Reading 1 Sir 35:1-12 To keep the law is a great oblation,and he who observes the commandments sacrifices a peace offering.In works of charity one offers fine flour,and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise.To refrain from evil pleases the LORD,and to avoid injustice is an atonement.Appear not before the LORD empty-handed,for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.The just one's offering enriches the altarand rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.The just one's sacrifice is most pleasing,nor will it ever be forgotten.In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD,be not sparing of freewill gifts.With each contribution show a cheerful countenance,and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.Give to the Most High as he has given to you,generously, according to your means.For the LORD is one who always repays,and he will give back to you sevenfold.But offer no bribes, these he does not accept!Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion.For he is a God of justice,who knows no favorites. Responsorial Psalm Ps 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 and 23 R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God."Gather my faithful ones before me,those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."And the heavens proclaim his justice;for God himself is the judge.R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God."Hear, my people, and I will speak;Israel, I will testify against you;God, your God, am I.Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,for your burnt offerings are before me always."R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God."Offer to God praise as your sacrificeand fulfill your vows to the Most High.He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. Alleluia see mt 11:25 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 10:28-31 Peter began to say to Jesus,'We have given up everything and followed you."Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sistersor mother or father or children or landsfor my sake and for the sake of the Gospelwho will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:houses and brothers and sistersand mothers and children and lands,with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first." - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital,

Reading 1 Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself,with the soldier who was guarding him.Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews.When they had gathered he said to them, "My brothers,although I had done nothing against our peopleor our ancestral customs,I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me,because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty.But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar,even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation.This is the reason, then, I have requested to see youand to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israelthat I wear these chains." He remained for two full years in his lodgings.He received all who came to him, and with complete assuranceand without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of Godand taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. Responsorial Psalm Ps 11:4, 5 and 7 R. (see 7b)  The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.or:R. Alleluia.The LORD is in his holy temple;the LORD's throne is in heaven.His eyes behold,his searching glance is on mankind.R. The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.or:R. Alleluia.The LORD searches the just and the wicked;the lover of violence he hates.For the LORD is just, he loves just deeds;the upright shall see his face.R. The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 16:7, 13 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;he will guide you to all truth.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 21:20-25 Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved,the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supperand had said, "Master, who is the one who will betray you?"When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"Jesus said to him, "What if I want him to remain until I come?What concern is it of yours?  You follow me."So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die.But Jesus had not told him that he would not die,just "What if I want him to remain until I come?What concern is it of yours?"It is this disciple who testifies to these thingsand has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.There are also many other things that Jesus did,but if these were to be described individually,I do not think the whole world would contain the booksthat would be written. Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, bishop - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or

Reading 1 Acts 20:28-38 At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flockof which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,in which you tend the Church of Godthat he acquired with his own Blood.I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,and they will not spare the flock.And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truthto draw the disciples away after them.So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.And now I commend you to Godand to that gracious word of his that can build you upand give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.You know well that these very handshave served my needs and my companions.In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sortwe must help the weak,and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”When he had finished speakinghe knelt down and prayed with them all.They were all weeping loudlyas they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,for they were deeply distressed that he had saidthat they would never see his face again.Then they escorted him to the ship. Responsorial Psalm PS 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia.Show forth, O God, your power,the power, O God, with which you took our part;For your temple in Jerusalemlet the kings bring you gifts.R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth. or:R. Alleluia.You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,chant praise to the Lordwho rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:“Confess the power of God!”R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia.Over Israel is his majesty;his power is in the skies.Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;he gives power and strength to his people.R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia See Jn 17:17b, 17a R. Alleluia, alleluia.Your word, O Lord, is truth;consecrate us in the truth.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 17:11b-19 Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:“Holy Father, keep them in your namethat you have given me,so that they may be one just as we are one.When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,and I guarded them, and none of them was lostexcept the son of destruction,in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.But now I am coming to you.I speak this in the worldso that they may share my joy completely.I gave them your word, and the world hated them,because they do not belong to the worldany more than I belong to the world.I do not ask that you take them out of the worldbut that you keep them from the Evil One.They do not belong to the worldany

Reading 1 Acts 20:17-27 From Miletus Paul had the presbytersof the Church at Ephesus summoned. When they came to him, he addressed them,"You know how I lived among youthe whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia.I served the Lord with all humilityand with the tears and trials that came to mebecause of the plots of the Jews,and I did not at all shrink from telling youwhat was for your benefit,or from teaching you in public or in your homes.I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeksto repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus.But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem.What will happen to me there I do not know,except that in one city after anotherthe Holy Spirit has been warning methat imprisonment and hardships await me.Yet I consider life of no importance to me,if only I may finish my courseand the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace."But now I know that none of youto whom I preached the kingdom during my travelswill ever see my face again.And so I solemnly declare to you this daythat I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God." Responsorial Psalm Ps 68:10-11, 20-21 R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia.A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;you restored the land when it languished;Your flock settled in it;in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia.Blessed day by day be the Lord,who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.God is a saving God for us;the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 14:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I will ask the Fatherand he will give you another Advocateto be with you always.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 17:1-11a Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,"Father, the hour has come.Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,just as you gave him authority over all people,so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.Now this is eternal life,that they should know you, the only true God,and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.I glorified you on earthby accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.Now glorify me, Father, with you,with the glory that I had with you before the world began."I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world.They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,and they have kept your word.Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,because the words you gave to me I have given to them,and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you,and they have believed that you sent me.I pray for them.I

Readings for the AscensionReadings for the Thursday of the Sixth Week of EasterThursday of the Sixth Week of Easter Solemnity of the Ascension Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint John I, pope, martyr - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Acts 13:44-52 On the following sabbathalmost the whole citygathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousyand with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,"It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,but since you reject itand condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us,I have made you a light to the Gentiles,that you may be an instrument of salvationto the ends of the earth."The Gentiles were delighted when they heard thisand glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,and the word of the Lord continued to spreadthrough the whole region. The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipersand the leading men of the city,stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against themand went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R. Alleluia.Sing to the LORD a new song,for he has done wondrous deeds;His right hand has won victory for him,his holy arm.R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R. Alleluia.The LORD has made his salvation known:in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulnesstoward the house of Israel.R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R. Alleluia.All the ends of the earth have seenthe salvation by our God.Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;break into song; sing praise.R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 8:31b-32 R. Alleluia, alleluia.If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,and you will know the truth, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 14:7-14 Jesus said to his disciples: "If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to Jesus, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a timeand you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever believes in