CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, PLENTONG 避 兰 圣 若 瑟 天 主 堂 LOT 2139, Jalan Bunga Raya, 81750 Plentong, Johor, Malaysia Tel/Fax: 07-386 3062 Email: stjoseph@ymail.com
Monday 30 December 2019
Saturday 28 December 2019
Friday 27 December 2019
Mass Readings - Sunday, 29th December 2019
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6. 12-14
He who fears the Lord, respects his parents
The Lord honours the father in his children, and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons. Whoever respects his father is atoning for his sins, he who honours his mother is like someone amassing a fortune. Whoever respects his father will be happy with children of his own, he shall be heard on the day when he prays. Long life comes to him who honours his father, he who sets his mother at ease is showing obedience to the Lord. My son, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life. Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength; for kindness to a father shall not be forgotten but will serve as reparation for your sins.
The Word of the Lords
Responsorial Psalm 127:1-5 R/v 1
Response: O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
1. O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways! By the labour of your hands you shall eat You will be happy and prosper.
2. Your wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house; your children like shoots of the olive around your table.
3. Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life.
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians 3:12-21
Family life in the Lord
You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Col 3:15-16
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts; let the message of Christ find a home in you.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 2:13-15.19-23
Take the child and his mother and escape into Egypt
After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him’. So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him left that night or Egypt, where they stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I called my son out of Egypt.’
After Herod’s death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead’. So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee. There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’ Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.
The Gospel of the Lord.
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6. 12-14
He who fears the Lord, respects his parents
The Lord honours the father in his children, and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons. Whoever respects his father is atoning for his sins, he who honours his mother is like someone amassing a fortune. Whoever respects his father will be happy with children of his own, he shall be heard on the day when he prays. Long life comes to him who honours his father, he who sets his mother at ease is showing obedience to the Lord. My son, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life. Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength; for kindness to a father shall not be forgotten but will serve as reparation for your sins.
The Word of the Lords
Responsorial Psalm 127:1-5 R/v 1
Response: O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
1. O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways! By the labour of your hands you shall eat You will be happy and prosper.
2. Your wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house; your children like shoots of the olive around your table.
3. Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life.
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians 3:12-21
Family life in the Lord
You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Col 3:15-16
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts; let the message of Christ find a home in you.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 2:13-15.19-23
Take the child and his mother and escape into Egypt
After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him’. So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him left that night or Egypt, where they stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I called my son out of Egypt.’
After Herod’s death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead’. So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee. There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’ Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Tuesday 24 December 2019
Saturday 21 December 2019
Mass Readings - Sunday, 22nd December 2019
4th Sunday of Advent
Our attention is now directed fully to the coming of Christ in the Christmas mystery. The
Preface calls us to wonder at this great happening, to prepare for Christmas in prayer
and praise. The psalm tells us to purify our hearts as preparation. Prayer and
reconciliation should be features of these days.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 7:10-14
The maiden is with child.
The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign
for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the
heights above’. ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the
test.’ Then Isaiah said:
Listen now, House of David:
are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men
without trying the patience of my God, too?
The Lord himself, therefore,
will give you a sign.
It is this: the maiden is with child
and will soon give birth to a son
whom she will call ‘Immanuel, ‘
a name which means “God is with us.”
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 23
Response: Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory.
1. The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the waters he made it firm.
2. Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things.
3. He shall receive blessings from the Lord
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
SECOND READING Romans 1:1-7
Jesus Christ, descendant of David, Son of God.
From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an
apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News that God
promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures.
This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human
nature he took was a descendant of David: it is about Jesus Christ
our Lord who, in the order of the spirit, the spirit of holiness that was in
him, was proclaimed Son of God in all his power through his
resurrection from the dead.
Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach
the obedience of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name.
You are one of these nations, and by his call belong to Jesus Christ.
To you all, then, who are God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints,
may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace and
peace.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Mt 1:23
Alleluia, alleluia!
‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him
Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 1:18-24
Jesus is born of Mary who was betrothed to Joseph, son of David.
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was
betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was
found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph;
being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided
to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph
son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife,
because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will
give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the
one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place
to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him
‘Emmanuel,’a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’.
When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told
him to do: he took his wife to his home.
The Gospel of the Lord
Saturday 14 December 2019
Mass Readings - Sunday, 15th December 2019
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 35:1-6. 10
God himself is coming to save you.
Let the wilderness and the dry-lands exult,
let the wasteland rejoice and bloom,
let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil,
let it rejoice and sing for joy.
The glory of Lebanon is bestowed on it,
the splendour of Carmel and Sharon;
they shall see the glory of the Lord,
the splendour of our God.
Strengthen all weary hands,
steady all trembling knees
and say to all faint hearts,
‘Courage! Do not be afraid.
‘Look, your God is coming,
vengeance is coming,
the retribution of God;
he is coming to save you.’
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
the ears of the deaf unsealed,
then the lame shall leap like a deer
and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy;
for those Yahweh has ransomed shall return.
