Mass Readings for Saturday, October 13, 2012

"A Woman Cries Out in a Crowd" -- by James Tissot

FIRST READING: Galatians 3: 22 - 29

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22 But the scripture consigned all things to sin, that what was promised to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed.

24 So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian;

26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

PSALM: Psalms 105: 2 - 7

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2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!

3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

4 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually!

5 Remember the wonderful works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!

7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

GOSPEL: Luke 11: 27 - 28

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27 As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!"

28 But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Mass Readings for Friday, October 12, 2012

"The Pharisees and the Saduccees Come to Tempt Jesus" -- by James Tissot

FIRST READING: Galatians 3: 7 - 14

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7 So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,

preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the

nations be blessed."

9 So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had

faith.

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written,

"Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of

the law, and do them."

11 Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for "He

who through faith is righteous shall live";

12 but the law does not rest on faith, for "He who does them shall live by

them."

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for

us -- for it is written, "Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree" --

14 that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles,

that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

PSALM: Psalms 111: 1 - 6

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1 Praise the LORD. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the

company of the upright, in the congregation.

2 Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who have pleasure in them.

3 Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures for

ever.

4 He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is

gracious and merciful.

5 He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage

of the nations.

GOSPEL: Luke 11: 15 - 26

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15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince of

demons";

16 while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven.

17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided

against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.

18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?

For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul.

19 And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them

out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of

God has come upon you.

21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in

peace;

22 but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes

away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil.

23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me

scatters.

24 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through

waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, `I will return to my

house from which I came.'

25 And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order.

26 Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they

enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the

first."

Mass Readings for Thursday, October 11, 2012

FIRST READING: Galatians 3: 1 - 5

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1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?

4 Did you experience so many things in vain? -- if it really is in vain.

5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

PSALM: Luke 1: 69 - 75

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69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,

73 the oath which he swore to our father Abraham,

74 to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,

75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

GOSPEL: Luke 11: 5 - 13

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5 And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves;

6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him';

7 and he will answer from within, `Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'?

8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;

12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Mass Readings for Wednesday, October 10, 2012

"The Lord's Prayer" -- by James Tissot

FIRST READING: Galatians 2: 1 - 2, 7 - 14

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1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.

2 I went up by revelation; and I laid before them (but privately before those who were of repute) the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, lest somehow I should be running or had run in vain.

7 but on the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised

8 (for he who worked through Peter for the mission to the circumcised worked through me also for the Gentiles),

9 and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised;

10 only they would have us remember the poor, which very thing I was eager to do.

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

12 For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

13 And with him the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity.

14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?"

PSALM: Psalms 117: 1 - 2

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1 Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!

2 For great is his steadfast love toward us; and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. Praise the LORD!

GOSPEL: Luke 11: 1 - 4

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1 He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."

2 And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.

3 Give us each day our daily bread;

4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation."