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.

Catholic Mass Readings For Thursday, July 31, 2014

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 18: 1 - 6

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1 This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah:

2 "Go down to the potter's house and there you will hear what I have to say."

3 So I went to the potter's house and found him working at the wheel.

4 But the pot he was working on was spoiled in his hands, so he reworked it all over again into another pot that suits his desire.

5 Meanwhile Yahweh sent me his word,

6 "People of Israel, can I not do with you what this potter does? As clay in the potter's hand so are you in my hands.

PSALM: Psalms 146: 1 - 6

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1 Alleluia! Praise the Lord, my soul!

2 I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to God while I live.

3 Do not put your trust in princes, in a great one who cannot save.

4 Not sooner his spirit has left, that he goes back to the earth; on that very day, any plan comes to nothing.

5 Blessed are they whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God,

6 maker of heaven and earth, the sea and all they contain. The Lord is forever faithful.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 47 - 53

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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."

53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he left the place.

Catholic Mass Readings For Wednesday, July 30, 2014

"The Pearl of Great Price", by Domenico Fetti, 17th century

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 I devoured your words when they came.They were my happiness and I felt full of joy when you made your Name rest on me. Never did I associate with worldly people,

17 amusing myself with scoffers! When your hand was upon me I stood apart and you filled me with your anger.

18 Why is there no end to my sorrow or healing for my wound? Why do you deceive me, and why does my spring suddenly dry up?

19 Then Yahweh spoke to me, "If you return I will take you back and you will serve me again. Draw the gold from the dross and you will be as my own mouth. You must draw them to you and not go over to them.

20 I will make you a fortress and a wall of bronze facing them; if they fight against you they will not overcome you;

21 I am with you to free you and save you. I will redeem you from the wicked and free you from the hands of tyrants."

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

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2 Deliver me from my enemies, O God, from those who rise up against me.

3 Deliver me from evildoers; rescue me from the bloodthirsty.

4 Look, they lie in wait for my life; the mighty conspiring against me, for no fault of mine, O Lord.

10 O my Strength, I look up to you, for you, O God, are my fortress.

11 My loving God will come to help me and let me see my enemies fall.

17 But I will sing of your might; in the morning I will sing of your love. For you have been a fortress to me, a refuge in time of distress.

18 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my stronghold; you are a loving God.

GOSPEL: 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.

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."