Reading 1 Ex 3:13-20 Moses, hearing the voice of the LORD from the burning bush, said to him,"When I go to the children of Israel and say to them,'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,'if they ask me, 'What is his name?' what am I to tell them?"God replied, "I am who am."Then he added, "This is what you shall tell the children of Israel:I AM sent me to you."God spoke further to Moses, "Thus shall you say to the children of Israel:The LORD, the God of your fathers,the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob,has sent me to you."This is my name forever;this my title for all generations."Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and tell them: The LORD, the God of your fathers,the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,has appeared to me and said:I am concerned about youand about the way you are being treated in Egypt;so I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egyptinto the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,a land flowing with milk and honey."Thus they will heed your message. Then you and the elders of Israelshall go to the king of Egypt and say to him:"The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent us word.Permit us, then, to go a three-days' journey in the desert,that we may offer sacrifice to the LORD, our God."Yet I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to gounless he is forced.I will stretch out my hand, therefore,and smite Egypt by doing all kinds of wondrous deeds there.After that he will send you away." Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:1 and 5, 8-9, 24-25, 26-27 R.(8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.or:R. Alleluia.Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;make known among the nations his deeds.Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.or:R. Alleluia.He remembers forever his covenantwhich he made binding for a thousand generations--Which he entered into with Abrahamand by his oath to Isaac.R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.or:R. Alleluia.He greatly increased his peopleand made them stronger than their foes,Whose hearts he changed, so that they hated his people,and dealt deceitfully with his servants.R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.or:R. Alleluia.He sent Moses his servant;Aaron, whom he had chosen.They wrought his signs among them,and wonders in the land of Ham.R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Mt 11:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,and I will give you rest, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 11:28-30 Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." Readings for the Optional Memorial

Reading 1 Ex 1:8-14, 22 A new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt.He said to his subjects, "Look how numerous and powerfulthe people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than we ourselves!Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase;otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemiesto fight against us, and so leave our country."Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the children of Israelto oppress them with forced labor.Thus they had to build for Pharaohthe supply cities of Pithom and Raamses.Yet the more they were oppressed,the more they multiplied and spread.The Egyptians, then, dreaded the children of Israeland reduced them to cruel slavery,making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brickand all kinds of field work—the whole cruel fate of slaves.Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects,"Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews,but you may let all the girls live." Responsorial Psalm Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8 R. (8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.Had not the LORD been with us–let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–When men rose up against us,then would they have swallowed us alive,When their fury was inflamed against us. R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;The torrent would have swept over us;over us then would have swept the raging waters.Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave usa prey to their teeth. R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.We were rescued like a bird from the fowlers' snare;Broken was the snare, and we were freed.Our help is in the name of the LORD,who made heaven and earth.R. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Alleluia Mt 5:10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 10:34—11:1 Jesus said to his Apostles:"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.I have come to bring not peace but the sword.For I have come to seta man against his father,a daughter against her mother,and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;and one's enemies will be those of his household."Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;and whoever does not take up his crossand follow after me is not worthy of me.Whoever finds his life will lose it,and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."Whoever receives you receives me,and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophetwill receive a prophet's reward,and whoever receives a righteous manbecause he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward.And whoever gives only a cup of cold waterto one of these little ones to drinkbecause he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his

Reading 1 Gn 21:5, 8-20a Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.Isaac grew, and on the day of the child's weaningAbraham held a great feast.Sarah noticed the son whom Hagar the Egyptianhad borne to Abrahamplaying with her son Isaac;so she demanded of Abraham:"Drive out that slave and her son! No son of that slave is going to share the inheritancewith my son Isaac!"Abraham was greatly distressed,especially on account of his son Ishmael.But God said to Abraham: "Do not be distressed about the boyor about your slave woman.Heed the demands of Sarah, no matter what she is asking of you;for it is through Isaac that descendants shall bear your name.As for the son of the slave woman,I will make a great nation of him also,since he too is your offspring."Early the next morning Abraham got some bread and a skin of waterand gave them to Hagar.Then, placing the child on her back, he sent her away.As she roamed aimlessly in the wilderness of Beer-sheba,the water in the skin was used up.So she put the child down under a shrub,and then went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away;for she said to herself, "Let me not watch to see the child die." As she sat opposite Ishmael, he began to cry.God heard the boy's cry,and God's messenger called to Hagar from heaven:"What is the matter, Hagar?Don't be afraid; God has heard the boy's cry in this plight of his.Arise, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand;for I will make of him a great nation."Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.She went and filled the skin with water, and then let the boy drink.God was with the boy as he grew up. Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:7-8, 10-11, 12-13 R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,and from all his distress he saved him.The angel of the LORD encampsaround those who fear him, and delivers them.R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.Fear the LORD, you his holy ones,for nought is lacking to those who fear him.The great grow poor and hungry;but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.Come, children, hear me;I will teach you the fear of the LORD.Which of you desires life,and takes delight in prosperous days?R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Alleluia Jas 1:18 R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truththat we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 8:28-34 When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes,two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God?Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?"Some distance away a herd of

