Daily Readings

Thus says the LORD:When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son.The more I called them,the farther they went from me,Sacrificing to the Baalsand burning incense to idols.Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,who took them in my arms;I drew them with human cords,with bands of love;I fostered them like onewho raises an infant to his cheeks;Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,they did not know that I was their healer.

My heart is overwhelmed,my pity is stirred.I will not give vent to my blazing anger,I will not destroy Ephraim again;For I am God and not man,the Holy One present among you;I will not let the flames consume you. 

R. (4b) Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.O shepherd of Israel, hearken.From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.Rouse your power.R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.Once again, O LORD of hosts,look down from heaven, and see:Take care of this vine,and protect what your right hand has planted,the son of man whom you yourself made strong. R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Kingdom of God is at hand:repent and believe in the Gospel.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to his Apostles:“As you go, make this proclamation:‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’Cure the sick, raise the dead,cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,or sandals, or walking stick.The laborer deserves his keep.Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,and stay there until you leave.As you enter a house, wish it peace.If the house is worthy,let your peace come upon it;if not, let your peace return to you.Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words--go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerablefor the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgmentthan for that town.”

Israel is a luxuriant vinewhose fruit matches its growth.The more abundant his fruit,the more altars he built;The more productive his land,the more sacred pillars he set up.Their heart is false,now they pay for their guilt;God shall break down their altarsand destroy their sacred pillars.If they would say,“We have no king”—Since they do not fear the LORD,what can the king do for them?The king of Samaria shall disappear,like foam upon the waters.The high places of Aven shall be destroyed,the sin of Israel;thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars.Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!”and to the hills, “Fall upon us!”“Sow for yourselves justice,reap the fruit of piety;break up for yourselves a new field,for it is time to seek the LORD,till he come and rain down justice upon you.” 

R. (4b) Seek always the face of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.Sing to him, sing his praise,proclaim all his wondrous deeds.Glory in his holy name;rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!R. Seek always the face of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.Look to the LORD in his strength;seek to serve him constantly.Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.R. Seek always the face of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.You descendants of Abraham, his servants,sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!He, the LORD, is our God;throughout the earth his judgments prevail.R. Seek always the face of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Kingdom of God is at hand:repent and believe in the Gospel.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciplesand gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them outand to cure every disease and every illness.The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;Philip and Bartholomew,Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariotwho betrayed Jesus.Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” 

Thus says the LORD:They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority;they established princes, but without my approval.With their silver and gold they madeidols for themselves, to their own destruction.Cast away your calf, O Samaria!my wrath is kindled against them;How long will they be unable to attaininnocence in Israel?The work of an artisan,no god at all,Destined for the flames—such is the calf of Samaria!When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind;The stalk of grain that forms no earcan yield no flour;Even if it could,strangers would swallow it.When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin,his altars became occasions of sin.Though I write for him my many ordinances,they are considered as a stranger’s.Though they offer sacrifice,immolate flesh and eat it,the LORD is not pleased with them.He shall still remember their guiltand punish their sins;they shall return to Egypt.

R. (9a) The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.Our God is in heaven;whatever he wills, he does.Their idols are silver and gold,the handiwork of men.R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.They have mouths but speak not;they have eyes but see not;They have ears but hear not;they have noses but smell not.R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.They have hands but feel not;they have feet but walk not.Their makers shall be like them,everyone that trusts in them.R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;I know my sheep, and mine know me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.The crowds were amazed and said,“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”But the Pharisees said,“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,teaching in their synagogues,proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,and curing every disease and illness.At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for thembecause they were troubled and abandoned,like sheep without a shepherd.Then he said to his disciples,“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;so ask the master of the harvestto send out laborers for his harvest.”