalm PS 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14 R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.or:R. Alleluia.Praise the LORD from the heavens;praise him in the heights;Praise him, all you his angels;praise him, all you his hosts.R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.or:R. Alleluia.Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,the princes and all the judges of the earth,Young men too, and maidens, old men and boys,R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.or:R. Alleluia.Praise the name of the LORD,for his name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven.R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.or:R. Alleluia.And he has lifted up the horn of his people.Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,from the children of Israel, the people close to him. Alleluia.R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia See 2 Thes 2:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia.God has called you through the GospelTo possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 17:22-27 As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee,Jesus said to them,"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."And they were overwhelmed with grief.When they came to Capernaum,the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,"Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?""Yes," he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak,Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon?From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?From their subjects or from foreigners?"When he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him,"Then the subjects are exempt.But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.Give that to them for me and for you." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious - - -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 Memorial of Saint Clare, VirginReading 1 1 Kgs 19:4-8 Elijah went a day's journey into the desert,until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death saying:"This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree,but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. Elijah looked and there at his head was a hearth cakeand a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again,but the angel of the LORD came back a second time,touched him, and ordered,"Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!" He got up, ate, and drank;then strengthened by that food,he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb. Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.I will bless the LORD at all times;his praise shall be ever in my mouth.Let my soul glory in the LORD;the lowly will hear me and be glad.R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.Glorify the LORD with me,Let us together extol his name.I sought the LORD, and he answered meAnd delivered me from all my fears.R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.Look to him that you may be radiant with joy.And your faces may not blush with shame.When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard,And from all his distress he saved him.R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.The angel of the LORD encampsaround those who fear him and delivers them.Taste and see how good the LORD is;blessed the man who takes refuge in him.R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Reading 2 Eph 4:30—5:2 Brothers and sisters:Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and revilingmust be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate,forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love,as Christ loved us and handed himself over for usas a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Alleluia Jn 6:51 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;whoever eats this bread will live forever.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:41-51 The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said,"I am the bread that came down from heaven, "and they said,"Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say,'I have come down from heaven'?" Jesus answered and said to them,"Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets:They shall all be taught by God.Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Fatherexcept the one who is from God;he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;this is the bread that comes down from heavenso that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven;whoever eats this bread will live forever;and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." - - -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 COR 9:6-10 Brothers and sisters: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9 R. (5) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.Blessed the man who fears the LORD,who greatly delights in his commands.His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;the upright generation shall be blessed.R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.Well for the man who is gracious and lends,who conducts his affairs with justice;He shall never be moved;the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.An evil report he shall not fear;his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.His heart is steadfast; he shall not feartill he looks down upon his foes.R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.Lavishly he gives to the poor, his generosity shall endure forever;his horn shall be exalted in glory.R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.   Alleluia JN 8:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever follows me will not walk in darknessbut will have the light of life, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel JN 12:24-26 Jesus said to his disciples:“Amen, amen, I say to you,unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,it remains just a grain of wheat;but if it dies, it produces much fruit.Whoever loves his life loses it,and whoever hates his life in this worldwill preserve it for eternal life.Whoever serves me must follow me,and where I am, there also will my servant be.The Father will honor whoever serves me.” - - -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 NA 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7 See, upon the mountains there advances the bearer of good news,  announcing peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah, fulfill your vows! For nevermore shall you be invaded by the scoundrel; he is completely destroyed. The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob, the pride of Israel, Though ravagers have ravaged them  and ruined the tendrils.Woe to the bloody city, all lies, full of plunder, whose looting never stops! The crack of the whip, the rumbling sounds of wheels; horses a-gallop, chariots bounding,  Cavalry charging, the flame of the sword, the flash of the spear, the many slain, the heaping corpses, the endless bodies to stumble upon! I will cast filth upon you, disgrace you and put you to shame; Till everyone who sees you runs from you, saying, “Nineveh is destroyed; who can pity her? Where can one find any to console her?” Responsorial Psalm DEUTERONOMY 32:35CD-36AB, 39ABCD, 41 R. (39c)  It is I who deal death and give life. Close at hand is the day of their disaster, and their doom is rushing upon them! Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people; on his servants he shall have pity. R. It is I who deal death and give life. “Learn then that I, I alone, am God, and there is no god besides me. It is I who bring both death and life, I who inflict wounds and heal them.” R. It is I who deal death and give life. I will sharpen my flashing sword, and my hand shall lay hold of my quiver, “With vengeance I will repay my foes and requite those who hate me.” R. It is I who deal death and give life.     Alleluia MATTHEW 5:10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness;for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel MT 16:24-28 Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin and Martyr - - -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.