Readings for the Independence DayReading 1 Gn 19:15-29 As dawn was breaking, the angels urged Lot on, saying, "On your way!Take with you your wife and your two daughters who are here,or you will be swept away in the punishment of Sodom."When he hesitated, the men, by the LORD's mercy,seized his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughtersand led them to safety outside the city.As soon as they had been brought outside, he was told:"Flee for your life!Don't look back or stop anywhere on the Plain.Get off to the hills at once, or you will be swept away.""Oh, no, my lord!" Lot replied,"You have already thought enough of your servantto do me the great kindness of intervening to save my life.But I cannot flee to the hills to keep the disaster from overtaking me,and so I shall die. Look, this town ahead is near enough to escape to.It's only a small place.Let me flee there–it's a small place, is it not?–that my life may be saved.""Well, then," he replied,"I will also grant you the favor you now ask.I will not overthrow the town you speak of. Hurry, escape there!I cannot do anything until you arrive there."That is why the town is called Zoar.The sun was just rising over the earth as Lot arrived in Zoar;at the same time the LORD rained down sulphurous fireupon Sodom and Gomorrahfrom the LORD out of heaven.He overthrew those cities and the whole Plain,together with the inhabitants of the citiesand the produce of the soil.But Lot's wife looked back, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.Early the next morning Abraham went to the placewhere he had stood in the LORD's presence.As he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrahand the whole region of the Plain,he saw dense smoke over the land rising like fumes from a furnace.Thus it came to pass: when God destroyed the Cities of the Plain,he was mindful of Abraham by sending Lot away from the upheavalby which God overthrew the cities where Lot had been living. Responsorial Psalm Ps 26:2-3, 9-10, 11-12 R.(3a) O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.Search me, O LORD, and try me;test my soul and my heart.For your mercy is before my eyes,and I walk in your truth.R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.Gather not my soul with those of sinners,nor with men of blood my life.On their hands are crimes,and their right hands are full of bribes.R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.But I walk in integrity;redeem me, and have mercy on me.My foot stands on level ground;in the assemblies I will bless the LORD.R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes. Alleluia Ps 130:5 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I trust in the LORD;my soul trusts in his word.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 8:23-27 As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,so that the boat was being swamped by waves;but he was asleep.They came and woke him,

Reading 1 Eph 2:19-22 Brothers and sisters:You are no longer strangers and sojourners,but you are fellow citizens with the holy onesand members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.Through him the whole structure is held togetherand grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;in him you also are being built togetherinto a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Responsorial Psalm Ps 117:1bc, 2 R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.Praise the LORD, all you nations;glorify him, all you peoples!R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.For steadfast is his kindness for us,and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. Alleluia Jn 20:29 R. Alleluia, alleluia.You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 20:24-29 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,was not with them when Jesus came.So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord."But Thomas said to them,"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his handsand put my finger into the nailmarksand put my hand into his side, I will not believe."Now a week later his disciples were again insideand Thomas was with them.Jesus came, although the doors were locked,and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands,and bring your hand and put it into my side,and do not be unbelieving, but believe."Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me?Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." - - -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 Gn 18:1-15 The LORD appeared to Abraham by the Terebinth of Mamre,as Abraham sat in the entrance of his tent,while the day was growing hot.Looking up, he saw three men standing nearby.When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them;and bowing to the ground, he said:"Sir, if I may ask you this favor,please do not go on past your servant.Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet,and then rest yourselves under the tree.Now that you have come this close to your servant,let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves;and afterward you may go on your way."The men replied, "Very well, do as you have said."Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah,"Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls."He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer,and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.Then Abraham got some curds and milk,as well as the steer that had been prepared,and set these before them;and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.They asked him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" He replied, "There in the tent." One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year,and Sarah will then have a son."Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, just behind him.Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years,and Sarah had stopped having her womanly periods.So Sarah laughed to herself and said,"Now that I am so withered and my husband is so old,am I still to have sexual pleasure?"But the LORD said to Abraham: "Why did Sarah laugh and say,'Shall I really bear a child, old as I am?'Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do?At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you,and Sarah will have a son."Because she was afraid, Sarah dissembled, saying, "I didn't laugh."But he replied, "Yes you did." Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50 and 53, 54-55 R. (see 54b) The Lord has remembered his mercy."My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."R. The Lord has remembered his mercy."For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.From this day all generations will call me blessed:the Almighty has done great things for me,and holy is his Name."R. The Lord has remembered his mercy."He has mercy on those who fear himin every generation.He has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent away empty."R. The Lord has remembered his mercy."He has come to the help of his servant Israelfor he has remembered his promise of mercy,The promise he made to our fathers,to Abraham and his children for ever."R. The Lord has remembered his mercy. Alleluia Mt 8:17 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Christ took away our infirmitiesand bore our diseases.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 8:5-17 When Jesus entered Capernaum,a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,"Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully."

