Reading 1 Sir 15:15-20 If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;if you trust in God, you too shall live;he has set before you fire and waterto whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.Before man are life and death, good and evil,whichever he chooses shall be given him.Immense is the wisdom of the Lord;he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.The eyes of God are on those who fear him;he understands man's every deed.No one does he command to act unjustly,to none does he give license to sin. Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!Blessed are they whose way is blameless,who walk in the law of the LORD.Blessed are they who observe his decrees,who seek him with all their heart.R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!You have commanded that your preceptsbe diligently kept.Oh, that I might be firm in the waysof keeping your statutes!R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!Be good to your servant, that I may liveand keep your words.Open my eyes, that I may considerthe wonders of your law.R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,that I may exactly observe them.Give me discernment, that I may observe your lawand keep it with all my heart.R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! Reading 2 1 Cor 2:6-10 Brothers and sisters:We speak a wisdom to those who are mature,not a wisdom of this age,nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.Rather, we speak God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden,which God predetermined before the ages for our glory,and which none of the rulers of this age knew;for, if they had known it,they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.But as it is written:What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,and what has not entered the human heart,what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Alleluia cF. 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 Mt 5:17-37 Jesus said to his disciples:"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letterwill pass from the law,until all things have taken place.Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandmentsand teaches others to do sowill be called least in the kingdom of heaven.But whoever obeys and teaches these commandmentswill be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.I tell you, unless your righteousness surpassesthat of the scribes and Pharisees,you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."You have heard that it was said

Reading 1 Gn 3:9-24 The LORD God called to Adam and asked him, "Where are you?"He answered, "I heard you in the garden;but I was afraid, because I was naked,so I hid myself."Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked?You have eaten, then,from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!"The man replied, "The woman whom you put here with me— she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it."The LORD God then asked the woman,"Why did you do such a thing?"The woman answered, "The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it."Then the LORD God said to the serpent:"Because you have done this, you shall be bannedfrom all the animalsand from all the wild creatures;On your belly shall you crawl,and dirt shall you eatall the days of your life.I will put enmity between you and the woman,and between your offspring and hers;He will strike at your head,while you strike at his heel." To the woman he said:"I will intensify the pangs of your childbearing;in pain shall you bring forth children.Yet your urge shall be for your husband,and he shall be your master."To the man he said: "Because you listened to your wifeand ate from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat,"Cursed be the ground because of you!In toil shall you eat its yieldall the days of your life.Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to you,as you eat of the plants of the field.By the sweat of your faceshall you get bread to eat,Until you return to the ground,from which you were taken;For you are dirt,and to dirt you shall return."The man called his wife Eve,because she became the mother of all the living.For the man and his wife the LORD God made leather garments,with which he clothed them.Then the LORD God said: "See! The man has become like one of us,knowing what is good and what is evil!Therefore, he must not be allowed to put out his handto take fruit from the tree of life also,and thus eat of it and live forever."The LORD God therefore banished him from the garden of Eden,to till the ground from which he had been taken.When he expelled the man,he settled him east of the garden of Eden;and he stationed the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword,to guard the way to the tree of life. Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:2, 3-4abc, 5-6, 12-13 R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.Before the mountains were begottenand the earth and the world were brought forth,from everlasting to everlasting you are God. R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.You turn man back to dust,saying, "Return, O children of men."For a thousand years in your sightare as yesterday, now that it is past,or as a watch of the night. R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.You make an end of them in their sleep;the next morning they are like the changing grass,Which at dawn

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Scholastica, virginReading 1 Gn 3:1-8 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animalsthat the LORD God had made.The serpent asked the woman,"Did God really tell you not to eatfrom any of the trees in the garden?"The woman answered the serpent:"We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;it is only about the fruit of the treein the middle of the garden that God said,'You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.'"But the serpent said to the woman:"You certainly will not die!No, God knows well that the moment you eat of ityour eyes will be opened and you will be like godswho know what is good and what is evil."The woman saw that the tree was good for food,pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.So she took some of its fruit and ate it;and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her,and he ate it.Then the eyes of both of them were opened,and they realized that they were naked;so they sewed fig leaves togetherand made loincloths for themselves.When they heard the sound of the LORD God moving about in the gardenat the breezy time of the day,the man and his wife hid themselves from the LORD Godamong the trees of the garden. Responsorial Psalm Ps 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7 R. (1a) Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,whose sin is covered.Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,in whose spirit there is no guile. R. Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.Then I acknowledged my sin to you,my guilt I covered not.I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD,"and you took away the guilt of my sin. R. Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven. For this shall every faithful man pray to you in time of stress.Though deep waters overflow,they shall not reach him. R. Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round. R. Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven. Alleluia Acts 16:14b R. Alleluia, alleluia.Open our hearts, O Lord,to listen to the words of your Son.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 7:31-37 Jesus left the district of Tyreand went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impedimentand begged him to lay his hand on him.He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man's earsand, spitting, touched his tongue;then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,"Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!")And immediately the man's ears were opened,his speech impediment was removed,and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to,the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said,"He has done

