15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: July 10, 2016

First Reading (Deuteronomy 30: 10–14)
A reading from the book of Deuteronomy.
Moses stated this to the people: "You shall turn to the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul, and observe his commandments and norms, in a word, everything written in his book of the Law. These commandments that I give you today are neither too high nor too far for you. They are not in heaven that you should say: 'Who will go up to heaven to get these commandments, so that we may hear them and put them into practice?' Neither are they at the other side of the sea for you to say: 'Who will cross to the other side and bring them to us, so that we may hear them and put them into practice?' On the contrary, my word is very near you; it is already in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can put it into practice."

Second Reading (Colossians 1: 15–20)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians.
He is the image of the unseen God, and for all creation he is the first-born, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible: thrones, rulers, authorities, powers... All was made through him and for him. He is before all and all things hold together in him. And he is the head of the body, that is the Church, for he is the first, the first raised from the dead that he may be the first in everything, for God was pleased to let fullness dwell in him. Through him God willed to reconcile all things to himself, and through him, through his blood shed on the cross. God establishes peace, on earth as in heaven.

Gospel (Luke 10: 25–37)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Then a teacher of the Law came and began putting Jesus to the test. And he asked, "Master, what shall I do to obtain eternal life?" Jesus replied, "What is written in the Scripture? How do you understand it?" The man answered, "It is written: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus replied, "That is a good answer. If you do this, you shall live." The man wanted to keep appearances, so he replied, "But, who is my neighbor?" Jesus then stated this, "There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. It happened that a priest was going along that road and saw the man, but passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite saw the man and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, too, was going that way, and when he came upon the man, he was moved with compassion. He went over to him and treated his wounds with oil and wine and wrapped them with bandages. Then he put him on his own mount and brought him to an inn where he took care of him. The next day he had to set off, but he gave two silver coins to the innkeeper and told him: 'Take care of him and whatever you spend on him, I will repay when I come back.'" Jesus then asked, "Which of these three, do you think, made himself neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The teacher of the Law answered, "The one who had mercy on him." And Jesus replied, "Go then, and do the same."

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: July 3, 2016

First Reading (Isaiah 66: 10–14c)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
Thus states the Lord: "Rejoice for Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her. Be glad with her, rejoice with her, all you who were in grief over her, that you may suck of the milk from her comforting breasts, that you may drink deeply from the abundance of her glory." For this is what the Lord states: "I will send her peace, overflowing like a river; and the nations' wealth, rushing like a torrent towards her. And you will be nursed and carried in her arms and fondled upon her lap. As a son comforted by his mother, so will I comfort you. At the sight of this, your heart will rejoice; like grass, your bones will flourish. For it shall be known that the Lord's hand is with his servant."

Second Reading (Galatians 6: 14–18)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians.
Brothers and sisters: For me, I do not wish to take pride in anything except in the cross of Christ Jesus our Lord. Through him the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. Let us no longer speak of the circumcised and of non-Jews, but of a new creation. Let those who live according to this rule receive peace and mercy: they are the Israel of God. Let no one trouble me any longer: for my part, I bear in my body the marks of Jesus. May the grace of Christ Jesus our Lord be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Gospel (Luke 10: 1–12 and 17–20)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place, where he himself was to go. And he stated to them, "The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know. Whatever house you enter, first bless them stating: 'Peace to this house.' If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house. When they welcome you in any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there and say to them: 'The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.' But in any town where you are not welcome, go to the marketplace and proclaim: 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off and leave with you. But know and be sure that the kingdom of God had come to you.' I tell you that on the Judgment Day it will be better for Sodom than for this town." Then the seventy-two disciples returned full of joy. They exclaimed, "Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we called on your name." Then Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. You see, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy, so that nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the evil spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven."

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.