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  • BoogNasty
    Senior Member
    • Jan 2015
    • 1206

    Reading 1 Dt 4:32-34, 39-40

    Moses said to the people:
    "Ask now of the days of old, before your time,
    ever since God created man upon the earth;
    ask from one end of the sky to the other:
    Did anything so great ever happen before?
    Was it ever heard of?
    Did a people ever hear the voice of God
    speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
    Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself
    from the midst of another nation,
    by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
    with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,
    all of which the LORD, your God,
    did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
    This is why you must now know,
    and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God
    in the heavens above and on earth below,
    and that there is no other.
    You must keep his statutes and commandments that I enjoin on you today,
    that you and your children after you may prosper,
    and that you may have long life on the land
    which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."

    Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22

    R. (12b) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
    Upright is the word of the LORD,
    and all his works are trustworthy.
    He loves justice and right;
    of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.
    R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
    By the word of the LORD the heavens were made;
    by the breath of his mouth all their host.
    For he spoke, and it was made;
    he commanded, and it stood forth.
    R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
    See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
    upon those who hope for his kindness,
    To deliver them from death
    and preserve them in spite of famine.
    R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
    Our soul waits for the LORD,
    who is our help and our shield.
    May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
    who have put our hope in you.
    R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

    Reading 2 Rom 8:14-17

    Brothers and sisters:
    For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
    For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
    but you received a Spirit of adoption,
    through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”
    The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
    that we are children of God,
    and if children, then heirs,
    heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
    if only we suffer with him
    so that we may also be glorified with him.
    Alleluia Rev 1:8

    R. Alleluia, alleluia.
    Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
    to God who is, who was, and who is to come.
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.

    Gospel Mt 28:16-20

    The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
    to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
    When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
    Then Jesus approached and said to them,
    "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
    Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
    baptizing them in the name of the Father,
    and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
    teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
    And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

    Comment

    • BoogNasty
      Senior Member
      • Jan 2015
      • 1206

      Comment

      • BoogNasty
        Senior Member
        • Jan 2015
        • 1206

        Reading 1 Tb 2:9-14

        On the night of Pentecost, after I had buried the dead,
        I, Tobit, went into my courtyard
        to sleep next to the courtyard wall.
        My face was uncovered because of the heat.
        I did not know there were birds perched on the wall above me,
        till their warm droppings settled in my eyes, causing cataracts.
        I went to see some doctors for a cure
        but the more they anointed my eyes with various salves,
        the worse the cataracts became,
        until I could see no more.
        For four years I was deprived of eyesight, and
        all my kinsmen were grieved at my condition.
        Ahiqar, however, took care of me for two years,
        until he left for Elymais.

        At that time, my wife Anna worked for hire
        at weaving cloth, the kind of work women do.
        When she sent back the goods to their owners, they would pay her.
        Late in winter on the seventh of Dystrus,
        she finished the cloth and sent it back to the owners.
        They paid her the full salary
        and also gave her a young goat for the table.
        On entering my house the goat began to bleat.

        I called to my wife and said: “Where did this goat come from?
        Perhaps it was stolen! Give it back to its owners;
        we have no right to eat stolen food!”
        She said to me, “It was given to me as a bonus over and above my wages.”
        Yet I would not believe her,
        and told her to give it back to its owners.
        I became very angry with her over this.
        So she retorted: “Where are your charitable deeds now?
        Where are your virtuous acts?
        See! Your true character is finally showing itself!”

        Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1-2, 7-8, 9

        R. (see 7c) The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
        or:
        R. Alleluia.
        Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
        who greatly delights in his commands.
        His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
        the upright generation shall be blessed.
        R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
        or:
        R. Alleluia.
        An evil report he shall not fear;
        his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
        His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
        till he looks down upon his foes.
        R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
        or:
        R. Alleluia.
        Lavishly he gives to the poor;
        his generosity shall endure forever;
        his horn shall be exalted in glory.
        R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
        or:
        R. Alleluia.
        Alleluia See Eph 1:17-18

        R. Alleluia, alleluia.
        May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
        enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
        that we may know what is the hope
        that belongs to his call.
        R. Alleluia, alleluia.

        Gospel Mk 12:13-17

        Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent
        to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech.
        They came and said to him,
        “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
        and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion.
        You do not regard a person’s status
        but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
        Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?
        Should we pay or should we not pay?”
        Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them,
        “Why are you testing me?
        Bring me a denarius to look at.”
        They brought one to him and he said to them,
        “Whose image and inscription is this?”
        They replied to him, “Caesar’s.”
        So Jesus said to them,
        “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
        and to God what belongs to God.”
        They were utterly amazed at him.