They will come to Zion shouting for joy,
everlasting joy on their faces;
joy and gladness will go with them
and sorrow and lament be ended.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145
Response Come, Lord, and save us
1. It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free.
2. It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan.
3. It is the Lord who loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zion’s God, from age to age.
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St James 5:7-10
Do not lose heart for the Lord’s coming will be soon.
Now be patient, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. Think of a farmer:
how patiently he waits for the precious fruit of the ground until it has
had the autumn rains and the spring rains! You too have to be
patient; do not lose heart, because the Lord’s coming will be soon.
Do not make complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to
be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be
seen waiting at the gates. For your example, brothers, in submitting
with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Is 61:1
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me.
He has sent me to bring good news to the poor
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 11:2-11
Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for
someone else?
John in his prison had heard what Christ was doing and he sent his
disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or have we
got to wait for someone else?’ Jesus answered, ‘Go back and tell
John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame
walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are
raised to life and the Good and happy is the man who does not lose
faith in me’.
As the messengers were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people
about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed
swaying in the breeze? No? Then what did you go out to see? A
man wearing fine clothes? Oh no, those who wear fine clothes are
to be found in palaces. Then what did you go out for? To see a
prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet: he is the
one of whom scripture says: Look, I am going to send my messenger
before you; he will prepare your way before you.
‘I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women, a greater than
John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than he is.’
The Gospel of the Lord
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 35:1-6. 10
God himself is coming to save you.
Let the wilderness and the dry-lands exult,
let the wasteland rejoice and bloom,
let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil,
let it rejoice and sing for joy.
The glory of Lebanon is bestowed on it,
the splendour of Carmel and Sharon;
they shall see the glory of the Lord,
the splendour of our God.
Strengthen all weary hands,
steady all trembling knees
and say to all faint hearts,
‘Courage! Do not be afraid.
‘Look, your God is coming,
vengeance is coming,
the retribution of God;
he is coming to save you.’
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
the ears of the deaf unsealed,
then the lame shall leap like a deer
and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy;
for those Yahweh has ransomed shall return.
They will come to Zion shouting for joy,
everlasting joy on their faces;
joy and gladness will go with them
and sorrow and lament be ended.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145
Response Come, Lord, and save us
1. It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free.
2. It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan.
3. It is the Lord who loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zion’s God, from age to age.
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St James 5:7-10
Do not lose heart for the Lord’s coming will be soon.
Now be patient, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. Think of a farmer:
how patiently he waits for the precious fruit of the ground until it has
had the autumn rains and the spring rains! You too have to be
patient; do not lose heart, because the Lord’s coming will be soon.
Do not make complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to
be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be
seen waiting at the gates. For your example, brothers, in submitting
with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Is 61:1
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me.
He has sent me to bring good news to the poor
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 11:2-11
Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for
someone else?
John in his prison had heard what Christ was doing and he sent his
disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or have we
got to wait for someone else?’ Jesus answered, ‘Go back and tell
John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame
walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are
raised to life and the Good and happy is the man who does not lose
faith in me’.
As the messengers were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people
about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed
swaying in the breeze? No? Then what did you go out to see? A
man wearing fine clothes? Oh no, those who wear fine clothes are
to be found in palaces. Then what did you go out for? To see a
prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet: he is the
one of whom scripture says: Look, I am going to send my messenger
before you; he will prepare your way before you.
‘I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women, a greater than
John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than he is.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Thursday 12 December 2019
Saturday 7 December 2019
Mass Readings - Sunday, 8th December 2019
2nd Sunday of Advent
John the Baptist is a prophetic voice for all ages: his message speaks to us
today, for conversion is always part of the Christian way of living. Conversion to
each other is called for by St Paul, so that we can be tolerant of each other,
united in mind and heart.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 11:1-10
He judges the wretched with integrity.
A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse,
a scion thrusts from his roots:
on him the spirit of the Lord rests,
a spirit of wisdom and insight,
a spirit of counsel and power,
a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
(The fear of the Lord is his breath.)
He does not judge by appearances,
he gives no verdict on hearsay,
but judges the wretched with integrity,
and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the land.
His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless,
his sentences bring death to the wicked.
Integrity is the loincloth round his waist,
faithfulness the belt about his hips.
The wolf lives with the lamb,
the panther lies down with the kid,
calf and lion cub feed together
with a little boy to lead them.
The cow and the bear make friends,
their young lie down together.
The lion eats straw like the ox.
The infant plays over the cobra’s hole;
into the viper’s lair
the young child puts his hand.
They do no hurt, no harm,
on all my holy mountain,
for the country is filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters swell the sea.
That day, the root of Jesse
shall stand as a signal to the peoples.
It will be sought out by the nations
and its home will be glorious.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 71:1
Response: In his days justice shall flourish
and peace till the moon fails.
1. O God, give your judgement to the king,
to a king’s son your justice,
that he may judge your people in justice
and your poor in right judgement.
2. In his days justice shall flourish
and peace till the moon fails.
He shall rule from sea to sea,
from the Great River to earth’s bounds.
3. For he shall save the poor when they cry
and the needy who are helpless.
He will have pity on the weak
and save the lives of the poor.
