Old Testament
A
reading from the book of Genesis 1:26-28.31
God said, `Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and
let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all
the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.' God created
man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and
female he created them. God blessed them, saying to them, `Be
fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of
the sea, the birds of heaven and all living animals on the earth.' God saw all
he had made, and indeed it was very good. This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the book of Genesis 2:18-24
The Lord God said, `It is not good that the man should be alone. I will
make him a helpmate.' So from the soil the Lord God fashioned all the wild
beasts and all the birds of heaven. These he brought to the man to see what he
would call them; each one was to bear the name the man would give it. The man
gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of heaven and all the wild beasts.
But no helpmate suitable for man was found for him. So the Lord God made the
man fall into a deep sleep. And while he slept, he took one of his ribs and
enclosed it in flesh. The Lord God built the rib he had taken from the man into
a woman, and brought her to the man. The man exclaimed: `This at last is bone
from my bones, and flesh from my flesh! This is to be called woman for this was
taken from man.' This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins
himself to his wife, and they become one body. This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the book of Genesis 24:48-51,58-67
Abraham's servant said to Laban, `I blessed the Lord,
God of my master Abraham, who had so graciously led me to choose the daughter
of my master's brother for his son. Now tell me whether you are prepared to
show kindness and goodness to my master; if not, say so, and I shall know what
to do.' Laban and Bethuel
replied, `This is from the Lord; it is not in our power to say yes or no to
you. Rebekah is there before you. Take her and go;
and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has decreed.'
They called Rebekah and asked her, `Do you want to
leave with this man?' `I do,' she replied. Accordingly they let their sister Rebekah go, with her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his
men. They blessed Rebekah in these words: `Sister of
ours, increase to thousands and tens of thousands! May your descendants gain
possession of the gates of their enemies!' Rebekah and her servants stood up, mounted the camels, and
followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and
departed. Isaac, who lived in the Negeb, had
meanwhile come into the wilderness of the well of Lahai
Roi. Now Isaac went walking in the fields as evening
fell, and looking up saw camels approaching. And Rebekah
looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel, and asked the servant,
`Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?' The servant replied,
`That is my master', then she took her veil and hid
her face. The servant told Isaac the whole story, and Isaac led Rebekah into his tent and made her his wife; and he loved
her. And Isaac was consoled for the loss of his mother. This is the word of the
Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the book of Tobit 7:6-14
Raguel kissed Tobias and wept. Then finding words, he
said, `Blessings on you, child! You are the son of a noble father. How sad it
is that someone so virtuous and full of good deeds should have gone blind!' He
fell on the neck of his kinsman Tobias and wept. And his wife Edna wept for
him, and so did his daughter Sarah. Raguel killed a
sheep from the flock, and they gave Tobias and Raphael a warm-hearted welcome.
They washed and bathed and sat down to table. Then Tobias said to Raphael,
`Brother Azarias, will you ask Raguel
to give me my sister Sarah?' Raguel overheard the
words, and said to the young man, `Eat and drink, and make the most of your
evening; no one else has the right to take my daughter Sarah - no one but you,
my brother. In any case I, for my own part, am not at liberty to give her to
anyone else, since you are her next of kin. However, my boy, I must be frank
with you: I have tried to find a husband for her seven times among our kinsmen,
and all of them have died the first evening, on going to her room. But for the
present, my boy, eat and drink; the Lord will grant you his grace and peace.'
Tobias spoke out, `I will not hear of eating and drinking till you have come to
a decision about me'. Raguel answered, `Very well.