        Comment

        • BoogNasty
          Senior Member
          • Jan 2015
          • 1206

          Reading 1 Tb 3:1-11a, 16-17a

          Grief-stricken in spirit, I, Tobit, groaned and wept aloud.
          Then with sobs I began to pray:

          “You are righteous, O Lord,
          and all your deeds are just;
          All your ways are mercy and truth;
          you are the judge of the world.
          And now, O Lord, may you be mindful of me,
          and look with favor upon me.
          Punish me not for my sins,
          nor for my inadvertent offenses,
          nor for those of my ancestors.

          “We sinned against you,
          and disobeyed your commandments.
          So you handed us over to plundering, exile, and death,
          till you made us the talk and reproach of all the nations
          among whom you had dispersed us.

          “Yes, your judgments are many and true
          in dealing with me as my sins
          and those of my ancestors deserve.
          For we have not kept your commandments,
          nor have we trodden the paths of truth before you.

          “So now, deal with me as you please,
          and command my life breath to be taken from me,
          that I may go from the face of the earth into dust.
          It is better for me to die than to live,
          because I have heard insulting calumnies,
          and I am overwhelmed with grief.

          “Lord, command me to be delivered from such anguish;
          let me go to the everlasting abode;
          Lord, refuse me not.
          For it is better for me to die
          than to endure so much misery in life,
          and to hear these insults!”

          On the same day, at Ecbatana in Media,
          it so happened that Raguel’s daughter Sarah
          also had to listen to abuse,
          from one of her father’s maids.
          For she had been married to seven husbands,
          but the wicked demon Asmodeus killed them off
          before they could have intercourse with her,
          as it is prescribed for wives.
          So the maid said to her:
          “You are the one who strangles your husbands!
          Look at you!
          You have already been married seven times,
          but you have had no joy with any one of your husbands.
          Why do you beat us? Is it on account of your seven husbands,
          Because they are dead?
          May we never see a son or daughter of yours!”

          The girl was deeply saddened that day,
          and she went into an upper chamber of her house,
          where she planned to hang herself.

          But she reconsidered, saying to herself:
          “No! People would level this insult against my father:
          ‘You had only one beloved daughter,
          but she hanged herself because of ill fortune!’
          And thus would I cause my father in his old age
          to go down to the nether world laden with sorrow.
          It is far better for me not to hang myself,
          but to beg the Lord to have me die,
          so that I need no longer live to hear such insults.”

          At that time, then, she spread out her hands,
          and facing the window, poured out her prayer:

          “Blessed are you, O Lord, merciful God,
          and blessed is your holy and honorable name.
          Blessed are you in all your works for ever!”

          At that very time,
          the prayer of these two suppliants
          was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God.
          So Raphael was sent to heal them both:
          to remove the cataracts from Tobit’s eyes,
          so that he might again see God’s sunlight;
          and to marry Raguel’s daughter Sarah to Tobit’s son Tobiah,
          and then drive the wicked demon Asmodeus from her.

          Responsorial Psalm PS 25:2-3, 4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9

          R. (1) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
          In you I trust; let me not be put to shame,
          let not my enemies exult over me.
          No one who waits for you shall be put to shame;
          those shall be put to shame who heedlessly break faith.
          R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
          Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
          teach me your paths,
          Guide me in your truth and teach me,
          for you are God my savior.
          R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
          Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
          and your kindness are from of old.
          In your kindness remember me,
          because of your goodness, O LORD.
          R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
          Good and upright is the LORD;
          thus he shows sinners the way.
          He guides the humble to justice,
          he teaches the humble his way.
          R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
          Alleluia Jn 11:25a, 26

          R. Alleluia, alleluia.
          I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
          whoever believes in me will never die.
          R. Alleluia, alleluia.

          Gospel Mk 12:18-27

          Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection,
          came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying,
          “Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
          ‘If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child,
          his brother must take the wife
          and raise up descendants for his brother.’
          Now there were seven brothers.
          The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants.
          So the second brother married her and died, leaving no descendants,
          and the third likewise.
          And the seven left no descendants.
          Last of all the woman also died.
          At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be?
          For all seven had been married to her.”
          Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled
          because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
          When they rise from the dead,
          they neither marry nor are given in marriage,
          but they are like the angels in heaven.
          As for the dead being raised,
          have you not read in the Book of Moses,
          in the passage about the bush, how God told him,
          I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
          and the God of Jacob?
          He is not God of the dead but of the living.
          You are greatly misled.”

          Comment

          • BoogNasty
            Senior Member
            • Jan 2015
            • 1206

            Reading 1 Tb 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a

            When the angel Raphael and Tobiah had entered Media
            and were getting close to Ecbatana,
            Raphael said to the boy,
            “Tobiah, my brother!”
            He replied: “Here I am!”
            He said: “Tonight we must stay with Raguel, who is a relative of yours.
            He has a daughter named Sarah.”

            So he brought him to the house of Raguel,
            whom they found seated by his courtyard gate.
            They greeted him first.
            He said to them, “Greetings to you too, brothers!
            Good health to you, and welcome!”
            And he brought them into his home.

            Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock
            and gave them a cordial reception.
            When they had bathed and reclined to eat, Tobiah said to Raphael,
            “Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to let me marry
            my kinswoman Sarah.”
            Raguel overheard the words; so he said to the boy:
            “Eat and drink and be merry tonight,
            for no man is more entitled
            to marry my daughter Sarah than you, brother.
            Besides, not even I have the right to give her to anyone but you,
            because you are my closest relative.
            But I will explain the situation to you very frankly.
            I have given her in marriage to seven men,
            all of whom were kinsmen of ours,
            and all died on the very night they approached her.
            But now, son, eat and drink.
            I am sure the Lord will look after you both.”
            Tobiah answered,
            “I will eat or drink nothing until you set aside what belongs to me.”

            Raguel said to him: “I will do it.
            She is yours according to the decree of the Book of Moses.
            Your marriage to her has been decided in heaven!
            Take your kinswoman;
            from now on you are her love, and she is your beloved.
            She is yours today and ever after.
            And tonight, son, may the Lord of heaven prosper you both.
            May he grant you mercy and peace.”
            Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him.
            He took her by the hand and gave her to Tobiah with the words:
            “Take her according to the law.
            According to the decree written in the Book of Moses
            she is your wife.
            Take her and bring her back safely to your father.
            And may the God of heaven grant both of you peace and prosperity.”
            Raguel then called Sarah’s mother and told her to bring a scroll,
            so that he might draw up a marriage contract
            stating that he gave Sarah to Tobiah as his wife
            according to the decree of the Mosaic law.
            Her mother brought the scroll,
            and Raguel drew up the contract, to which they affixed their seals.

            Afterward they began to eat and drink.
            Later Raguel called his wife Edna and said,
            “My love, prepare the other bedroom and bring the girl there.”
            She went and made the bed in the room, as she was told,
            and brought the girl there.
            After she had cried over her, she wiped away the tears and said:
            “Be brave, my daughter.
            May the Lord grant you joy in place of your grief.
            Courage, my daughter.”
            Then she left.

            When the girl’s parents left the bedroom
            and closed the door behind them,
            Tobiah arose from bed and said to his wife,
            “My love, get up.
            Let us pray and beg our Lord to have mercy on us
            and to grant us deliverance.”
            She got up, and they started to pray
            and beg that deliverance might be theirs.
            And they began to say:

            “Blessed are you, O God of our fathers,
            praised be your name forever and ever.
            Let the heavens and all your creation
            praise you forever.
            You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve
            to be his help and support;
            and from these two the human race descended.
            You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone;
            let us make him a partner like himself.’
            Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine
            not because of lust,
            but for a noble purpose.
            Call down your mercy on me and on her,
            and allow us to live together to a happy old age.”

            They said together, “Amen, amen,” and went to bed for the night.

            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 vine
            in the recesses of your home;
            Your children like olive plants
            around your table.
            R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
            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. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
            Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10

            R. Alleluia, alleluia.
            Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
            and brought life to light to through the Gospel.
            R. Alleluia, alleluia.

            Gospel Mk 12:28-34

            One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
            “Which is the first of all the commandments?”
            Jesus replied, “The first is this:
            Hear, O Israel!
            The Lord our God is Lord alone!
            You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
            with all your soul, with all your mind,
            and with all your strength.
            The second is this:
            You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
            There is no other commandment greater than these.”
            The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.
            You are right in saying,
            He is One and there is no other than he.
            And to love him with all your heart,
            with all your understanding,
            with all your strength,
            and to love your neighbor as yourself
            is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
            And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
            he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
            And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

            Comment

            • BoogNasty
              Senior Member
              • Jan 2015
              • 1206

              Reading 1 Tb 11:5-17

              Anna sat watching the road by which her son was to come.
              When she saw him coming, she exclaimed to his father,
              “Tobit, your son is coming, and the man who traveled with him!”

              Raphael said to Tobiah before he reached his father:
              “I am certain that his eyes will be opened.
              Smear the fish gall on them.
              This medicine will make the cataracts shrink and peel off from his eyes;
              then your father will again be able to see the light of day.”

              Then Anna ran up to her son, threw her arms around him,
              and said to him,
              “Now that I have seen you again, son, I am ready to die!”
              And she sobbed aloud.

              Tobit got up and stumbled out through the courtyard gate.
              Tobiah went up to him with the fish gall in his hand,
              and holding him firmly, blew into his eyes.
              “Courage, father,” he said.
              Next he smeared the medicine on his eyes, and it made them smart.
              Then, beginning at the corners of Tobit’s eyes,
              Tobiah used both hands to peel off the cataracts.

