Reading 1 Ezr 1:1-6 In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom, both by word of mouth and in writing: "Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: 'All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him! Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt, be assisted by the people of that place with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, together with free-will offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.'" Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and Levites– everyone, that is, whom God had inspired to do so– prepared to go up to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. All their neighbors gave them help in every way, with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, and with many precious gifts besides all their free-will offerings. Responsorial Psalm Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 R. (3) The Lord has done marvels for us.When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,we were like men dreaming.Then our mouth was filled with laughter,and our tongue with rejoicing.R. The Lord has done marvels for us.Then they said among the nations,"The LORD has done great things for them."The LORD has done great things for us;we are glad indeed.R. The Lord has done marvels for us.Restore our fortunes, O LORD,like the torrents in the southern desert.Those that sow in tearsshall reap rejoicing.R. The Lord has done marvels for us.Although they go forth weeping,carrying the seed to be sown,They shall come back rejoicing,carrying their sheaves.R. The Lord has done marvels for us. Alleluia Mt 5:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Let your light shine before others,that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 8:16-18 Jesus said to the crowd:"No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vesselor sets it under a bed;rather, he places it on a lampstandso that those who enter may see the light.For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.Take care, then, how you hear.To anyone who has, more will be given,and from the one who has not,even what he seems to have will be taken away." - - -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 55:6-9 Seek the LORD while he may be found,call him while he is near.Let the scoundrel forsake his way,and the wicked his thoughts;let him turn to the LORD for mercy;to our God, who is generous in forgiving.For my thoughts are not your thoughts,nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.As high as the heavens are above the earth,so high are my ways above your waysand my thoughts above your thoughts. Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 R. (18a) The Lord is near to all who call upon him.Every day will I bless you,and I will praise your name forever and ever.Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;his greatness is unsearchable.R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.The LORD is gracious and merciful,slow to anger and of great kindness.The LORD is good to alland compassionate toward all his works.R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.The LORD is just in all his waysand holy in all his works.The LORD is near to all who call upon him,to all who call upon him in truth.R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him. Reading 2 Phil 1:20c-24, 27a Brothers and sisters:Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh,that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ,for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the fleshis more necessary for your benefit.Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ. Alleluia Cf. Acts 16:14b R. Alleluia, alleluia.Open our hearts, O Lord,to listen to the words of your Son.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 20:1-16a Jesus told his disciples this parable:"The kingdom of heaven is like a landownerwho went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock,the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace,and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard,and I will give you what is just.'So they went off. And he went out again around noon,and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock,the landowner found others standing around, and said to them,'Why do you stand here idle all day?'They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.'He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,'Summon the laborers and give them their pay,beginning with the last and ending with the first.'When those who had started about five o'clock came,each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,'These last ones worked only one hour,and you have made them equal to us,who bore the day's burden and the heat.'He said to one of them in reply,'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?'Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last." - - - 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 Pius of Pietrelcina, priestReading 1 1 Tm 6:13-16 Beloved:I charge you before God, who gives life to all things,and before Christ Jesus,who gave testimony under Pontius Pilatefor the noble confession,to keep the commandment without stain or reproachuntil the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christthat the blessed and only rulerwill make manifest at the proper time,the King of kings and Lord of lords,who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,and whom no human being has seen or can see.To him be honor and eternal power. Amen. Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 R. (2) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.Sing joyfully to the LORD all you lands;serve the LORD with gladness;come before him with joyful song.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.Know that the LORD is God;he made us, his we are;his people, the flock he tends.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.Enter his gates with thanksgiving,his courts with praise;Give thanks to him; bless his name.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.For he is good:the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,and his faithfulness, to all generations.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord. Alleluia See Lk 8:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heartand yield a harvest through perseverance.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 8:4-15 When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after anotherjourneying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. "A sower went out to sow his seed.And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled,and the birds of the sky ate it up.Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew,it withered for lack of moisture.Some seed fell among thorns,and the thorns grew with it and choked it.And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,it produced fruit a hundredfold."After saying this, he called out,"Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."Then his disciples asked himwhat the meaning of this parable might be.He answered,"Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of Godhas been granted to you;but to the rest, they are made known through parablesso that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand."This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God.Those on the path are the ones who have heard,but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their heartsthat they may not believe and be saved.Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear,receive the word with joy, but they have no root;they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.As for the seed that fell among thorns,they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along,they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit.But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,they are the ones who, when they have heard the word,embrace it with a generous and good heart,and bear fruit through perseverance." - - -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 Tm 6:2c-12 Beloved:Teach and urge these things.Whoever teaches something differentand does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christand the religious teachingis conceited, understanding nothing,and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,who are deprived of the truth,supposing religion to be a means of gain.Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.For we brought nothing into the world,just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trapand into many foolish and harmful desires,which plunge them into ruin and destruction.For the love of money is the root of all evils,and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faithand have pierced themselves with many pains.But you, man of God, avoid all this.Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,faith, love, patience, and gentleness.Compete well for the faith.Lay hold of eternal life,to which you were called when you made the noble confessionin the presence of many witnesses. Responsorial Psalm Ps 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20 R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!Why should I fear in evil dayswhen my wicked ensnarers ring me round?They trust in their wealth;the abundance of their riches is their boast.R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,or pay his own ransom to God;Too high is the price to redeem one's life; he would never have enoughto remain alive always and not see destruction.R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!Fear not when a man grows rich,when the wealth of his house becomes great,For when he dies, he shall take none of it;his wealth shall not follow him down.R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,"They will praise you for doing well for yourself,"He shall join the circle of his forebearswho shall never more see light.R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs! 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 Lk 8:1-3 Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.Accompanying him were the Twelveand some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza,Susanna, and many otherswho provided for them out of their resources. - - -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.