Daily Readings

Thus says the LORD:Share your bread with the hungry,shelter the oppressed and the homeless;clothe the naked when you see them,and do not turn your back on your own.Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,and your wound shall quickly be healed;your vindication shall go before you,and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!If you remove from your midstoppression, false accusation and malicious speech;if you bestow your bread on the hungryand satisfy the afflicted;then light shall rise for you in the darkness,and the gloom shall become for you like midday. 

R. (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.or:R. Alleluia.Light shines through the darkness for the upright;he is gracious and merciful and just.Well for the man who is gracious and lends,who conducts his affairs with justice.R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.or:R. Alleluia.He shall never be moved;the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.An evil report he shall not fear;his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.or:R. Alleluia.His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.Lavishly he gives to the poor;His justice shall endure forever;his horn shall be exalted in glory.R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.or:R. Alleluia. 

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

Jesus said to his disciples:"You are the salt of the earth.But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?It is no longer good for anythingbut to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.You are the light of the world.A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;it is set on a lampstand,where it gives light to all in the house.Just so, your light must shine before others,that they may see your good deedsand glorify your heavenly Father." 

Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there,because that was the most renowned high place.Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings.In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”Solomon answered:“You have shown great favor to your servant, my father David,because he behaved faithfully toward you,with justice and an upright heart;and you have continued this great favor toward him, even today,seating a son of his on his throne.O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant,king to succeed my father David;but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heartto judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.So God said to him: “Because you have asked for this–not for a long life for yourself,nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies,but for understanding so that you may know what is right–I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understandingthat there has never been anyone like you up to now,and after you there will come no one to equal you.In addition, I give you what you have not asked for,such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like.” 

R. (12b) Lord, teach me your statutes.How shall a young man be faultless in his way?By keeping to your words.R. Lord, teach me your statutes.With all my heart I seek you;let me not stray from your commands.R. Lord, teach me your statutes.Within my heart I treasure your promise,that I may not sin against you.R. Lord, teach me your statutes.Blessed are you, O LORD;teach me your statutes.R. Lord, teach me your statutes.With my lips I declareall the ordinances of your mouth. R. Lord, teach me your statutes.In the way of your decrees I rejoice,as much as in all riches.R. Lord, teach me your statutes. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;I know them, and they follow me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

The Apostles gathered together with Jesusand reported all they had done and taught.He said to them,“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers,and they had no opportunity even to eat.So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.They hastened there on foot from all the townsand arrived at the place before them.When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd,his heart was moved with pity for them,for they were like sheep without a shepherd;and he began to teach them many things. 

Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings,            so was David in Israel.He made sport of lions as though they were kids,            and of bears, like lambs of the flock.As a youth he slew the giant            and wiped out the people’s disgrace,When his hand let fly the slingstone            that crushed the pride of Goliath.Since he called upon the Most High God,             who gave strength to his right armTo defeat the skilled warrior            and raise up the might of his people,Therefore the women sang his praises,            and ascribed to him tens of thousands            and praised him when they blessed the Lord.When he assumed the royal crown, he battled            and subdued the enemy on every side.He destroyed the hostile Philistines            and shattered their power till our own day.With his every deed he offered thanks             to God Most High, in words of praise.With his whole being he loved his Maker            and daily had his praises sung;            He set singers before the altar and by their voices                        he made sweet melodies,He added beauty to the feasts            and solemnized the seasons of each yearSo that when the Holy Name was praised,            before daybreak the sanctuary would resound.The Lord forgave him his sins            and exalted his strength forever;He conferred on him the rights of royalty            and established his throne in Israel.

R.        (see 47b)  Blessed be God my salvation!God’s way is unerring,            the promise of the LORD is fire-tried;            he is a shield to all who take refuge in him.R.        Blessed be God my salvation!The LORD live! And blessed be my Rock!            Extolled be God my savior.Therefore will I proclaim you, O LORD, among the nations,            and I will sing praise to your name.R.        Blessed be God my salvation!You who gave great victories to your king            and showed kindness to your anointed,            to David and his posterity forever.R.        Blessed be God my salvation!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart,and yield a harvest through perseverance.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,and people were saying,“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”Others were saying, “He is Elijah”;still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”But when Herod learned of it, he said,“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prisonon account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.John had said to Herod,“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”Herodias harbored a grudge against himand wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,and kept him in custody.When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,yet he liked to listen to him.Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers,and the leading men of Galilee.His own daughter came in and performed a dancethat delighted Herod and his guests.The king said to the girl,“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her,“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,even to half of my kingdom.”She went out and said to her mother,“What shall I ask for?”Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,“I want you to give me at once on a platterthe head of John the Baptist.”The king was deeply distressed,but because of his oaths and the guestshe did not wish to break his word to her.So he promptly dispatched an executionerwith orders to bring back his head.He went off and beheaded him in the prison.He brought in the head on a platterand gave it to the girl.The girl in turn gave it to her mother.When his disciples heard about it,they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.