Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Ecclesiastes 1.2-11

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
What does man gain from all his labor which he works under the sun?
One generation goes, and another generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down,
and hurries to its place where it rises.
The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north.
It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full.
To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
All things are full of weariness beyond uttering.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
That which has been is that which shall be,
and that which has been done is that which shall be done:
and there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new?”
It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
There is no memory of the men of old,
nor shall there be any memory of those who are yet come,
among those who shall come after.

Responsorial – Psalm 90.3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14+17bc Resp. 1

R. Lord, you have been our refuge for all generations.

You turn man to dust, saying,
“Return, you children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are just like yesterday when it is past,
like a watch in the night.

R. Lord, you have been our refuge for all generations.

You sweep them away as they sleep.
In the morning they sprout like new grass.
In the morning it sprouts and springs up.
By evening, it is withered and dry.

R. Lord, you have been our refuge for all generations.

So teach us to number our days,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Relent, Lord! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!

R. Lord, you have been our refuge for all generations.

Satisfy us in the morning with your loving kindness,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Establish the work of our hands for us;
establish the work of our hands.

R. Lord, you have been our refuge for all generations.

Gospel – Luke 9.7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Jesus,
and he was very perplexed,
because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,
and by some that Elijah had appeared,
and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.
Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?”
He kept trying to see him.