Catholic Mass Readings For Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Memorial of Saint Martha

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 14: 17 - 22

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17 This you will say to them: Let my eyes shed tears night and day without ceasing! For with a great wound has the virgin daughter of my people been wounded, a most grievous wound.

18 If I go into the country, I see those slain by the sword. If I enter the city I see the ravages of famine. For the prophet and the priest did not understand what was happening in the land."

19 Have you then rejected Judah forever? Do you abhor Zion? Why have you wounded us and left us with no hope of recovery?

We hoped for salvation but received nothing good; we waited for healing, but terror came!

20 Yahweh, we know our wickedness and that of our fathers, and the times we have sinned against you.

21 For your name's sake do not despise us; do not dishonor the throne of your glory. Remember us. Do not break your covenant with us!

22 Among the worthless idols of the nations, are there any who can bring rain, or make the skies send showers?

Only in you, Yahweh our God, do we hope, for it is you who do all this.

PSALM: Psalms 79: 8 - 9, 11, 13

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8 Do not remember against us the sins of our fathers. Let your compassion hurry to us, for we have been brought very low.

9 Help us, God, our savior, for the glory of your name; forgive us for the sake of your name.

11 Listen to the groans of the prisoners; by the strength of your arm, deliver those doomed to die.

13 Then we, your people, the flock of your pasture, will thank you forever. We will recount your praise from generation to generation.

GOSPEL: John 11: 19 - 27 OR Luke 10: 38 - 42

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19 many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to offer consolation at their brother's death.

20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him while Mary remained sitting in the house.

21 And she said to Jesus, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died.

22 But I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."

23 Jesus said, "Your brother will rise again."

24 Martha replied, "I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day."

25 But Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection; whoever believes in me, though he die, shall live.

26 Whoever is alive by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

27 Martha then answered, "Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world."

OR

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he entered a village and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her house.

39 She had a sister named Mary who sat down at the Lord's feet to listen to his words.

40 Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving and finally she said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the serving?"

41 But the Lord answered, "Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things,

42 whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her."

Catholic Mass Readings For Monday, July 28, 2014

Mustard Seed

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 13: 1 - 11

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1 This is what Yahweh said to me: "Go! Buy yourself a linen belt and put it around your waist; do not put it in water."

2 So I bought the belt as Yahweh ordered and put it around my waist.

3 The word of Yahweh came to me a second time,

4 "Take the belt you bought, the one you put around your waist, and go to the torrent Perah; hide it there in a hole in the rock."

5 I went and hid it as Yahweh instructed me.

6 After many days Yahweh said to me, "Go to the torrent Perah and get the belt I ordered you to hide there."

7 I went to the torrent and dug up the belt but it was ruined and good for nothing,

8 and Yahweh said to me,

9 "In this way I will destroy the pride and great glory of Judah,

10 this wicked people who refuse to heed what I say, this stubborn people who go after other gods to serve and worship them. And they shall become like this belt which is now good for nothing.

11 For just as a belt is to be bound around a man's waist so was the people of Israel and Judah bound to me - it is Yahweh who speaks - to be my people, my glory and my honor; but they would not listen.

PSALM: Deuteronomy 32: 18 - 21

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18 They have disowned the Rock who fathered them; they have forgotten the God who gave them birth.

19 The Lord saw this, and in his anger rejected his sons and daughters.

20 He said, "I will hide my face from them and see what will become of them. They are so perverse, so unfaithful!

21 They made me jealous with their false gods and angered me with their idols. I will, therefore, make them envious of a foolish people, I will provoke them to anger with an empty-headed nation.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 31 - 35

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31 Jesus put another parable before them, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, that a man took and sowed in his field.

32 It is smaller than all other seeds, but once it has fully grown, it is bigger than any garden plant; like a tree, the birds come and rest in its branches."

33 He told them another parable, "The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast which a woman took and buried in three measures of flour until the whole mass of dough began to rise."

34 Jesus taught all this to the crowds by means of parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.

35 So what the Prophet had said was fulfilled: I will speak in parables. I will proclaim things kept secret since the beginning of the world.

Sunday Catholic Mass Readings For July 27, 2014

"The Hidden Treasure" -- by James Tissot

FIRST READING: 1 Kings 3: 5, 7 - 12

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5 It was in Gibeon, during the night, that Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask what you want me to give you."

