Reading 1 2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17 The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him,Nathan said: "Judge this case for me!In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought.He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children.She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom.She was like a daughter to him.Now, the rich man received a visitor, but he would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him.Instead he took the poor man's ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor."David grew very angry with that man and said to him: "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death!He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this and has had no pity."Then Nathan said to David: "You are the man!Thus says the LORD God of Israel:'The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.'Thus says the LORD:'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house.I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor.He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.'"Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."Nathan answered David: "The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin:you shall not die.But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die."Then Nathan returned to his house.The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill.David besought God for the child.He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them. Responsorial Psalm PS 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17 R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.A clean heart create for me, O God,and a steadfast spirit renew within me.Cast me not out from your presence,and your Holy Spirit take not from me.R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.Give me back the joy of your salvation,and a willing spirit sustain in me.I will teach transgressors your ways,and sinners shall return to you.R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;then my tongue shall revel in your justice.O Lord, open my lips,and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.R. Create a clean heart in me, O God. Alleluia JN 3:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 4:35-41 On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:"Let us cross to the other side."Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.And other boats were with him.A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,so that it was already filling up.Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.They woke him and said to him,"Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"He woke up,rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!"The wind ceased and there was great calm.Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified?Do you not yet have faith?"They were filled with great awe and said to one another,"Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?" Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Angela Merici, virgin - - -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 Saints Timothy and Titus, bishopsReading 1 2 Tm 1:1-8 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of Godfor the promise of life in Christ Jesus,to Timothy, my dear child:grace, mercy, and peace from God the Fatherand Christ Jesus our Lord.I am grateful to God,whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faiththat first lived in your grandmother Loisand in your mother Euniceand that I am confident lives also in you.For this reason, I remind you to stir into flamethe gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.For God did not give us a spirit of cowardicebut rather of power and love and self-control.So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;but bear your share of hardship for the Gospelwith the strength that comes from God.orTi 1:1-5Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christfor the sake of the faith of God's chosen onesand the recognition of religious truth,in the hope of eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before time began,who indeed at the proper time revealed his wordin the proclamation with which I was entrustedby the command of God our savior,to Titus, my true child in our common faith:grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.For this reason I left you in Creteso that you might set right what remains to be doneand appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you. Responsorial Psalm PS 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10 R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.Sing to the LORD a new song;sing to the LORD, all you lands.Sing to the LORD; bless his name.R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.Announce his salvation, day after day.Tell his glory among the nations;among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.Give to the LORD, you families of nations,give to the LORD glory and praise;give to the LORD the glory due his name!R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.Say among the nations: The LORD is king.He has made the world firm, not to be moved;he governs the peoples with equity.R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations. Alleluia SEE 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 Mk 4:26-34 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” He said, “To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.   - - -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 Acts 22:3-16 Paul addressed the people in these words: "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well. "On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' I replied, 'Who are you, sir?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.' My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. I asked, 'What shall I do, sir?' The Lord answered me, 'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.' Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus. "A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law, and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me and stood there and said, 'Saul, my brother, regain your sight.' And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.'" orActs 9:1-22 Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He said, "Who are you, sir?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight." But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name." So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. All who heard him were astounded and said, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests?" But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. Responsorial Psalm PS 117:1bc, 2 R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.or:R. Alleluia, alleluia.Praise the LORD, all you nations;glorify him, all you peoples!R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.or:R. Alleluia, alleluia.For steadfast is his kindness toward us,and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.or:R. Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia See Jn 15:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I chose you from the world,To go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 16:15-18 Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:"Go into the whole worldand proclaim the Gospel to every creature.Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;whoever does not believe will be condemned.These signs will accompany those who believe:in my name they will drive out demons,they will speak new languages.They will pick up serpents with their hands,and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." - - -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 Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the ChurchReading 1 2 Sm 7:4-17 That night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:"Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD:Should you build me a house to dwell in?I have not dwelt in a house from the day on which I led the children of Israel out of Egypt to the present, but I have been going about in a tent under cloth.In all my wanderings everywhere among the children of Israel, did I ever utter a word to any one of the judges whom I charged to tend my people Israel, to ask: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'"Now then, speak thus to my servant David, 'The LORD of hosts has this to say: It was I who took you from the pastureand from the care of the flockto be commander of my people Israel.I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their placewithout further disturbance.Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.I will give you rest from all your enemies.The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his Kingdom firm.It is he who shall build a house for my name.And I will make his royal throne firm forever.I will be a father to him,and he shall be a son to me.And if he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of menand with human chastisements; but I will not withdraw my favor from him as I withdrew it from your predecessor Saul, whom I removed from my presence.Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.'"Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David. Responsorial Psalm PS 89:4-5, 27-28, 29-30 R. (29a) For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.“I have made a covenant with my chosen one;I have sworn to David my servant:I will make your dynasty stand foreverand establish your throne through all ages.”R. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. “He shall cry to me, ‘You are my father,my God, the Rock that brings me victory!’I myself make him firstborn,Most High over the kings of the earth.”R. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.“Forever I will maintain my love for him;my covenant with him stands firm.I will establish his dynasty forever,his throne as the days of the heavens.”R. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. Alleluia R.  Alleluia, alleluia.The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;all who come to him will live forever.R.  Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 4:1-20 On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea.A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down.And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, "Hear this! A sower went out to sow.And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil.It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain.And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables.He answered them, "The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.But to those outside everything comes in parables, so thatthey may look and see but not perceive,and hear and listen but not understand,in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven."Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?Then how will you understand any of the parables?The sower sows the word.These are the ones on the path where the word is sown.As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them.And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.But they have no roots; they last only for a time.Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.Those sown among thorns are another sort.They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept itand bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold." - - -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.