4. May his name be blessed for ever
and endure like the sun.
Every tribe shall be blessed in him,
all nations bless his name.
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 15:4-9
Christ is the Saviour of all people.
Everything that was written long ago in the scriptures was meant to
teach us something about hope from the examples scripture gives of
how people who did not give up were helped by God. And may he
who helps us when we refuse to give up, help you all to be tolerant
with each other, following the example of Christ Jesus, so that united
in mind and voice you may give glory to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
It can only be to God’s glory, then, for you to treat each other in the
same friendly way as Christ treated you. The reason Christ became
the servant of circumcised Jews was not only so that God could
faithfully carry out the promises made to the patriarchs, it was also to
get the pagans to give glory to God for his mercy, as scripture says in
one place: For this I shall praise you among the pagans and sing to
your name.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Lk 3:4.6
Alleluia, alleluia!
Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.
and all mankind shall see the salvation of God
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 3:1-12
Repent for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.
In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the
wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: ‘Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is close at hand’. This was the man the prophet
Isaiah spoke of when he said:
A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.
This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather
belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then
Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their
way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan
they confessed their sins. But when he saw a number of Pharisees
and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, ‘Brood of
vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming? But
if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit, and do not
presume to tell yourselves, “We have Abraham for our father”,
because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these
stones. Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees, so that any
tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown
on the fire. I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who
follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his
sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His
winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and
gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that
will never go out.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Wednesday 4 December 2019
Tuesday 3 December 2019
Understanding Human Sexuality in Today's Context
Shalom.
This is Deacon Dr Leslie Petrus.
The diocesan
family life commission is organizing the above talks in three languages.
The reasons are:
1. Sex in now taught in primary school curriculum.
2. The media is flooded with pornographic materials.
3. Child sexual abuse has increased in Malaysia and we can not be complacent.
4. If we parents and teachers and others do not do anything as simple as educating our children the catholic way, then you and I are accountable to every sexual and rape cases that happens in society.
1. Sex in now taught in primary school curriculum.
2. The media is flooded with pornographic materials.
3. Child sexual abuse has increased in Malaysia and we can not be complacent.
4. If we parents and teachers and others do not do anything as simple as educating our children the catholic way, then you and I are accountable to every sexual and rape cases that happens in society.
Please make all efforts and get every parent and catechism teachers to attend. This is our responsibility.
We must help our parents and children to grow and become 4E Catholics, educated and equipped to handle sexuality and sexual harassment, and any abuse.
Prevention is better than cure.
God bless you and your family.
Monday 2 December 2019
Saturday 30 November 2019
Mass Reading - Sunday, 1st December 2019
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 2:1-5
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord that he may teach
us his ways so that we may walk in his paths.
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In the days to come
the mountain of the Temple of the Lord
shall tower above the mountains
and be lifted higher than the hills.
All the nations will stream to it,
peoples without number will come to it; and they will say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the Temple of the God of Jacob
that he may teach us his ways
so that we may walk in his paths;
since the Law will go out from Zion,
and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem’.
He will wield authority over the nations
and adjudicate between many peoples;
these will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles.
Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war.
O House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 121: 1-2,4-5,6-9, Rv v.1
Response: I rejoiced when I heard them say:
“Let us go to God’s house.”
1. I rejoiced when I heard them say:
“Let us go to God’s house.”
And now our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
2. It is there that the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord.
For Israel’s law it is,
there to praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the thrones of judgement
of the house of David.
3. For the peace of Jerusalem pray:
“Peace be to your homes!
May peace reign in your walls,
in your palaces, peace!”
4. For love of my brethren and friends
I say: “Peace upon you!”
For love of the house of the Lord
I will ask for your good.
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 13:11-14
Our salvation is even nearer.
You know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation
is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is
almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we
prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and
appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime:
no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling
or jealousy. Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Ps 84:8
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.
Alleluia
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 24:37-44
Stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is
coming.
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when
the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people
were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the
day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the
Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of
Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of
two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.
‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your
master is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the
householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would
come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed
anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too
must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you
do not expect.’
The Gospel of the Lord
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 2:1-5
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord that he may teach
us his ways so that we may walk in his paths.
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In the days to come
the mountain of the Temple of the Lord
shall tower above the mountains
and be lifted higher than the hills.
All the nations will stream to it,
peoples without number will come to it; and they will say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the Temple of the God of Jacob
that he may teach us his ways
so that we may walk in his paths;
since the Law will go out from Zion,
and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem’.
He will wield authority over the nations
and adjudicate between many peoples;
these will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles.
Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war.
O House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 121: 1-2,4-5,6-9, Rv v.1
Response: I rejoiced when I heard them say:
“Let us go to God’s house.”
1. I rejoiced when I heard them say:
“Let us go to God’s house.”
And now our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
2. It is there that the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord.
For Israel’s law it is,
there to praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the thrones of judgement
of the house of David.
3. For the peace of Jerusalem pray:
“Peace be to your homes!
May peace reign in your walls,
in your palaces, peace!”
4. For love of my brethren and friends
I say: “Peace upon you!”
