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Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Mass Readings for Thursday, September 06, 2012

"The Miraculous Draught of Fishes" -- by James Tissot, 1836-1902

FIRST READING: 1 Corinthians 3: 18 - 23

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: I will catch the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again: The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Let no man therefore glory in men.
22 For all things are yours, whether it be Paul or Apollo or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. For all are yours.
23 And you are Christ’s. And Christ is God’s.

PSALM: Psalms 24: 1 - 6

1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas; and hath prepared it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

GOSPEL: Luke 5: 1 - 11

1 And it came to pass, that when the multitudes pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesareth,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets.
3 And going into one of the ships that was Simon’s, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting, he taught the multitudes out of the ship.
4 Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said to him: Master, we have laboured all the night and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes: and their net broke.
7 And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking.
8 Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.
10 And so were also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Mass Readings for Wednesday, September 05, 2012

"Jesus Teaching In The Synagogue" -- by James Tissot

FIRST READING: 1 Corinthians 3: 1 - 9

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. As unto little ones in Christ.
2 I gave you milk to drink, not meat: for you were not able as yet. But neither indeed are you now able: for you are yet carnal.
3 For, whereas there is among you envying and contention, are you not carnal and walk you not according to man?
4 For while one saith: I indeed am of Paul: and another: I am of Apollo: are you not men? What then is Apollo and what is Paul?
5 The ministers of him whom you have believed: and to every one as the Lord hath given.
6 I have planted, Apollo watered: but God gave the increase.
7 Therefore, neither he that planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth: but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth, are one. And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.
9 For we are God’s coadjutors. You are God’s husbandry: you are God’s building.

PSALM: Psalms 33: 12 - 15, 20 - 21

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.
13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.
14 From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth.
15 He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who understandeth all their works.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.
21 For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.

GOSPEL: Luke 4: 38 - 44

38 And Jesus rising up out of the synagogue, went into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever: and they besought him for her.
39 And standing over her, he commanded the fever: and it left her. And immediately rising, she ministered to them.
40 And when the sun was down, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them to him. But he, laying his hands on every one of them, healed them.
41 And devils went out from many, crying out and saying: Thou art the son of God. And rebuking them he suffered them not to speak; for they knew that he was Christ.
42 And when it was day, going out he went into a desert place: and the multitudes sought him, and came unto him. And they stayed him that he should not depart from them.
43 To whom he said: To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of God: for therefore am I sent.
44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

Monday, September 03, 2012

Mass Readings for Tuesday, September 04, 2012

"The Possessed Man in the Synagogue" -- by James Tissot


FIRST READING: 1 Corinthians 2: 10 - 16

10 But to us God hath revealed them by his Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of a man that is in him? So the things also that are of God, no man knoweth, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now, we have received not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit that is of God: that we may know the things that are given us from God.
13 Which things also we speak: not in the learned words of human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit of God. For it is foolishness to him: and he cannot understand, because it is spiritually examined.
15 But the spiritual man judgeth all things: and he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

PSALM: Psalms 145: 8 - 14

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy.
9 The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10 Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee: and let thy saints bless thee.
11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom: and shall tell of thy power:
12 To make thy might known to the sons of men: and the glory of the magnificence of thy kingdom.
13 Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages: and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words: and holy in all his works.
14 The Lord lifteth up all that fall: and setteth up all that are cast down.

GOSPEL: Luke 4: 31 - 37

31 And he went down into Capharnaum, a city of Galilee: and there he taught them on the sabbath days.
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his speech was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had an unclean devil: and he cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying: Let us alone. What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the holy one of God.
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying: Hold thy peace and go out of him. And when the devil had thrown him into the midst, he went out of him and hurt him not at all.
36 And there came fear upon all; and they talked among themselves, saying: What word is this, for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they go out?
37 And the fame of him was published into every place of the country.

Sunday, September 02, 2012

Mass Readings for Monday, September 03, 2012




4 These are the generations of the heaven and the earth, when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the heaven and the earth:
5 And every plant of the field before it sprung up in the earth, and every herb of the ground before it grew: for the Lord God had not rained upon the earth; and there was not a man to till the earth.
6 But a spring rose out of the earth, watering all the surface of the earth.
7 And the Lord God formed man of the slime of the earth: and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
8 And the Lord God had planted a paradise of pleasure from the beginning: wherein he placed man whom he had formed.
9 And the Lord God brought forth of the ground all manner of trees, fair to behold, and pleasant to eat of: the tree of life also in the midst of paradise: and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
15 And the Lord God took man, and put him into the paradise of pleasure, to dress it, and to keep it.

PSALM: Psalms 90: 2 - 5, 12 - 14, 16

2 Before the mountains were made, or the earth and the world was formed; from eternity and to eternity thou art God.
3 Turn not man away to be brought low: and thou hast said: Be converted, O ye sons of men.
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are as yesterday, which is past. And as a watch in the night,
5 Things that are counted nothing, shall their years be.
12 Can number thy wrath? So make thy right hand known: and men learned in heart, in wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord, how long? and be entreated in favour of thy servants.
14 We are filled in the morning with thy mercy: and we have rejoiced, and are delighted all our days.
16 Look upon thy servants and upon their works: and direct their children.

