Readings

Proper readings

First Reading
Eph 6:10-13, 18

Put on the armor of God.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians

Brothers and sisters:
Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
   against the tactics of the Devil.
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood
   but with the principalities, with the powers,
   with the world rulers of this present darkness,
   with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Therefore, put on the armor of God,
   that you may be able to resist on the evil day
   and, having done everything, to hold your ground.

With all prayer and supplication,
   pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication
   for all the holy ones.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 11

R. :

℟. (5) You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
   I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
   you it is who hold fast my lot.

℟. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;
   even at night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
   with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

℟. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

You will show me the path to life,
   fullness of joys in your presence,
   the delights at your right hand forever.

℟. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Acclamation before the Gospel
Jn 8:31b-32

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 19:16-26

If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Someone approached Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
Jesus answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good.
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He asked him, “Which ones?”
And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill;
   you shall not commit adultery;
   you shall not steal;
   you shall not bear false witness;
   honor your father and your mother;
   and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The young man said to him,
   “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go,
   sell what you have and give to the poor,
   and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,
   for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
   “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
   to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
   it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
   than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
   “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
   “For men this is impossible,
   but for God all things are possible.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:

Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.

Weekday readings

First Reading
Heb 4:1-5, 11

Let us strive to enter into that rest.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews

Let us be on our guard
   while the promise of entering into his rest remains,
   that none of you seem to have failed.
For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did.
But the word that they heard did not profit them,
   for they were not united in faith with those who listened.
For we who believed enter into that rest,
   just as he has said:

   As I swore in my wrath,
   “They shall not enter into my rest,”

   and yet his works were accomplished
   at the foundation of the world.
For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner,
   And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;
   and again, in the previously mentioned place,
   They shall not enter into my rest.

Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest,
   so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 78:3 and 4bc, 6c-7, 8

R. :

℟. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!

What we have heard and know,
   and what our fathers have declared to us,
   we will declare to the generation to come
The glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength.

℟. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

That they too may rise and declare to their sons
   that they should put their hope in God,
And not forget the deeds of God
   but keep his commands.

℟. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

And not be like their fathers,
   a generation wayward and rebellious,
A generation that kept not its heart steadfast
   nor its spirit faithful toward God.

℟. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Acclamation before the Gospel
Lk 7:16

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

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

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 2:1-12

The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins on earth.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
   it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
   not even around the door,
   and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
   they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
   they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
   “Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
   “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what
   they were thinking to themselves,
   so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
   ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
   or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?
But that you may know
   that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”
   —he said to the paralytic,
   “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
   and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
   and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:

Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.