7 And now, O Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a young boy who does not know how to undertake anything.

8 Meantime, your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen - a people so great that they can neither be numbered nor counted.

9 Give me, therefore, an understanding mind in governing your people that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this multitude of people of yours?"

10 Yahweh was pleased that Solomon had made this request.

11 And he told him, "Because you have requested this rather than long life or wealth or even vengeance on your enemies; indeed, because you have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,

12 I shall grant you your request. I now give you a wise and discerning mind such as no one has had before you nor anyone after you shall ever have.

PSALM: Psalms 119: 57, 72, 76 - 77, 127 - 130

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57 You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your word.

72 Your law is more precious to me than heaps of silver and gold.

76 Comfort me then with your unfailing love, as you promised your servant.

77 Let your mercy come to give me life, for your law is my delight.

127 I love your commandments more than gold - the finest gold.

128 Because my steps are guided by your precepts, I hate all false ways.

129 Wonderful are your decrees; my soul cannot but keep them.

130 As your words unfold, light is shed, and the simple-hearted understand.

SECOND READING: Romans 8: 28 - 30

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28 We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him, whom he has called according to his plan.

29 Those whom he knew beforehand, he has also predestined to be like his Son, similar to him, so that he may be the Firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

30 And so, those whom God predestined he called, and those whom he called he makes righteous, and to those whom he makes righteous he will give his Glory.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 44 - 52 OR Matthew 13: 44 - 46

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44 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. The one who finds it buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field.

45 Again the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who is looking for fine pearls.

46 Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it.

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a big fishing net let down into the sea, in which every kind of fish has been caught.

48 When the net is full, it is dragged ashore. Then they sit down and gather the good fish in buckets, but throw the worthless ones away.

49 That is how it will be at the end of time; the angels will go out to separate the wicked from the just

50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where they will weep and gnash their teeth."

51 Jesus asked, "Have you understood all these things?" "Yes," they answered.

52 So he said to them, "You will see that every teacher of the Law who becomes a disciple of the Kingdom is like a householder who can produce from his store things both new and old."

OR

44 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. The one who finds it buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field.

45 Again the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who is looking for fine pearls.

46 Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it.

Catholic Mass Readings For Saturday, July 26, 2014

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 7: 1 - 11

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1 These words were spoken by Yahweh, to Jeremiah,

2 "Stand at the gate of Yahweh's house and proclaim this in a loud voice: Listen to what Yahweh says, all you people of Judah (who enter these gates to worship Yahweh).

3 Yahweh the God of Israel says this:

Amend your ways and your deeds and I will stay with you in this place.

4 Rely not on empty words such as: "Look, the Temple of Yahweh! the Temple of Yahweh! This is the Temple of Yahweh!"

5 It is far better for you to amend your ways and act justly with all.

6 Do not abuse the stranger, orphan or widow or shed innocent blood in this place or follow false gods to your own ruin.

7 Then I will stay with you in this place, in the land I gave to your forefathers in times past and forever.

8 But you trust in deceptive and useless words.

9 You steal, kill, take the wife of your neighbor; you swear falsely, worship Baal and follow foreign gods who are not yours.

10 Then, after doing all these horrible things, you come and stand before me in this temple that bears my Name and say, "Now we are safe."

11 Is this house on which rests my Name a den of thieves? I have seen this myself - it is Yahweh who speaks.

PSALM: Psalms 84: 3 - 6, 8, 11

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3 My soul yearns, pines, for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

4 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God!

5 Happy are those who live in your house, continually singing your praise!

6 Happy the pilgrims whom you strengthen, to make the ascent to you.

8 They go from strength to strength till they appear before God in Zion.

11 One day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be left at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 24 - 30

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24 Jesus told them another parable, "The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

25 While everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and left.

26 When the plants sprouted and produced grain, the weeds also appeared.

27 Then the servants of the owner came to him and said: 'Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?'

28 He answered them: 'This is the work of an enemy.' They asked him: 'Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?'

29 He told them: 'No, when you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat with them.

30 Let them just grow together until harvest; and at harvest time I will say to the workers: Pull up the weeds first, tie them in bundles and burn them; then gather the wheat into my barn."

