Daily Readings

Beloved, remember the words spoken beforehandby the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.Build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit.Keep yourselves in the love of Godand wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christthat leads to eternal life.On those who waver, have mercy; save others by snatching them out of the fire;on others have mercy with fear,abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.To the one who is able to keep you from stumblingand to present you unblemished and exultant,in the presence of his glory,to the only God, our savior,through Jesus Christ our Lordbe glory, majesty, power, and authorityfrom ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen. 

R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.O God, you are my God whom I seek;for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuaryto see your power and your glory,For your kindness is a greater good than life;my lips shall glorify you.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.Thus will I bless you while I live;lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;giving thanks to God the Father through him.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem.As he was walking in the temple area,the chief priests, the scribes, and the eldersapproached him and said to him,“By what authority are you doing these things?Or who gave you this authority to do them?”Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question.Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.”They discussed this among themselves and said,“If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say,‘Then why did you not believe him?’But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”– they feared the crowd,for they all thought John really was a prophet.So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”Then Jesus said to them,“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.” 

Beloved:The end of all things is at hand.Therefore be serious and sober-mindedso that you will be able to pray.Above all, let your love for one another be intense,because love covers a multitude of sins.Be hospitable to one another without complaining.As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one anotheras good stewards of God’s varied grace.Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God;whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies,so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you,as if something strange were happening to you.But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ,so that when his glory is revealedyou may also rejoice exultantly. 

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.Say among the nations: The LORD is king.He has made the world firm, not to be moved;he governs the peoples with equity.R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;let the sea and what fills it resound;let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.Before the LORD, for he comes;for he comes to rule the earth.He shall rule the world with justiceand the peoples with his constancy.R. The Lord comes to judge the earth. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.I chose you from the world,to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.He looked around at everything and, since it was already late,went out to Bethany with the Twelve.The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,he went over to see if he could find anything on it.When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;it was not the time for figs.And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”And his disciples heard it.They came to Jerusalem,and on entering the temple areahe began to drive out those selling and buying there.He overturned the tables of the money changersand the seats of those who were selling doves.He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?But you have made it a den of thieves.”The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of itand were seeking a way to put him to death,yet they feared himbecause the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.When evening came, they went out of the city.Early in the morning, as they were walking along,they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look!The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’and does not doubt in his heartbut believes that what he says will happen,it shall be done for him.Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.When you stand to pray,forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,so that your heavenly Father may in turnforgive you your transgressions.” 

Beloved:Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milkso that through it you may grow into salvation,for you have tasted that the Lord is good.Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beingsbut chosen and precious in the sight of God,and, like living stones,let yourselves be built into a spiritual houseto be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrificesacceptable to God through Jesus Christ.You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own,so that you may announce the praises of himwho called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.Once you were no peoplebut now you are God’s people;you had not received mercybut now you have received mercy.Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojournersto keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul.Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles,so that if they speak of you as evildoers,they may observe your good worksand glorify God on the day of visitation. 

R. (2c) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;serve the LORD with gladness;come before him with joyful song.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.Know that the LORD is God;he made us, his we are;his people, the flock he tends.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.Enter his gates with thanksgiving,his courts with praise;Give thanks to him;bless his name.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.The LORD is good:his kindness endures forever,and his faithfulness, to all generations.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the light of the world, says the Lord;whoever follows me will have the light of life.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,sat by the roadside begging.On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,he began to cry out and say,“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”So they called the blind man, saying to him,“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”Immediately he received his sightand followed him on the way.