Daily Mass Readings for Friday, September 16, 2011

Memorial of Saint Cornelius, Pope and Martyr, and  Saint Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr

FIRST READING: 1 Timothy 6: 2 - 12

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2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brethren; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties.

3 If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness,

4 he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions,

5 and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

6 There is great gain in godliness with contentment;

7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world;

8 but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.

11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

PSALM: Psalms 49: 6 - 10, 17 - 20

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6 men who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?

7 Truly no man can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life,

8 for the ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice,

9 that he should continue to live on for ever, and never see the Pit.

10 Yea, he shall see that even the wise die, the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.

17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

18 Though, while he lives, he counts himself happy, and though a man gets praise when he does well for himself,

19 he will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never more see the light.

20 Man cannot abide in his pomp, he is like the beasts that perish.

GOSPEL: Luke 8: 1 - 3

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1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,

2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Mag'dalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

3 and Joan'na, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

Daily Mass Readings for Thursday, September 15, 2011

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

FIRST READING: 1 Timothy 4: 12 - 16

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12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

13 Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching.

14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you.

15 Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

16 Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

PSALM: Psalms 111: 7 - 10

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7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy,

8 they are established for ever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and terrible is his name!

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise endures for ever!

GOSPEL: John 19: 25 - 27 Or Luke 2: 33 - 35

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25 So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Mag'dalene.

26 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!"

27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Or

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him;

34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against

35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."

Mass Readings for Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

FIRST READING: Numbers 21: 4 - 9

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4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient on the way.

5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food."

6 Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.

7 And the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live."

9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

PSALM: Psalms 78: 1 - 2, 34 - 38

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1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!

2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,

34 When he slew them, they sought for him; they repented and sought God earnestly.

35 They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.

36 But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.

37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not true to his covenant.

38 Yet he, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often, and did not stir up all his wrath.

SECOND READING: Philippians 2: 6 - 11

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6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

GOSPEL: John 3: 13 - 17

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13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up,

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Mass Readings for Tuesday, September 13, 2011

"The Resurrection of the Widow's Son at Nain" - James Tissot

 Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

FIRST READING: 1 Timothy 3: 1 - 13

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1 The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task.

2 Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher,

3 no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money.

4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way;

5 for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God's church?

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil;

7 moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain;

9 they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

10 And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons.

11 The women likewise must be serious, no slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things.

12 Let deacons be the husband of one wife, and let them manage their children and their households well;

13 for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

PSALM: Psalms 101: 1 - 3, 5 - 6

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1 I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to thee, O LORD, I will sing.

2 I will give heed to the way that is blameless. Oh when wilt thou come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;

3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cleave to me.

5 Him who slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. The man of haughty looks and arrogant heart I will not endure.

6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.

GOSPEL: Luke 7: 11 - 17

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11 Soon afterward he went to a city called Na'in, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.

12 As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."

14 And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."

15 And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.

16 Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"

17 And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.