Catholic Mass Readings For Friday, July 25, 2014

"Saint James Major" -- by James Tisso

Feast of Saint James, Apostle

FIRST READING: 2 Corinthians 4: 7 - 15

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7 However, we carry this treasure in vessels of clay, so that this all-surpassing power may not be seen as ours but as God's.

8 Trials of every sort come to us, but we are not discouraged.

9 We are left without answer, but do not despair; persecuted but not abandoned, knocked down but not crushed.

10 At any moment we carry in our person the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in us.

11 For we, the living, are given up continually to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may appear in our mortal existence.

12 And as death is at work in us, life comes to you.

13 We have received the same spirit of faith referred to in Scripture that says: I believed and so I spoke. We also believe and so we speak.

14 We know that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and bring us, with you, into his presence.

15 Finally, everything is for your good, so that grace will come more abundantly upon you and great will be the thanksgiving for the glory of God.

PSALM: Psalms 126: 1 - 6

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1 When the Lord brought the exiles back to Zion, we were like those moving in a dream.

2 Then our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy. Among the nations it was said, "The Lord has done great things for them."

3 The Lord had done great things for us, and we were glad indeed.

4 Bring back our exiles, O Lord, like fresh streams in the desert.

5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs and shouts of joy.

6 They went forth weeping, bearing the seeds for sowing, they will come home with joyful shouts, bringing their harvested sheaves.

GOSPEL: Matthew 20: 20 - 28

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20 Then the mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down to ask a favor.

21 Jesus said to her, "What do you want?" And she answered, "Here you have my two sons. Grant that they may sit, one at your right and one at your left, when you are in your kingdom."

22 Jesus said to the brothers, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They answered, "We can."

23 Jesus replied, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right or at my left is not for me to grant. That will be for those for whom the Father has prepared it."

24 The other ten heard all this and were angry with the two brothers.

25 Then Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the nations act as tyrants, and the powerful oppress them.

26 It shall not be so among you; whoever wants to be more important in your group shall make himself your servant.

27 And if you want to be first make yourself the servant of all.

28 Be like the Son of Man who has come, not to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many."

Catholic Mass Readings For Thursday, July 24, 2014

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 2: 1 - 3, 7 - 8, 12 - 13

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1 A word of Yahweh came to me,

2 "Go and shout this in the hearing of Jerusalem. This is Yahweh's word: I remember your kindness as a youth, the love of your bridal days, when you followed me in the wilderness, through a land not sown.

3 Israel was holy to Yahweh, the first-fruits of his harvest. All who ate of it had to pay and misfortune fell on them - it is Yahweh who speaks.

7 I brought you to a fertile land to eat of the choicest fruit. As soon as you came you defiled my land and dishonored my heritage!

8 The priests did not ask, 'Where is Yahweh?' The masters of my teaching did not know me; the pastors of my people betrayed me; the prophets followed worthless idols and spoke in the name of Baal.

12 Be aghast at that, O heavens! Shudder, be utterly appalled - it is Yahweh who speaks -

13 for my people have done two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, to dig for themselves leaking cisterns that hold no water!

PSALM: Psalms 36: 6 - 11

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6 Your love, O God, reaches the heavens; your faithfulness, to the clouds.

7 Your justice is like the mighty mountains; your judgment like the unfathomable deep. You preserve, O Lord, humans and beasts.

8 How precious, O God, is your constant love! Mortals take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

9 In your house they find rich food and they drink from your spring of delight,

10 for with you is the fountain of life. In your light we see light.

11 Bestow on your faithful your love and give salvation to the upright of heart.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 10 - 17

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10 Then his disciples came to him with the question, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"

11 Jesus answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but not to these people.

12 For the one who has, will be given more and he will have in abundance. But the one who does not have will be deprived of even what he has.

13 That is why I speak to them in parables, because they look and do not see; they hear, but they do not listen or understand.

14 In them the words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled: Much as you hear, you do not understand; much as you see, you do not perceive.

15 For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears hardly hear and their eyes dare not see. If they were to see with their eyes, hear with their ears and understand with their heart, they would turn back and I would heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears, because they hear.

17 For I tell you that many prophets and upright people would have longed to see the things you see, but they did not, and to hear the things you hear, but they did not hear it.

Catholic Mass Readings For Wednesday, July 23, 2014

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 1: 1, 4 - 10

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1 These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

4 A word of Yahweh came to me,

5 "Even before I formed you in the womb I have known you; even before you were born I had set you apart, and appointed you a prophet to the nations!"