For love of the house of the Lord
I will ask for your good.
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 13:11-14
Our salvation is even nearer.
You know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation
is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is
almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we
prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and
appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime:
no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling
or jealousy. Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Ps 84:8
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.
Alleluia
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 24:37-44
Stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is
coming.
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when
the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people
were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the
day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the
Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of
Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of
two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.
‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your
master is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the
householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would
come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed
anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too
must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you
do not expect.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Saturday 23 November 2019
Mass Readings - Sundaty, 24th November 2019
FIRST READING
A reading from the second book of the Prophet Samuel 5:1-3
They anointed David King of Israel.
All the tribes of Israel then came to David at Hebron. ’Look’ they said
‘we are your own flesh and blood. In days past when Saul was our
king, it was you who led Israel in all their exploits; and the Lord said to
you, “You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you
shall be the leader of Israel”.’
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David
made a pact with them at Hebron in the presence of the Lord, and
they anointed David king of Israel.”’
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 121
Response:
I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
1. I rejoiced when I heard them say:
‘Let us go to God’s house.’
And now our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
2. Jerusalem is built as a city
strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord.
3. For Israel’s law it is,
there to praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the thrones of judgement
of the house of David.
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Colossions 1:12-20
He has created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves.
We give thanks to the Father who has made it possible for you to join
the saints and with them to inherit the light. Because that is what he
has done: he has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a
place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves, and in him we
gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation,
for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible, Thrones, Dominations,
Sovereignties, Powers – all things were created through him and for him.
Before anything was created, he existed, and he holds all things in unity.
Now the Church is his body, he is its head. As he is the Beginning,
he was first to be born from the dead, so that he should be first in every way;
because God wanted all perfection to be found in him and all things
to be reconciled through him and fo him, everything in heaven and everything
on earth, when he made peace by his death on the cross.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Mt 24:42
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David!
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 23:35-43
Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.
The people stayed there watching him. As for the leaders, they jeered
at him. ‘He saved others,’ they said ‘let him save himself if he is the
Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers mocked him too, and
when they approached to offer vinegar they said, ‘If you are the king
of the Jews, save yourself’. Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is
the King of the Jews’.
One of the criminals hanging there abused him. ‘Are you not the
Christ?’ he said. ‘Save yourself and us as well.’ But the other spoke up
and rebuked him. ‘Have you no fear of God at all?’ he said. ‘You got
the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are
paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus,’
he said ‘remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ ‘Indeed, I
promise you,’ he replied ‘today you will be with me in paradise.’
The Gospel of the Lord
A reading from the second book of the Prophet Samuel 5:1-3
They anointed David King of Israel.
All the tribes of Israel then came to David at Hebron. ’Look’ they said
‘we are your own flesh and blood. In days past when Saul was our
king, it was you who led Israel in all their exploits; and the Lord said to
you, “You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you
shall be the leader of Israel”.’
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David
made a pact with them at Hebron in the presence of the Lord, and
they anointed David king of Israel.”’
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 121
Response:
I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
1. I rejoiced when I heard them say:
‘Let us go to God’s house.’
And now our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
2. Jerusalem is built as a city
strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord.
3. For Israel’s law it is,
there to praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the thrones of judgement
of the house of David.
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Colossions 1:12-20
He has created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves.
We give thanks to the Father who has made it possible for you to join
the saints and with them to inherit the light. Because that is what he
has done: he has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a
place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves, and in him we
gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation,
for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible, Thrones, Dominations,
Sovereignties, Powers – all things were created through him and for him.
Before anything was created, he existed, and he holds all things in unity.
Now the Church is his body, he is its head. As he is the Beginning,
he was first to be born from the dead, so that he should be first in every way;
because God wanted all perfection to be found in him and all things
to be reconciled through him and fo him, everything in heaven and everything
on earth, when he made peace by his death on the cross.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Mt 24:42
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David!
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 23:35-43
Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.
The people stayed there watching him. As for the leaders, they jeered
at him. ‘He saved others,’ they said ‘let him save himself if he is the
Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers mocked him too, and
when they approached to offer vinegar they said, ‘If you are the king
of the Jews, save yourself’. Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is
the King of the Jews’.
One of the criminals hanging there abused him. ‘Are you not the
Christ?’ he said. ‘Save yourself and us as well.’ But the other spoke up
and rebuked him. ‘Have you no fear of God at all?’ he said. ‘You got
the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are
paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus,’
he said ‘remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ ‘Indeed, I
promise you,’ he replied ‘today you will be with me in paradise.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Saturday 16 November 2019
Mass Readings - Sunday, 17th November 2019
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Malachi 3:19-20
For you the sun of righteousness will shine out.
The day is coming now, burning like a furnace; and all the
arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble. The day that is
coming is going to burn them up, says the Lord, leaving them
neither root nor stalk. But for you who fear my name, the sun of
righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 97
Response: The Lord comes to rule the peoples with fairness.
1. Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp
with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
acclaim the King, the Lord. Response
2. Let the sea and all within it, thunder;
the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy
at the presence of the Lord. Response
3. For the Lord comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 3:7-12
Do not let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work.
