Daily Readings

Brothers and sisters:The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.Among men, who knows what pertains to the manexcept his spirit that is within?Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.We have not received the spirit of the worldbut the Spirit who is from God,so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom,but with words taught by the Spirit,describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.

Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God,for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it,because it is judged spiritually.The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everythingbut is not subject to judgment by anyone.

For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?”But we have the mind of Christ.

R. (17) The Lord is just in all his ways.The LORD is gracious and merciful,slow to anger and of great kindness.The LORD is good to alland compassionate toward all his works.R. The Lord is just in all his ways.Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,and let your faithful ones bless you.Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdomand speak of your might.R. The Lord is just in all his ways.Making known to men your mightand the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,and your dominion endures through all generations.R. The Lord is just in all his ways.The LORD is faithful in all his wordsand holy in all his works.The LORD lifts up all who are fallingand raises up all who are bowed down.R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.A great prophet has arisen in our midstand God has visited his people.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.He taught them on the sabbath,and they were astonished at his teachingbecause he spoke with authority.In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice,“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?Have you come to destroy us?I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”Then the demon threw the man down in front of themand came out of him without doing him any harm.They were all amazed and said to one another,“What is there about his word?For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,and they come out.”And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,proclaiming the mystery of God,I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.For I resolved to know nothing while I was with youexcept Jesus Christ, and him crucified.I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,and my message and my proclamationwere not with persuasive words of wisdom,but with a demonstration of spirit and power,so that your faith might rest not on human wisdombut on the power of God.

R. (97) Lord, I love your commands.How I love your law, O LORD!It is my meditation all the day.R. Lord, I love your commands.Your command has made me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.R. Lord, I love your commands.I have more understanding than all my teacherswhen your decrees are my meditation.R.  Lord, I love your commands.I have more discernment than the elders,because I observe your precepts.R. Lord, I love your commands.From every evil way I withhold my feet,that I may keep your words.R. Lord, I love your commands.From your ordinances I turn not away,for you have instructed me.R. Lord, I love your commands.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,and went according to his custominto the synagogue on the sabbath day.He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed meto bring glad tidings to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captivesand recovery of sight to the blind,to let the oppressed go free,and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.Rolling up the scroll,he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.He said to them,“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”And all spoke highly of himand were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native placethe things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”And he said,“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.Indeed, I tell you,there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijahwhen the sky was closed for three and a half yearsand a severe famine spread over the entire land.It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.Again, there were many lepers in Israelduring the time of Elisha the prophet;yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”When the people in the synagogue heard this,they were all filled with fury.They rose up, drove him out of the town,and led him to the brow of the hillon which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.All the day I am an object of laughter;everyone mocks me.Whenever I speak, I must cry out,violence and outrage is my message;the word of the LORD has brought mederision and reproach all the day.I say to myself, I will not mention him,I will speak in his name no more.But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,imprisoned in my bones;I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it. 

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 thirstslike 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.You are my help,and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.My soul clings fast to you;your right hand upholds me.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. 

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this agebut be transformed by the renewal of your mind,that you may discern what is the will of God,what is good and pleasing and perfect. 

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

Jesus began to show his disciplesthat he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatlyfrom the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter,"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."Then Jesus said to his disciples,"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.What profit would there be for one to gain the whole worldand forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,and then he will repay all according to his conduct."