6 I said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh! I do not know how to speak; I am still young!"

7 But Yahweh replied, "Do not say; 'I am still young', for now you will go whatever be the mission I am entrusting to you, and you will speak of whatever I command you to say.

8 Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you - it is Yahweh who speaks!"

9 Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth.

10 See! Today I give you authority over nations and over kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

PSALM: Psalms 71: 1 - 6, 15, 17

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1 In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; let me not be disgraced.

2 In your justice help me and deliver me, turn your ear to me and save me!

3 Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of cruel and violent people.

5 For you, O Lord, have been my hope, my trust, O God, from my youth.

6 I have relied on you from birth: from my mother's womb you brought me forth. My praise is of you continually.

15 My lips will proclaim your intervention and tell of your salvation all day, little though it is what I can understand.

17 You have taught me from my youth and until now I proclaim your marvels.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 1 - 9

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1 That same day Jesus left the house and sat down by the lakeside.

2 As many people gathered around him, he got in a boat. There he sat while the whole crowd stood on the shore,

3 and he spoke to them in parables about many things.

4 Jesus said, "The sower went out to sow and, as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path and the birds came and ate them up.

5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground where there was little soil, and the seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was not deep.

6 But as soon the sun rose the plants were scorched and withered because they had no roots.

7 Again other seeds fell among thistles; and the thistles grew and choked the plants.

8 Still other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop; some produced a hundredfold, others sixty and others thirty.

9 If you have ears, then hear!"

Catholic Mass Readings For Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene

FIRST READING: Micah 7: 14 - 15, 18 - 20

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14 Shepherd your people with your staff, shepherd the flock of your inheritance that dwells alone in the scrub, in the midst of a fertile land. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead

15 as in the days of old, in the days when you went out of Egypt.

Show us your wonders.

18 Who is a god like you, who takes away guilt and pardons crime for the remnant of his inheritance?

Who is like you whose anger does not last? For you delight in merciful forgiveness.

19 Once again you will show us your loving kindness and trample on our wrongs, casting all our sins into the depths of the sea.

20 Show faithfulness to Jacob, mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old.

PSALM: Psalms 85: 2 - 8

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2 You have favored your land, O Lord; you have brought back the exiles of Jacob.

3 You have forgiven the sin of your people; you have pardoned their offenses.

4 You have withdrawn your wrath and turned from your burning rage.

5 But restore us, God our savior; put away altogether your indignation.

6 Will your anger be ever with us, carried over to all generations?

7 Will you not give us life anew, that your people may rejoice in you?

8 Show us, O Lord, your unfailing love and grant us your saving help.

GOSPEL: John 20: 1 - 2, 11 - 18

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1 Now, on the first day after the sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away.

2 She ran to Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. And she said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have laid him."

11 Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she bent down to look inside;

12 she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, and the other at the feet.

13 They said, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She answered, "Because they have taken my Lord and I don't know where they have put him."

14 As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him.

15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and answered him, "Lord, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him."

16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him, "Rabboni" - which means, Master.

17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me; you see I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them: I am ascending to my Father, who is your Father, to my God, who is your God."

18 So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord, and this is what he said to me."

Catholic Mass Readings For Monday, July 21, 2014

Feast of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church

FIRST READING: Micah 6: 1 - 4, 6 - 8

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1 Listen to what Yahweh said to me, "Stand up, let the mountains hear your claim, and the hills listen to your plea."

2 Hear, O mountains, Yahweh's complaint! Foundations of the earth, pay attention! For Yahweh has a case against his people, and will argue it with Israel.

3 "O my people, what have I done to you? In what way have I been a burden to you? Answer me.

4 I brought you out of Egypt; I rescued you from the land of bondage; I sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam to lead you.

6 "What shall I bring when I come to Yahweh and bow down before God the most high? Shall I come with burnt offerings, with sacrifices of yearling calves?

7 Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, with an overabundance of oil libations? Should I offer my firstborn for my sins, the fruit of my body for my wrongdoing?"