Since, as prescribed by the Book of Moses, she is given to you, heaven itself
decrees she shall be yours. I shall therefore entrust your sister to you. From
now you are her brother and she is your sister. She is given to you from today
for ever. The Lord of heaven favour
you tonight, my child, and grant you his grace and peace.' Raguel
called for his daughter Sarah, took her by the hand and gave her to Tobias with
these words, `I entrust her to you; the law and the ruling recorded in the Book
of Moses assign her to you as your wife. Take her; take her home to your
father's house with a good conscience. The God of heaven grant you a good
journey in peace.' Then he turned to her mother and asked her to fetch him
writing paper. He draw up the marriage contract, how
he gave his daughter as bride to Tobias according to the ordinance in the Law
of Moses. After this they began to eat and drink. This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the book of Tobit 8:4-8
On the evening of their marriage, Tobias said to
Sarah, `You and I must pray and petition our Lord to win his grace and protection.'
They began praying for protection, and this was how he began:
'You are blessed, O God of our fathers; blessed, too,
is your name for ever and ever. Let the heavens bless you and all things you
have made for evermore. It was you who created Adam, you who created Eve his
wife to be his help and support; and from these two the human race was born. It
was you who said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; let us
make him a helpmate like himself." And so I do not take my sister for any
lustful motive; I do it in singleness of heart. Be kind enough to have pity on
her and on me and bring us to old age together.' And together they said, `Amen,
Amen'.
This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the Song of Songs 2:8-10.14.16;8:6-7
I hear my Beloved.
See how he comes leaping on the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
My Beloved is like a gazelle, like a young stag.
See where he stands behind our wall.
He looks in at the window, he peers through the lattice.
My Beloved lifts up his voice, he says to me,
'Come then, my love, my lovely one, come.
My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock.
In the coverts of the cliff, show me your face,
let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet
and your face is beautiful.'
My beloved is mine and I am his.
Set me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm.
For love is strong as Death, jealousy relentless as Sheol.
The flash of it is a flash of fire, a flame of the Lord himself.
Love no flood can quench, no torrents drown.
This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus 26:1-4,13-16
Happy the husband of a really good wife; the number of his days will be
doubled. A perfect wife is the joy of her husband, he
will live out the years of his life in peace. A good wife is the best of
portions, reserved for those who fear the Lord; rich or poor,
they will be glad of heart; cheerful of face, whatever the season. The grace of
a wife will charm her husband, her accomplishments
will make him stronger.
A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, no price can be
put on a well-trained character. A modest wife is a boon twice over, a chaste character cannot be weighed on scales. Like
the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord is the beauty of a good wife in a
well-kept house.
This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the prophet Jeremiah 31:31-34
See, the days are coming - it is the Lord who speaks - when l will make a new
covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah, but not a covenant
like the one I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to
bring them out of the land of Egypt. No, this is the covenant I will make with
the House of Israel when those/days arrive - it is the Lord who speaks. Deep within
them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God
and they shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbour to try to teach neighbour,
or brother to say to brother, `Learn to know the Lord!' No, they will all know,
me, the least no less than the greatest - it is the Lord who speaks.
This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
It
is appropriate to use this reading in the Easter Season.
A
reading from the book of the Apocalypse 19:1,5-9
I, John, seemed to hear the great sound of a huge crowd in heaven, singing,
`Alleluia! Victory and glory and power to our God!'
Then a voice came from the throne; it said, `Praise our God you servants of his
and all who, great or small, revere him'. And I seemed to hear the voices of a
huge crowd, like the sound of the ocean or the great roar of thunder,
answering, `Alleluia! The reign of the Lord our God Almighty has begun, let us
be glad and joyful and give praise to God, because this is the time for the
marriage of the Lamb. His bride is ready, and she has been able to dress
herself in dazzling white linen, because her linen is made of the good deeds of
the saints.' The angel said, `Write this: Happy are
those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.' This is the word of
the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 23
Response: The Lord
is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
All: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh
and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit. R/.
He
guides me along the right path;
he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort. R/.
You
have prepared a banquet for me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing. R/.
Surely
goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord's own house shall I dwell
for ever and ever. R/.
Psalm 32
Response: The earth is
full of the goodness of the Lord.
All: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
They
are happy, whose God is the Lord,
the people he has chosen as his own.
The Lord looks on those who revere him,
on those who hope in his love. R/.
2
Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
The Lord is our help and our shield.
