Daily Readings

Brothers and sisters:For freedom Christ set us free;so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

It is I, Paul, who am telling youthat if you have yourselves circumcised,Christ will be of no benefit to you.Once again I declare to every man who has himself circumcisedthat he is bound to observe the entire law.You are separated from Christ,you who are trying to be justified by law;you have fallen from grace.For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness.For in Christ Jesus,neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything,but only faith working through love. 

R. (41a) Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.Let your mercy come to me, O LORD,your salvation according to your promise.R. Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.Take not the word of truth from my mouth,for in your ordinances is my hope.R. Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.And I will keep your law continually,forever and ever.R. Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.And I will walk at liberty,because I seek your precepts.R. Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.And I will delight in your commands, which I love.R. Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.And I will lift up my hands to your commandsand meditate on your statutes.R. Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.The word of God is living and effective,able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

After Jesus had spoken,a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.He entered and reclined at table to eat.The Pharisee was amazed to seethat he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees!Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,inside you are filled with plunder and evil.You fools!Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?But as to what is within, give alms,and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

Brothers and sisters:It is written that Abraham had two sons,one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.The son of the slave woman was born naturally,the son of the freeborn through a promise.Now this is an allegory.These women represent two covenants.One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery;this is Hagar.But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother.For it is written:Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children;break forth and shout, you who were not in labor;for more numerous are the children of the deserted onethan of her who has a husband.Therefore, brothers and sisters,we are children not of the slave womanbut of the freeborn woman.

For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firmand do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. 

R. (see 2) Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.or:R. Alleluia, alleluia.Praise, you servants of the LORD,praise the name of the LORD.Blessed be the name of the LORDboth now and forever.R. Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.or:R. Alleluia, alleluia.From the rising to the setting of the sunis the name of the LORD to be praised.High above all nations is the LORD;above the heavens is his glory.R. Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.or:R. Alleluia, alleluia.Who is like the LORD, our God,who looks upon the heavens and the earth below?    He raises up the lowly from the dust;from the dunghill he lifts up the poor.R. Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.or:R. Alleluia, alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.If today you hear his voice,harden not your hearts.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,“This generation is an evil generation;it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,except the sign of Jonah.Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,so will the Son of Man be to this generation.At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generationand she will condemn them,because she came from the ends of the earthto hear the wisdom of Solomon,and there is something greater than Solomon here.At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it,because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

On this mountain the LORD of hostswill provide for all peoplesa feast of rich food and choice wines,juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.On this mountain he will destroythe veil that veils all peoples,the web that is woven over all nations;he will destroy death forever.The Lord GOD will wipe awaythe tears from every face;the reproach of his people he will removefrom the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.On that day it will be said:"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!This is the LORD for whom we looked;let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. 

R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.In verdant pastures he gives me repose;beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.He guides me in right pathsfor his name's sake.Even though I walk in the dark valleyI fear no evil; for you are at my sidewith your rod and your staffthat give me courage.R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.Only goodness and kindness follow meall the days of my life;and I shall dwell in the house of the LORDfor years to come.R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 

Brothers and sisters:I know how to live in humble circumstances;I know also how to live with abundance.In every circumstance and in all thingsI have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.My God will fully supply whatever you need,in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christenlighten the eyes of our hearts,so that we may know what is the hopethat belongs to our call.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a kingwho gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servantsto summon the invited guests to the feast,but they refused to come.A second time he sent other servants, saying,'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,my calves and fattened cattle are killed,and everything is ready; come to the feast."'Some ignored the invitation and went away,one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants,mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops,destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roadsand invite to the feast whomever you find.'The servants went out into the streetsand gathered all they found, bad and good alike,and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests,he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is itthat you came in here without a wedding garment?'But he was reduced to silence.Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,and cast him into the darkness outside,where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'Many are invited, but few are chosen." 

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the peoplein parables, saying,"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a kingwho gave a wedding feast for his son.He dispatched his servantsto summon the invited guests to the feast,but they refused to come.A second time he sent other servants, saying,'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,my calves and fattened cattle are killed,and everything is ready; come to the feast."'Some ignored the invitation and went away,one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants,mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops,destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roadsand invite to the feast whomever you find.'The servants went out into the streetsand gathered all they found, bad and good alike,and the hall was filled with guests."