Reading I Gn 17:1, 9-10, 15-22 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said: “I am God the Almighty. Walk in my presence and be blameless.” God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised.” God further said to Abraham: “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai; her name shall be Sarah. I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. Him also will I bless; he shall give rise to nations, and rulers of peoples shall issue from him.” Abraham prostrated himself and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Or can Sarah give birth at ninety?” Then Abraham said to God, “Let but Ishmael live on by your favor!” God replied: “Nevertheless, your wife Sarah is to bear you a son, and you shall call him Isaac. I will maintain my covenant with him as an everlasting pact, to be his God and the God of his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I am heeding you: I hereby bless him. I will make him fertile and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve chieftains, and I will make of him a great nation. But my covenant I will maintain with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you by this time next year.” When he had finished speaking with him, God departed from Abraham. Responsorial Psalm 128:1-2, 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. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home; Your children like olive plants around your table. R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him. Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him. Alleluia Mt 8:17 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 8:1-4 When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed;

Reading 1 Gn 13:2, 5-18 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,so that the land could not support them if they stayed together;their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestockand those of Lot's.(At this time the Canaanites and the Perizziteswere occupying the land.)So Abram said to Lot:"Let there be no strife between you and me,or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen.Is not the whole land at your disposal?Please separate from me.If you prefer the left, I will go to the right;if you prefer the right, I will go to the left."Lot looked about and saw how well wateredthe whole Jordan Plain was as far as Zoar,like the LORD's own garden, or like Egypt.(This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plainand set out eastward.Thus they separated from each other;Abram stayed in the land of Canaan,while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain,pitching his tents near Sodom.Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wickedin the sins they committed against the LORD.After Lot had left, the LORD said to Abram:"Look about you, and from where you are,gaze to the north and south, east and west;all the land that you see I will give to youand your descendants forever.I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth;if anyone could count the dust of the earth,your descendants too might be counted.Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth,for to you I will give it."Abram moved his tents and went on to settlenear the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron.There he built an altar to the LORD. Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5 R. (1b) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.He who walks blamelessly and does justice;who thinks the truth in his heartand slanders not with his tongue.R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Who harms not his fellow man,nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;By whom the reprobate is despised,while he honors those who fear the LORD.R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Who lends not his money at usuryand accepts no bribe against the innocent.He who does these thingsshall never be disturbed. R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. 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 7:6, 12-14 Jesus said to his disciples:"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces."Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.This is the Law and the Prophets."Enter through the narrow gate;for the gate is wide and the road broad

Reading 1 Jer 20:10-13 Jeremiah said:"I hear the whisperings of many:'Terror on every side!Denounce! let us denounce him!'All those who were my friendsare on the watch for any misstep of mine.'Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,and take our vengeance on him.'But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.In their failure they will be put to utter shame,to lasting, unforgettable confusion.O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,who probe mind and heart,let me witness the vengeance you take on them,for to you I have entrusted my cause.Sing to the LORD,praise the LORD,for he has rescued the life of the poorfrom the power of the wicked!" Responsorial Psalm Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me. For your sake I bear insult, and shame covers my face. I have become an outcast to my brothers, a stranger to my mother's children, Because zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me. R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness; in your great mercy turn toward me. R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. "See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not. Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the seas and whatever moves in them!'' R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. Reading 2 Rom 5:12-15 Brothers and sisters:Through one man sin entered the world,and through sin, death,and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,though sin is not accounted when there is no law.But death reigned from Adam to Moses,even over those who did not sinafter the pattern of the trespass of Adam,who is the type of the one who was to come.But the gift is not like the transgression.For if by the transgression of the one the many died,how much more did the grace of Godand the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christoverflow for the many. Alleluia Jn 15:26b, 27a R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord;and you also will testify.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 10:26-33 Jesus said to the Twelve:"Fear no one.Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,nor secret that will not be known.What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;rather, be afraid of the one who can destroyboth soul and body in Gehenna.Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?Yet not one

Reading 1 2 Cor 6:1-10 Brothers and sisters:As your fellow workers, we appeal to younot to receive the grace of God in vain.For he says:In an acceptable time I heard you,and on the day of salvation I helped you.Behold, now is a very acceptable time;behold, now is the day of salvation.We cause no one to stumble in anything,in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselvesas ministers of God, through much endurance,in afflictions, hardships, constraints,beatings, imprisonments, riots,labors, vigils, fasts;by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech,in the power of God;with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;as unrecognized and yet acknowledged;as dying and behold we live;as chastised and yet not put to death;as sorrowful yet always rejoicing;as poor yet enriching many;as having nothing and yet possessing all things. Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2b, 3ab, 3cd-4 R.(2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.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 has made known his salvation.In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulnesstoward the house of Israel. R. The Lord has made known his salvation.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. The Lord has made known his salvation. Alleluia Ps 119:105 R. Alleluia, alleluia.A lamp to my feet is your word,a light to my path.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:38-42 Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said,An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Romuald, abbot - - -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.