Reading 1 Sir 48:1-4, 9-11 In those days,like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijahwhose words were as a flaming furnace.Their staff of bread he shattered,in his zeal he reduced them to straits;By the Lord's word he shut up the heavensand three times brought down fire.How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!Whose glory is equal to yours?You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,in a chariot with fiery horses.You were destined, it is written, in time to cometo put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship. Responsorial Psalm Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19 R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.O shepherd of Israel, hearken,From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.Rouse your power.R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.Once again, O LORD of hosts,look down from heaven, and see;Take care of this vine,and protect what your right hand has plantedthe son of man whom you yourself made strong.R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.May your help be with the man of your right hand,with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.Then we will no more withdraw from you;give us new life, and we will call upon your name.R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. Alleluia Lk 3:4, 6 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:All flesh shall see the salvation of God.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 17:9a, 10-13 As they were coming down from the mountain,the disciples asked Jesus,"Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;but I tell you that Elijah has already come,and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands."Then the disciples understoodthat he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. - - - 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 Is 48:17-19 Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,the Holy One of Israel:I, the LORD, your God,teach you what is for your good,and lead you on the way you should go.If you would hearken to my commandments,your prosperity would be like a river,and your vindication like the waves of the sea;Your descendants would be like the sand,and those born of your stock like its grains,Their name never cut offor blotted out from my presence. Responsorial Psalm Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 R. (see John 8:12) Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.Blessed the man who follows notthe counsel of the wickedNor walks in the way of sinners,nor sits in the company of the insolent,But delights in the law of the LORDand meditates on his law day and night.R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.He is like a treeplanted near running water,That yields its fruit in due season,and whose leaves never fade.Whatever he does, prospers.R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.Not so the wicked, not so;they are like chaff which the wind drives away.For the LORD watches over the way of the just,but the way of the wicked vanishes.R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life. Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Lord will come; go out to meet him!He is the prince of peace.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 11:16-19 Jesus said to the crowds:"To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by her works." - - - 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 John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the ChurchReading 1 Is 41:13-20 I am the LORD, your God,who grasp your right hand;It is I who say to you, "Fear not,I will help you."Fear not, O worm Jacob,O maggot Israel;I will help you, says the LORD;your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.I will make of you a threshing sledge,sharp, new, and double-edged,To thresh the mountains and crush them,to make the hills like chaff.When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them offand the storm shall scatter them.But you shall rejoice in the LORD,and glory in the Holy One of Israel.The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,their tongues are parched with thirst.I, the LORD, will answer them;I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.I will open up rivers on the bare heights,and fountains in the broad valleys;I will turn the desert into a marshland,and the dry ground into springs of water.I will plant in the desert the cedar,acacia, myrtle, and olive;I will set in the wasteland the cypress,together with the plane tree and the pine,That all may see and know,observe and understand,That the hand of the LORD has done this,the Holy One of Israel has created it. Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab R. (8) The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.I will extol you, O my God and King,and I will bless your name forever and ever.The LORD is good to alland compassionate toward all his works.R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,and let your faithful ones bless you.Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdomand speak of your might.R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.Let them make known to men your mightand the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,and your dominion endures through all generations.R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness. Alleluia See Is 45:8 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Let the clouds rain down the Just One,and the earth bring forth a Savior.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 11:11-15 Jesus said to the crowds:"Amen, I say to you,among those born of womenthere has been none greater than John the Baptist;yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now,the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it,he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear." - - -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 Lucy, virgin and martyrReading 1 Is 40:25-31 To whom can you liken me as an equal?says the Holy One.Lift up your eyes on highand see who has created these things:He leads out their army and numbers them,calling them all by name.By his great might and the strength of his powernot one of them is missing!Why, O Jacob, do you say,and declare, O Israel,"My way is hidden from the LORD,and my right is disregarded by my God"?Do you not knowor have you not heard?The LORD is the eternal God,creator of the ends of the earth.He does not faint nor grow weary,and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.He gives strength to the fainting;for the weak he makes vigor abound.Though young men faint and grow weary,and youths stagger and fall,They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,they will soar as with eagles' wings;They will run and not grow weary,walk and not grow faint. Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10 R. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul!Bless the LORD, O my soul;and all my being, bless his holy name.Bless the LORD, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits. R. O bless the Lord, my soul!He pardons all your iniquities,he heals all your ills.He redeems your life from destruction,he crowns you with kindness and compassion.R. O bless the Lord, my soul!Merciful and gracious is the LORD,slow to anger and abounding in kindness.Not according to our sins does he deal with us,nor does he requite us according to our crimes.R. O bless the Lord, my soul! Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;blessed are those prepared to meet him.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 11:28-30 Jesus said to the crowds:"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am meek and humble of heart;and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." - - -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.