Reading 1 Dn 2:31-45 Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar:"In your vision, O king, you saw a statue,very large and exceedingly bright,terrifying in appearance as it stood before you.The head of the statue was pure gold,its chest and arms were silver,its belly and thighs bronze, the legs iron,its feet partly iron and partly tile.While you looked at the statue,a stone which was hewn from a mountainwithout a hand being put to it,struck its iron and tile feet, breaking them in pieces.The iron, tile, bronze, silver, and gold all crumbled at once,fine as the chaff on the threshing floor in summer,and the wind blew them away without leaving a trace.But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountainand filled the whole earth."This was the dream;the interpretation we shall also give in the king's presence.You, O king, are the king of kings;to you the God of heavenhas given dominion and strength, power and glory;men, wild beasts, and birds of the air, wherever they may dwell,he has handed over to you, making you ruler over them all;you are the head of gold.Another kingdom shall take your place, inferior to yours,then a third kingdom, of bronze,which shall rule over the whole earth.There shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron;it shall break in pieces and subdue all these others,just as iron breaks in pieces and crushes everything else.The feet and toes you saw, partly of potter's tile and partly of iron,mean that it shall be a divided kingdom,but yet have some of the hardness of iron.As you saw the iron mixed with clay tile,and the toes partly iron and partly tile,the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.The iron mixed with clay tilemeans that they shall seal their alliances by intermarriage,but they shall not stay united, any more than iron mixes with clay.In the lifetime of those kingsthe God of heaven will set up a kingdomthat shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people;rather, it shall break in pieces all these kingdomsand put an end to them, and it shall stand forever.That is the meaning of the stone you saw hewn from the mountainwithout a hand being put to it,which broke in pieces the tile, iron, bronze, silver, and gold.The great God has revealed to the king what shall be in the future;this is exactly what you dreamed, and its meaning is sure." Responsorial Psalm Dn 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61 R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him."Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,praise and exalt him above all forever."R. Give glory and eternal praise to him."Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord,praise and exalt him above all forever."R. Give glory and eternal praise to him."You heavens, bless the Lord,praise and exalt him above all forever."R. Give glory and eternal praise to him."All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord,praise and exalt him above all forever."R. Give glory and eternal praise to him."All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord;praise and exalt him above all forever."R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. Alleluia Rev 2:10c R. Alleluia, alleluia.Remain faithful until death,And I will give you the crown of life.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 21:5-11 While some people were speaking abouthow the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,Jesus said, "All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be lefta stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."Then they asked him,"Teacher, when will this happen?And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered,"See that you not be deceived,for many will come in my name, saying,'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections,do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them,"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plaguesfrom place to place;and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky." - - -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 1:1-6, 8-20 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon cameand laid siege to Jerusalem.The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah,and some of the vessels of the temple of God;he carried them off to the land of Shinar,and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain,to bring in some of the children of Israel of royal bloodand of the nobility, young men without any defect,handsome, intelligent and wise,quick to learn, and prudent in judgment,such as could take their place in the king's palace;they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans;after three years' training they were to enter the king's service.The king allotted them a daily portion of food and winefrom the royal table.Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah,Mishael, and Azariah.But Daniel was resolved not to defile himselfwith the king's food or wine;so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement.Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathyof the chief chamberlain, he nevertheless said to Daniel,"I am afraid of my lord the king;it is he who allotted your food and drink.If he sees that you look wretchedby comparison with the other young men of your age,you will endanger my life with the king."Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlainhad put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,Mishael, and Azariah,"Please test your servants for ten days.Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.Then see how we look in comparison with the other young menwho eat from the royal table,and treat your servants according to what you see."He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days;after ten days they looked healthier and better fedthan any of the young men who ate from the royal table.So the steward continued to take awaythe food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiencyin all literature and science,and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation,the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.When the king had spoken with all of them,none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah,Mishael, and Azariah;and so they entered the king's service.In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them,he found them ten times betterthan all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom. Responsorial Psalm Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever!"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;And blessed is your holy and glorious name,praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages."R. Glory and praise for ever!"Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,praiseworthy and glorious above all forever."R. Glory and praise for ever!"Blessed are you on the throne of your Kingdom,praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."R. Glory and praise for ever!"Blessed are you who look into the depthsfrom your throne upon the cherubim,praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."R. Glory and praise for ever!"Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,praiseworthy and glorious forever."R. Glory and praise for ever! Alleluia Mt 24:42a, 44 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Stay awake!For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 21:1-4 When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy peopleputting their offerings into the treasuryand he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.He said, "I tell you truly,this poor widow put in more than all the rest;for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood." - - -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 Ez 34:11-12, 15-17 Thus says the Lord GOD:I myself will look after and tend my sheep. As a shepherd tends his flockwhen he finds himself among his scattered sheep,so will I tend my sheep.I will rescue them from every place where they were scatteredwhen it was cloudy and dark. I myself will pasture my sheep;I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out,the strayed I will bring back,the injured I will bind up,the sick I will heal,but the sleek and the strong I will destroy,shepherding them rightly.As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD,I will judge between one sheep and another,between rams and goats. Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6 R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.In verdant pastures he gives me repose.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.Beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.He guides me in right pathsfor his name's sake.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.Only goodness and kindness follow meall the days of my life;and I shall dwell in the house of the LORDfor years to come.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Reading 2 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28 Brothers and sisters:Christ has been raised from the dead,the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man,the resurrection of the dead came also through man.For just as in Adam all die,so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,but each one in proper order:Christ the firstfruits;then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;then comes the end,when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father,when he has destroyed every sovereigntyand every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.When everything is subjected to him,then the Son himself will also be subjectedto the one who subjected everything to him,so that God may be all in all. Alleluia Mk 11:9, 10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 25:31-46 Jesus said to his disciples:"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,and all the angels with him,he will sit upon his glorious throne,and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another,as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right,'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food,I was thirsty and you gave me drink,a stranger and you welcomed me,naked and you clothed me,ill and you cared for me,in prison and you visited me.'Then the righteous will answer him and say,'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'And the king will say to them in reply,'Amen, I say to you, whatever you didfor one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.'Then he will say to those on his left,'Depart from me, you accursed,into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.For I was hungry and you gave me no food,I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,a stranger and you gave me no welcome,naked and you gave me no clothing,ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'Then they will answer and say,'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirstyor a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,and not minister to your needs?'He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you,what you did not do for one of these least ones,you did not do for me.'And these will go off to eternal punishment,but the righteous to eternal life." - - -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 1 Mc 6:1-13 As King Antiochus was traversing the inland provinces,he heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais,famous for its wealth in silver and gold,and that its temple was very rich,containing gold helmets, breastplates, and weaponsleft there by Alexander, son of Philip,king of Macedon, the first king of the Greeks.He went therefore and tried to capture and pillage the city.But he could not do so,because his plan became known to the people of the citywho rose up in battle against him.So he retreated and in great dismay withdrew from thereto return to Babylon.While he was in Persia, a messenger brought him newsthat the armies sent into the land of Judah had been put to flight;that Lysias had gone at first with a strong armyand been driven back by the children of Israel;that they had grown strongby reason of the arms, men, and abundant possessionstaken from the armies they had destroyed;that they had pulled down the Abominationwhich he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem;and that they had surrounded with high wallsboth the sanctuary, as it had been before,and his city of Beth-zur.When the king heard this news,he was struck with fear and very much shaken.Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed.There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow,for he knew he was going to die.So he called in all his Friends and said to them:"Sleep has departed from my eyes,for my heart is sinking with anxiety.I said to myself: 'Into what tribulation have I come,and in what floods of sorrow am I now!Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.'But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem,when I carried away all the vessels of gold and silverthat were in it, and for no causegave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed.I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me;and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land." Responsorial Psalm Ps 9:2-3, 4 and 6, 16 and 19 R. (see 16a) I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;I will declare all your wondrous deeds.I will be glad and exult in you;I will sing praise to your name, Most High.R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.Because my enemies are turned back,overthrown and destroyed before you.You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;their name you blotted out forever and ever.R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.The nations are sunk in the pit they have made;in the snare they set, their foot is caught.For the needy shall not always be forgotten,nor shall the hope of the afflicted forever perish.R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord. Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed deathand brought life to light through the Gospel.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 20:27-40 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,"Teacher, Moses wrote for us,If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child,his brother must take the wifeand raise up descendants for his brother.Now there were seven brothers;the first married a woman but died childless.Then the second and the third married her,and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?For all seven had been married to her."Jesus said to them,"The children of this age marry and remarry;but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming ageand to the resurrection of the deadneither marry nor are given in marriage.They can no longer die,for they are like angels;and they are the children of Godbecause they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will riseeven Moses made known in the passage about the bush,when he called 'Lord'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,for to him all are alive." Some of the scribes said in reply,"Teacher, you have answered well."And they no longer dared to ask him anything. Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, 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.