USCCB Daily Readings

• Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

  Reading I Judges 2:11-19

  The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals.
  Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers,
  who led them out of the land of Egypt,
  they followed the other gods of the various nations around them,
  and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.

  Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtaroth,
  the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel,
  and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them.
  He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies round about
  whom they were no longer able to withstand.
  Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them,
  as in his warning he had sworn he would do,
  till they were in great distress.
  Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver them
  from the power of their despoilers,
  they did not listen to their judges,
  but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods.
  They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken,
  and did not follow their example of obedience
  to the commandments of the LORD. 
  Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge
  and save them from the power of their enemies
  as long as the judge lived;
  it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries
  of affliction under their oppressors.
  But when the judge died,
  they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors,
  following other gods in service and worship,
  relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.

  Responsorial Psalm Psalm 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44

  R.    (4a)  Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
  They did not exterminate the peoples,
      as the LORD had commanded them,
  But mingled with the nations
      and learned their works.
  R.    Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
  They served their idols,
      which became a snare for them.
  They sacrificed their sons 
      and their daughters to demons.
  R.    Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
  They became defiled by their works,
      and wanton in their crimes.
  And the LORD grew angry with his people,
      and abhorred his inheritance.
  R.    Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
  Many times did he rescue them,
      but they embittered him with their counsels.
  Yet he had regard for their affliction
      when he heard their cry.
  R.    Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

  Alleluia Matthew 5:3

  R. Alleluia, alleluia.
  Blessed are the poor in spirit;
  for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
  R. Alleluia, alleluia.

  Gospel Matthew 19:16-22

  A young man approached Jesus and said,
  “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
  He 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.

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  Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

• Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

  Reading 1 Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10

  In those days, the princes said to the king:
  "Jeremiah ought to be put to death;
  he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city,
  and all the people, by speaking such things to them;
  he is not interested in the welfare of our people,
  but in their ruin."
  King Zedekiah answered: "He is in your power";
  for the king could do nothing with them.
  And so they took Jeremiah
  and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah,
  which was in the quarters of the guard,
  letting him down with ropes.
  There was no water in the cistern, only mud,
  and Jeremiah sank into the mud.
  
  Ebed-melech, a court official,
  went there from the palace and said to him:
  "My lord king,
  these men have been at fault
  in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah,
  casting him into the cistern.
  He will die of famine on the spot,
  for there is no more food in the city."
  Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite
  to take three men along with him,
  and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before
  he should die.

  Responsorial Psalm Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18

  R. (14b)  Lord, come to my aid!
  I have waited, waited for the LORD,
  and he stooped toward me.
  R. Lord, come to my aid!
  The LORD heard my cry.
  He drew me out of the pit of destruction,
   out of the mud of the swamp;
  he set my feet upon a crag;
   he made firm my steps.
  R. Lord, come to my aid!
  And he put a new song into my mouth,
   a hymn to our God.
  Many shall look on in awe
   and trust in the LORD.
  R. Lord, come to my aid!
  Though I am afflicted and poor,
   yet the LORD thinks of me.
  You are my help and my deliverer;
   O my God, hold not back!
  R. Lord, come to my aid!

  Reading 2 Hebrews 12:1-4

  Brothers and sisters:
  Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
  let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
  and persevere in running the race that lies before us
  while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
  the leader and perfecter of faith.
  For the sake of the joy that lay before him
  he endured the cross, despising its shame,
  and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
  Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
  in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
  In your struggle against sin
  you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

  Alleluia John 10:27

  R. Alleluia, alleluia.
  My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
  I know them, and they follow me.
  R. Alleluia, alleluia.

  Gospel Luke 12:49-53

  Jesus said to his disciples:
  "I have come to set the earth on fire,
  and how I wish it were already blazing!
  There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
  and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
  Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
  No, I tell you, but rather division.
  From now on a household of five will be divided,
  three against two and two against three;
  a father will be divided against his son
  and a son against his father,
  a mother against her daughter
  and a daughter against her mother,
  a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
  and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
  
   

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  Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

• Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

  Reading 1 Joshua 24:14-29

  Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,
  and addressed them, saying:
  "Fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely.
  Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt,
  and serve the LORD.
  If it does not please you to serve the LORD,
  decide today whom you will serve,
  the gods your fathers served beyond the River
  or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling.
  As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
  
  But the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD
  for the service of other gods.
  For it was the LORD, our God,
  who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,
  out of a state of slavery.
  He performed those great miracles before our very eyes
  and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples
  through whom we passed.
  At our approach the LORD drove out all the peoples,
  including the Amorites who dwelt in the land.
  Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
  
  Joshua in turn said to the people,
  "You may not be able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God;
  he is a jealous God who will not forgive
  your transgressions or your sins.
  If, after the good he has done for you,
  you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods,
  he will do evil to you and destroy you."
  
  But the people answered Joshua, "We will still serve the LORD."
  Joshua therefore said to the people,
  "You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD."
  They replied, "We are, indeed!"
  Joshua continued:
  "Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you
  and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
  Then the people promised Joshua,
  "We will serve the LORD, our God, and obey his voice."
  
  So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day
  and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem,
  which he recorded in the book of the law of God.
  Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak
  that was in the sanctuary of the LORD.
  And Joshua said to all the people, "This stone shall be our witness,
  for it has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us.
  It shall be a witness against you, should you wish to deny your God."
  Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own heritage.
  
  After these events, Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the LORD,
  died at the age of a hundred and ten.

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

  R. (see 5a) 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.
  R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
  I bless the LORD who counsels me;
  even in the night my heart exhorts me.
  I set the LORD ever before me;
  with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
  R. 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.
  R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

  Alleluia See Matthew 11:25

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

  Gospel Matthew 19:13-15

  Children were brought to Jesus
  that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
  The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
  "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
  for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
  After he placed his hands on them, he went away.
  
   

  • Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Stephen of Hungary

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  Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.