In him do our hearts find joy.
We trust in his holy name. R/.
3
May your love be upon us, O Lord,
as we place all our hope in you. R/.
Psalm 33
Response: I will
bless the Lord at all times.
All: I will bless the Lord at all times
Or
Response: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord..
All: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
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. R/.
2
Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free. R/.
3
Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called; the Lord heard him
and rescued him from all his distress. R/.
4
The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
He is happy who seeks refuge in him. R/.
Psalm 102
Response: The Lord is kind and merciful.
All: The Lord is kind and merciful.
Or
Response: The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
All: The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
1
My soul, give thanks to the Lord,
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings. R/.
2
The Lord is compassion and love,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
As a father has compassion on his sons,
the Lord has pity on those who fear him. R/.
3
The love of the Lord is everlasting
upon those who hold him in fear;
his justice reaches out to children's children
when they keep his covenant in truth. R/.
Psalm 121
Response: I rejoiced
when I heard them say: let us go to the house of the Lord.
All: I rejoiced when I heard them say: let us go to the house of the
Lord.
or
Response: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
All: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
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. R.
2.
strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord. R.
3.
For
there to praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the thrones of judgement
of the house of David. R.
4.
For the peace of
‘Peace be to your homes!
May peace reign in your walls,
in your palaces peace!’ R.
5.
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. R.
Psalm: 111
Response: Happy are
those who do what the Lord commands.
All: Happy are those who do what the Lord commands
1
Happy the man who fears the Lord,
who takes delight in his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth;
the children of the upright are blessed. R/.
2
Riches and wealth are in his house;
his justice stands firm for ever.
He is a light in the darkness for the upright:
he is generous, merciful and just. R/.
3
The good man takes pity and lends,
he conducts his affairs with honour.
The just man will never waver:
he will be remembered for ever. R/.
4
He has no fear of evil news;
with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
With a steadfast heart he will not fear;
he will see the downfall of his foes. R/.
5 Open-handed,
he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory. R/.
Psalm: 127
Response: Happy are
those who fear the Lord.
All: Happy are those who fear the Lord.
Or
Response: See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
All: See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
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. R/.
2
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive,
around your table. R/.
3
Indeed thus shall be blessed
the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from
all the days of your life! R/.
Psalm 144
Response: The Lord
is compassionate to all his creatures.
All: The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures.
1
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. R/.
2
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
The eyes of all creatures look to you
and give them their food in due time. R/.
3
The Lord is just in all his ways
and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him,
who call on him from their hearts. R/.
Psalm 148
Response: Let all praise
the name of the Lord.
All: Let all praise the name of the Lord.
1
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his host. R/.
2
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, shining stars.
Praise him, highest heavens
and the waters above the heavens. R/.
3
All mountains and hills,
all fruit trees and cedars,
beasts, wild and tame,
reptiles and birds on the wing. R/.
4
All earth's kings and peoples,
earth's princes and rulers:
young men and maidens,
old men together with children. R/.
5
Let them praise the name of the Lord
for he alone is exalted.
The splendour of his name
reaches beyond heaven and earth. R/.
New Testament
A
reading from the letter of
With God on our side who can be against us? Since God did not spare his
own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a
gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give. Could anyone accuse those
that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ
Jesus? No! He not only died for us - he rose from the dead, and there at God's
right hand he stands and pleads for us.
Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are
troubled or worried or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being
threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by
the power of him who loved us.
For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing
that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any
created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is the word of the Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the letter of
Think of God's mercy, my
brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking
beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to
God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the
world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover
the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect
thing to do. Do not let your love be a pretence, but
sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and
have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort
and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you
cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the
saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality
your special care.
Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those
who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal
kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not
allow yourself to become self-satisfied. Never repay evil with evil but let
everyone see that you are interested only in the highest ideals. Do all you can
to live at peace with everyone. This is the word of
the Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
Shorter form
A reading from the letter of
Think of God's mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is
worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice,
truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour
of the world around you, but let your behaviour
change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only
way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God
wants, what is the perfect thing to do.
Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely
prefer good to evil.
Love each other as much as brothers should, and have profound respect for each
other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of
spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials
come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with
them; and you should make hospitality your special care. This is the word of
the Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the first letter of
The body is not meant for fornication; it is for the Lord, and the Lord for the
body. God, who raised the Lord from the dead, will by his power raise us up
too. You know, surely, that your bodies are members making up the body of
Christ. But anyone who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. Keep away
from fornication. All the other sins are committed outside the body; but to
fornicate is to sin against your own body. Your body, you know, is the temple
of the Holy Spirit, who is in you since you received him from God. You are not
your own property; you have been bought and paid for. That is why you should
use your body for the glory of God. This is the word of the Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the first letter of
Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is
better than any of them. If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but
speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have
the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing
everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but
without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess,
piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without
love, it will do me no good whatever.
Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or
conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not
resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins but delights in the
truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever
comes. Love does not come to an end.
This is the word of the Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the letter of
Follow Christ by loving as he
loved you, giving himself up in our place. Give way to one another in obedience
to Christ. Wives should regard their husbands as they regard the Lord, since as
Christ is head of the Church and saves the whole body, so is a husband the head
of his wife; and as the Church submits to Christ, so should wives to their
husbands, in everything. Husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved
the Church' and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy. He made her clean
by washing her in water with a form of words, so that when he took her to
himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that,
but holy and faultless. In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they
love their own bodies; for a man to love his wife is for him to love himself. A
man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is
the way Christ treats the Church, because it is his body - and we are its
living parts. For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother and be
joined to his wife, and the two will become one body. This mystery has many
implications; but I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church. To sum up;
you too, each one of you, must love his wife as he loves himself; and let every
wife respect her husband. This is the word of the Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
Shorter form
A reading from the letter of
Follow Christ by loving as he loved you, giving himself up in our place.
Husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed
himself for her to make her holy. He made her clean by
washing her in water with a form of words, so that when he took her to himself
she would be glorious with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy
and faultless. In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love
their own bodies; for a man to love his wife is for him to love himself. A man
never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the
way Christ treats the Church, because it is his body - and we are its living
parts. For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, and the two will become one body. This mystery has many implications;
but I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church. This is the word of the
Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the letter of
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. This is the word of the Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the first letter of St Peter 3:1-9
Wives should be obedient
to their husbands. Then, if there are some husbands who have not yet obeyed the
word, they may find themselves won over, without a word spoken, by the way
their wives behave, when they see how faithful and conscientious they are. Do
not dress up for show: doing up your hair, wearing gold bracelets and fine
clothes; all this should be inside, in a person's, heart, imperishable: the
ornament of a sweet and gentle disposition - this is what is precious in the
sight of God. That was how the holy women of the past dressed themselves
attractively - they hoped in God and were tender and obedient to their husbands;
like Sarah, who was obedient to Abraham, and called him her lord. you are now her children, as long as you live good lives and
do not give way to fear or worry.
In the same way, husbands must always treat their wives with consideration in
their life together, respecting a woman as one who, though she may be the
weaker partner, is equally an heir to the life of grace. This will stop
anything from coming in the way of your prayers.
Finally: you should all agree among yourselves and be sympathetic; love the brothers,
have compassion and be self-effacing. Never pay back one wrong with another
one; instead, pay back with a blessing. That is what you are called to do, so
that you inherit a blessing yourself. This is the word of the Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
A
reading from the first letter of St John 3:18-24
My children,
our love is not to be just words or mere talk,
but something real and active;
only by this can we be certain
that we are children of the truth
and be able to quieten our conscience in his
presence,
whatever accusations it may raise against us,
because God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything.
My dear people,
if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience,
we need not be afraid in God's presence,
and whatever we ask him,
we shall receive,
because we keep his commandments
and live the kind of life that he wants.
His commandments are these:
that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ
and that we love one another
as he told us to.