You know how you are supposed to imitate us: now we were not
idle when we were with you, nor did we ever have our meals at
anyone’s table without paying for them; no, we worked night and
day, slaving and straining, so as not to be a burden on any of you.
This was not because we had no right to be, but in order to make
ourselves an example for you to follow.
We gave you a rule when we were with you: not to let anyone
have any food if he refused to do any work. Now we hear that
there are some of you who are living in idleness, doing no work
themselves but interfering with everyone else’s. In the Lord Jesus
Christ, we order and call on people of this kind to go on quietly
working and earning the food that they eat.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Lk 21: 36
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to stand with
confidence before the Son of Man.
Alleluia!
Or Lk 21: 28
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near
at hand’.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 21:5-19
Your endurance will win you your lives.
The Gospel of the Lord
A reading from the Book of Malachi 3:19-20
For you the sun of righteousness will shine out.
The day is coming now, burning like a furnace; and all the
arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble. The day that is
coming is going to burn them up, says the Lord, leaving them
neither root nor stalk. But for you who fear my name, the sun of
righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 97
Response: The Lord comes to rule the peoples with fairness.
1. Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp
with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
acclaim the King, the Lord. Response
2. Let the sea and all within it, thunder;
the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy
at the presence of the Lord. Response
3. For the Lord comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 3:7-12
Do not let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work.
You know how you are supposed to imitate us: now we were not
idle when we were with you, nor did we ever have our meals at
anyone’s table without paying for them; no, we worked night and
day, slaving and straining, so as not to be a burden on any of you.
This was not because we had no right to be, but in order to make
ourselves an example for you to follow.
We gave you a rule when we were with you: not to let anyone
have any food if he refused to do any work. Now we hear that
there are some of you who are living in idleness, doing no work
themselves but interfering with everyone else’s. In the Lord Jesus
Christ, we order and call on people of this kind to go on quietly
working and earning the food that they eat.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Lk 21: 36
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to stand with
confidence before the Son of Man.
Alleluia!
Or Lk 21: 28
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near
at hand’.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 21:5-19
Your endurance will win you your lives.
When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was
adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All
these things you are staring at now-the time will come when not a
single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed’.
And they put to him this question: ‘Master,’ they said ‘when will this
happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take
place?’
‘Take care not to be deceived,’ he said ‘because many will come
using my name and saying, “I am he” and, “The time is near at
hand”. Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and
revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must
happen but the end is not so soon.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation
will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will
be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there;
there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
‘But before all this happens, men will seize you and persecute you;
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment,
and bring you before kings and governors because of my name –
and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. Keep this
carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I
myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of
your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be
betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and
some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on
account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your
endurance will win you your lives.
The Gospel of the Lord
Sunday 10 November 2019
Saturday 9 November 2019
Mass Readings - Sunday, 10th November 2019
FIRST READING
A reading from the second Book of Maccabees 7:1 -2. 9-14
The King of the world will raise us up to live again for ever.
Responorial Psalm Ps 16
Response: I shall be filled, when I awake,
with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
1. Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips. Response
2. I kept my feet firmly in your paths;
there was no faltering in my steps.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words. Response
3. Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 2:16 – 3:5
May the Lord strengthen you in everything good that you do or say.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Lk 21: 36
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake, praying at all times
for the strength to stand with confidence
before the Son of Man.
Alleluia!
Or Apoc 1: 5
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus Christ, is the First-born from the dead,
to him be glory and power for ever and ever.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 20: 27-38
He is God, not of the dead, but of the living.
The Gospel of the Lord
Gospel (Shorter form)
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 20:27. 34-38
He is God, not of the dead, but of the living.
The Gospel of the Lord
A reading from the second Book of Maccabees 7:1 -2. 9-14
The King of the world will raise us up to live again for ever.
There were seven brothers who were arrested with their mother.
The king tried to force them to taste pig’s flesh, which the Law
forbids, by torturing them with whips and scourges. One of them,
acting as spokesman for the others, said, ‘What are you trying to
find out from us? We are prepared to die rather than break the
laws of our ancestors.’
With his last breath he exclaimed, ‘Inhuman fiend, you may
discharge us from this present life, but the King of the world will
raise us up, since it is for his laws that we die, to live again for ever’.
After him, they amused themselves with the third, who on being
asked for his tongue promptly thrust it out and boldly held out his
hands, with these honourable words, ‘it was heaven that gave me
these limbs; for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him I hope
to receive them again’. The king and his attendants were
astounded at the young man’s courage and his utter indifference
to suffering.
When this one was dead they subjected the fourth to the same
savage torture. When he neared his end he cried, ‘Ours is the
better choice, to meet death at men’s hands, yet relying on
God’s promise that we shall be raised up by him; whereas for you
there can be no resurrection, no new life’.
The Word of the Lord
Responorial Psalm Ps 16
Response: I shall be filled, when I awake,
with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
1. Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips. Response
2. I kept my feet firmly in your paths;
there was no faltering in my steps.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words. Response
3. Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 2:16 – 3:5
May the Lord strengthen you in everything good that you do or say.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who has
given us his love and, through his grace, such inexhaustible
comfort and such sure hope, comfort you and strengthen you in
everything good that you do or say.