              When Tobit saw his son, he threw his arms around him and wept.
              He exclaimed, “I can see you, son, the light of my eyes!”
              Then he said:

              “Blessed be God,
              and praised be his great name,
              and blessed be all his holy angels.
              May his holy name be praised
              throughout all the ages,
              Because it was he who scourged me,
              and it is he who has had mercy on me.
              Behold, I now see my son Tobiah!”

              Then Tobit went back in, rejoicing and praising God with full voice
              for everything that had happened.
              Tobiah told his father that
              the Lord God had granted him a successful journey;
              that he had brought back the money;
              and that he had married Raguel’s daughter Sarah,
              who would arrive shortly,
              for she was approaching the gate of Nineveh.

              Tobit and Anna rejoiced
              and went out to the gate of Nineveh
              to meet their daughter-in-law.
              When the people of Nineveh saw Tobit walking along briskly,
              with no one leading him by the hand, they were amazed.
              Before them all Tobit proclaimed
              how God had mercifully restored sight to his eyes.
              When Tobit reached Sarah, the wife of his son Tobiah,
              he greeted her: “Welcome, my daughter!
              Blessed be your God for bringing you to us, daughter!
              Blessed is your father, and blessed is my son Tobiah,
              and blessed are you, daughter!
              Welcome to your home with blessing and joy.
              Come in, daughter!”
              That day there was joy for all the Jews who lived in Nineveh.

              Responsorial Psalm PS 146:1b-2, 6c-7, 8-9a, 9bc-10

              R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
              or:
              R. Alleluia.
              Praise the LORD, O my soul;
              I will praise the LORD all my life;
              I will sing praise to my God while I live.
              R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
              or:
              R. Alleluia.
              The LORD keeps faith forever,
              secures justice for the oppressed,
              gives food to the hungry.
              The LORD sets captives free.
              R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
              or:
              R. Alleluia.
              The LORD gives sight to the blind.
              The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
              the LORD loves the just.
              The LORD protects strangers.
              R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
              or:
              R. Alleluia.
              The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
              but the way of the wicked he thwarts
              The LORD shall reign forever,
              your God, O Zion, through all generations! Alleluia.
              R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
              or:
              R. Alleluia.
              Alleluia Jn 14:23

              R. Alleluia, alleluia.
              Whoever loves me will keep my word,
              and my Father will love him
              and we will come to him.
              R. Alleluia, alleluia.

              Gospel Mk 12:35-37

              As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said,
              “How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the son of David?
              David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said:

              The Lord said to my lord,
              ‘Sit at my right hand
              until I place your enemies under your feet.’

              David himself calls him ‘lord’;
              so how is he his son?”
              The great crowd heard this with delight.

              Comment

              • BoogNasty
                Senior Member
                • Jan 2015
                • 1206

                Reading 1 Tb 12:1, 5-15, 20

                Tobit called his son Tobiah and said to him,
                “Son, see to it that you give what is due to the man
                who made the journey with you; give him a bonus too.”
                So he called Raphael and said,
                “Take as your wages half of all that you have brought back,
                and go in peace.”

                Raphael called the two men aside privately and said to them:
                “Thank God! Give him the praise and the glory.
                Before all the living,
                acknowledge the many good things he has done for you,
                by blessing and extolling his name in song.
                Honor and proclaim God’s deeds,
                and do not be slack in praising him.
                A king’s secret it is prudent to keep,
                but the works of God are to be declared and made known.
                Praise them with due honor.
                Do good, and evil will not find its way to you.
                Prayer and fasting are good,
                but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness.
                A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness.
                It is better to give alms than to store up gold;
                for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin.
                Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life;
                but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies.

                “I will now tell you the whole truth;
                I will conceal nothing at all from you.
                I have already said to you,
                ‘A king’s secret it is prudent to keep,
                but the works of God are to be made known with due honor.’
                I can now tell you that when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed,
                it was I who presented and read the record of your prayer
                before the Glory of the Lord;
                and I did the same thing when you used to bury the dead.
                When you did not hesitate to get up
                and leave your dinner in order to go and bury the dead,
                I was sent to put you to the test.
                At the same time, however,
                God commissioned me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.
                I am Raphael, one of the seven angels
                who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord.”

                “So now get up from the ground and praise God.
                Behold, I am about to ascend to him who sent me;
                write down all these things that have happened to you.”

                Responsorial Psalm Tb 13:2, 6efgh, 7, 8

                R. (1b) Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
                He scourges and then has mercy;
                he casts down to the depths of the nether world,
                and he brings up from the great abyss.
                No one can escape his hand.
                R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
                So now consider what he has done for you,
                and praise him with full voice.
                Bless the Lord of righteousness,
                and exalt the King of ages.
                R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
                In the land of my exile I praise him
                and show his power and majesty to a sinful nation.
                R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
                Bless the Lord, all you his chosen ones,
                and may all of you praise his majesty.
                Celebrate days of gladness, and give him praise.
                R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
                Alleluia Mt 5:3

                R. Alleluia, alleluia.
                Blessed are the poor in spirit;
                for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
                R. Alleluia, alleluia.