Reading 1 Gn 2:18-25 The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone.I will make a suitable partner for him."So the LORD God formed out of the groundvarious wild animals and various birds of the air,and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them;whatever the man called each of them would be its name.The man gave names to all the cattle,all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals;but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man,and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribsand closed up its place with flesh.The LORD God then built up into a womanthe rib that he had taken from the man.When he brought her to the man, the man said:"This one, at last, is bone of my bonesand flesh of my flesh;this one shall be called 'woman,'for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."That is why a man leaves his father and motherand clings to his wife,and the two of them become one flesh.The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame. Responsorial Psalm Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 R. (see 1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.Blessed are you who fear the LORD,who walk in his ways!For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;blessed shall you be, and favored. R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.Your wife shall be like a fruitful vinein the recesses of your home;Your children like olive plantsaround your table. R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.Behold, thus is the man blessedwho fears the LORD.The LORD bless you from Zion:may you see the prosperity of Jerusalemall the days of your life.R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord. Alleluia Jas 1:21bc R. Alleluia, alleluia.Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in youand is able to save your souls.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 7:24-30 Jesus went to the district of Tyre.He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it,but he could not escape notice.Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him.She came and fell at his feet.The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth,and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.He said to her, "Let the children be fed first.For it is not right to take the food of the childrenand throw it to the dogs."She replied and said to him,"Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps."Then he said to her, "For saying this, you may go.The demon has gone out of your daughter."When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bedand the demon gone. - - -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

Reading 1 Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17 At the time when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens --while as yet there was no field shrub on earthand no grass of the field had sprouted,for the LORD God had sent no rain upon the earthand there was no man to till the soil, but a stream was welling up out of the earthand was watering all the surface of the ground --the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the groundand blew into his nostrils the breath of life,and so man became a living being.Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,and he placed there the man whom he had formed.Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees growthat were delightful to look at and good for food,with the tree of life in the middle of the gardenand the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.The LORD God then took the manand settled him in the garden of Eden,to cultivate and care for it.The LORD God gave man this order:"You are free to eat from any of the trees of the gardenexcept the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat;the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die." Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1-2a, 27-28, 29bc-30 R. (1a) O bless the Lord, my soul!Bless the LORD, O my soul!O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!You are clothed with majesty and glory,robed in light as with a cloak.R. O bless the Lord, my soul!All creatures look to youto give them food in due time.When you give it to them, they gather it;when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. R. O bless the Lord, my soul!If you take away their breath, they perishand return to their dust.When you send forth your spirit, they are created,and you renew the face of the earth. R. O bless the Lord, my soul! Alleluia See Jn 17:17b, 17a R. Alleluia, alleluia.Your word, O Lord, is truth:consecrate us in the truth.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 7:14-23 Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,“Hear me, all of you, and understand.Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;but the things that come out from within are what defile.” When he got home away from the crowdhis disciples questioned him about the parable.He said to them,“Are even you likewise without understanding?Do you not realize that everythingthat goes into a person from outside cannot defile,since it enters not the heart but the stomachand passes out into the latrine?”(Thus he declared all foods clean.)“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.From within the man, from his heart,come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,adultery, greed, malice, deceit,licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.All these evils come from within and they defile.” Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Josephine Bakhita, VirginReadings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Jerome Emiliani, priest - - -Lectionary for Mass for

Reading 1 Gn 1:20—2:4a God said,"Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures,and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky."and so it happened:God created the great sea monstersand all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems,and all kinds of winged birds.God saw how good it was, and God blessed them, saying,"Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas;and let the birds multiply on the earth."Evening came, and morning followed–the fifth day.Then God said,"Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures:cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds."and so it happened:God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle,and all kinds of creeping things of the earth.God saw how good it was.Then God said:"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,the birds of the air, and the cattle,and over all the wild animalsand all the creatures that crawl on the ground."God created man in his image;in the divine image he created him;male and female he created them.God blessed them, saying:"Be fertile and multiply;fill the earth and subdue it.Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air,and all the living things that move on the earth."God also said:"See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earthand every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food;and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air,and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground,I give all the green plants for food."And so it happened.God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.Evening came, and morning followed–the sixth day.Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed.Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing,he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken.So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.Such is the story of the heavens and the earth at their creation. Responsorial Psalm Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. (2ab) O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars which you set in place—What is man that you should be mindful of him,or the son of man that you should care for him?R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!You have made him little less than the angels,and crowned him with glory and honor.You have given him rule over the works of your hands,putting all things under his feet.R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!All sheep and oxen,yes, and the beasts of the field,The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,and whatever swims the paths of the seas.R. O Lord, our God, how