Finally, brothers, pray for us; pray that the Lord’s message may
spread quickly, and be received with honour as it was among
you; and pray that we may be preserved from the interference of
bigoted and evil people, for faith is not given to everyone. But the
Lord is faithful, and he will give you strength and guard you from
the evil one, and we, in the Lord, have every confidence that you
are doing and will go on doing all that we tell you. May the Lord
turn your hearts towards the love of God and the fortitude of
Christ.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Lk 21: 36
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake, praying at all times
for the strength to stand with confidence
before the Son of Man.
Alleluia!
Or Apoc 1: 5
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus Christ, is the First-born from the dead,
to him be glory and power for ever and ever.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 20: 27-38
He is God, not of the dead, but of the living.
Some Sadducees - those who say that there is no resurrection approached
him and they put this question to him, ‘Master, we
have it from Moses in writing, that if a man’s married brother dies
childless, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his
brother. Well then, there were seven brothers. The first, having
married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third
married the widow. And the same with all seven, they died
leaving no children. Finally the woman herself died. Now, at the
resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been
married to all seven?’
Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands,
but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world
and if’ the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they
can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being
children of the resurrection they are sons of God. And Moses
himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the
bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is God, not of the dead, but
of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Gospel (Shorter form)
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 20:27. 34-38
He is God, not of the dead, but of the living.
Some Sadducees — those who say that there is no resurrection —
approached Jesus and they put a question to him.
Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands,
but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world
and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they
can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being
children of the resurrection they are sons of God. And Moses
himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the
bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is God, not of the dead, but
of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Saturday 2 November 2019
Mass Readings - Sunday, 3rd November 2019
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Wisdom 11:22-12:2
You are merciful to all because you love all that exists.
In your sight the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales, like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent. Yes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence, for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it. And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist, how be conserved if not called forth by you? You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose imperishable spirit is in all. Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend, you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned, so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 144 Response: I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
1. I will give you glory, O God my King, I will bless your name for ever. I will bless you day after day and praise your name for ever. Response
2. The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love. How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures.
Response
3. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing. They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God. Response
4. The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds. The Lord supports all who fall and raises all who are bowed down.
Response
Second Reading
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
The name of Christ will be glorified in you and you in him.
We pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. To turn now, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Lk 19:38
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens! Alleluia!
Or Jn 3: 16
God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 19: 1-10
The Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.
Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd; So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost’.
The Gospel of the Lord
A reading from the Book of Wisdom 11:22-12:2
You are merciful to all because you love all that exists.
In your sight the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales, like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent. Yes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence, for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it. And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist, how be conserved if not called forth by you? You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose imperishable spirit is in all. Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend, you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned, so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 144 Response: I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
1. I will give you glory, O God my King, I will bless your name for ever. I will bless you day after day and praise your name for ever. Response
2. The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love. How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures.
Response
3. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing. They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God. Response
4. The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds. The Lord supports all who fall and raises all who are bowed down.
Response
Second Reading
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
The name of Christ will be glorified in you and you in him.
We pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. To turn now, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Lk 19:38
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens! Alleluia!
Or Jn 3: 16
God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 19: 1-10
The Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.
Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd; So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost’.
The Gospel of the Lord
Saturday 26 October 2019
Mass Reading - Sunday, 27th October 2019
First Reading
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus 35:12-14.16-19
The humble man's prayer pierces the clouds.
The Lord is a judge who is no respecter of personages. He shows
no respect of personages to the detriment of a poor man,
he listens to the plea of the injured party. He does not ignore the
orphan's supplication, nor the widow's as she pours out her story.
The man who with his whole heart serves God will be accepted,
His petitions will carry to the clouds. The humble man’s prayer
pierces the clouds, until it arrives he is inconsolable nor will he
desist until the Most High takes notice of him, acquits the virtuous
and delivers judgement.
And the Lord will not be slow, nor will he be dilatory on their
behalf.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33:2-3.17-19
Response: This poor man called; the Lord heard him.
1. I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad. Response
2. The Lord turns his face against the wicked
to destroy their remembrance from the earth,
The just call and the Lord hears
and rescues them in all their distress. Response
3. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;
those whose spirit is crushed he will save.
The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants.
Those who hide in him shall not be condemned. Response
Second Reading
A reading from the 2nd letter of St Paul to Timothy 4:6-8.16-18
All there us to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for
me.
My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time
has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the
end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there
is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day;
and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his
Appearing. The first time I had to present my defence, there was
not a single witness to support me. Every one of them deserted me
- may they not be held accountable for it. But the Lord stood by
me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message
might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was
rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil
attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To
him be glory for ever and ever, Amen.
The Word of the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Matthew 11:25
Alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing
the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
Alleluia!
Gospel Reading
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 18:9-14
The publican went home at rights with God; the pharisee did not.
Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided
themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else. 'Two
men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a
tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to
himself, "I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust,
adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not
like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I
get." The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring
even to raise his eyes to heaven but he beat his breast and said,
"God, be merciful to me, a sinner." This man, I tell you, went home
again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who
exalts themselves will be humbled, but the man who humbles
himself will be exalted.'
The Gospel of the Lord.
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus 35:12-14.16-19
The humble man's prayer pierces the clouds.
The Lord is a judge who is no respecter of personages. He shows
no respect of personages to the detriment of a poor man,
he listens to the plea of the injured party. He does not ignore the
orphan's supplication, nor the widow's as she pours out her story.
The man who with his whole heart serves God will be accepted,
His petitions will carry to the clouds. The humble man’s prayer
pierces the clouds, until it arrives he is inconsolable nor will he
desist until the Most High takes notice of him, acquits the virtuous
and delivers judgement.
And the Lord will not be slow, nor will he be dilatory on their
behalf.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33:2-3.17-19
Response: This poor man called; the Lord heard him.
1. I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad. Response
2. The Lord turns his face against the wicked
to destroy their remembrance from the earth,
The just call and the Lord hears
and rescues them in all their distress. Response
3. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;
those whose spirit is crushed he will save.
The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants.
Those who hide in him shall not be condemned. Response
Second Reading
A reading from the 2nd letter of St Paul to Timothy 4:6-8.16-18
All there us to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for
me.
My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time
has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the
end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there
is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day;
and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his
Appearing. The first time I had to present my defence, there was
not a single witness to support me. Every one of them deserted me
- may they not be held accountable for it. But the Lord stood by
me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message
might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was
rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil
attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To
him be glory for ever and ever, Amen.
The Word of the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Matthew 11:25
Alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing
the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
Alleluia!
Gospel Reading
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 18:9-14
The publican went home at rights with God; the pharisee did not.
Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided
themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else. 'Two
men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a
tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to
himself, "I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust,
adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not
like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I
get." The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring
even to raise his eyes to heaven but he beat his breast and said,
"God, be merciful to me, a sinner." This man, I tell you, went home
again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who
exalts themselves will be humbled, but the man who humbles
himself will be exalted.'
The Gospel of the Lord.
Saturday 19 October 2019
Mass Reading - Sunday, 20th October 2019
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Exodus 17:8-13
As long as Moses kept his arms raised, Israel had the advantage
The Amalekites came and attacked Israel at Rephidim. Moses said
to Joshua, ‘Pick out men for yourself, and tomorrow morning march
out to engage Amalek. I, meanwhile, will stand on the hilltop, the
staff of God in my hand.’ Joshua did as Moses told him and
marched out to engage Amalek, while Moses and Aaron and Hur
went up to the top of the hill. As long as Moses kept his arms raised,
Israel had the advantage; when he let his arms fall, the advantage
went to Amalek. But Moses’ arms grew heavy, so they took a stone
and put it under him and on this he sat, Aaron and Hur supporting
his arms, one on one side, one on the other; and his arms remained
firm till sunset. With the edge of the sword Joshua cut down Amalek
and his people.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 120
Response: Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven
and earth.
1. I lift up my eyes to the mountains:
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord
who made heaven and earth. Response
2. May he never allow you to stumble!
Let him sleep not, your guard.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers,
Israel’s guard. Response
3. The Lord is your guard and your shade;
at your right side he stands.
By day the sun shall not smite you
nor the moon in the night. Response
4. The Lord will guard you from evil,
he will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming
both now and for ever. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to Timothy 3:14-4:2
The man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any
good work.
You must keep to what you have been taught and know to be
true; remember who your teachers were, and how, ever since you
were a child, you have known the holy scriptures – from these you
can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ
Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for
teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching
them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God
becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.
Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living
and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of his Appearing
and of his kingdom: proclaim the message and, welcome or
unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to
obedience – but do all with patience and with the intention of
teaching.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Eph 1: 17
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our
mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.
Alleluia!
Or 1Heb 4: 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of God is something alive and active,
it can judge secret emotions and thoughts.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 18:1-8
God sees justice done to his chosen who cry to him.
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray
continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain
town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In
the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and
saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time
he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear
of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I
must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and
worry me to death”.’
And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say?
Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day
and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will
see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of
Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
The Gospel of the Lord
A reading from the Book of Exodus 17:8-13
As long as Moses kept his arms raised, Israel had the advantage
The Amalekites came and attacked Israel at Rephidim. Moses said
to Joshua, ‘Pick out men for yourself, and tomorrow morning march
out to engage Amalek. I, meanwhile, will stand on the hilltop, the
staff of God in my hand.’ Joshua did as Moses told him and
marched out to engage Amalek, while Moses and Aaron and Hur
went up to the top of the hill. As long as Moses kept his arms raised,
Israel had the advantage; when he let his arms fall, the advantage
went to Amalek. But Moses’ arms grew heavy, so they took a stone
and put it under him and on this he sat, Aaron and Hur supporting
his arms, one on one side, one on the other; and his arms remained
firm till sunset. With the edge of the sword Joshua cut down Amalek
and his people.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 120
Response: Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven
and earth.