8 "You have been told, O man, what is good and what Yahweh requires of you: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

PSALM: Psalms 50: 5 - 6, 8 - 9, 16 - 17, 21, 23

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5 "Gather before me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

6 The heavens will proclaim his sentence, for God himself is the judge.

8 Not for your sacrifices do I reprove you, for your burnt offerings are ever before me.

9 I need no bull from your stalls, nor he-goat from your pens.

16 But God says this to the wicked: "What right have you to mouth my laws, or to talk about my covenant?

17 You hate my commands and cast my words behind you.

21 Because I was silent while you did these things, you thought I was like you. But now I rebuke you and make this charge against you.

23 Those who give with thanks offerings honor me, but the one who walks blamelessly, I will show him the salvation of God."

GOSPEL: Matthew 12: 38 - 42

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38 Then some teachers of the Law and some Pharisees spoke up, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."

39 Jesus answered them, "An evil and unfaithful people want a sign, but no sign will be given them except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

40 In the same way that Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the monster fish, so will the Son of Man spend three days and three nights in the depths of the earth.

41 At the judgment, the people of Niniveh will rise with this generation and condemn it, because they reformed their lives at the preaching of Jonah, and here there is greater than Jonah.

42 At the judgment, the Queen of the South will stand up and condemn you. She came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and here there is greater than Solomon.

Sunday Catholic Mass Readings For July 20, 2014

FIRST READING: Wisdom 12: 13, 16 - 19

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13 For there is no other god besides you, one who cares for everyone, who could ask you to justify your judgments;

16 Your strength is the source of your justice and because you are the Lord of all, you can be merciful to everyone.

17 To those who doubt your sovereign power you show your strength and you confound the insolence of those who ignore it.

18 But you, the Lord of strength, judge with prudence and govern us with great patience, because you are able to do anything at the time you want.

19 In this way you have taught your people that a righteous person must love his human fellows; you have also given your people cause for hope by prompting them to repent of their sin.

PSALM: Psalms 86: 5 - 6, 9 - 10, 15 - 16

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5 You are good and forgiving, O Lord, caring for those who call on you.

6 Listen, O Lord, to my prayer, hear the voice of my pleading.

9 All the nations you have made will come; they will worship before you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name.

10 For you are great, and wonderful are your deeds; you alone are God.

15 But you, O Lord God, are merciful, slow to anger, loving and faithful.

16 Turn to me, take pity on me; give your strength to your servant, and save the child of your handmaid.

SECOND READING: Romans 8: 26 - 27

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26 We are weak, but the Spirit comes to help us. How to ask? And what shall we ask for? We do not know, but the spirit intercedes for us without words, as if with groans.

27 And He who sees inner secrets knows the desires of the Spirit, for he asks for the holy ones what is pleasing to God.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 24 - 43 OR Matthew 13: 24 - 30

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24 Jesus told them another parable, "The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

25 While everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and left.

26 When the plants sprouted and produced grain, the weeds also appeared.

27 Then the servants of the owner came to him and said: 'Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?'

28 He answered them: 'This is the work of an enemy.' They asked him: 'Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?'

29 He told them: 'No, when you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat with them.

30 Let them just grow together until harvest; and at harvest time I will say to the workers: Pull up the weeds first, tie them in bundles and burn them; then gather the wheat into my barn."

31 Jesus put another parable before them, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, that a man took and sowed in his field.

32 It is smaller than all other seeds, but once it has fully grown, it is bigger than any garden plant; like a tree, the birds come and rest in its branches."

33 He told them another parable, "The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast which a woman took and buried in three measures of flour until the whole mass of dough began to rise."

34 Jesus taught all this to the crowds by means of parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.

35 So what the Prophet had said was fulfilled: I will speak in parables. I will proclaim things kept secret since the beginning of the world.

36 Then he sent the crowds away and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."

37 Jesus answered them, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the people of the Kingdom; the weeds are those who follow the evil one.

39 The enemy who sows them is the devil; the harvest is the end of time and the workers are the angels.

40 Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of time.

41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom all that is scandalous and all who do evil.

42 And these will be thrown in the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then the just will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. If you have ears, then hear.

OR

24 Jesus told them another parable, "The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

25 While everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and left.

26 When the plants sprouted and produced grain, the weeds also appeared.

27 Then the servants of the owner came to him and said: 'Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?'

28 He answered them: 'This is the work of an enemy.' They asked him: 'Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?'

29 He told them: 'No, when you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat with them.

30 Let them just grow together until harvest; and at harvest time I will say to the workers: Pull up the weeds first, tie them in bundles and burn them; then gather the wheat into my barn."