GOSPEL: Matthew 6: 31 - 34

31 Be not solicitous therefore, saying: What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed?
32 For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.
33 Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Be not therefore solicitous for tomorrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.

Saturday, September 01, 2012

Sunday Mass Readings For September 02, 2012



FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 4: 1 - 2, 6 - 8

1 And now, O Israel, hear the commandments and judgments which I teach thee: that doing them, thou mayst live, and entering in mayst possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers will give you.
2 You shall not add to the word that I speak to you, neither shall you take away from it: keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
6 And you shall observe, and fulfil them in practice. For this is your wisdom, and understanding in the sight of nations, that hearing all these precepts, they may say: Behold a wise and understanding people, a great nation.
7 Neither is there any other nation so great, that hath gods so nigh them, as our God is present to all our petitions.
8 For what other nation is there so renowned that hath ceremonies, and just judgments, and all the law, which I will set forth this day before our eyes?

PSALM: Psalms 15: 2 - 5

2 He that walketh without blemish, and worketh justice:
3 He that speaketh truth in his heart, who hath not used deceit in his tongue: Nor hath done evil to his neighbour: nor taken up a reproach against his neighbours.
4 In his sight the malignant is brought to nothing: but he glorifieth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his neighbour, and deceiveth not;
5 He that hath not put out his money to usury, nor taken bribes against the innocent: He that doth these things, shall not be moved for ever.

SECOND READING: James 1: 17 - 18, 21 - 22, 27

17 Every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration.
18 For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creature.
21 Wherefore, casting away all uncleanness and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
27 Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation and to keep one’s self unspotted from this world.

GOSPEL: Mark 7: 1 - 8, 14 - 15, 21 - 23

1 And there assembled together unto him the Pharisees and some of the scribes, coming from Jerusalem.
2 And when they had seen some of his disciples eat bread with common, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.
3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews eat not without often washing their hands, holding the tradition of the ancients.
4 And when they come from the market, unless they be washed, they eat not: and many other things there are that have been delivered to them to observe, the washings of cups and of pots and of brazen vessels and of beds.
5 And the Pharisees and scribes asked him: Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the ancients, but they eat bread with common hands?
6 But he answering, said to them: Well did Isaias prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and precepts of men.
8 For leaving the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the washing of pots and of cups: and many other things you do like to these.
14 And calling again the multitude unto him, he said to them: Hear ye me all and understand.
15 There is nothing from without a man that entering into him can defile him. But the things which come from a man, those are they that defile a man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Mass Readings For Saturday, September 1, 2012



FIRST READING: 1 Corinthians 1: 26 - 31

26 For see your vocation, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.
27 But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the wise: and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the strong.
28 And the base things of the world and the things that are contemptible, hath God chosen: and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his sight.
30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption:
31 That, as it is written: He that glorieth may glory in the Lord.

PSALM: Psalms 33: 12 - 13, 18 - 21

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.
13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.
18 Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him: and on them that hope in his mercy.
19 To deliver their souls from death; and feed them in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.
21 For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.

GOSPEL: Matthew 25: 14 - 30

14 For even as a man going into a far country called his servants and delivered to them his goods;
15 And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey.
16 And he that had received the five talents went his way and traded with the same and gained other five.
17 And in like manner he that had received the two gained other two.
18 But he that had received the one, going his way, digged into the earth and hid his lord’s money.
19 But after a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them.
20 And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents. Behold I have gained other five over and above.
21 His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me. Behold I have gained other two.
23 His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown and gatherest where thou hast not strewed.
25 And being afraid, I went and hid thy talent in the earth. Behold here thou hast that which is thine.
26 And his lord answering, said to him: Wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not and gather where I have not strewed.
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers: and at my coming I should have received my own with usury.
28 Take ye away therefore the talent from him and give it him that hath ten talents.
29 For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away.
30 And the unprofitable servant, cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Mass Readings for Friday, August 31, 2012

"The Foolish Virgins"(top) & "The Wise Virgins" (bottom) -- by James Tissot


FIRST READING: 1 Corinthians 1: 17 - 25

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.
18 For the word of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness: but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise: and the prudence of the prudent I will reject.
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For, seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world, by wisdom, knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save them that believe.
22 For both the Jews require signs: and the Greeks seek after wisdom.
23 But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness:
24 But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men: and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

PSALM: Psalms 33: 1 - 2, 4 - 5, 10 - 11

1 A psalm for David.> Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright.
2 Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.
4 For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done with faithfulness.
5 He loveth mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
10 The Lord bringeth to nought the counsels of nations; and he rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes.
11 But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

GOSPEL: Matthew 25: 1 - 13

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.
2 And five of them were foolish and five wise.
3 But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them.
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps.
5 And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh. Go ye forth to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.
9 The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves.
10 Now whilst they went to buy the bridegroom came: and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage. And the door was shut.
11 But at last came also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.
13 Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Mass Readings for Thursday, August 30, 2012