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Paul Miki, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrsReading 1 Gn 1:1-19 In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." Thus evening came, and morning followed–the first day. Then God said, "Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters, to separate one body of water from the other." And so it happened: God made the dome, and it separated the water above the dome from the water below it. God called the dome "the sky." Evening came, and morning followed–the second day. Then God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear." And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared. God called the dry land "the earth," and the basin of the water he called "the sea." God saw how good it was. Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it." And so it happened: the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. God saw how good it was. Evening came, and morning followed–the third day. Then God said: "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to separate day from night. Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years, and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth." And so it happened: God made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night; and he made the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw how good it was. Evening came, and morning followed–the fourth day. Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1-2a, 5-6, 10 and 12, 24 and 35c R. (31b) May the Lord be glad in his works.Bless the LORD, O my soul!O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!You are clothed with majesty and glory,robed in light as with a cloak.R. May the Lord be glad in his works.You fixed the earth upon its foundation,not to be moved forever;With the ocean, as with a garment, you covered it;above the mountains the waters stood.R. May the Lord be glad in his works.You send forth springs into the watercoursesthat wind

Reading 1 Is 58:7-10 Thus says the LORD:Share your bread with the hungry,shelter the oppressed and the homeless;clothe the naked when you see them,and do not turn your back on your own.Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,and your wound shall quickly be healed;your vindication shall go before you,and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!If you remove from your midstoppression, false accusation and malicious speech;if you bestow your bread on the hungryand satisfy the afflicted;then light shall rise for you in the darkness,and the gloom shall become for you like midday. Responsorial Psalm Ps 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.or:R. Alleluia.Light shines through the darkness for the upright;he is gracious and merciful and just.Well for the man who is gracious and lends,who conducts his affairs with justice.R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.or:R. Alleluia.He shall never be moved;the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.An evil report he shall not fear;his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.or:R. Alleluia.His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.Lavishly he gives to the poor;His justice shall endure forever;his horn shall be exalted in glory.R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.or:R. Alleluia. Reading 2 1 Cor 2:1-5 When I came to you, brothers and sisters,proclaiming the mystery of God,I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.For I resolved to know nothing while I was with youexcept Jesus Christ, and him crucified.I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,and my message and my proclamationwere not with persuasive words of wisdom,but with a demonstration of Spirit and power,so that your faith might rest not on human wisdombut on the power of God. Alleluia Jn 8:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the light of the world, says the Lord;whoever follows me will have the light of life.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:13-16 Jesus said to his disciples:"You are the salt of the earth.But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?It is no longer good for anythingbut to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.You are the light of the world.A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;it is set on a lampstand,where it gives light to all in the house.Just so, your light must shine before others,that they may see your good deedsand glorify your heavenly Father." - - -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

Reading 1 Heb 13:15-17, 20-21 Brothers and sisters:Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise,that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have;God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.Obey your leaders and defer to them,for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account,that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow,for that would be of no advantage to you.May the God of peace, who brought up from the deadthe great shepherd of the sheepby the Blood of the eternal covenant, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will.May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ,to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen. Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 R. (1)  The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.In verdant pastures he gives me repose.Beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.He guides me in right pathsfor his name's sake.Even though I walk in the dark valleyI fear no evil; for you are at my sideWith your rod and your staffthat give me courage.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.  R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.Only goodness and kindness follow meall the days of my life;And I shall dwell in the house of the LORDfor years to come.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Alleluia Jn 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;I know them, and they follow me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 6:30-34 The Apostles gathered together with Jesusand reported all they had done and taught.He said to them,"Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers,and they had no opportunity even to eat.So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.They hastened there on foot from all the townsand arrived at the place before them.When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd,his heart was moved with pity for them,for they were like sheep without a shepherd;and he began to teach them many things. - - -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 Heb 13:1-8 Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body. Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers. Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never forsake you or abandon you. Thus we may say with confidence:The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me? Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9abc R. (1a)  The Lord is my light and my salvation.The LORD is my light and my salvation;whom should I fear?The LORD is my life's refuge;of whom should I be afraid? R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.Though an army encamp against me,my heart will not fear;Though war be waged upon me,even then will I trust.R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.For he will hide me in his abodein the day of trouble;He will conceal me in the shelter of his tent,he will set me high upon a rock.R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.Your presence, O LORD, I seek.Hide not your face from me;do not in anger repel your servant.You are my helper: cast me not off.R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Alleluia See Lk 8:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart,and yield a harvest through perseverance.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 6:14-29 King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; That is why mighty powers are at work in him." Others were saying, "He is Elijah"; still others, "He is a prophet like any of the prophets." But when Herod learned of it, he said, "It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up." Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of