Tuesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – 2 Thessalonians 2.1-3a, 14-17

Now, brothers and sisters, with regard to
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him,
we ask you not to be suddenly shaken in your mind,
nor to be troubled, either by spirit or by word, or by letter as if from us,
saying that the day of the Lord has come.
Let no one deceive you in any way.

For this purpose he called you through our Gospel:
in order to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold to the traditions
which you were taught by us, whether by word or by letter.

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father,
who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.

Responsorial – Psalm 96.10, 11-12, 13 Resp. 13b

R. The Lord comes to rule the earth.

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is also established. It cannot be moved.
He will judge the people with equity.

R. The Lord comes to rule the earth.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice.
Let the sea roar, and its fullness!
Let the field and all that is in it exult!
Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy

R. The Lord comes to rule the earth.

They will rejoice before the Lord; for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with his truth.

R. The Lord comes to rule the earth.

Gospel – Matthew 23.23-26

Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin,
but have left undone the weightier matters of the law:
justice, mercy, and faith.
You ought to have done these, without leaving the other undone.
You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
For you clean the outside of the cup and plate,
but within they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup,
that its outside may become clean also.