October 30, 2022 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

First Reading - Wis 11:22-12:2 

    Before the Lord, the whole universe is as a grain from a balance or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth. But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people’s sins that they may repent. For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned. And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you? But you spare all things, because they are yours, O Lord and lover of souls, for your imperishable spirit is in all things. Therefore you rebuke off enders little by little, warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O Lord!

Responsorial Psalm  - Ps 145 

R – I will praise your name for ever, my King and my God!

* I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. R. 

* The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. R. 

* Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. R. 

* The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. R.

Second Reading - 2 Thes 1:11-2:2

    Brothers and sisters: We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. 

     We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.

Gospel Acclamation - Jn 3:16 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Lk 19:1-10

    At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. 

    When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”Zacchaeus came down quickly and received Jesus with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner!” 

    But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

October 23, 2022 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

 

First Reading - Sir 35:12-14.16-18

    The Lord is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed. The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint. 

     He who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens. The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds. It does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 34 

R –The Lord hears the cry of the poor!

* 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. 

* The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. R. 

* The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. The Lord redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him. R. 

Second Reading - 2 Tim 4:6-8.16-18

    Beloved: I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on, the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. 

    At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! 

    But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Gospel Acclamation - 2 Cor 5:19 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of salvation. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Lk 18:9-14

    Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. 

    “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer (to himself,) proudly ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ 

     But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

October 16, 2022 - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

 

First Reading - Ex 17:8-13

    In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, “Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 

    So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 121 

R –Our help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth!

* I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; whence shall help come to me? My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. R. 

* May he not suffer your foot to slip; may he slumber not who guards you. Indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps, the Guardian of Israel. R. 

* The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade; he is beside you at your right hand. The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. R. 

* The Lord will guard you from all evil; he will guard your life. The Lord will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever. R. 

Second Reading - 2 Tim 3:14-4:2

    Beloved: Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it. From infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 

     I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

Gospel Acclamation - Heb 4:12 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

The word of God is living and effective, discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Lk 18:1-8

    Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. 

    He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. 

    And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me, I shall deliver a just decision for her, lest she finally come and strike me.’ ” 

    The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he fi nd faith on earth?”

October 9, 2022 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

 

First Reading - 2 Kgs 5:14-17

    Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy. 

    Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please, accept a gift from your servant.” 

     Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives whom I serve, I will not take it.” And despite Naaman’s urging, he still refused. Naaman said: “If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth, for I will no longer off er holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the Lord.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 98 

R –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 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. 

* 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. 

Second Reading - 2 Tim 2:8-13

    Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. 

    But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. 

    This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we persevere, we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

Gospel Acclamation - 1 Thes 5:18 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Lk 17:11-19

    As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going, they were cleansed. 

    One of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice. He fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

October 2, 2022 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

 First Reading - Hb 1:2-3;2:2-4

    How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. 

     Then the Lord answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint. If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 95

R – If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts!

* Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him. R. 

* Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. R. 

* Oh, that today you would hear his voice: “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” R. 

Second Reading - 2 Tim 1:6-8.13-14

    Beloved: I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 

    So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

Gospel Acclamation - 1 Pt 1:25 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

The word of the Lord remains for ever. This is the word that has been proclaimed to you. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Lk 17:5-10

    The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 

    Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the fi eld, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? 

    So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have [just] done what we were expected to do.’ ”