Daily Readings

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us.For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.Their end is destruction.Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.”Their minds are occupied with earthly things.But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.He will change our lowly bodyto conform with his glorified Body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.   

R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.I rejoiced because they said to me,“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”And now we have set footwithin your gates, O Jerusalem.R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.Jerusalem, built as a citywith compact unity.To it the tribes go up,the tribes of the LORD.R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.According to the decree for Israel,to give thanks to the name of the LORD.In it are set up judgment seats,seats for the house of David.R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever keeps the word of Christ,the love of God is truly perfected in him.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a stewardwho was reported to him for squandering his property.He summoned him and said,‘What is this I hear about you?Prepare a full account of your stewardship,because you can no longer be my steward.’The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.I know what I shall do so that,when I am removed from the stewardship,they may welcome me into their homes.’He called in his master’s debtors one by one.To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’  He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;write one for eighty.’And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.For the children of this worldare more prudent in dealing with their own generationthan the children of light.”

Brothers and sisters:We are the circumcision, we who worship through the Spirit of God,who boast in Christ Jesus and do not put our confidence in flesh,although I myself have grounds for confidence even in the flesh.

If anyone else thinks he can be confident in flesh, all the more can I.  Circumcised on the eighth day,of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage,in observance of the law a Pharisee,in zeal I persecuted the Church,in righteousness based on the law I was blameless.

But whatever gains I had,these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ.More than that, I even consider everything as a lossbecause of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

R. (3b) Let hearts rejoice who search for 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. Let hearts rejoice who search for 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. Let hearts rejoice who search for 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. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,and I will give you rest, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus addressed this parable to them.“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of themwould not leave the ninety-nine in the desertand go after the lost one until he finds it?And when he does find it,he sets it on his shoulders with great joyand, upon his arrival home,he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same waythere will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repentsthan over ninety-nine righteous peoplewho have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing onewould not light a lamp and sweep the house,searching carefully until she finds it?And when she does find it,she calls together her friends and neighborsand says to them,‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you,there will be rejoicing among the angels of Godover one sinner who repents.”

My beloved, obedient as you have always been,not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,work out your salvation with fear and trembling.For God is the one who, for his good purpose,works in you both to desire and to work.Do everything without grumbling or questioning,that you may be blameless and innocent,children of God without blemishin the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,among whom you shine like lights in the world,as you hold on to the word of life,so that my boast for the day of Christ may bethat I did not run in vain or labor in vain.But, even if I am poured out as a libationupon the sacrificial service of your faith,I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.The LORD is my light and my salvation;whom should I fear?The LORD is my life’s refuge;of whom should I be afraid?R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.One thing I ask of the LORD;this I seek:To dwell in the house of the LORDall the days of my life,That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORDand contemplate his temple.R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORDin the land of the living.Wait for the LORD with courage;be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you,for the Spirit of God rests upon you.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,and he turned and addressed them,“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters,and even his own life,he cannot be my disciple.Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after mecannot be my disciple.Which of you wishing to construct a towerdoes not first sit down and calculate the costto see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundationand finding himself unable to finish the workthe onlookers should laugh at him and say,‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit downand decide whether with ten thousand troopshe can successfully oppose another kingadvancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away,he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way,everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessionscannot be my disciple.”