All:
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamations
1
Praise and honour to you, Lord
Jesus Christ!
If we love one another,
God will live in us in perfect love.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
2
Glory and praise to
you, Lord Jesus Christ!
All who live in love, live in God,
and God in them.
Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
3
Glory and praise to
you, Lord Jesus Christ!
God is love;
let us love one another as he has loved us.
Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
4
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Everyone who loves is born of God
and knows him.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Gospel Acclamations during all other Seasons
1
Alleluia, alleluia!
If we love one another,
God will live in us in perfect love.
Alleluia!
2
Alleluia, alleluia!
All who live in love, live in God,
and God in them.
Alleluia!
3
Alleluia, alleluia!
God is love;
let us love one another as he has loved us.
Alleluia!
4
Alleluia, alleluia!
Everyone who loves is born of God
and knows him.
Alleluia!
Gospel
A
reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:1-12
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill.
There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. then
he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
"How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy are the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of
heaven."
"Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds
of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will
be great in heaven." This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A
reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his
disciples: `You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what
can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to
be trampled underfoot by men.
`You are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. No
one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it
shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the
sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they
may give the praise to your Father in heaven.' This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A
reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 7:21,24-29
Jesus said to his
disciples:
`It is not those who say to me, "Lord, Lord", who will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.
`Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will
be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods
rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against the house, and it did not fall:
it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and
does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand.
Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and
what a fall it had!'
Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and his teaching made a deep
impression on the people because he taught them with authority, and not like
their own scribes. This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Shorter
form
A reading from
the holy Gospel according to Matthew 7:21,24-25
Jesus said to his
disciples:
`It is not those who say to me, "Lord, Lord", who will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.
`Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will
be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods
rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall:
it was founded on rock.' This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A
reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 19:3-6
Some Pharisees approached
Jesus, and to test him they said, `Is it against the Law for a man to divorce
his wife on any pretext whatever?' He answered, `Have
you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and
that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his
wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one
body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.'
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A
reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 22:35-40
A lawyer, to
disconcert Jesus, put a question, `Master, which is the greatest commandment of
the Law?' Jesus said, `You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is
the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love
your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments
hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.' This is
the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A
reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 10:6-9
Jesus said, `From
the beginning of creation God made them male and female. This is why a man must
leave father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two,
therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.'
This is the Gospel of the Lord. 7
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A reading
from the holy Gospel according to John 2:1-11
There was a wedding at
This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A
reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:9-12
Jesus said to his
disciples: `As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my
Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my
own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This
is my commandment: love one another, as I loved you.' This is the Gospel of the
Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A
reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:12-16
Jesus said to his
disciples:
`This is my commandment:
love one another,
as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends,
if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know
his master's business;
I call you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me,
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.'
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A
reading from the holy Gospel according to John 17:20-26
Jesus raised his
eyes to heaven and said:
`Holy Father,
I pray not only for these,
but for those also
who through their words will believe in me.
May they all be one.
Father, may they be one in us,
as you are in me and I am in you,
so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
I have given them the glory you gave to me,
that they may be one as we are one.
With me in them and you in me,
may they be so completely one
that the world will realise that it was you who sent
me
and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.
Father,
I want those you have given me
to be with me where I am,
so that they may always see the glory
you have given me
because you loved me
before the foundation of the world.
Father, Righteous One,
the world has not known you,
but I have known you,
and these have known
that you have sent me.
I have made your name known to them
and will continue to make it known,
so that the love with which you loved me may be in them,
and so that I may be in them.'
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Shorter
form
A reading from
the holy Gospel according to John 17:20-23
Jesus raised his
eyes to heaven and said:
`Holy Father,
I pray not only for these,
but for those also
who through their words will believe in me.
May they all be one.
Father, may they be one in us,
as you are in me and I am in you,
so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
I have given them the glory you gave to me,
that they may be one as we are one.
With me in them and you in me,
may they be so completely one
that the world will realise that it was you who sent
me
and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.'
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.