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.

Sunday Catholic Mass Readings For August 03, 2014

FIRST READING: Isaiah 55: 1 - 3

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1 Come here, all you who are thirsty, come to the water! All who have no money, come! Yes, without money and at no cost, buy and drink wine and milk.

2 Why spend money on what is not food and labor for what does not satisfy? Listen to me, and you will eat well; you will enjoy the richest of fare.

3 Incline your ear and come to me; listen, that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, I will fulfill in you my promises to David.

PSALM: Psalms 145: 8 - 9, 15 - 18

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8 Compassionate and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in love.

9 The Lord is good to everyone; his mercy embraces all his creation.

15 All creatures look to you to be fed in due season;

16 with open hand you satisfy the living according to their needs.

17 Righteous is the Lord in all his ways, his mercy shows in all his deeds.

18 He is near those who call on him, who call trustfully upon his name.

SECOND READING: Romans 8: 35, 37 - 39

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35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will it be trials, or anguish, persecution or hunger, lack of clothing, or dangers or sword?

37 No, in all of this we are more than conquerors, thanks to him who has loved us.

38 I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor spiritual powers, neither the present nor the future, nor cosmic powers,

39 were they from heaven or from the deep world below, nor any creature whatsoever will separate us from the love of God, which we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

GOSPEL: Matthew 14: 13 - 21

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13 On hearing this, Jesus set out secretly by boat for a secluded place. But the people heard of it, and they followed him on foot from their towns.

14 When Jesus went ashore, he saw the crowd gathered there and he had compassion on them. And he healed their sick.

15 Late in the afternoon, his disciples came to him and said, "We are in a lonely place and it is now late. You should send these people away, so they can go to the villages and buy something for themselves to eat."

16 But Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat."

17 They answered, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes."

18 Jesus said to them, "Bring them here to me."

19 Then he made everyone sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fishes, raised his eyes to heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the loaves and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the people.

20 And they all ate, and everyone had enough; then the disciples gathered up the leftovers, filling twelve baskets.

21 About five thousand men had eaten there besides women and children.

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.