Catholic Mass Readings For Thursday, January 04, 2017

"The Calling of Saint John and Saint Andrew" -- by James Tissot

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

FIRST READING: 1 John 3: 7 - 10

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7 Little children, let no man deceive you. He that doth justice is just, even as he is just.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God, committeth not sin: for his seed abideth in him, and he can not sin, because he is born of God.

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever is not just, is not of God, nor he that loveth not his brother.

PSALM: Psalms 98: 1, 7 - 9

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1 Sing ye to the Lord anew canticle: because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy.

7 Let the sea be moved and the fulness thereof: the world and they that dwell therein.

8 The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice together

9 At the presence of the Lord: because he cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with equity.

GOSPEL: John 1: 35 - 42

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35 The next day again John stood, and two of his disciples.

36 And beholding Jesus walking, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God.

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 And Jesus turning, and seeing them following him, saith to them: What seek you? Who said to him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

39 He saith to them: Come and see. They came, and saw where he abode, and they stayed with him that day: now it was about the tenth hour.

40 And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard of John, and followed him.

41 He findeth first his brother Simon, and saith to him: We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And Jesus looking upon him, said: Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter.

Daily Mass Readings for January 3, 2017

FIRST READING: 1 John 2: 29 - 3: 6

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29 If you know, that he is just, know ye, that every one also, who doth justice, is born of him.

1 Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew not him.

2 Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is.

3 And every one that hath this hope in him, sanctifieth himself, as he also is holy.

4 Whosoever committeth sin committeth also iniquity; and sin is iniquity.

5 And you know that he appeared to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not; and whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, nor known him.

PSALM: Psalms 98: 1 - 6

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1 Sing ye to the Lord anew canticle: because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy.

2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles.

3 He hath remembered his mercy his truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing.

5 Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp, and with the voice of a psalm:

6 With long trumpets, and sound of comet. Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king.

GOSPEL: John 1: 29- 34

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29 The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him, and he saith: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he, of whom I said: After me there cometh a man, who is preferred before me: because he was before me.

31 And I knew him not, but that he may be made manifest in Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

32 And John gave testimony, saying: I saw the Spirit coming down, as a dove from heaven, and he remained upon him.

33 And I knew him not; but he who sent me to baptize with water, said to me: He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him, he it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

34 And I saw, and I gave testimony, that this is the Son of God.

Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 2, 2017

"Saint John the Baptist and the Pharisees" 
-- by James Tissot

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen,

Bishops and Doctors of the Church

FIRST READING: 1 John 2: 22-28

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22 Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denieth the Father, and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also.

24 As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning, abide in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, you also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise which he hath promised us, life everlasting.

26 These things have I written to you, concerning them that seduce you.

27 And as for you, let the unction, which you have received from him, abide in you. And you have no need that any man teach you; but as his unction teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie. And as it hath taught you, abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be confounded by him at his coming.

PSALM: Psalms 98: 1-4

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1 Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy.

2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles.

3 He hath remembered his mercy his truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing.

Alleluia: Hebrews 1: 1-2

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R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets;

In these days hath spoken to us by his Son.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL: John 1: 19-28

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19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to him, to ask him: Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and did not deny: and he confessed: I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered: No.

22 They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said: I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias.

24 And they that were sent, were of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked him, and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?

26 John answered them, saying: I baptize with water; but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not.

27 The same is he that shall come after me, who is preferred before me: the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose.

28 These things were done in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Catholic Mass Readings For Saturday, August 09, 2014

Optional Memorial Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin and Martyr

FIRST READING: Habakkuk 1: 12 -- 2: 4

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12 Wast thou not from the beginning, O Lord my God, my holy one, and we shall not die? Lord, thou hast appointed him for judgment: and made him strong for correction.

13 Thy eyes are too pure to behold evil, and thou canst not look on iniquity. Why lookest thou upon them that do unjust things, and holdest thy peace when the wicked devoureth the man that is more just than himself?

14 And thou wilt make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things that have no ruler.

15 He lifted up all them with his hook, he drew them in his drag, and gathered them into his net: for this he will be glad and rejoice.

16 Therefore will he offer victims to his drag, and he will sacrifice to his net: because through them his portion is made fat, and his meat dainty.

17 For this cause therefore he spreadeth his net, and will not spare continually to slay the nations.

1 I will stand upon my watch, and fix my foot upon the tower: and I will watch, to see what will be said to me, and what I may answer to him that reproveth me.

2 And the Lord answered me, and said: Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables: that he that readeth it may run over it.

3 For as yet the vision is far off, and it shall appear at the end, and shall not lie: if it make any delay, wait for it: for it shall surely come, and it shall not be slack.

