Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – James 2.14-24, 26

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says they have faith but not works?
Faith cannot save them, can it?
And if a brother or sister is naked and lacks basic food,
and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, keep warm and well-fed”
and you do not give them the things the body needs,
what good is that?
Even so faith, if it has no works,is dead according to its own nature.

But someone will say that you have faith and I have works.
Show me your faith separate from works,
and I will show you, by my works, my faith.

You believe that God is one.
You do well.
The demons also believe and shudder.
But do you want to know, vain man,
that faith apart from works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works,
in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
You see that faith worked with his works,
and by works faith was perfected;
and the Scripture was fulfilled which says,
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”;
and he was called the friend of God.
You see then that by works, a human is justified, and not only by faith.

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead,
even so faith apart from works is dead.

Responsorial – Psalm 112.1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. 1b

R. Blessed is the man who delights greatly in the Lord’s commandments.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who delights greatly in his commandments.
His seed will be mighty in the land.
The generation of the upright will be blessed.

R. Blessed is the human who delights greatly in the Lord’s commandments.

Wealth and riches are in his house.
His righteousness endures forever.
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright,
gracious, merciful, and righteous.

R. Blessed is the human who delights greatly in the Lord’s commandments.

It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends.
He will maintain his cause in judgment.
For he will never be shaken.
The righteous will be remembered forever.

R. Blessed is the human who delights greatly in the Lord’s commandments.

Gospel – Mark 8.34-9:1

Jesus called the crowd to himself
with his disciples, and said to them,
“Whoever wants to come after me,
let them deny themself, and take up their cross, and follow me.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it;
and whoever will lose their life for my sake and the sake of the Gospel
will save it.

For what does it profit a human,
to gain the whole world, and forfeit their soul?
For what will a human give in exchange for their soul?
For whoever might be ashamed of me and of my words
among the kind who are adulterous and sinful,
the Son of Human also will be ashamed of them,
when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
He said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here who will not even taste death
until they see the Kingdom of God having come with power.”

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Official Translation

Reading 1 - Isaiah 58.7-10

Thus says the LORD:
Distribute your bread to the hungry,
and bring the poor who are cast out into your house.
When you see the naked, cover them;
and do not hide yourself from your own flesh.
Then your light shall break out as the dawn,
and your healing shall spring out speedily;
and your righteousness shall go before you;
the Lord’s glory shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you take away from your midst the yoke,
the finger-pointing and wicked speech,
and if you pour out your soul to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted soul:
then your light shall rise in darkness,
and your gloom be as the midday;

Responsorial – Psalm 112.4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Resp. 4a

R. The just man is a light in the darkness for the upright.
or
R. Alleluia!

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright,
gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It goes well for the man who deals graciously and lends.
He will maintain his cause in judgment.

R. The just man is a light in the darkness for the upright.
or
R. Alleluia!

For he will never be shaken.
The righteous will be remembered forever.
He will not be afraid of evil news.
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

R. The just man is a light in the darkness for the upright.
or
R. Alleluia!

His heart is established; he will not be afraid.
He has dispersed, he has given to the poor.
His righteousness endures forever.
His horn will be exalted with honor.

R. The just man is a light in the darkness for the upright.
or
R. Alleluia!

Reading 2 – 1 Corinthians 2.1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming to you the mystery of God,
I did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom,
For I determined not to know anything among you,
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
My speech and my preaching were not
in persuasive words of human wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
that your faith would not rely on the wisdom of humans,
but on the power of God.

Gospel – Matthew 5.13-16

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth,
but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted?
It is then good for nothing but to be cast out
and trodden under the feet of humans.

You are the light of the world.
A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do you light a lamp, and put it under a bushel basket,
but rather on a stand, and it shines to all who are in the house.
Even so, let your light shine before humans;
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.

Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – 3 John 1.5-8

Beloved, faithfully you do those works which are done for brothers and sisters and strangers.
They have testified about your love before the Church.
You will do well to send them on their journey in a way worthy of God,
because they have gone out for the sake of the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
We therefore ought to take care of such as these, that we may be coworkers in the truth.

Responsorial – Psalm 112.1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. 1a

R. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who delights greatly in his commandments.
His seed will be mighty in the land.
The generation of the upright will be blessed.

R. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

Wealth and riches are in his house.
His righteousness endures forever.
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright,
gracious, merciful, and righteous.

R. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends.
He will maintain his cause in judgment.
For he will never be shaken.
The righteous will be remembered forever.

R. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

Gospel – Luke 18.1-8

Jesus told a parable to his disciples,
that they ought always to pray and not lose heart, saying:
“There was a judge in a certain city, who neither feared God nor regarded human.
And there was a certain widow in that city, and she came to him, saying,
‘Give me justice from my adversary.’
And he would not for a long time,but afterwards he said within himself,
‘Although I neither fear God nor regard human,
yet because this widow is troublesome to me, I will give her justice,
so that her coming does not wear me out in the end.’”

The Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge says.
Will not God give justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?
Will he be long-suffering over them?
I say to you, that he will quickly give them justice.
Yet the Son of Human, when he comes, will he find faith on earth?

Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Philippians 4.10-19

Brothers and sisters:
I rejoice in the Lord greatly,
that now at length you have revived your concern for me.
You were indeed concerned, but you lacked opportunity.
Not that I say this because of need,
for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.
I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to have an abundance.
In everything and in all things,
I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
However you did well to share in my affliction.

You Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the Gospel,
when I departed from Macedonia,
no Church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.
For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.
Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
But I have all things, and abound. I am filled,
having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you,
a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.
My God will supply every need of yours according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Responsorial – Psalm 112.1b-2, 5-6, 8a+9 Resp. 1b

R. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who delights greatly in his commandments.
His seed will be mighty in the land.
The generation of the upright will be blessed.

R. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

It goes well for the man who deals graciously and lends.
He will maintain his cause in judgment.
For he will never be shaken.
The righteous will be remembered forever.

R. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

His heart is established; he will not be afraid.
He has dispersed, he has given to the poor.
His righteousness endures forever.
His horn will be exalted with honor.

R. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

Gospel - Luke 16.9-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I say to you: Make friends for yourselves with the Mammon of injustice,
so that when it is eclipsed, they will accept you into eternal dwellings.

The faithful one in little things is also faithful in great things.
and the unjust one in little things, is also unjust in great things.

If then you have not become faithful in the unjust Mammon,
who will trust you with what is true?
And if you have not become faithful in what is another's,
who will give you what is your own?

No housekeeper can serve two lords:
for either they will hate one and love the other,
or attend to one and neglect the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon."

Hearing this, the Pharisees who really were money-lovers derided him.
And he said to them,
“You are justifying yourselves in the sight of humans, but God knows your hearts,
for that which is high among humans is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr

Official Translation

Reading 1 – 2 Corinthians 9.6-10

Brothers and sisters:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.
Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Let each give according to how
they have determined in their heart;
not grudgingly, or under compulsion;
for God loves a cheerful giver.
God is able to make all grace abound to you,
that you, always having enough of everything,
may abound to every good work.

As it is written:
“He has scattered abroad,
he has given to the poor.
His righteousness remains forever.”

Now may he who supplies seed to the sower
and bread for food,
supply and multiply your seed for sowing,
and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

Responsorial – Psalm 112.1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9 Resp. 5

R. Blessed is the man who deals graciously and lends.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who delights greatly in his commandments.
His seed will be mighty in the land.
The generation of the upright will be blessed.

R. Blessed is the man who deals graciously and lends.

It goes well for the man who deals graciously and lends.
He will maintain his cause in judgment.
For he will never be shaken.
The righteous will be remembered forever.

R. Blessed is the man who deals graciously and lends.

He will not be afraid of evil news.
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is established; he will not be afraid.
In the end, he will see his adversaries.

R. Blessed is the man who deals graciously and lends.

He has dispersed, he has given to the poor.
His righteousness endures forever.
His horn will be exalted with honor.

R. Blessed is the man who deals graciously and lends.

Gospel – John 12.24-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
Amen, amen, I tell you,
unless a grain of wheat
falls into the earth and dies,
it remains by itself alone.
But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Whoever loves their life will lose it.
Whoever hates their life in this world
will keep it to eternal life.
If anyone serves me, let them follow me.
Where I am, there will my servant also be.
If anyone serves me, the Father will honor them.

Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – James 2.14-24, 26

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says they have faith but not works?
Faith cannot save them, can it?
And if a brother or sister
is naked and lacks basic food,
and one of you tells them,
“Go in peace, keep warm and well-fed”
and you do not give them
the things the body needs,
what good is that?
Even so faith, if it has no works,
is dead according to its own nature.

But someone will say,
“You have faith and I have works.
Show me your faith separate from works,
and I will show you, by my works, my faith.”

You believe that God is one.
You do well.
The demons also believe and shudder.
But do you want to know, vain man,
that faith apart from works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father
justified by works,
in that he offered up Isaac his son
on the altar?
You see that faith worked with his works,
and by works faith was perfected;
and the Scripture was fulfilled which says,
“Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness”;
and he was called the friend of God.
You see then that by works, a human is justified,
and not only by faith.

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead,
even so faith apart from works is dead.

Responsorial – Psalm 112.1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. 1b

R. Blessed is the man who delights greatly in the Lord’s commandments.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who delights greatly in his commandments.
His seed will be mighty in the land.
The generation of the upright will be blessed.

R. Blessed is the human who delights greatly in the Lord’s commandments.

Wealth and riches are in his house.
His righteousness endures forever.
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright,
gracious, merciful, and righteous.

R. Blessed is the human who delights greatly in the Lord’s commandments.

It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends.
He will maintain his cause in judgment.
For he will never be shaken.
The righteous will be remembered forever.

R. Blessed is the human who delights greatly in the Lord’s commandments.

Gospel – Mark 8.34-9:1

Jesus called the crowd to himself
with his disciples, and said to them,
“Whoever wants to come after me,
let them deny themself,
and take up their cross,
and follow me.
For whoever wants to save their life
will lose it;
and whoever will lose their life
for my sake and the sake of the Gospel
will save it.

For what does it profit a human,
to gain the whole world,
and forfeit their soul?
For what will a human give
in exchange for their soul?
For whoever might be ashamed of me
and of my words
among the kind who are adulterous and sinful,
the Son of Human also will be ashamed of them,
when he comes in the glory of his Father
with the holy angels.”
He said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here
who will not even taste death
until they see the Kingdom of God
having come with power.”