Reading 1 Dn 9:4b-10 "Lord, great and awesome God,you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love youand observe your commandments!We have sinned, been wicked and done evil;we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.We have not obeyed your servants the prophets,who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes,our fathers, and all the people of the land.Justice, O Lord, is on your side;we are shamefaced even to this day:we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem,and all Israel, near and far,in all the countries to which you have scattered thembecause of their treachery toward you.O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers,for having sinned against you.But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!Yet we rebelled against youand paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God,to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets." Responsorial Psalm Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13 R. (see 103:10a) Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;may your compassion quickly come to us,for we are brought very low.R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.Help us, O God our savior,because of the glory of your name;Deliver us and pardon our sinsfor your name's sake.R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.Let the prisoners' sighing come before you;with your great power free those doomed to death.Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,will give thanks to you forever;through all generations we will declare your praise.R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins. Verse Before the Gospel See Jn 6:63c, 68c Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;you have the words of everlasting life. Gospel Lk 6:36-38 Jesus said to his disciples:"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."Stop judging and you will not be judged.Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.Forgive and you will be forgiven.Give and gifts will be given to you;a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,will be poured into your lap.For the measure with which you measurewill in return be measured out to you." - - - 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 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 God put Abraham to the test.He called to him, "Abraham!""Here I am!" he replied.Then God said:"Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah.There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you."When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven, "Abraham, Abraham!""Here I am!" he answered."Do not lay your hand on the boy," said the messenger."Do not do the least thing to him.I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son."As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said: "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earthshall find blessing—all this because you obeyed my command." Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19 R. (116:9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.I believed, even when I said,"I am greatly afflicted."Precious in the eyes of the LORDis the death of his faithful ones.R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.O LORD, I am your servant;I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;you have loosed my bonds.To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,and I will call upon the name of the LORD.R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.My vows to the LORD I will payin the presence of all his people,In the courts of the house of the LORD,in your midst, O Jerusalem.R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. Reading 2 Rom 8:31b-34 Brothers and sisters:If God is for us, who can be against us?He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones?It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?Christ Jesus it is who died—or, rather, was raised— who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Verse Before the Gospel Cf. Mt 17:5 From the shining cloud the Father's voice is heard:This is my beloved Son, listen to him. Gospel Mk 9:2-10 Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus.Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here!Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyonebut Jesus alone with them.As they were coming down from the mountain,he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. - - -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." - - -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 Optional Memorial of Saint Polycarp, bishop and martyrReading 1 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 waythat 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 Ps 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 attentiveto 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 LORDmore 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 kindnessand with him is plenteous redemption;And he will redeem Israelfrom 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 thatof 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 brotherwill 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 brotherhas 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." - - -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.