4 Behold, he that is unbelieving, his soul shall not be right in himself: but the just shall live in his faith.

PSALM: Psalms 9: 8 - 13

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8 But the Lord remaineth for ever. He hath prepared his throne in judgment:

9 And he shall judge the world in equity, he shall judge the people in justice.

10 And the Lord is become a refuge for the poor: a helper in due time in tribulation.

11 And let them trust in thee who know thy name: for thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee, O Lord.

12 Sing ye to the Lord, who dwelleth in Sion: declare his ways among the Gentiles:

13 For requiring their blood he hath remembered the: he hath not forgotten the cry of the poor.

GOSPEL: Matthew 17: 14 - 20

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14 And when he was come to the multitude, there came to him a man falling down on his knees before him, saying: Lord, have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic, and suffereth much: for he falleth often into the fire, and often into the water.

15 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

16 Then Jesus answered and said: O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

17 And Jesus rebuked him, and the devil went out of him, and the child was cured from that hour.

18 Then came the disciples to Jesus secretly, and said: Why could not we cast him out?

19 Jesus said to them: Because of your unbelief. For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

20 But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting.

Catholic Mass Readings For Thursday, August 07, 2014

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 31: 31 - 34

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31 Behold the days shall come, saith the Lord, and I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda:

32 Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt: the covenant which they made void, and I had dominion over them, saith the Lord.

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord: I will give my law in their bowels, and I will write it in their heart: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying: Know the Lord: for all shall know me from the least of them even to the greatest, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

PSALM: Psalms 51: 12 - 15, 18 - 19

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12 Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

13 Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

14 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

15 I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.

18 For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.

19 A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise..

GOSPEL: Matthew 16: 13 - 23

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13 And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?

14 But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?

16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

20 Then he commanded his disciples, that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.

21 From that time Jesus began to shew to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again.

22 And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him, saying: Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee.

23 Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.

Catholic Mass Readings For Wednesday, August 06, 2014

"The Transfiguration" -- by James Tissot

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

FIRST READING: Daniel 7: 9 - 10, 13 - 14

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9 I beheld till thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days sat: his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like clean wool: his throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning fire.

10 A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before him: the judgment sat, and the books were opened.

13 I beheld therefore in the vision of the night, and lo, one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and he came even to the Ancient of days: and they presented him before him.

14 And he gave him power, and glory, and a kingdom: and all peoples, tribes and tongues shall serve him: his power is an everlasting power that shall not be taken away: and his kingdom that shall not be destroyed.

PSALM: Psalms 97: 1 - 2, 5 - 6, 9

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1 The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad.

2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne.

5 The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens declared his justice: and all people saw his glory.

9 For thou art the most high Lord over all the earth: thou art exalted exceedingly above all gods.

SECOND READING: 2 Peter 1: 16 - 19

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16 For we have not by following artificial fables, made known to you the power, and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we were eyewitnesses of his greatness.

17 For he received from God the Father, honour and glory: this voice coming down to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

18 And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.

GOSPEL: Matthew 17: 1 - 9

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1 And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart:

2 And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow.

3 And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4 And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5 And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.

6 And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid.

7 And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, Arise, and fear not.

8 And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead.

Catholic Mass Readings For Tuesday, August 05, 2014

"The Blind in the Ditch" -- by James Tissot

Optional Memorial of the Dedication of Saint Mary Major

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 30: 1 - 2, 12 - 15, 18 - 22

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1 This is another word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh:

2 Yahweh, God of Israel says, "Write in a book all that I have communicated to you,

12 Yahweh says, "Your wound is incurable, your injury is grievous.

13 There is no one to plead your cause. There is a remedy for an ulcer but no healing for you!

14 All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you. For I struck you as an enemy does, with a cruel punishment, because of your great guilt and the wickedness of your sin.

15 Why cry out now that you are hurt? Is there no cure for your pain? Because of your great crime and grievous sin I have done this to you.

18 Yahweh says, "I will restore my people into Jacob's tents and have pity on his dwellings. The city will be rebuilt over its ruins and the palace restored on its proper place.

19 From them will come songs of praise and the sound of merrymaking. I will multiply them and they shall not be few. I will bestow honor on them and they shall not be despised.

20 Their children will be as before and their community will be established before me. I will ask their oppressors to account.

21 Their leader will be one of themselves, their ruler shall emerge from their midst. I will bring him close to me for who would dare to approach me?

22 You shall be my people and I shall be your God."

PSALM: Psalms 102: 16 - 21, 29, 22 - 23

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16 O Lord, the nations will revere your name, and the kings of the earth your glory,

17 when the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in all his splendor.

