Reading 1 Col1:1-8 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,and Timothy our brother, to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:grace to you and peace from God our Father.We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,when we pray for you,for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesusand the love that you have for all the holy onesbecause of the hope reserved for you in heaven.Of this you have already heard through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you.Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing,so also among you, from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth,as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave,who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalfand who also told us of your love in the Spirit. Responsorial Psalm Ps 52:10, 11 R. (10) I trust in the mercy of God for ever.I, like a green olive treein the house of God,Trust in the mercy of Godforever and ever.R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.I will thank you always for what you have done,and proclaim the goodness of your namebefore your faithful ones.R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever. Alleluia Lk 4:18 R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poorand to proclaim liberty to captives.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 4:38-44 After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,and they interceded with him about her.He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.She got up immediately and waited on them.At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God."But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speakbecause they knew that he was the Christ.At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,they tried to prevent him from leaving them.But he said to them, "To the other towns alsoI must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,because for this purpose I have been sent."And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. - - -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 1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11 Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,you have no need for anything to be written to you.For you yourselves know very wellthat the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.When people are saying, "Peace and security,"then sudden disaster comes upon them,like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,for that day to overtake you like a thief.For all of you are children of the light and children of the day.We are not of the night or of darkness.Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,but let us stay alert and sober.For God did not destine us for wrath,but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleepwe may live together with him.Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up,as indeed you do. Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14 R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.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. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.One thing I ask of the LORD;this I seek:To dwell in the house of the LORDall the days of my life,That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORDand contemplate his temple.R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORDin the land of the living.Wait for the LORD with courage;be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. Alleluia Lk 7:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.A great prophet has arisen in our midstand God has visited his people.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 4:31-37 Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.He taught them on the sabbath,and they were astonished at his teachingbecause he spoke with authority.In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice,"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?Have you come to destroy us?I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"Then the demon threw the man down in front of themand came out of him without doing him any harm.They were all amazed and said to one another,"What is there about his word?For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,and they come out."And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region. - - -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,

Reading 1 1 Thes 4:13-18 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,about those who have fallen asleep,so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,so too will God, through Jesus,bring with him those who have fallen asleep.Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.For the Lord himself, with a word of command,with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.Then we who are alive, who are left,will be caught up together with them in the cloudsto meet the Lord in the air.Thus we shall always be with the Lord.Therefore, console one another with these words. Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13 R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.Sing to the LORD a new song;sing to the LORD, all you lands.Tell his glory among the nations;among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;awesome is he, beyond all gods.For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,but the LORD made the heavens.R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;let the sea and what fills it resound;let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.Before the LORD, for he comes;for he comes to rule the earth.He shall rule the world with justiceand the peoples with his constancy.R. The Lord comes to judge the earth. Alleluia See Lk 4:18 R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 4:16-30 Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,and went according to his custominto the synagogue on the sabbath day.He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed meto bring glad tidings to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captivesand recovery of sight to the blind,to let the oppressed go free,and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.Rolling up the scroll,he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.He said to them,"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."And all spoke highly of himand were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.They also asked, "Is this not the son of Joseph?"He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb,'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native placethe things that

Reading 1 Jer 20:7-9 You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.All the day I am an object of laughter;everyone mocks me.Whenever I speak, I must cry out,violence and outrage is my message;the word of the LORD has brought mederision and reproach all the day.I say to myself, I will not mention him,I will speak in his name no more.But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,imprisoned in my bones;I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it. Responsorial Psalm Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.O God, you are my God whom I seek;for you my flesh pines and my soul thirstslike the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuaryto see your power and your glory,for your kindness is a greater good than life;my lips shall glorify you.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.Thus will I bless you while I live;lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.You are my help,and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.My soul clings fast to you;your right hand upholds me.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. Reading 2 Rom 12:1-2 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this agebut be transformed by the renewal of your mind,that you may discern what is the will of God,what is good and pleasing and perfect. Alleluia cf. Eph 1:17-18 R. Alleluia, alleluia.May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christenlighten the eyes of our hearts,that we may know what is the hopethat belongs to our call.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 16:21-27 Jesus began to show his disciplesthat he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatlyfrom the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter,"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."Then Jesus said to his disciples,"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.What profit would there be for one to gain the whole worldand forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come

Reading 1 1 Thes 4:9-11 Brothers and sisters:On the subject of fraternal charityyou have no need for anyone to write you,for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia.Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress even more,and to aspire to live a tranquil life,to mind your own affairs,and to work with your own hands,as we instructed you. Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9 R. (9) The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.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. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.Let the sea and what fills it resound,the world and those who dwell in it;Let the rivers clap their hands,the mountains shout with them for joy.R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.Before the LORD, for he comes,for he comes to rule the earth;He will rule the world with justiceand the peoples with equity.R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Alleluia Jn 13:34 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I give you a new commandment:love one another as I have loved you.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 25:14-30 Jesus told his disciples this parable:"A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one– to each according to his ability.Then he went away.Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,and made another five.Likewise, the one who received two made another two.But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the groundand buried his master's money.After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.The one who had received five talentscame forward bringing the additional five.He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents.See, I have made five more.'His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.Since you were faithful in small matters,I will give you great responsibilities.Come, share your master's joy.'Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,'Master, you gave me two talents.See, I have made two more.'His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.Since you were faithful in small matters,I will give you great responsibilities.Come, share your master's joy.'Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,'Master, I knew you were a demanding person,harvesting where you did not plantand gathering where you did not scatter;so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.Here it is back.'His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant!So you knew that I harvest where I did not plantand gather where I did not scatter?Should you not then have put my money in the bankso that I could have got it back with interest on my return?Now then! Take the talent from him and give

Reading 1 1 Thes 3:7-13 We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters,in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you,for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in personand to remedy the deficiencies of your faith.Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesusdirect our way to you, and may the Lord make you increaseand abound in love for one another and for all,just as we have for you,so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Fatherat the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen. Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17 R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!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. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!Teach us to number our days aright,that we may gain wisdom of heart.Return, O LORD! How long?Have pity on your servants!R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;prosper the work of our hands for us!Prosper the work of our hands!R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy! Alleluia Mt 24:42a, 44 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Stay awake!For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 24:42-51 Jesus said to his disciples:"Stay awake!For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.Be sure of this: if the master of the househad known the hour of night when the thief was coming,he would have stayed awakeand not let his house be broken into.So too, you also must be prepared,for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,whom the master has put in charge of his householdto distribute to them their food at the proper time?Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is long delayed,'and begins to beat his fellow servants,and eat and drink with drunkards,the servant's master will come on an unexpected dayand at an unknown hour and will punish him severelyand assign him a place with the hypocrites,where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth." - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986,

Reading 1 1 Thes 2:9-13 You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery.Working night and day in order not to burden any of you,we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God.You are witnesses, and so is God,how devoutly and justly and blamelesslywe behaved toward you believers.As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children,exhorting and encouraging you and insistingthat you walk in a manner worthy of the Godwho calls you into his Kingdom and glory.And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly,that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us,you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God,which is now at work in you who believe. Responsorial Psalm Ps 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.Where can I go from your spirit?From your presence where can I flee?If I go up to the heavens, you are there;if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.If I take the wings of the dawn,if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,Even there your hand shall guide me,and your right hand hold me fast.R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.If I say, "Surely the darkness shall hide me,and night shall be my light"–For you darkness itself is not dark,and night shines as the day.R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord. Alleluia 1 Jn 2:5 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever keeps the word of Christ,the love of God is truly perfected in him.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 23:27-32 Jesus said,"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth.Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing."Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You build the tombs of the prophetsand adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets' blood.'Thus you bear witness against yourselvesthat you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;now fill up what your ancestors measured out!" - - -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.