                Gospel Mk 12:38-44

                In the course of his teaching Jesus said,
                “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
                and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
                seats of honor in synagogues,
                and places of honor at banquets.
                They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext,
                recite lengthy prayers.
                They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

                He sat down opposite the treasury
                and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
                Many rich people put in large sums.
                A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
                Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
                “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
                than all the other contributors to the treasury.
                For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
                but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
                her whole livelihood.”

                Comment

                • BoogNasty
                  Senior Member
                  • Jan 2015
                  • 1206

                  Reading 1 Ex 24:3-8

                  When Moses came to the people
                  and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD,
                  they all answered with one voice,
                  "We will do everything that the LORD has told us."
                  Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and,
                  rising early the next day,
                  he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar
                  and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
                  Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites
                  to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls
                  as peace offerings to the LORD,
                  Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls;
                  the other half he splashed on the altar.
                  Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people,
                  who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do."
                  Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying,
                  "This is the blood of the covenant
                  that the LORD has made with you
                  in accordance with all these words of his."

                  Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18

                  R. (13) I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
                  or:
                  R. Alleluia.
                  How shall I make a return to the LORD
                  for all the good he has done for me?
                  The cup of salvation I will take up,
                  and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
                  R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
                  or:
                  R. Alleluia.
                  Precious in the eyes of the LORD
                  is the death of his faithful ones.
                  I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
                  you have loosed my bonds.
                  R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
                  or:
                  R. Alleluia.
                  To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
                  and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
                  My vows to the LORD I will pay
                  in the presence of all his people.
                  R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
                  or:
                  R. Alleluia.

                  Reading 2 Heb 9:11-15

                  Brothers and sisters:
                  When Christ came as high priest
                  of the good things that have come to be,
                  passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle
                  not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,
                  he entered once for all into the sanctuary,
                  not with the blood of goats and calves
                  but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
                  For if the blood of goats and bulls
                  and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes
                  can sanctify those who are defiled
                  so that their flesh is cleansed,
                  how much more will the blood of Christ,
                  who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
                  cleanse our consciences from dead works
                  to worship the living God.

                  For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant:
                  since a death has taken place for deliverance
                  from transgressions under the first covenant,
                  those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.
                  Sequence — Lauda Sion

                  Laud, O Zion, your salvation,
                  Laud with hymns of exultation,
                  Christ, your king and shepherd true:

                  Bring him all the praise you know,
                  He is more than you bestow.
                  Never can you reach his due.

                  Special theme for glad thanksgiving
                  Is the quick’ning and the living
                  Bread today before you set:

                  From his hands of old partaken,
                  As we know, by faith unshaken,
                  Where the Twelve at supper met.

                  Full and clear ring out your chanting,
                  Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting,
                  From your heart let praises burst:

                  For today the feast is holden,
                  When the institution olden
                  Of that supper was rehearsed.

                  Here the new law’s new oblation,
                  By the new king’s revelation,
                  Ends the form of ancient rite:

                  Now the new the old effaces,
                  Truth away the shadow chases,
                  Light dispels the gloom of night.

                  What he did at supper seated,
                  Christ ordained to be repeated,
                  His memorial ne’er to cease:

                  And his rule for guidance taking,
                  Bread and wine we hallow, making
                  Thus our sacrifice of peace.

                  This the truth each Christian learns,
                  Bread into his flesh he turns,
                  To his precious blood the wine:

                  Sight has fail’d, nor thought conceives,
                  But a dauntless faith believes,
                  Resting on a pow’r divine.

                  Here beneath these signs are hidden
                  Priceless things to sense forbidden;
                  Signs, not things are all we see:

                  Blood is poured and flesh is broken,
                  Yet in either wondrous token
                  Christ entire we know to be.

                  Whoso of this food partakes,
                  Does not rend the Lord nor breaks;
                  Christ is whole to all that taste:

                  Thousands are, as one, receivers,
                  One, as thousands of believers,
                  Eats of him who cannot waste.

                  Bad and good the feast are sharing,
                  Of what divers dooms preparing,
                  Endless death, or endless life.

                  Life to these, to those damnation,
                  See how like participation
                  Is with unlike issues rife.

                  When the sacrament is broken,
                  Doubt not, but believe ‘tis spoken,
                  That each sever’d outward token
                  doth the very whole contain.

                  Nought the precious gift divides,
                  Breaking but the sign betides
                  Jesus still the same abides,
                  still unbroken does remain.

                  The shorter form of the sequence begins here.

                  Lo! the angel’s food is given
                  To the pilgrim who has striven;
                  see the children’s bread from heaven,
                  which on dogs may not be spent.

                  Truth the ancient types fulfilling,
                  Isaac bound, a victim willing,
                  Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling,
                  manna to the fathers sent.

