July 18, 2021 - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

 First Reading - Jer 23:1-6

    “Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture,” says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: “You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds. 
    I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have driven them and bring them back to their meadow; there they shall increase and multiply. I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing,” says the Lord. 
     “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name they give him: ‘The Lord, our justice.’ ”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 23 

R –The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want!

* The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. R. 

* He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. R. 

* You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup 

overflows. R. 

* Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. R. 

Second Reading - Eph 2:13-18

    Brothers and sisters: 

    In Christ Jesus you, who once were far off, have become near by the blood of Christ. 

    For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia! Alleluia!

“My sheep hear my voice,” says the Lord; “I know them, and they follow me.” 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 6:30-34

    The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” 

People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. 

     People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 

July 11, 2021 - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

 

First Reading - Am 7:12-15

    Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos, “Off with you,
visionary, flee to the land of Judah! There earn your bread by
prophesying, but never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the
king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.”
    Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor have
I belonged to a company of prophets. I was a shepherd and
a dresser of sycamores. The Lord took me from following
the flock, and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ ”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 85

R –Lord, let us see your kindness,

and grant us your salvation!

* I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord – for he is his salvation to those who

fear him, glory dwelling in our land. R.

* Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall

kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look

down from heaven. R.

* The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall

yield its increase. Justice shall walk before him, and prepare

the way of his steps. R.

Second Reading - Eph 1:3-14

    Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in

him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without

blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to

himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his

will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us

in the beloved. 

    In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of

transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he

lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known

to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he

set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of time, to sum up

all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth. In him we were

also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One

who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his

will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who

first hoped in Christ.

    In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the

gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were

sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment

of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession,

to the praise of his glory.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia!

“May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten

the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what

is the hope that belongs to our call.”

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mk 6:7-13

    Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them

out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but

a walking stick – no food, no sack, no money in their belts.

They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.

    He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there

until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or

listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in

testimony against them.”

    So they went off and preached repentance. The

Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with

oil many who were sick and cured them.

July 4, 2021 - Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

 

First Reading - Ez 2:2-5

Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have revolted against me to this very day. Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you. But you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God! And whether they heed or resist - for they are a rebellious house - they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 123: 1-2, 2,3-4

Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

To you I lift my eyes who are enthroned in heaven - as the eyes of servants

are on the hands of their masters. R

As the eyes of a maid are on the hands of their mistress,

So are our eyes on the Lord, till he have pity us. R

Have pity on us, Oh Lord, have pity on us, for we are more than sated with contempt,

Our souls are more than sated with the mockery of the arrogant,

with the contempt of the proud. R

Second Reading - 2 Cor 12: 7-10

As to the extraordinary revelations, in order that I might not become conceited I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me and keep me from getting proud. Three times I begged the Lord that this might leave me. He said to me: "My grace is enough for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection." And so I willingly boast of my weakness instead, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I am content with weakness, with mistreatment, with distress, with persecutions and with 

difficulties for the sake of Christ; for when I am powerless, it is then that I am strong.

Alleluia - Luke 4:18

Alleluia, Alleluia!

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Gospel - Mk 6:1-6

Jesus went to his own part of the country followed by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue in a way that kept his large audience amazed. They said: "Where did he get all this? What kind of wisdom is he endowed with? How is it such miraculous deeds accomplished by his hands? Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, a brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters our neighbors here? They found him too much for them. Jesus' response to all this was: "No prophet is without honor except in  his native place, among his own kindred, and in his own house." He could work no miracle there, apart from curing a few who were sick by laying hands on them, so much did their lack of faith distress him. He made the rounds of the neighboring villages instead, and spent his time teaching.

June 27, 2021 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24

    God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. For he fashioned all things that they might have being; and the creatures of the world are wholesome, and there is not a destructive drug among them nor any domain of the netherworld on earth, for justice is undying. 
     God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 30 

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me!

* I will extol you, O Lord, for you drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. O Lord, you brought me up from the netherworld; you preserved me from among those going down into the pit. R. 

* Sing praise to the Lord, you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger lasts but a moment; a lifetime, his good will. At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing. R. 

* Hear, O Lord, and have pity on me; O Lord, be my helper. You changed my mourning into dancing; O Lord, my God, forever will I give you thanks. R.

Second Reading - 2 Cor 8:7.9.13-15

    Brothers and sisters: 

     As you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also. For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 

     Not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their needs, so that their abundance may also supply your needs, that there may be equality. 

     As it is written: “Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less.”

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

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

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 5:21-43

    When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. 

     One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. 

        There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.

    ” People from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. 

     Jesus took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

June 20, 2021 - Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - Jb 38:1.8

    The Lord addressed Job out of the storm and said: “Who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands? When I set limits for it and fastened the bar of its door, and said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stilled!”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 107 

Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting!

* They who sailed the sea in ships, trading on the deep waters, these saw the works of the Lord and his wonders in the abyss. R. * 

His command raised up a storm wind which tossed its waves on high. They mounted up to heaven; they sank to the depths; their hearts melted away in their plight. R. * 

They cried to the Lord in their distress; from their straits he rescued them, he hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the billows of the sea were stilled. R. 

* They rejoiced that they were calmed, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his kindness and his wondrous deeds to the children of men. R. 

Second Reading - 2 Cor 5:14-17 

    Brothers and sisters: 
     The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 

     Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

 A great prophet has arisen in our midst. God has visited his people. 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 4:35-41

    On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. 

     They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even the wind and the sea obey?”

June 13, 2021 - Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - Ez 17:22-24

    Thus says the Lord God: I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar, from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it. It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every winged thing in the shade of its boughs. And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree, wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom. As I, the Lord, have spoken, so will I do.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 92 

Lord, it is good to give thanks to you!

* It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night. R. * 

The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. R. 

* They shall bear fruit even in old age; vigorous and sturdy shall they be, declaring how just is the Lord, my rock, in whom there is no wrong. R. 

Second Reading - 2 Cor 5:6-10  

    Brothers and sisters: 
    We are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, though we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he/she did in the body, whether good or evil.

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

 The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live for ever. 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”      He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. 

     Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

6 June 2021 - Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Year B)

 

First Reading - Ex 24:3-8

    When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the Lord, they all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the Lord has told us.” 
    Moses then wrote down all the words of the Lord and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifi ce young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord, Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the Lord has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 116

R –I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord!

* How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. R. 

* Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. R. 

* To you will I offer sacrifi ce of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people. R. 

Second Reading - Heb 9:11-15

     Brothers and sisters: 

     When Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 

    For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our  consciences from dead works to worship the living God! 

    For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

Sequence 

Lo! The angel’s food is given 

To the pilgrim who has striven; 

See the children’s bread from heaven, 

Which on dogs may not be spent. 

Truth the ancient types fulfilling, 

Isaac bound, a victim willing, 

Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling, 

Manna to the fathers sent. 

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us, 

Jesus, of your love befriend us, 

You refresh us, you defend us, 

Your eternal goodness send us 

In the land of life to see. 

You who all things can and know, 

Who on earth such food bestow, 

Grant us with your saints, though lowest, 

Where the heav’nly feast you show, 

Fellow heirs and guests to be. 

Amen! Alleluia! 

Gospel Acclamation - Jn 6:51 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

 I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord. 

Whoever eats this bread will live for ever. 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 14:12-16.22-26

    On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’ Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 

     The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 

    While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”             Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.