18 For he will answer the prayer of the needy and will not despise their plea.

19 Let this be written for future ages, "the Lord will be praised by a people he will form."

20 From his holy height in heaven, the Lord has looked on the earth

21 to hear the groaning of the prisoners, and free those condemned to death.

29 Your servants' children will dwell secure; their posterity will endure without fail.

22 Then the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,

23 when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship him

GOSPEL: Matthew 14: 22 - 36 OR Matthew 15: 1 - 2, 10 - 14

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22 Immediately Jesus obliged his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowd away.

23 And having sent the people away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. At nightfall, he was there alone.

24 Meanwhile, the boat was very far from land, dangerously rocked by the waves for the wind was against it.

25 At daybreak, Jesus came to them walking on the lake.

26 When they saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost. And they cried out in fear.

27 But at once Jesus said to them, "Courage! Don't be afraid. It's me!"

28 Peter answered, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water."

29 Jesus said to him, "Come." And Peter got out of the boat, walking on the water to go to Jesus.

30 But, in face of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31 Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, "Man of little faith, why did you doubt?"

32 As they got into the boat, the wind dropped.

33 Then those in the boat bowed down before Jesus saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God!"

34 They came ashore at Gennesareth.

35 The local people recognized Jesus and spread the news throughout the region. So they brought all the sick to him,

36 begging him to let them touch just the fringe of his cloak. All who touched it became perfectly well.

OR

1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. And they said to him,

2 "Why don't your disciples follow the tradition of the elders? In fact, they don't wash their hands before eating."

10 Jesus then called the people near him and said to them, "Listen and understand:

11 what enters into the mouth does not make a person unclean, what defiles one is what comes out of his mouth."

12 After a while the disciples gathered around Jesus and said, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended by what you said?"

13 Jesus answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted shall be uprooted.

14 Pay no attention to them! They are blind leading the blind. When a blind person leads another, the two will fall into a pit."

Catholic Mass Readings For Monday, August 04, 2014

"Jesus Walks on the Sea" (left) & "Saint Peter Walks on the Sea" (right) -- by James Tissot

Memorial of Saint John Mart Vianney, Priest

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 28: 1 - 17

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1 Early in the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hananiah spoke to me. Hananiah son of Azzur from Gibeon proclaimed in Yahweh's House in the presence of the priests and the people,

2 "This is what Yahweh the God of hosts and the God of Israel says: I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the objects that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took away from Yahweh's House and carried to Babylon.

4 I will likewise bring back Jekoniah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all who were taken from Judah and deported to Babylon. For I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon - word of Yahweh."

5 Then Jeremiah replied to Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people,

6 "So be it! May Yahweh fulfill the words you have spoken and bring back from Babylon to this place the objects taken from the House of Yahweh and all the exiles.

7 Yet hear now what I say in your hearing and the hearing of all the people.

8 The prophets who came before you and me continually prophesied war, disaster and plague to many nations and great kingdoms.

9 So the prophet who prophesies peace will not be recognized as truly sent by Yahweh, until his predictions are fulfilled."

10 Then Hananiah took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah and broke it.

11 Hananiah proclaimed in the presence of all the people, "Yahweh says this: In the same manner within two years will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar from the neck of all the nations." Then Jeremiah the prophet went on his way.

12 Some time later, a word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah,

13 "Go and tell this to Hananiah: This is what Yahweh says: You have broken a wooden yoke but in its place you will get a yoke of iron.

14 For this is what Yahweh the God of hosts and the God of Israel says: I am placing a yoke of iron on the neck of all the nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals."

15 Then Jeremiah said to Hananiah, "Listen! Hananiah, you have not been sent by Yahweh and yet you have deceived these people, giving them false hope with your lies.

16 That is why Yahweh says with regard to you: I am removing you from the face of the earth. You will die this very year because you have counseled rebellion against Yahweh."

17 And in the seventh month of that year Hananiah died.

PSALM: Psalms 119: 29, 43, 79 - 80, 95, 102

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29 Keep me away from deceitful paths; be gracious and teach me your law.

43 Take not the word of truth from my mouth, for I would also lose my hope in your word.

79 Let those who fear you turn to me, they will understand your statutes.

80 May my heart be blameless in your decrees, that I may not be ashamed.

95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I look to your word for salvation.

102 I have not departed from your decrees for you yourself have instructed me.

GOSPEL: Matthew 14: 22 - 36

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22 Immediately Jesus obliged his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowd away.

23 And having sent the people away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. At nightfall, he was there alone.

24 Meanwhile, the boat was very far from land, dangerously rocked by the waves for the wind was against it.

25 At daybreak, Jesus came to them walking on the lake.

26 When they saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost. And they cried out in fear.

27 But at once Jesus said to them, "Courage! Don't be afraid. It's me!"

28 Peter answered, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water."

29 Jesus said to him, "Come." And Peter got out of the boat, walking on the water to go to Jesus.

30 But, in face of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31 Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, "Man of little faith, why did you doubt?"