                  Very bread, good shepherd, tend us,
                  Jesu, of your love befriend us,
                  You refresh us, you defend us,
                  Your eternal goodness send us
                  In the land of life to see.

                  You who all things can and know,
                  Who on earth such food bestow,
                  Grant us with your saints, though lowest,
                  Where the heav’nly feast you show,
                  Fellow heirs and guests to be. Amen. Alleluia.
                  Alleluia Jn 6:51

                  R. Alleluia, alleluia.
                  I am the living bread that came down from heaven,
                  says the Lord;
                  whoever eats this bread will live forever.
                  R. Alleluia, alleluia.

                  Gospel Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

                  On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
                  when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,
                  Jesus’ disciples said to him,
                  "Where do you want us to go
                  and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
                  He sent two of his disciples and said to them,
                  "Go into the city and a man will meet you,
                  carrying a jar of water.
                  Follow him.
                  Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house,
                  'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room
                  where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
                  Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.
                  Make the preparations for us there."
                  The disciples then went off, entered the city,
                  and found it just as he had told them;
                  and they prepared the Passover.
                  While they were eating,
                  he took bread, said the blessing,
                  broke it, gave it to them, and said,
                  "Take it; this is my body."
                  Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,
                  and they all drank from it.
                  He said to them,
                  "This is my blood of the covenant,
                  which will be shed for many.
                  Amen, I say to you,
                  I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine
                  until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
                  Then, after singing a hymn,
                  they went out to the Mount of Olives.

                  Comment

                  • BoogNasty
                    Senior Member
                    • Jan 2015
                    • 1206

                    Reading 1 2 Cor1:1-7

                    Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
                    and Timothy our brother,
                    to the Church of God that is at Corinth,
                    with all the holy ones throughout Achaia:
                    grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
                    the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement,
                    who encourages us in our every affliction,
                    so that we may be able to encourage
                    those who are in any affliction
                    with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.
                    For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us,
                    so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.
                    If we are afflicted,
                    it is for your encouragement and salvation;
                    if we are encouraged,
                    it is for your encouragement,
                    which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
                    Our hope for you is firm,
                    for we know that as you share in the sufferings,
                    you also share in the encouragement.

                    Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

                    R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
                    I will bless the LORD at all times;
                    his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
                    Let my soul glory in the LORD;
                    the lowly will hear me and be glad.
                    R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
                    Glorify the LORD with me,
                    let us together extol his name.
                    I sought the LORD, and he answered me
                    and delivered me from all my fears.
                    R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
                    Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
                    and your faces may not blush with shame.
                    When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
                    and from all his distress he saved him.
                    R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
                    The angel of the LORD encamps
                    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
                    Taste and see how good the LORD is;
                    blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
                    R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
                    Alleluia Mt 5:12a

                    R. Alleluia, alleluia.
                    Rejoice and be glad;
                    for your reward will be great in heaven.
                    R. Alleluia, alleluia.

                    Gospel Mt 5:1-12

                    When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
                    and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
                    He began to teach them, saying:

                    “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
                    for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
                    Blessed are they who mourn,
                    for they will be comforted.
                    Blessed are the meek,
                    for they will inherit the land.
                    Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
                    for they will be satisfied.
                    Blessed are the merciful,
                    for they will be shown mercy.
                    Blessed are the clean of heart,
                    for they will see God.
                    Blessed are the peacemakers,
                    for they will be called children of God.
                    Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
                    for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
                    Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
                    and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
                    Rejoice and be glad,
                    for your reward will be great in heaven.
                    Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

                    Comment

                    • BoogNasty
                      Senior Member
                      • Jan 2015
                      • 1206

                      Reading 1 2 Cor 1:18-22

                      Brothers and sisters:
                      As God is faithful, our word to you is not “yes” and “no.”
                      For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us,
                      Silvanus and Timothy and me,
                      was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him.
                      For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him;
                      therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.
                      But the one who gives us security with you in Christ
                      and who anointed us is God;
                      he has also put his seal upon us
                      and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.

                      Responsorial Psalm PS 119:129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135

                      R. (135a) Lord, let your face shine on me.
                      Wonderful are your decrees;
                      therefore I observe them.
                      R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
                      The revelation of your words sheds light,
                      gives understanding to the simple.
                      R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
                      I gasp with open mouth
                      in my yearning for your commands.
                      R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
                      Turn to me in pity
                      as you turn to those who love your name.
                      R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
                      Steady my footsteps according to your promise,
                      and let no iniquity rule over me.
                      R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
                      Let your countenance shine upon your servant,
                      and teach me your statutes.
                      R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
                      Alleluia Mt 5:16

                      R. Alleluia, alleluia.
                      Let your light shine before others
                      that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
                      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 anything
                      but 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 deeds
                      and glorify your heavenly Father.”

