July 30, 2023 - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

First Reading - 1 Kgs 3:5.7-12

    The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Solomon answered: “O Lord, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”

    The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him: “Because you have asked for this – not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right – I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 119

R –Lord, I love your commands!

* I have said, O Lord, that my part is to keep your words. The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. R.

* Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to your servants. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. R.

* For I love your commands more than gold, however fine. For in all your precepts I go forward; every false way I hate. R.

* Wonderful are your decrees; therefore I observe them. The revelation of your words sheds light, giving un- derstanding to the simple. R.

Second Reading - Rom 8:28-30

    Brothers and sisters:

    We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Blessed are you Father, Lord of heaven and earth; for you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mt 13:44-52

    Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full, they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

    Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”

July 23, 2023 - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

First Reading - Wis 12:13.16-19

    There is no god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned.

    For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.

    For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved; and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity.

    But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you.

    And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your children good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 86 

R –Lord, you are good and forgiving!

* You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. R.

* All the nations you have made shall come and worship you, O Lord, and glorify your name. For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds; you alone are God. R.

* You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity. Turn toward me, and have pity on me; give your strength to your servant. R.

Second Reading - Rom 8:26-27

    Brothers and sisters:

    The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.

Gospel Acclamation - Mt 11:25

Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mt 13:24-43 

    Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.

    When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

July 16, 2023 - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

1st Reading - Is 55:10-11

    Thus says the Lord: “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 65

R –The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest!

* You have visited the land and watered it; greatly have you enriched it. God’s water-courses are filled; you have prepared the grain. R.

* Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, softening it with showers, blessing its yield. R.

* You have crowned the year with your bounty, and your paths overflow with a rich harvest. The untilled meadows overflow with it, and rejoicing clothes the hills. R.

* The fields are garmented with flocks and the valleys blanketed with grain. They shout and sing for joy. R.

Second Reading - Rom 8:18-23

    Brothers and sisters:

    I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.

    For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope, that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.

    We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now.

    And not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia!

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will have life forever. 
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mt 13:1-9

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore.

And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew upand choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

July 9, 2023 - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

First Reading - Zec 9:9-10

    Thus says the Lord: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior’s bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 145

R –I will praise your name forever, 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 - Rom 8:9.11-13

    Brothers and sisters:

    You are not in the flesh. On the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

    If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.

    Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live accord- ing to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Gospel Acclamation - Mt 11:25

Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of thekingdom.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mt 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

July 2, 2023 - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

First Reading - 2 Kgs 4:8-11. 14-16

    One day Elisha came to Shunem, where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine. So she said to her husband, “I know that Elisha is a holy man of God. Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roof and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp, so that when he comes to us he can stay there.”

    Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight. Later Elisha asked, “Can something be done for her?” His servant Gehazi answered, “Yes! She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years.” Elisha said, “Call her.” When the woman had been called and stood at the door, Elisha promised, “This time next year you will be fondling a baby son.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 89

R –For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord!

* The promises of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. R.

* Blessed the people who know the joyful shout; in the light of your countenance, O Lord, they walk. At your name they rejoice all the day, and through your justice they are exalted. R.

* You are the splendor of their strength, and by your favor our horn is exalted. For to the Lord belongs our shield, and to the Holy One of Israel, our King. R

Second Reading - Rom 6:3-4.8-11

    Brothers and sisters:

    Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God.  

    Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia!

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mt 10:37-42

    Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.

    Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple – amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”