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.

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.