                      Comment

                      • BoogNasty
                        Senior Member
                        • Jan 2015
                        • 1206

                        Reading 1 2 Cor 3:4-11

                        Brothers and sisters:
                        Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
                        Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit
                        for anything as coming from us;
                        rather, our qualification comes from God,
                        who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant,
                        not of letter but of spirit;
                        for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

                        Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious
                        that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses
                        because of its glory that was going to fade,
                        how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious?
                        For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious,
                        the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory.
                        Indeed, what was endowed with glory
                        has come to have no glory in this respect
                        because of the glory that surpasses it.
                        For if what was going to fade was glorious,
                        how much more will what endures be glorious.

                        Responsorial Psalm PS 99:5, 6, 7, 8, 9

                        R. (see 9c) Holy is the Lord our God.
                        Extol the LORD, our God,
                        and worship at his footstool;
                        holy is he!
                        R. Holy is the Lord our God.
                        Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
                        and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
                        they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
                        R. Holy is the Lord our God.
                        From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
                        they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
                        R. Holy is the Lord our God.
                        O LORD, our God, you answered them;
                        a forgiving God you were to them,
                        though requiting their misdeeds.
                        R. Holy is the Lord our God.
                        Extol the LORD, our God,
                        and worship at his holy mountain;
                        for holy is the LORD, our God.
                        R. Holy is the Lord our God.
                        Alleluia Ps 25:4b, 5a

                        R. Alleluia, alleluia.
                        Teach me your paths, my God,
                        and guide me in your truth.
                        R. Alleluia, alleluia.

                        Gospel Mt 5:17-19

                        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 letter
                        will pass from the law,
                        until all things have taken place.
                        Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
                        and teaches others to do so
                        will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
                        But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
                        will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

                        Comment

                        • BoogNasty
                          Senior Member
                          • Jan 2015
                          • 1206

                          Reading 1 Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3

                          In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
                          The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
                          and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
                          When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
                          he rejoiced and encouraged them all
                          to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
                          for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
                          And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
                          Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
                          and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
                          For a whole year they met with the Church
                          and taught a large number of people,
                          and it was in Antioch that the disciples
                          were first called Christians.

                          Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
                          Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,
                          Lucius of Cyrene,
                          Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
                          While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
                          “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
                          for the work to which I have called them.”
                          Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
                          they laid hands on them and sent them off.

                          Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

                          R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
                          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 revealed to the nations his saving power.
                          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 faithfulness
                          toward the house of Israel.
                          R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
                          All the ends of the earth have seen
                          the salvation by our God.
                          Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
                          break into song; sing praise.
                          R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
                          Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
                          with the harp and melodious song.
                          With trumpets and the sound of the horn
                          sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
                          R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
                          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 5:20-26

                          Jesus said to his disciples:
                          “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
                          of the scribes and Pharisees,
                          you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

                          “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
                          You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
                          But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
                          will be liable to judgment,
                          and whoever says to his brother,
                          Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
                          and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
                          Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
                          and there recall that your brother
                          has anything against you,
                          leave your gift there at the altar,
                          go first and be reconciled with your brother,
                          and then come and offer your gift.
                          Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
                          Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
                          and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
                          and you will be thrown into prison.
                          Amen, I say to you,
                          you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

                          Comment

                          • BoogNasty
                            Senior Member
                            • Jan 2015
                            • 1206

                            Reading 1 Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9

                            Thus says the LORD:
                            When Israel was a child I loved him,
                            out of Egypt I called my son.
                            Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
                            who took them in my arms;
                            I drew them with human cords,
                            with bands of love;
                            I fostered them like one
                            who raises an infant to his cheeks;
                            Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,
                            they did not know that I was their healer.

                            My heart is overwhelmed,
                            my pity is stirred.
                            I will not give vent to my blazing anger,
                            I will not destroy Ephraim again;
                            For I am God and not a man,
                            the Holy One present among you;
                            I will not let the flames consume you.

                            Responsorial Psalm Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6

                            R. (3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
                            God indeed is my savior;
                            I am confident and unafraid.
                            My strength and my courage is the LORD,
                            and he has been my savior.
                            With joy you will draw water
                            at the fountain of salvation.
                            R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
                            Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
                            among the nations make known his deeds,
                            proclaim how exalted is his name.
                            R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
                            Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
                            let this be known throughout all the earth.
                            Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
                            for great in your midst
                            is the Holy One of Israel!
                            R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

                            Reading 2 Eph 3:8-12, 14-19

                            Brothers and sisters:
                            To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,
                            to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
                            and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery
                            hidden from ages past in God who created all things,
                            so that the manifold wisdom of God
                            might now be made known through the church
                            to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.
                            This was according to the eternal purpose
                            that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
                            in whom we have boldness of speech
                            and confidence of access through faith in him.

