August 26, 2023

Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Ru 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 Naomi had a prominent kinsman named Boaz,of the clan of her husband Elimelech.Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi,"Let me go and glean ears of grain in the fieldof anyone who will allow me that favor."Naomi said to her, "Go, my daughter," and she went.The field she entered to glean after the harvestershappened to be the section belonging to Boazof the clan of Elimelech.Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter!Do not go to glean in anyone else's field;you are not to leave here.Stay here with my women servants.Watch to see which field is to be harvested, and follow them;I have commanded the young men to do you no harm.When you are thirsty, you may go and drink from the vesselsthe young men have filled."Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, Ruth said to him,"Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your notice?"Boaz answered her:"I have had a complete account of what you have donefor your mother-in-law after your husband's death;you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth,and have come to a people whom you did not know previously."Boaz took Ruth.When they came together as man and wife,the LORD enabled her to conceive and she bore a son.Then the women said to Naomi,"Blessed is the LORD who has not failedto provide you today with an heir!May he become famous in Israel!He will be your comfort and the support of your old age,for his mother is the daughter-in-law who loves you.She is worth more to you than seven sons!"Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became his nurse.And the neighbor women gave him his name,at the news that a grandson had been born to Naomi.They called him Obed.He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Responsorial Psalm Ps 128:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 R. (4) See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.Blessed are you who fear the LORD,who walk in his ways!For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;blessed shall you be, and favored.R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.You wife shall be like a fruitful vinein the recesses of your home;Your children like olive plantsaround your table.R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.Behold, thus is the man blessedwho fears the LORD.R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.The LORD bless you from Zion:may you see the prosperity of Jerusalemall the days of your life.R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him. Alleluia Mt 23:9b, 10b R. Alleluia, alleluia.You have but one Father in heaven;you have but one master, the Christ.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 23:1-12 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,"The scribes and the Phariseeshave taken their seat on the chair of Moses.Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,but do not follow their example.For they preach but they do not practice.They tie up heavy burdens hard to carryand lay them on people's shoulders,but they will not lift a finger to move them.All their works are performed to be seen.They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.Call no one on earth your father;you have but one Father in heaven.Do not be called 'Master';you have but one master, the Christ.The greatest among you must be your servant.Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." - - -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.
August 25, 2023

Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Ru 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22 Once in the time of the judges there was a famine in the land;so a man from Bethlehem of Judahdeparted with his wife and two sonsto reside on the plateau of Moab.Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died,and she was left with her two sons, who married Moabite women,one named Orpah, the other Ruth.When they had lived there about ten years,both Mahlon and Chilion died also,and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband.She then made ready to go back from the plateau of Moabbecause word reached her therethat the LORD had visited his people and given them food.Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her.Naomi said, "See now! Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god.Go back after your sister-in-law!"But Ruth said, "Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you!For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge,your people shall be my people, and your God my God."Thus it was that Naomi returnedwith the Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth,who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab.They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:5-6ab, 6c-7, 8-9a, 9bc-10 R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the LORD, his God,Who made heaven and earth,the sea and all that is in them.R. Praise the Lord, my soul!The LORD keeps faith forever,secures justice for the oppressed,gives food to the hungry.The LORD sets captives free.R. Praise the Lord, my soul!The LORD gives sight to the blind.The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;The LORD loves the just.The LORD protects strangers.R. Praise the Lord, my soul!The fatherless and the widow he sustains,but the way of the wicked he thwarts.The LORD shall reign forever;your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.R. Praise the Lord, my soul! Alleluia Ps 25:4b, 5a R. Alleluia, alleluia.Teach me your paths, my God,guide me in your truth.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 22:34-40 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,they gathered together, and one of them,a scholar of the law, tested him by asking,"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"He said to him,"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,with all your soul, and with all your mind.This is the greatest and the first commandment.The second is like it:You shall love your neighbor as yourself.The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Louis of FranceReadings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Joseph Calasanz, priest - - -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.
August 24, 2023

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Reading 1 Rv 21:9b-14 The angel spoke to me, saying,"Come here.I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."He took me in spirit to a great, high mountainand showed me the holy city Jerusalemcoming down out of heaven from God.It gleamed with the splendor of God.Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,like jasper, clear as crystal.It had a massive, high wall,with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationedand on which names were inscribed,the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.There were three gates facing east,three north, three south, and three west.The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,on which were inscribed the twelve namesof the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18 R. (12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.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. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.Making 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. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.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. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Alleluia Jn 1:49b R. Alleluia, alleluia.Rabbi, you are the Son of God;you are the King of Israel.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 1:45-51 Philip found Nathanael and told him,"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth."But Nathanael said to him,"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"Philip said to him, "Come and see."Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,"Here is a true child of Israel.There is no duplicity in him."Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him,"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."Nathanael answered him,"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."Jesus answered and said to him,"Do you believebecause I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?You will see greater things than this."And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,you will see heaven opened and the angels of Godascending and descending on the Son of Man." - - -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.
August 23, 2023

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jgs 9:6-15 All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came togetherand proceeded to make Abimelech kingby the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem.When this was reported to him,Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim and, standing there,cried out to them in a loud voice:"Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you!Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves.So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'But the olive tree answered them, 'Must I give up my rich oil,whereby men and gods are honored,and go to wave over the trees?'Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come; you reign over us!'But the fig tree answered them,'Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit,and go to wave over the trees?'Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.'But the vine answered them,'Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men,and go to wave over the trees?'Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you reign over us!'But the buckthorn replied to the trees,'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith,come and take refuge in my shadow.Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthornand devour the cedars of Lebanon.'" Responsorial Psalm Ps 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;in your victory how greatly he rejoices!You have granted him his heart's desire;you refused not the wish of his lips.R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.He asked life of you: you gave him length of days forever and ever.R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.Great is his glory in your victory;majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.You made him a blessing forever,you gladdened him with the joy of your face.R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad. Alleluia Heb 4:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.The word of God is living and effective,able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 20:1-16 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,he 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,he 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." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Rose of Lima, 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.