Readings for the Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, bishop and martyrReading 1 Gn 15:1-12, 17-18 The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:"Fear not, Abram!I am your shield;I will make your reward very great."But Abram said,"O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be,if I keep on being childlessand have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?"Abram continued,"See, you have given me no offspring,and so one of my servants will be my heir."Then the word of the LORD came to him:"No, that one shall not be your heir;your own issue shall be your heir."He took him outside and said:"Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.Just so," he added, "shall your descendants be."Abram put his faith in the LORD,who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.He then said to him,"I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeansto give you this land as a possession.""O Lord GOD," he asked,"how am I to know that I shall possess it?"He answered him,"Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat,a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."Abram brought him all these, split them in two,and placed each half opposite the other;but the birds he did not cut up.Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses,but Abram stayed with them.As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram,and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.When the sun had set and it was dark,there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch,which passed between those pieces.It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram,saying: "To your descendants I give this land,from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River the Euphrates." Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.or:R. Alleluia.Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;make known among the nations his deeds.Sing to him, sing his praise,proclaim all his wondrous deeds.R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.or:R. Alleluia.Glory in his holy name;rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!Look to the LORD in his strength;seek to serve him constantly.R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.or:R. Alleluia.You descendants of Abraham, his servants,sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!He, the LORD, is our God;throughout the earth his judgments prevail. R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.or:R. Alleluia.He remembers forever his covenantwhich he made binding for a thousand generations—Which he entered into with Abrahamand by his oath to Isaac.R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 15:4a, 5b R. Alleluia, alleluia.Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 7:15-20 Jesus said to his disciples:"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing,but underneath are ravenous wolves.By their fruits you will know them.Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut downand thrown into the fire.So by their fruits you will know them." - - -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 Gn 13:2, 5-18 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,so that the land could not support them if they stayed together;their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestockand those of Lot's.(At this time the Canaanites and the Perizziteswere occupying the land.)So Abram said to Lot:"Let there be no strife between you and me,or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen.Is not the whole land at your disposal?Please separate from me.If you prefer the left, I will go to the right;if you prefer the right, I will go to the left."Lot looked about and saw how well wateredthe whole Jordan Plain was as far as Zoar,like the LORD's own garden, or like Egypt.(This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plainand set out eastward.Thus they separated from each other;Abram stayed in the land of Canaan,while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain,pitching his tents near Sodom.Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wickedin the sins they committed against the LORD.After Lot had left, the LORD said to Abram:"Look about you, and from where you are,gaze to the north and south, east and west;all the land that you see I will give to youand your descendants forever.I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth;if anyone could count the dust of the earth,your descendants too might be counted.Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth,for to you I will give it."Abram moved his tents and went on to settlenear the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron.There he built an altar to the LORD. Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5 R. (1b) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.He who walks blamelessly and does justice;who thinks the truth in his heartand slanders not with his tongue.R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Who harms not his fellow man,nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;By whom the reprobate is despised,while he honors those who fear the LORD.R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Who lends not his money at usuryand accepts no bribe against the innocent.He who does these thingsshall never be disturbed. R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Alleluia Jn 8:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the light of the world, says the Lord;whoever follows me will have the light of life.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 7:6, 12-14 Jesus said to his disciples:"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces."Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.This is the Law and the Prophets."Enter through the narrow gate;for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,and those who enter through it are many.How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.And those who find it are few." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop and doctor of the Church - - -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 Gn 12:1-9 The LORD said to Abram:"Go forth from the land of your kinsfolkand from your father's house to a land that I will show you."I will make of you a great nation,and I will bless you;I will make your name great,so that you will be a blessing.I will bless those who bless youand curse those who curse you.All the communities of the earthshall find blessing in you."Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him.Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.Abram took his wife, Sarai, his brother's son Lot,all the possessions that they had accumulated,and the persons they had acquired in Haran,and they set out for the land of Canaan.When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the landas far as the sacred place at Shechem,by the terebinth of Moreh.(The Canaanites were then in the land.)The LORD appeared to Abram and said,"To your descendants I will give this land."So Abram built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel,pitching his tent with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east.He built an altar there to the LORD and invoked the LORD by name.Then Abram journeyed on by stages to the Negeb. Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:12-13, 18-19, 20 and 22 R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.From heaven the LORD looks down;he sees all mankind.R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,upon those who hope for his kindness,To deliver them from deathand preserve them in spite of famine.R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.Our soul waits for the LORD,who is our help and our shield.May your kindness, O LORD, be upon uswho have put our hope in you.R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Alleluia Heb 4:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.The word of God is living and effective,able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 7:1-5 Jesus said to his disciples:"Stop judging, that you may not be judged.For as you judge, so will you be judged,and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye,but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?How can you say to your brother,'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,'while the wooden beam is in your eye?You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first;then you will see clearlyto remove the splinter from your brother's eye." - - -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 Jer 20:10-13 Jeremiah said:"I hear the whisperings of many:'Terror on every side!Denounce! let us denounce him!'All those who were my friendsare on the watch for any misstep of mine.'Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,and take our vengeance on him.'But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.In their failure they will be put to utter shame,to lasting, unforgettable confusion.O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,who probe mind and heart,let me witness the vengeance you take on them,for to you I have entrusted my cause.Sing to the LORD,praise the LORD,for he has rescued the life of the poorfrom the power of the wicked!" Responsorial Psalm Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me. For your sake I bear insult, and shame covers my face. I have become an outcast to my brothers, a stranger to my mother's children, Because zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me. R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness; in your great mercy turn toward me. R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. "See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not. Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the seas and whatever moves in them!'' R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. Reading 2 Rom 5:12-15 Brothers and sisters:Through one man sin entered the world,and through sin, death,and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,though sin is not accounted when there is no law.But death reigned from Adam to Moses,even over those who did not sinafter the pattern of the trespass of Adam,who is the type of the one who was to come.But the gift is not like the transgression.For if by the transgression of the one the many died,how much more did the grace of Godand the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christoverflow for the many. Alleluia Jn 15:26b, 27a R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord;and you also will testify.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 10:26-33 Jesus said to the Twelve:"Fear no one.Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,nor secret that will not be known.What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;rather, be afraid of the one who can destroyboth soul and body in Gehenna.Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.Even all the hairs of your head are counted.So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.Everyone who acknowledges me before othersI will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.But whoever denies me before others,I will deny before my heavenly Father." - - -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.