Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – 1 Corinthians 7.25-31

Brothers and sisters:
Concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord,
but I give my judgment as one who is, by the Lord’s mercy, trustworthy.
I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us,
that it is good for a human to be as they are.
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed.
Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
But if you marry, you have not sinned.
If a virgin marries, she has not sinned.
Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.

I say this, brothers and sisters: the time is short.
From now on, those who have wives should be as though they had none;
and those who weep, as though they do not weep;
and those who rejoice, as though they do not rejoice;
and those who buy, as though they do not possess;
and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest.
For the form of this world passes away.

Responsorial – Psalm 45.11-12, 14-15, 16-17 Resp. 11

R. Listen, daughter; consider and turn your ear.

Listen, daughter; consider and turn your ear.
Forget your own people and your father’s house.
So will the king desire your beauty,
honor him, for he is your lord.

R. Listen, daughter; consider and turn your ear.

The princess enters entirely glorious.
Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
She shall be led to the king in embroidered work.
The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.

R. Listen, daughter; consider and turn your ear.

With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led.
They shall enter into the king’s palace.
Your sons will take the place of your fathers.
You shall make them princes over all the earth.

R. Listen, daughter; consider and turn your ear.

Gospel – Luke 6.20-26

Jesus lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said,
“Blessed are you who are poor; the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you,
and when they exclude and mock you,
and throw out your name as evil,
for the sake of the Son of Human.
Rejoice on that day, and leap for joy,
for behold, your reward is great in heaven,
for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Woe to you, when humans speak well of you,
for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.