FIRST READING: 1 Corinthians 1: 1 - 9

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes a brother,
2 To the church of God that is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place of theirs and ours.
3 Grace to you and peace, from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God that is given you in Christ Jesus:
5 That in all things you are made rich in him, in all utterance and in all knowledge;
6 As the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,
7 So that nothing is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 Who also will confirm you unto the end without crime, in the days of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

PSALM: Psalms 145: 2 - 7

2 Every day will I bless thee: and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: and of his greatness there is no end.
4 Generation and generation shall praise thy works: and they shall declare thy power.
5 They shall speak of the magnificence of the glory of thy holiness: and shall tell thy wondrous works.
6 And they shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and shall declare thy greatness.
7 They shall publish the memory of the abundance of thy sweetness: and shall rejoice in thy justice.

GOSPEL: Matthew 24: 42 - 51

42 Watch ye therefore, because you know not what hour your Lord will come.
43 But this know ye, that, if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open.
44 Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come.
45 Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath appointed over his family, to give them meat in season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come he shall find so doing.
47 Amen I say to you: he shall place him over all his goods.
48 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord is long a coming:
49 And shall begin to strike his fellow servants and shall eat and drink with drunkards:
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day that he hopeth not and at an hour that he knoweth not:
51 And shall separate him and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Mass Readings for Thursday, August 29, 2012

"The Head of Saint John the Baptist on a Charger" -- by James Tissot


FIRST READING: 2 Thessalonians 3: 6 - 10, 16 - 18

6 And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition which they have received of us.
7 For yourselves know how you ought to imitate us. For we were not disorderly among you.
8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nothing: but in labour and in toil we worked night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you.
9 Not as if we had not power: but that we might give ourselves a pattern unto you, to imitate us.
10 For also, when we were with you, this we declared to you: that, if any man will not work, neither let him eat.
16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you everlasting peace in every place. The Lord be with you all.
17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand: which is the sign in every epistle. So I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

PSALM: Psalms 128: 1 - 2, 4 - 5

1 Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
5 May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

GOSPEL: Mark 6: 17 - 29

17 For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.
18 For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
19 Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to put him to death and could not.
20 For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man: and kept him, and when he heard him, did many things: and he heard him willingly.
21 And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a supper for his birthday, for the princes, and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee.
22 And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were at table with him, the king said to the damsel: Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
23 And he swore to her: Whatsoever thou shalt ask I will give thee, though it be the half of my kingdom.
24 Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What shall I ask? But her mother said: The head of John the Baptist.
25 And when she was come in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying: I will that forthwith thou give me in a dish, the head of John the Baptist.
26 And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with him at table, he would not displease her:
27 But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish.
28 And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish: and gave to the damsel, and the damsel gave it her mother.
29 Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Mass Readings for Tuesday, August 28, 2012



Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop, Early Church Father, and Doctor of the Church

FIRST READING: 2 Thessalonian 2: 1 - 3, 14 - 17

1 And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and of our gathering together unto him:
2 That you be not easily moved from your sense nor be terrified, neither by spirit nor by word nor by epistle. as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.
14 Whereunto also he hath called you by our gospel, unto the purchasing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast: and hold the traditions, which you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God and our Father, who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope in grace,
17 Exhort your hearts and confirm you in every good work and word.

PSALM: Psalms 96: 10 - 13

10 Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned. For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved: he will judge the people with justice.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof:
12 The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful. Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice
13 before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: because he cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with his truth.

GOSPEL: Matthew 23: 23 - 26

23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you tithe mint and anise and cummin and have left the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and faith. These things you ought to have done and not to leave those undone.
24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you make clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but within you are full of rapine and uncleanness.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, first make clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, that the outside may become clean.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Mass Readings for Monday, August 27, 2012

"Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees" -- by James Tissot

Memorial of Saint Monica

FIRST READING: 2 Thessalonians 1: 1 - 5, 11 - 12

1 Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians. In God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Grace unto you: and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you towards each other aboundeth.
4 So that we ourselves also glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith, and in all your persecutions and tribulations: which you endure
5 For an example of the just judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which also you suffer.
11 Wherefore also we pray always for you: That our God would make you worthy of his vocation and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith in power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

PSALM: Psalms 96: 1 - 5

1 Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.
4 For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made the heavens.

GOSPEL: Matthew 23: 13 - 22

13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for you yourselves do not enter in and those that are going in, you suffer not to enter.
14 Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour the houses of widows, praying long prayers. For this you shall receive the greater judgment.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you go round about the sea and the land to make one proselyte. And when he is made, you make him the child of hell twofold more than yourselves.
16 Woe to you, blind guides, that say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but he that shall swear by the gold of the temple is a debtor.
17 Ye foolish and blind: for whether is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
18 And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it is a debtor.
19 Ye foolish and blind: for whether is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 He therefore that sweareth by the altar sweareth by it and by all things that are upon it.
21 And whosoever shall swear by the temple sweareth by it and by him that dwelleth in it.
22 And he that sweareth by heaven sweareth by the throne of God and by him that sitteth thereon.