Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Hosea 14.2-10

Thus says the LORD:
Israel, return to Lord your God;
for you have fallen because of your sin.
Take words with you,
and return to the Lord.
Tell him, “Forgive all our sins,
and accept that which is good:
so we might offer bulls from our stalls.
Assyria cannot save us.
We will not ride on horses;
nor will we say anymore
to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’
for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”

“I will heal their waywardness,” says the Lord,
“I will love them freely.
My anger is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew to Israel.
He will blossom like the lily,
and send down his roots like the Lebanon cedar.
His branches will spread,
and his beauty will be like the olive tree,
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Men will dwell in his shade.
They will revive like the grain,
and blossom like the vine.
Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim, what has he to do anymore with idols?
I answer, and will take care of him.
‘I am like a green fir tree’?
from me your fruit is found.”

Who is wise, that he may understand these things?
Who is prudent, that he may know them?
For the ways of the Lord are straight,
and the righteous walk in them;
But the sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial – Psalm 51.3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14+17 Resp. 17b

R. My mouth will proclaim your praise.

Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness.
According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
Cleanse me from my sin.

R. My mouth will proclaim your praise.

Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts.
You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

R. My mouth will proclaim your praise.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.
Do not cast me out from your presence,
and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

R. My mouth will proclaim your praise.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Uphold me with a willing spirit.
O Lord, open my lips
My mouth will proclaim your praise.

R. My mouth will proclaim your praise.

Gospel – Matthew 10.16-23

Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Behold, I send you out
as sheep among wolves.
Therefore be wise as serpents,
and harmless as doves.
But beware of humans:
for they will deliver you up to councils,
and in their synagogues
they will scourge you.
Yes, and you will be brought
before governors and kings for my sake,
for a testimony to them and to the nations.
But when they deliver you up,
do not be anxious how or what you will say,
for it will be given you in that hour
what you will say.
For it is not you who speak,
but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Brother will deliver up brother to death,
and the father his child.
Children will rise up against parents,
and cause them to be put to death.
You will be hated by all for the sake of my name,
but the one who endures to the end will be saved.
But when they persecute you in this city,
flee into the next,
for, amen I say to you,
you will not have gone through
the cities of Israel,
until the Son of Human has come.