Mass Readings for Saturday, August 04, 2012

"The Daughter of Herodias Dancing" -- by James Tissot

Memorial of Saint John Mary Vianney, Priest

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 26: 11 - 16, 24

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11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the princes and to all the people, "This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears."

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying, "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard.

13 Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will repent of the evil which he has pronounced against you.

14 But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you.

15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."

16 Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God."

24 But the hand of Ahi'kam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.

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

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15 Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O LORD, for thy steadfast love is good; according to thy abundant mercy, turn to me.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31 This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.

33 For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves therein.

GOSPEL: Matthew 14: 1 - 12

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1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus;

2 and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him."

3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife;

4 because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Hero'di-as danced before the company, and pleased Herod,

7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter."

9 And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given;

10 he sent and had John beheaded in the prison,

11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

Mass Readings for Friday, August 03, 2012

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 26: 1 - 9

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1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD,

2 "Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah which come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.

3 It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the evil which I intend to do to them because of their evil doings.

4 You shall say to them, `Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law which I have set before you,

5 and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not heeded,

6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.'"

7 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.

8 And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, "You shall die!

9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, `This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant'?" And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

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

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5 O God, thou knowest my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from thee.

8 I have become a stranger to my brethren, an alien to my mother's sons.

9 For zeal for thy house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me.

10 When I humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.

14 rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 54 - 58

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54 and coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?"

57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."

58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Mass Readings for Thursday, August 02, 2012

Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 18: 1 - 6

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1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

2 "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words."

3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel.

4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me:

6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? says the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

PSALM: Psalms 146: 1 - 6

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1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!

2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being.

3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

4 When his breath departs he returns to his earth; on that very day his plans perish.

5 Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 47 - 53

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47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind;

48 when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad.

49 So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous,

50 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.

51 "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes."

52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there.

Mass Readings for Wednesday, August 01, 2012

"The Hidden Treasure" -- by James Tissot

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

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 15: 10, 16 - 21

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10 Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me.

16 Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O LORD, God of hosts.

17 I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because thy hand was upon me, for thou hadst filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Wilt thou be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?

19 Therefore thus says the LORD: "If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.

20 And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD.

21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless."

PSALM: Psalms 59: 2 - 4, 10 - 11, 17 - 18

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2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.

3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men band themselves against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,

4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Rouse thyself, come to my help, and see!

10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me; my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

11 Slay them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield!

17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to thee, for thou, O God, art my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 44 - 46

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44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,

46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.