13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: June 26, 2016

First Reading (1 Kings 19: 16b and 19–21)
A reading from the first book of Kings.
The Lord stated to Elijah: "You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat, from Abel Meholah, you shall anoint as prophet in your place." So Elijah left. He located Elisha, son of Shaphat, who was plowing a field of twelve acres and was at the end of the twelfth acre. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and stated, "Let me say goodbye to my father and mother; then I will follow you." Elijah stated to him, "Return if you want, do not worry about what I did." However, Elisha turned back, took the yoke of oxen and slew them. He roasted their meat on the pieces of the yoke and gave it to his people who ate of it. After this, Elisha followed Elijah and began ministering to him.

Second Reading (Galatians 5: 1 and 13–18)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians.
Brothers and sisters: Christ freed us to make us really free. So remain firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. You, brothers and sisters, were called to enjoy freedom; I am not speaking of that freedom which gives free rein to the desires of the flesh, but of that which makes you slaves of one another through love. For the whole Law is summed up in this sentence: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and tear each other to pieces, be careful lest you all perish. Therefore I say to you: walk according to the Spirit and do not give way to the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh war against the spirit, and the desires of the spirit are opposed to the flesh. Both are in conflict with each other, so that you cannot do everything you would like. But let the Spirit lead you: this is nothing to do with submitting to the Law.

Gospel (Luke 9: 51–62)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. He had sent ahead of him some messengers who entered a Samaritan village to prepare a lodging for him. However, the people would not receive Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. Observing this, James and John, Jesus' disciples asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to reduce them to ashes?" Nevertheless, Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village. As they went on their way, a man stated to Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." Jesus requested another person, "Follow me." Nevertheless, the man answered, "Let me return now, for first I want to bury my father." And Jesus replied to him, "Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another person answered Jesus, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family." And Jesus replied to him, "Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God."

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: June 19, 2016

First Reading (Zechariah 12: 10–11 and 13:1)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Zechariah.
Thus states the Lord: I will pour out on the family of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of love and supplication. They will look at the one who was pierced and mourn for him as for an only child, weeping bitterly as for a firstborn. The mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning of Haddadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. On that day a spring will well up for the family of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse themselves of sin and defilement.

Second Reading (Galatians 3: 26–29)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians.
Brothers and sisters: Now, in Christ Jesus, all of you are sons and daughters of God through faith. All of you who were given to Christ through baptism, have put on Christ. Here there is no longer any difference between Jew or Greek, or between slave or freed, or between man and woman: but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Christ, you are of Abraham's race and you are to inherit God's promise.

Gospel (Luke 9: 18–24)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
One day when Jesus was praying alone, not far from his disciples, he asked them, "What do people say about me?" And they answered, "Some say that you are John the Baptist; others say that you are Elijah, and still others that you are one of the former prophets risen from the dead." Again Jesus asked them, "Who then do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Messiah of God." Then Jesus spoke to them, giving them strict orders not to tell this to anyone. And Jesus added, "The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and put to death. Then after three days will be raised to life." Jesus additionally stated to all the people, "If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it, and if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it."

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: June 12, 2016

First Reading (2 Samuel 12: 7–10 and 13)
A reading from the second book of Samuel.
Nathan stated to David, "You are this man! It is the Lord, God of Israel, who speaks: 'I anointed you king over Israel and saved you from Saul's hands; I gave you your master's house and your master's wives; I also gave you the nation of Israel and Judah. But if this were not enough, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the Lord by doing what displeases him? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife for yourself. Yes, you killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now the sword will never be far from your family because you have despised me and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite for yourself." David stated to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan answered him, "The Lord has forgiven your sin; you shall not perish."

Second Reading (Galatians 2: 16 and 19–21)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians.
Brothers and sisters: We know that no one is made just and holy by the observance of the Law but by faith in Christ Jesus. So we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may receive true righteousness from faith in Christ Jesus, and not from the practices of the Law, because no mortal will be set right with God in the field of the Law. As for me, the very Law brought me to die to the Law, that I may live for God. I am crucified with Christ. Do I live? It is no longer me, Christ lives in me. My life in this body is life through faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. In this way I do not ignore the gift of God, for, if holiness comes through the practice of the Law, Christ would have died for nothing.