1. I lift up my eyes to the mountains:
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord
who made heaven and earth. Response
2. May he never allow you to stumble!
Let him sleep not, your guard.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers,
Israel’s guard. Response
3. The Lord is your guard and your shade;
at your right side he stands.
By day the sun shall not smite you
nor the moon in the night. Response
4. The Lord will guard you from evil,
he will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming
both now and for ever. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to Timothy 3:14-4:2
The man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any
good work.
You must keep to what you have been taught and know to be
true; remember who your teachers were, and how, ever since you
were a child, you have known the holy scriptures – from these you
can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ
Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for
teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching
them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God
becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.
Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living
and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of his Appearing
and of his kingdom: proclaim the message and, welcome or
unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to
obedience – but do all with patience and with the intention of
teaching.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Eph 1: 17
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our
mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.
Alleluia!
Or 1Heb 4: 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of God is something alive and active,
it can judge secret emotions and thoughts.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 18:1-8
God sees justice done to his chosen who cry to him.
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray
continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain
town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In
the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and
saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time
he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear
of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I
must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and
worry me to death”.’
And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say?
Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day
and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will
see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of
Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
The Gospel of the Lord
Saturday 12 October 2019
Mass Reading - Sunday, 13th October 2019
FIRST READING:
A reading from the second Book of Kings 5:14-17
Naaman returned to Elisha and acknowledged the Lord
Naaman the leper went down and immersed himself seven times
in the Jordan, as Elisha had told him to do. And his flesh became
clean once more like the flesh of a little child.
Returning to Elisha with his whole escort, he went in and stood
before him. ‘Now I know’ he said ‘that there is no God in all the
earth except in Israel. Now, please, accept a present from your
servant.’ But Elisha replied, ‘As the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will
accept nothing’. Naaman pressed him to accept, but he refused.
Then Naaman said, ‘Since your answer is “No”, allow your servant
to be given as much earth as two mules may carry, because your
servant will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any god
except the Lord.
The Word of the Lord
Responorial Psalm Ps 97
Response: The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
1. Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right’hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation. Response
2. The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth
and love for the house of Israel. Response
3. All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord all the earth,
ring out your joy. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to Timothy 2:8-13
If we hold firm, we shall reign with Christ.
Remember the Good News that I carry, ‘Jesus Christ risen from the
dead, sprung from the race of David’; it is on account of this that I
have my own hardships to bear, even to being chained like a
criminal – but they cannot chain up God’s news. So I bear it all for
the sake of those who are chosen, so that in the end they may
have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus and the eternal glory that
comes with it.
Here is a saying that you rely on:
If we have died with him, then we shall live with him.
If we hold firm, then we shall reign with him.
If we disown him, then he will disown us.
We may be unfaithful, but he is always faithful,
for he cannot disown his own self.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation 1 Jn 6: 63
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your words are spirit
and they are life:
you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
Or 1 Thess 5: 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
For all things give thanks,
Because of what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 17:11-19
No one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.
Now on the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border
between Samaria and GaliIee. As he entered one of the villages,
ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and
called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them
he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests’.
Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding
himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of
his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten
made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no
one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’
And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith
has saved you.’
The Gospel of the Lord
A reading from the second Book of Kings 5:14-17
Naaman returned to Elisha and acknowledged the Lord
Naaman the leper went down and immersed himself seven times
in the Jordan, as Elisha had told him to do. And his flesh became
clean once more like the flesh of a little child.
Returning to Elisha with his whole escort, he went in and stood
before him. ‘Now I know’ he said ‘that there is no God in all the
earth except in Israel. Now, please, accept a present from your
servant.’ But Elisha replied, ‘As the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will
accept nothing’. Naaman pressed him to accept, but he refused.
Then Naaman said, ‘Since your answer is “No”, allow your servant
to be given as much earth as two mules may carry, because your
servant will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any god
except the Lord.
The Word of the Lord
Responorial Psalm Ps 97
Response: The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
1. Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right’hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation. Response
2. The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth
and love for the house of Israel. Response
3. All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord all the earth,
ring out your joy. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to Timothy 2:8-13
If we hold firm, we shall reign with Christ.
Remember the Good News that I carry, ‘Jesus Christ risen from the
dead, sprung from the race of David’; it is on account of this that I
have my own hardships to bear, even to being chained like a
criminal – but they cannot chain up God’s news. So I bear it all for
the sake of those who are chosen, so that in the end they may
have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus and the eternal glory that
comes with it.
Here is a saying that you rely on:
If we have died with him, then we shall live with him.
If we hold firm, then we shall reign with him.
If we disown him, then he will disown us.
We may be unfaithful, but he is always faithful,
for he cannot disown his own self.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation 1 Jn 6: 63
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your words are spirit
and they are life:
you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
Or 1 Thess 5: 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
For all things give thanks,
Because of what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 17:11-19
No one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.
Now on the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border
between Samaria and GaliIee. As he entered one of the villages,
ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and
called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them
he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests’.
Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding
himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of
his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten
made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no
one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’
And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith
has saved you.’
The Gospel of the Lord
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