Daily Catholic Mass Readings For Tuesday, June 16, 2015

FIRST READING: 2 Corinthians 8: 1-9

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1 Now we make known unto you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the churches of Macedonia.

2 That in much experience of tribulation, they have had abundance of joy; and their very deep poverty hath abounded unto the riches of their simplicity.

3 For according to their power (I bear them witness), and beyond their power, they were willing.

4 With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward the saints.

5 And not as we hoped, but they gave their own selves first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God:

6 Insomuch, that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so also he would finish among you this same grace.

7 That as in all things you abound in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all carefulness; moreover also in your charity towards us, so in this grace also you may abound.

8 I speak not as commanding; but by the carefulness of others, approving also the good disposition of your charity.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor, for your sakes; that through his poverty you might be rich.

PSALM: Psalms 146: 2, 5-9

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2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, in my life I will praise the Lord: I will sing to my God as long as I shall be. Put not your trust in princes:

5 Blessed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his helper, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.

7 Who keepeth truth for ever: who executeth judgment for them that suffer wrong: who giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth them that are fettered:

8 The Lord enlighteneth the blind. The Lord lifteth up them that are cast down: the Lord loveth the just.

9 The Lord keepeth the strangers, he will support the fatherless and the widow: and the ways of sinners he will destroy.

GOSPEL: Matthew 5: 43-48

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43 You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy.

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:

45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust.

46 For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this?

47 And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this?

48 Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

Daily Catholic Mass Readings For Friday, June 12, 2015

"The Strike of the Lance"
-- by James Tissot

Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

FIRST READING: Hosea 11: 1, 3-4, 8-9

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1 Because Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of Egypt.

3 And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms: and they knew not that I healed them.

4 I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him that he might eat.

8 How shall I deal with thee, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O Israel? how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentance is stirred up.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the midst of thee, and I will not enter into the city.

PSALM: Isaiah 12: 2-6

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2 Behold, God is my saviour, I will deal confidently, and will not fear: O because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he is become my salvation.

3 You shall draw waters with joy out of the saviour's fountains:

4 And you shall say in that day: Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make his works known among the people: remember that his name is high.

5 Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath done great things: shew this forth in all the earth.

6 Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Zion: for great is he that is in the midst of thee, the Holy One of Israel.

SECOND READING: Ephesians 3: 8-12, 14-19

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8 To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ,

9 And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, who created all things:

10 That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church,

11 According to the eternal purpose, which he made, in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened by his Spirit with might unto the inward man,

17 That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that being rooted and founded in charity,

18 You may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth:

19 To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge, that you may be filled unto all the fulness of God.

GOSPEL: John 19: 31-37

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31 Then the Jews, (because it was the parasceve,) that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, (for that was a great sabbath day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

32 The soldiers therefore came; and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him.

33 But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and water.

35 And he that saw it, hath given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true; that you also may believe.

36 For these things were done, that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him.

37 And again another scripture saith: They shall look on him whom they pierced.

Daily Catholic Mass Readings For Wednesday, June 10, 2015

FIRST READING: 2 Corinthians 3: 4-11

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4 And such confidence we have, through Christ, towards God.

5 Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God.

6 Who also hath made us fit ministers of the new testament, not in the letter, but in the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth.

7 Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious; so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which is made void:

8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?

9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.

10 For even that which was glorious in this part was not glorified, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is in glory.

PSALM: Psalms 99: 5-9

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5 Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore his footstool, for it is holy.

6 Moses and Aaron among his priests: and Samuel among them that call upon his name. They called upon the Lord, and he heard them:

7 He spoke to them in the pillar of the cloud. They kept his testimonies, and the commandment which he gave them.

8 Thou didst hear them, O Lord our God: thou wast a merciful God to them, and taking vengeance on all their inventions.

9 Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore at his holy mountain: for the Lord our God is holy.

GOSPEL: Matthew 5: 17-19

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17 Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

18 For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Daily Catholic Mass Readings For Tuesday, June 9, 2015

FIRST READING: 2 Corinthians 1: 18-22

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18 But God is faithful, for our preaching which was to you, was not, It is, and It is not.

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us, by me, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, was not, It is and It is not, but, It is, was in him.

20 For all the promises of God are in him, It is; therefore also by him, amen to God, unto our glory.

21 Now he that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and that hath anointed us, is God:

22 Who also hath sealed us, and given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.

PSALM: Psalms 119: 129-133, 135

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129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul hath sought them.

130 The declaration of thy words giveth light: and giveth understanding to little ones.

131 I opened my mouth and panted: because I longed for thy commandments.

132 Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of them that love thy name.

133 Direct my steps according to thy word: and let no iniquity have dominion over me.

135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thy justifications.

GOSPEL: Matthew 5:13-16

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13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men.

14 You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.

16 So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.