                            For this reason I kneel before the Father,
                            from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
                            that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
                            to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
                            and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
                            that you, rooted and grounded in love,
                            may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
                            what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
                            and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
                            so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
                            Alleluia Mt 11:29ab

                            R. Alleluia, alleluia.
                            Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord;
                            and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.
                            R. Alleluia, alleluia.
                            Or 1 Jn 4:10b

                            R. Alleluia, alleluia.
                            God first loved us
                            and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
                            R. Alleluia, alleluia.

                            Gospel Jn 19:31-37

                            Since it was preparation day,
                            in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
                            for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
                            the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
                            and they be taken down.
                            So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
                            and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
                            But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
                            they did not break his legs,
                            but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
                            and immediately blood and water flowed out.
                            An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;
                            he knows that he is speaking the truth,
                            so that you also may come to believe.
                            For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled:
                            Not a bone of it will be broken.
                            And again another passage says:
                            They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

                            Comment

                            • BoogNasty
                              Senior Member
                              • Jan 2015
                              • 1206

                              Reading 1 2 Cor 5:14-21

                              Brothers and sisters:
                              The love of Christ impels us,
                              once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
                              therefore, all have died.
                              He indeed died for all,
                              so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
                              but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

                              Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
                              even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
                              yet now we know him so no longer.
                              So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
                              the old things have passed away;
                              behold, new things have come.
                              And all this is from God,
                              who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
                              and given us the ministry of reconciliation,
                              namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
                              not counting their trespasses against them
                              and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
                              So we are ambassadors for Christ,
                              as if God were appealing through us.
                              We implore you on behalf of Christ,
                              be reconciled to God.
                              For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
                              so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

                              Responsorial Psalm PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

                              R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
                              Bless the LORD, O my soul;
                              and all my being, bless his holy name.
                              Bless the LORD, O my soul,
                              and forget not all his benefits.
                              R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
                              He pardons all your iniquities,
                              he heals all your ills.
                              He redeems your life from destruction,
                              he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
                              R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
                              He will not always chide,
                              nor does he keep his wrath forever.
                              Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
                              nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
                              R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
                              For as the heavens are high above the earth,
                              so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
                              As far as the east is from the west,
                              so far has he put our transgressions from us.
                              R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
                              Alleluia Ps 119:36a, 29b

                              R. Alleluia, alleluia.
                              Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees,
                              and favor me with your law.
                              R. Alleluia, alleluia.

                              Gospel Mt 5:33-37

                              Jesus said to his disciples:
                              “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
                              Do not take a false oath,
                              but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
                              But I say to you, do not swear at all;
                              not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
                              nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
                              nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
                              Do not swear by your head,
                              for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
                              Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
                              Anything more is from the Evil One.”
                              Last edited by BoogNasty; 06-13-2015, 7:08 AM. Reason: Removed extra material that was not needed

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                              • BoogNasty
                                Senior Member
                                • Jan 2015
                                • 1206

                                Reading 1 Ez 17:22-24

                                Thus says the Lord GOD:
                                I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar,
                                from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot,
                                and plant it on a high and lofty mountain;
                                on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it.
                                It shall put forth branches and bear fruit,
                                and become a majestic cedar.
                                Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it,
                                every winged thing in the shade of its boughs.
                                And all the trees of the field shall know
                                that I, the LORD,
                                bring low the high tree,
                                lift high the lowly tree,
                                wither up the green tree,
                                and make the withered tree bloom.
                                As I, the LORD, have spoken, so will I do.

                                Responsorial Psalm Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16

                                R. (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
                                It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
                                to sing praise to your name, Most High,
                                To proclaim your kindness at dawn
                                and your faithfulness throughout the night.
                                R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
                                The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,
                                like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
                                They that are planted in the house of the LORD
                                shall flourish in the courts of our God.
                                R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
                                They shall bear fruit even in old age;
                                vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
                                Declaring how just is the LORD,
                                my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
                                R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

                                Reading 2 2 Cor 5:6-10

                                Brothers and sisters:
                                We are always courageous,
                                although we know that while we are at home in the body
                                we are away from the Lord,
                                for we walk by faith, not by sight.
                                Yet we are courageous,
                                and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.
                                Therefore, we aspire to please him,
                                whether we are at home or away.
                                For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
                                so that each may receive recompense,
                                according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
                                Alleluia

                                R. Alleluia, alleluia.
                                The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower.
                                All who come to him will live forever.
                                R. Alleluia, alleluia.

                                Gospel Mk 4:26-34

                                Jesus said to the crowds:
                                “This is how it is with the kingdom of God;
                                it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
                                and would sleep and rise night and day
                                and through it all the seed would sprout and grow,
                                he knows not how.
                                Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
                                first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
                                And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
                                for the harvest has come.”

                                He said,
                                “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God,
                                or what parable can we use for it?
                                It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
                                is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
                                But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
                                and puts forth large branches,
                                so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”
                                With many such parables
                                he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
                                Without parables he did not speak to them,
                                but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

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