Gospel (Luke 7:36 – 8:3)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to share his meal, so he went to the Pharisee's home and as usual reclined on the sofa to eat. And it happened that a woman of this town, who was known as a sinner, heard that Jesus was in the Pharisee's house. She brought a precious jar of perfume and stood behind Jesus at his feet, weeping. She wet his feet with tears, she dried them with her hair and kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus was watching and thought, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what sort of person is touching him; isn't this woman a sinner?" Then Jesus spoke to the Pharisee and stated, "Simon, I have something to ask you." He answered, "Speak, master." And Jesus stated, "Two people were in debt to the same creditor. One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. As they were unable to pay him back, he graciously canceled the debts of both. Now, which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, who was forgiven more." And Jesus stated, "You are correct." And turning toward the woman, he stated to Simon, "Do you see this woman? You gave me no water for my feet when I entered your house, but she has washed my feet with her tears and dried with her hair. You did not welcome me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since she came in. You provided no oil for my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. This is why, I tell you, her sins, her many sins, are forgiven, because of her great love. But the one who is forgiven little, has little love." Then Jesus stated to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." The others sitting with Jesus at the table began to wonder, "Now this man claims to forgive sins!" But Jesus again spoke to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Jesus walked through towns and countryside, preaching and giving the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve followed Jesus, and additionally some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary called Magdalene, who had been freed of seven demons; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Suzanna and others who provided for them out of their own funds.

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: June 5, 2016

First Reading (1 Kings 17: 17–24)
A reading from the first book of Kings.
After this, the son of this housewife became ill. And such was his illness that he stopped breathing. She then stated to Elijah, "What did you do, O man of God? Have you come to uncover past sins and cause my son's death?" He answered, "Give me your son." Taking him from her lap, he carried him up to the upper room where he was staying and laid him on his own bed. Then he called on the Lord, "O Lord, my God, will you afflict even the widow with whom I am residing by letting her son die?" Then he stretched himself on the child three times and called on the Lord, " O Lord, my God, let this child's breath return to him." The Lord listened to the pleading of Elijah and the child's breath returned to him, and he lived. Elijah then took the child and brought him down from the upper room. He gave him to his mother and stated, "See, your son is alive." Then the woman stated to Elijah, "Now I am certain that you are a man of God, and that your words really came from the Lord."

Second Reading (Galatians 1: 11–19)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians.
Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel we preached to you is not a human message, nor did not I received it from anyone, I was not taught of it but it came to me as a revelation from Christ Jesus. You have heard of my previous activity in the Jewish community; I furiously persecuted the Church of God and tried to destroy it. For I was more devoted to the Jewish religion than many follow Jews of my age, and I defended the traditions of my ancestors made fanatically. But one day God called me out of his great love, he who had chosen me from my mother's womb; and he was pleased to reveal in me his Son, that I might make him known among the pagan nations. Then I did not seek human advice nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me. I immediately went to Arabia, and from there I returned again to Damascus. Later, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to meet Cephas, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other apostle except James, the Lord's brother.

Gospel (Luke 7: 11–17)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
A little later Jesus went to a town called Naim and many of his disciples went with him — a great number of people. As he reached the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother and she was a widow; there followed a large crowd of townspeople. On seeing her, the Lord had pity on her and stated, "Do not cry." Then he came up and touched the stretcher and the men who carried it stopped. Jesus then stated, "Young man, awake, I tell you." And the dead man got up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. A holy fear came over them all and they praised God stating, "A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people." This news spread out in the Jewish country and the surrounding places.

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Date: June 3, 2016

First Reading (Ezekiel 34: 11–16)
A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel.
Indeed the Lord says this: I myself will care for my sheep and watch over them. As the shepherd looks after his flock when he finds them scattered, so will I watch over my sheep and gather them from all the places where they were scattered in a time of cloud and fog. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from other countries. I will lead them to their own land and pasture them on the mountains of Israel in all the valleys and inhabited regions of the land. I will take them to good pastures on the high mountains of Israel. They will rest where the grazing is good and feed in lush pastures on the heights of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and let them rest, word of the Lord. I will search for the lost and lead back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the fat and strong will be eliminated. I will shepherd my flock with justice.

Second Reading (Romans 5: 5–11)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
Hope does not disappoint us because the Holy Spirit has been igven to us, pouring into our hearts the love of God. Consider, moreover, the time that Christ died for us: when we were still sinners and unable to do anything. Few would accept to die for an upright person; although, for a very good person, perhaps someone would dare to die. But see how God manifested his love for us: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us and we have become just through his blood. With much more reason now he will save us from any condemnation. Once enemies, we have been reconciled with God through the death of his Son; with much more reason now we may be saved through his life. Not only that; we feel secure in God because of Christ Jesus, our Lord, through whom we have been reconciled.

Gospel (Luke 7: 11–17)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
A little later Jesus went to a town called Naim and many of his disciples went with him — a great number of people. As he reached the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. he was the only son of his mother and she was a widow; there followed a large crowd of townspeople. On seeing her, the Lord had pity on her and stated, "Do not cry." Then he camp up and touched the stretcher and the men who carried it stopped. Jesus then stated, "Young man, awake, I tell you." And the dead man got up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. A holy fear came over them all and they praised God saying, "A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people." This news spread out in the Jewish country and the surrounding places.