October 15, 2023

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the ChurchReading 1 Is 25:6-10a On this mountain the LORD of hostswill provide for all peoplesa feast of rich food and choice wines,juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.On this mountain he will destroythe veil that veils all peoples,the web that is woven over all nations;he will destroy death forever.The Lord GOD will wipe awaythe tears from every face;the reproach of his people he will removefrom the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.On that day it will be said:"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!This is the LORD for whom we looked;let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.In verdant pastures he gives me repose;beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.He guides me in right pathsfor his name's sake.Even though I walk in the dark valleyI fear no evil; for you are at my sidewith your rod and your staffthat give me courage.R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.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. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Reading 2 Phil 4:12-14, 19-20 Brothers and sisters:I know how to live in humble circumstances;I know also how to live with abundance.In every circumstance and in all thingsI have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.My God will fully supply whatever you need,in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen. Alleluia Cf. Eph 1:17-18 R. Alleluia, alleluia.May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christenlighten the eyes of our hearts,so that we may know what is the hopethat belongs to our call.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 22:1-14 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a kingwho gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servantsto summon the invited guests to the feast,but they refused to come.A second time he sent other servants, saying,'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,my calves and fattened cattle are killed,and everything is ready; come to the feast."'Some ignored the invitation and went away,one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants,mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops,destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roadsand invite to the feast whomever you find.'The servants went out into the streetsand gathered all they found, bad and good alike,and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests,he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is itthat you came in here without a wedding garment?'But he was reduced to silence.Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,and cast him into the darkness outside,where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'Many are invited, but few are chosen." or Mt 22:1-10 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the peoplein parables, saying,"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a kingwho gave a wedding feast for his son.He dispatched his servantsto summon the invited guests to the feast,but they refused to come.A second time he sent other servants, saying,'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,my calves and fattened cattle are killed,and everything is ready; come to the feast."'Some ignored the invitation and went away,one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants,mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops,destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roadsand invite to the feast whomever you find.'The servants went out into the streetsand gathered all they found, bad and good alike,and the hall was filled with guests." - - -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.
October 14, 2023

Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jl 4:12-21 Thus says the LORD:Let the nations bestir themselves and come upto the Valley of Jehoshaphat;For there will I sit in judgmentupon all the neighboring nations.Apply the sickle,for the harvest is ripe;Come and tread,for the wine press is full;The vats overflow,for great is their malice.Crowd upon crowdin the valley of decision;For near is the day of the LORDin the valley of decision.Sun and moon are darkened,and the stars withhold their brightness.The LORD roars from Zion,and from Jerusalem raises his voice;The heavens and the earth quake,but the LORD is a refuge to his people,a stronghold to the children of Israel.Then shall you know that I, the LORD, am your God,dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain;Jerusalem shall be holy,and strangers shall pass through her no more.And then, on that day,the mountains shall drip new wine,and the hills shall flow with milk;And the channels of Judahshall flow with water:A fountain shall issue from the house of the LORD,to water the Valley of Shittim.Egypt shall be a waste,and Edom a desert waste,Because of violence done to the people of Judah,because they shed innocent blood in their land.But Judah shall abide forever,and Jerusalem for all generations.I will avenge their blood,and not leave it unpunished.The LORD dwells in Zion. Responsorial Psalm Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;let the many isles be glad.Clouds and darkness are round about him,justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,before the LORD of all the earth.The heavens proclaim his justice,and all peoples see his glory.R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!Light dawns for the just;and gladness, for the upright of heart.Be glad in the LORD, you just,and give thanks to his holy name.R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just! Alleluia Lk 11:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are those who hear the word of Godand observe it.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 11:27-28 While Jesus was speaking,a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,"Blessed is the womb that carried youand the breasts at which you nursed."He replied, "Rather, blessed are thosewho hear the word of God and observe it." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Callistus I, pope 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.
October 13, 2023

Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Reading I Jl 1:13-15; 2:1-2 Gird yourselves and weep, O priests!     wail, O ministers of the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth,     O ministers of my God! The house of your God is deprived     of offering and libation. Proclaim a fast,     call an assembly; Gather the elders,     all who dwell in the land, Into the house of the LORD, your God,     and cry to the LORD! Alas, the day!     for near is the day of the LORD,     and it comes as ruin from the Almighty. Blow the trumpet in Zion,     sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble,     for the day of the LORD is coming; Yes, it is near, a day of darkness and of gloom,     a day of clouds and somberness! Like dawn spreading over the mountains,     a people numerous and mighty! Their like has not been from of old,     nor will it be after them,     even to the years of distant generations. Responsorial Psalm 9:2-3, 6 and 16, 8-9 R.    (9) The Lord will judge the world with justice. 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.    The Lord will judge the world with justice. You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;     their name you blotted out forever and ever. The nations are sunk in the pit they have made;     in the snare they set, their foot is caught. R.    The Lord will judge the world with justice. But the LORD sits enthroned forever;     he has set up his throne for judgment. He judges the world with justice;     he governs the peoples with equity. R.    The Lord will judge the world with justice. Alleluia Jn 12:31b-32 R. Alleluia, alleluia. The prince of this world will now be cast out, and when I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all to myself, says the Lord. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 11:15-26 When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. “When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.” - - -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.
October 12, 2023

Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Mal 3:13-20b You have defied me in word, says the LORD,yet you ask, "What have we spoken against you?"You have said, "It is vain to serve God,and what do we profit by keeping his command,And going about in penitential dressin awe of the LORD of hosts?Rather must we call the proud blessed;for indeed evildoers prosper,and even tempt God with impunity."Then they who fear the LORD spoke with one another,and the LORD listened attentively;And a record book was written before himof those who fear the LORD and trust in his name.And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts,my own special possession, on the day I take action.And I will have compassion on them,as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.Then you will again see the distinctionbetween the just and the wicked;Between the one who serves God,and the one who does not serve him.For lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,And the day that is coming will set them on fire,leaving them neither root nor branch,says the LORD of hosts.But for you who fear my name, there will arisethe sun of justice with its healing rays. Responsorial Psalm Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 R. (Ps 40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.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. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.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. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.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. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. Alleluia See Acts 16:14b R. Alleluia, alleluia.Open our hearts, O Lord,to listen to the words of your Son.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 11:5-13 Jesus said to his disciples:"Suppose one of you has a friendto whom he goes at midnight and says,'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journeyand I have nothing to offer him,'and he says in reply from within,'Do not bother me; the door has already been lockedand my children and I are already in bed.I cannot get up to give you anything.'I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loavesbecause of their friendship,he will get up to give him whatever he needsbecause of his persistence."And I tell you, ask and you will receive;seek and you will find;knock and the door will be opened to you.For everyone who asks, receives;and the one who seeks, finds;and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.What father among you would hand his son a snakewhen he asks for a fish?Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?If you then, who are wicked,know how to give good gifts to your children,how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spiritto those who ask him?" - - -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.