32 As they got into the boat, the wind dropped.

33 Then those in the boat bowed down before Jesus saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God!"

34 They came ashore at Gennesareth.

35 The local people recognized Jesus and spread the news throughout the region. So they brought all the sick to him,

36 begging him to let them touch just the fringe of his cloak. All who touched it became perfectly well.

Catholic Mass Readings For Saturday, August 02, 2014

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 26: 11 - 16, 24

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11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the leaders of the people: "This man must die for he has spoken against the city as you have heard with your own ears!"

12 Jeremiah replied, "I have been sent by Yahweh to prophesy against this House and this city all that you have heard.

13 Hence, reform your ways and your deeds and obey Yahweh your God that he may change his mind and not bring upon you the destruction he had intended.

14 As for me I am in your hands; do with me whatever you consider just and right.

15 But know that I am innocent and if you take my life you commit a crime that is a curse on yourselves, on the city and the people. In truth it was Yahweh who sent me to say all that I said in your hearing."

16 Then the leaders, backed by the people, said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve death; he spoke to us in the Name of Yahweh."

24 As for Jeremiah he was befriended by Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and was not handed over to those who wanted him put to death.

PSALM: Psalms 69: 15 - 16, 30 - 31, 33 - 34

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15 Rescue me, lest I sink in the mire; deliver me from the storm and the deep waters.

16 Let not the flood engulf me, nor the deep suck me in, let not the pit close its mouth upon me.

30 But I myself am humbled and wounded; your salvation, O God, will lift me up.

31 I will praise the name of God in song; I will glorify him with thanksgiving.

33 Let the lowly witness this and be glad. You who seek God, may your hearts be revived.

34 For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise those in captivity.

GOSPEL: Matthew 14: 1 - 12

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1 At that time the news about Jesus reached King Herod.

2 And he said to his servants, "This man is John the Baptist. John has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

3 Herod had, in fact, ordered that John be arrested, bound in chains and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.

4 For John had said to him, "It is not right for you to have her as wife."

5 Herod wanted to kill him but he did not dare, because he feared the people who regarded John as a prophet.

6 On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst of the guests; she so delighted Herod

7 that he promised under oath to give her anything she asked.

8 The girl, following the advice of her mother, said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a dish."

9 The king was very displeased, but because he had made this promise under oath in the presence of the guests, he ordered it to be given her.

10 So he had John beheaded in prison

11 and his head brought on a dish and given to the girl. The girl then took it to her mother.

12 Then John's disciples came to take his body and bury it. And they went to bring the news to Jesus.

Catholic Mass Readings For Friday, August 01, 2014

Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 26: 1 - 9

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1 At the beginning of the reign of Judah's king Jehoiakim son of Josiah, the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah:

2 Yahweh says this, "Stand in the courtyard of Yahweh's House and say to all who come from the towns of Judah to worship in Yahweh's house - all that I command you to say; do not omit anything!

3 Perhaps they will listen to you. Perhaps each one will turn from his wicked ways. Then I will change my mind and forget the destruction that I have planned to inflict on them because of their wicked deeds.

4 Tell them: This is what Yahweh says:

"You have not obeyed me and you have failed to walk according to my Law which I have set before you.

5 You have not heeded my servants, the prophets, whom I have persistently sent to you. If you stubbornly close your ears to them,

6 I will treat this House of mine as I treated the sanctuary of Shiloh and let all the nations see that Jerusalem is a cursed city."

7 The priests, the prophets and all the people heard what Jeremiah said in Yahweh's House.

8 When Jeremiah finished saying all that Yahweh had commanded, he was besieged by the priests and prophets saying, "You are bound to die!

9 How dare you speak in Yahweh's Name telling us that this House will be treated like Shiloh and this city is to become a deserted ruins." And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the House of Yahweh.

PSALM: Psalms 69: 5, 8 - 10, 14

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5 More than the hairs of my head are those who hate me for no reason; mighty are those who attack me, many are my enemies without cause. What I did not steal I am forced to restore.

8 since I am held in contempt for your sake, and shame has covered my face.

9 I have become a stranger to my kindred, an alien to my mother's sons.

10 Zeal for your house consumes me as fire and those who insult you insult me as well.

14 But I pray to you, O Lord, at a time most favorable to you. In your great love, O God, answer me with your unfailing help.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 54 - 58

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54 He went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, "Where did he get this wisdom and these special powers?

55 Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't Mary his mother and aren't James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers?

56 Aren't all his sisters living here? How did he get all this?"

57 And so they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family."

58 And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.