Date: August 23, 2009
First Reading (Joshua 24: 1–2a, 15–17, 18b)
A reading from the book of Joshua.
Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leader, their judges, and their officers. Together they presented themselves before God. Addressing the people, Joshua stated to them: "If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your father served beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." The people answered, "May God not permit that we ever abandon the Lord to serve other Gods! For it was he who brought us and our ancestors out of Egypt, the house of slavery. It was he who did those great wonders that we have seen; he protected us on the way and through all the land where we passed. Therefore, we shall also serve the Lord, for he is our God!"
Second Reading (Ephesians 5: 21–32)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.
Brothers and sisters: Let all kinds of submission to one another become obedience to Christ. So wives to their husbands: as to the Lord. The husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, of whom he is also the Savior. And as the Church submits to Christ, so let a wife submit in everything to her husband. As for you, husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her. He washed her and made her holy by baptism in the Word. As he wanted a radiant Church without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless, he himself had to prepare and present her to himself. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies, he who love his wife loves himself. And no one has ever hated his body; he feeds and takes care of it. That is just what Christ does for the Church, because we are a part of his body. The Scripture states: Because of this, a man shall leave his father and mother to be united with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a very great mystery, and I refer to Christ and the Church.
Gospel (John 6: 60–69)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
After hearing what Jesus and stated before about the bread of life, plenty of Jesus' followers complained, "This language is very difficult; who can accept it?" Jesus was aware that his disciples were discussing and murmuring about this, so he states to them, "Does this offend you? Then how will react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh cannot help. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But among you there are some who do not believe." From the beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. So he added, "As I have told you, nobody can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." After this, many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. Jesus asked the Twelve, "Will you also go away?" Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
First Reading (Joshua 24: 1–2a, 15–17, 18b)
A reading from the book of Joshua.
Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leader, their judges, and their officers. Together they presented themselves before God. Addressing the people, Joshua stated to them: "If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your father served beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." The people answered, "May God not permit that we ever abandon the Lord to serve other Gods! For it was he who brought us and our ancestors out of Egypt, the house of slavery. It was he who did those great wonders that we have seen; he protected us on the way and through all the land where we passed. Therefore, we shall also serve the Lord, for he is our God!"
Second Reading (Ephesians 5: 21–32)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.
Brothers and sisters: Let all kinds of submission to one another become obedience to Christ. So wives to their husbands: as to the Lord. The husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, of whom he is also the Savior. And as the Church submits to Christ, so let a wife submit in everything to her husband. As for you, husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her. He washed her and made her holy by baptism in the Word. As he wanted a radiant Church without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless, he himself had to prepare and present her to himself. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies, he who love his wife loves himself. And no one has ever hated his body; he feeds and takes care of it. That is just what Christ does for the Church, because we are a part of his body. The Scripture states: Because of this, a man shall leave his father and mother to be united with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a very great mystery, and I refer to Christ and the Church.
Gospel (John 6: 60–69)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
After hearing what Jesus and stated before about the bread of life, plenty of Jesus' followers complained, "This language is very difficult; who can accept it?" Jesus was aware that his disciples were discussing and murmuring about this, so he states to them, "Does this offend you? Then how will react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh cannot help. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But among you there are some who do not believe." From the beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. So he added, "As I have told you, nobody can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." After this, many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. Jesus asked the Twelve, "Will you also go away?" Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 34) (Verses 2, 3, 16-21)
ReplyDeleteThe response is: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the Lord in all my days; his praise will be ever on my lips. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the lowly hear and rejoice.
The eyes of the Lord are fixed on the righteous; his ears are inclined to their cries. But his face is set against the wicked, to destroy their memory from the earth.
The Lord hears the cry of the righteous and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves the distraught.
Many are the troubles of the just, but the Lord delivers them from all. He keeps all their bones intact, and none of them shall be broken.