October 31, 2021 - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

 

First Reading - Dt 6:2-6

    Moses spoke to the people, saying: “Fear the Lord, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all His statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more, in keeping with the promise of the Lord, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey. 
     Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.” 

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 18

 
R –I love you, Lord, my strength! 

* I love you, O Lord, my strength, O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. R. 

* My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the Lord, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies. R. 

* The Lord lives! And blessed be my Rock! Extolled be God my savior. You who gave great victories to your king and showed kindness to your anointed. R. 

Second Reading - Heb 7:23-28

     Brothers and sisters: 

    The levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office; but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people. He did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.

Gospel Acclamation 

All – Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him. 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 12:28b-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. 

October 24, 2021 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

 

First Reading - Jer 31:7-9

    Thus says the Lord: “Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The Lord has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child. 
     They shall return as an immense throng. They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble. 
     For I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my first-born.” 

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 125 

R –The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy!

* When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. R. 

* Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. R. 

* Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. R. 

* Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. R. 

Second Reading - Heb 5:1-6

    Brothers and sisters: 

    Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. 

    No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest; but rather the One who said to him: “You are my son: this day I have begotten you.” Just as he says in another place: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” 

Gospel Acclamation 

All – Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life to light through his Gospel. 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 10:46-52

    As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. 

    On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” 

    Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately the man received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.

October 17, 2021 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

 

First Reading - Is 53:10-11

    The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him. 

    Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days. 

    Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. 

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 33 

R –Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you!

* 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. 

* 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. 

* 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.

Second Reading - Heb 4:14-16 

     Brothers and sisters: 

     Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession of faith. 

    For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. 

    So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to fi nd grace for timely help. 

Gospel Acclamation 

 All – Alleluia! Alleluia! 

 The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 10:35-45

    James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can!” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 

    When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. 

    Jesus summoned the Twelve and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

October 10, 2021 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

 

First Reading - Wis 7:7-11

    I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. 
    I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her, because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. 
    Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, and I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. 
    Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands. 

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 90 

R –Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

* Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! R. 

* Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. Make us glad, for the days when you afflicted us, for the years when we saw evil. R. 

* Let your work be seen by your servants and your glory by their children. And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours. Prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! R. 

Second Reading - Heb 4:12-13

    Brothers and sisters: 

    Indeed the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. 

    No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 10:17-30

    As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. You shall not defraud. Honor your father and your mother.” 

    The man replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 

    Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” 

    Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands – with persecutions! – and eternal life in the age to come.”

3 October 2021 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year (B)

 

First Reading - Gn 2:18-24

    The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. 

I will make a suitable partner for him.”
    So the Lord God formed out of the ground various wild animals

 and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see 

what he would call them. Whatever the man called each of them would 

be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, 

and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.
    So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, 

he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God 

then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man.
    When he brought her to the man, the man said: “This one, at last, is

 bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh! This one shall be called ‘woman,’ 

for out of ‘her man’ this one has been taken.”
    That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, 

and the two of them become one flesh.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 128

R –May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives!

* 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.

* Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home; your children

like olive plants around your table. R.

* 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.

* May you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! R.

Second Reading - Heb 2:9-11

    Brothers and sisters:

    Jesus, “for a little while,” was made “lower than the angels,” 

that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 

    For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, 

in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their 

salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are 

being consecrated, all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed 

to call them “brothers.”

Gospel Acclamation

All – Alleluia! Alleluia!

If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mk 10:2-16

    The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce

his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command

you?”

    They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss

her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this

commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and

the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what

God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

    In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever

divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces

her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” 

    People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.