The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day. Reading I Wis 3:1-9 The souls of the just are in the hand of God,     and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;     and their passing away was thought an affliction     and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished,     yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,     because God tried them     and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them,     and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine,     and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,     and the Lord shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth,     and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,     and his care is with his elect. Responsorial Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 R.    (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or: R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. 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.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or: R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. He guides me in right paths     for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley     I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff     that give me courage. R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or: R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. You spread the table before me     in 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. or: R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. Only goodness and kindness follow me     all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD     for years to come. R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or: R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. Reading II Rom 6:3-9 Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus  were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,  so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead  by the glory of the Father,  we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his,  we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him,  so that our sinful body might be done away with,  that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. Alleluia Mt 25:34 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:37-40 Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” - - -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 Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,holding the seal of the living God.He cried out in a loud voice to the four angelswho were given power to damage the land and the sea,"Do not damage the land or the sea or the treesuntil we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,one hundred and forty-four thousand markedfrom every tribe of the children of Israel.After this I had a vision of a great multitude,which no one could count,from every nation, race, people, and tongue.They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.They cried out in a loud voice:"Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,and from the Lamb."All the angels stood around the throneand around the elders and the four living creatures.They prostrated themselves before the throne,worshiped God, and exclaimed:"Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,honor, power, and mightbe to our God forever and ever. Amen."Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,"Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?"I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who knows."He said to me,"These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;they have washed their robesand made them white in the Blood of the Lamb." Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;the world and those who dwell in it.For he founded it upon the seasand established it upon the rivers.R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?or who may stand in his holy place?One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,who desires not what is vain.R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,a reward from God his savior.Such is the race that seeks him,that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face. Reading 2 1 Jn 3:1-3 Beloved:See what love the Father has bestowed on usthat we may be called the children of God.Yet so we are.The reason the world does not know usis that it did not know him.Beloved, we are God's children now;what we shall be has not yet been revealed.We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,for we shall see him as he is.Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,as he is pure. Alleluia Mt 11:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,And I will give you rest, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:1-12a When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:"Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.Blessed are they who mourn,for they will be comforted.Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the land.Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be satisfied.Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.Blessed are the clean of heart,for they will see God.Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children of God.Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute youand utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.Rejoice and be glad,for your reward will be great in heaven." - - -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 Rom 8:18-25 Brothers and sisters:I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothingcompared with the glory to be revealed for us.For creation awaits with eager expectationthe revelation of the children of God;for creation was made subject to futility,not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it,in hope that creation itselfwould be set free from slavery to corruptionand share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;and not only that, but we ourselves,who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,we also groan within ourselvesas we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.For in hope we were saved.Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees?But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. Responsorial Psalm Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 R. (3a) 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 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 13:18-21 Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like?To what can I compare it?It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.When it was fully grown, it became a large bushand the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches."Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?It is like yeast that a woman tookand mixed in with three measures of wheat flouruntil the whole batch of dough was leavened." - - -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 Rom 8:12-17 Brothers and sisters,we are not debtors to the flesh,to live according to the flesh.For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,you will live.For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,but you received a spirit of adoption,through which we cry, "Abba, Father!"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spiritthat we are children of God,and if children, then heirs,heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,if only we suffer with himso that we may also be glorified with him. Responsorial Psalm Ps 68:2 and 4, 6-7ab, 20-21 R. (21a) Our God is the God of salvation.God arises; his enemies are scattered,and those who hate him flee before him.But the just rejoice and exult before God;they are glad and rejoice.R. Our God is the God of salvation.The father of orphans and the defender of widowsis God in his holy dwelling.God gives a home to the forsaken;he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.R. Our God is the God of salvation.Blessed day by day be the Lord,who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.God is a saving God for us;the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death.R. Our God is the God of salvation. Alleluia Jn 17:17b, 17a R. Alleluia, alleluia.Your word, O Lord, is truth;consecrate us in the truth.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 13:10-17 Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.And a woman was there who for eighteen yearshad been crippled by a spirit;she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,"Woman, you are set free of your infirmity."He laid his hands on her,and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.But the leader of the synagogue,indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,said to the crowd in reply,"There are six days when work should be done.Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day."The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites!Does not each one of you on the sabbathuntie his ox or his ass from the mangerand lead it out for watering?This daughter of Abraham,whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath dayfrom this bondage?"When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by 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.