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Augustine, bishop and doctor of the ChurchReading 1 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessaloniansin God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:grace to you and peace.We give thanks to God always for all of you,remembering you in our prayers,unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of loveand endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,before our God and Father,knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen.For our Gospel did not come to you in word alone,but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake. In every place your faith in God has gone forth,so that we have no need to say anything.For they themselves openly declare about uswhat sort of reception we had among you,and how you turned to God from idolsto serve the living and true God and to await his Son from heaven,whom he raised from the dead, Jesus,who delivers us from the coming wrath. Responsorial Psalm Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.or:R. Alleluia.Sing to the LORD a new songof praise in the assembly of the faithful.Let Israel be glad in their maker,let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.R. The Lord takes delight in his people.or:R. Alleluia.Let them praise his name in the festive dance,let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.For the LORD loves his people,and he adorns the lowly with victory.R. The Lord takes delight in his people.or:R. Alleluia.Let the faithful exult in glory;let them sing for joy upon their couches;Let the high praises of God be in their throats.This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia!R. The Lord takes delight in his people.or:R. Alleluia. 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 Mt 23:13-22 Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.You do not enter yourselves,nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter."Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You traverse sea and land to make one convert,and when that happens you make him a child of Gehennatwice as much as yourselves."Woe to you, blind guides, who say,'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing,but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.'Blind fools, which is greater, the gold,or the temple that made the gold sacred?And you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing,but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.'You blind ones, which is greater, the gift,or the altar that makes the gift sacred?One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it;one who swears by the temple swears by itand by him who

Readings for the Memorial of Saint MonicaReading 1 Is 22:19-23 Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace: "I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim's shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family." Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8 R. (8bc) Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,for you have heard the words of my mouth;in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;I will worship at your holy temple.R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.I will give thanks to your name,because of your kindness and your truth:When I called, you answered me;you built up strength within me.R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees,and the proud he knows from afar.Your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;forsake not the work of your hands.R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands. Reading 2 Rom 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!For who has known the mind of the Lordor who has been his counselor?Or who has given the Lord anythingthat he may be repaid?For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Alleluia Mt 16:18 R. Alleluia, alleluia.You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Churchand the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 16:13-20 Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi andhe asked his disciples,"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply,"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply,"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter,and upon this rock I will build my church,and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind

Reading 1 Ru 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 Naomi had a prominent kinsman named Boaz,of the clan of her husband Elimelech.Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi,"Let me go and glean ears of grain in the fieldof anyone who will allow me that favor."Naomi said to her, "Go, my daughter," and she went.The field she entered to glean after the harvestershappened to be the section belonging to Boazof the clan of Elimelech.Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter!Do not go to glean in anyone else's field;you are not to leave here.Stay here with my women servants.Watch to see which field is to be harvested, and follow them;I have commanded the young men to do you no harm.When you are thirsty, you may go and drink from the vesselsthe young men have filled."Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, Ruth said to him,"Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your notice?"Boaz answered her:"I have had a complete account of what you have donefor your mother-in-law after your husband's death;you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth,and have come to a people whom you did not know previously."Boaz took Ruth.When they came together as man and wife,the LORD enabled her to conceive and she bore a son.Then the women said to Naomi,"Blessed is the LORD who has not failedto provide you today with an heir!May he become famous in Israel!He will be your comfort and the support of your old age,for his mother is the daughter-in-law who loves you.She is worth more to you than seven sons!"Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became his nurse.And the neighbor women gave him his name,at the news that a grandson had been born to Naomi.They called him Obed.He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Responsorial Psalm Ps 128:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 R. (4) See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.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. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.You wife shall be like a fruitful vinein the recesses of your home;Your children like olive plantsaround your table.R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.Behold, thus is the man blessedwho fears the LORD.R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.The LORD bless you from Zion:may you see the prosperity of Jerusalemall the days of your life.R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him. Alleluia Mt 23:9b, 10b R. Alleluia, alleluia.You have but one Father in heaven;you have but one master, the Christ.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 23:1-12 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,"The scribes and the Phariseeshave taken their seat on the chair of Moses.Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,but do not follow their example.For they preach but they do not practice.They tie up heavy burdens hard to carryand lay them on people's shoulders,but they will not