Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

June 30, 2013

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - GREEN

First Reading (1Kgs. 19:16B, 19-21)

A reading from the First Book of Kings

The LORD said to Elijah:

“You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah,

as prophet to succeed you.”

Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat,

as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen;

he was following the twelfth.

Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.

Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,

“Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,

and I will follow you.”

Elijah answered, “Go back!

Have I done anything to you?”

Elisha left him, and taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them;

he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh,

and gave it to his people to eat.

Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

The Word of the Lord.

Psalm Response (Ps. 16: 1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11)

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

V. 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)

V. 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)

V. Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
    my body, too, abides in confidence
    because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
    nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R)

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

Second Reading (Gal. 5:1, 13-18)

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians.

Brothers and sisters:
For freedom Christ set us free;
so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters.
But do not use this freedom
as an opportunity for the flesh;
rather, serve one another through love.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement,
namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
But if you go on biting and devouring one another,
beware that you are not consumed by one another.

I say, then: live by the Spirit
and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. 
For the flesh has desires against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
these are opposed to each other,
so that you may not do what you want.
But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Lk. 9:51-62)

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke

When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him. 
On the way they entered a Samaritan village 
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. 
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?” 
Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him,
“I will follow you wherever you go.” 
Jesus answered him,
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

And to another he said, “Follow me.” 
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 
But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. 
But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” 
To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul - Mass during the Day (Cycle C, Year I)

SOLEMNITY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL - Mass During the Day (RED)

First Reading (Acts 12:1-11)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
“Get up quickly.”
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.”
He did so.
Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him. 
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
“Now I know for certain 
that the Lord sent his angel 
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”

The Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9)

R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

V. I will bless the LORD at all times;

     his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
     Let my soul glory in the LORD;
     the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R)

V. Glorify the LORD with me,
     let us together extol his name.
     I sought the LORD, and he answered me
     and delivered me from all my fears. (R)

V. Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
     and your faces may not blush with shame.
     When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
     and from all his distress he saved him. (R)

V. The angel of the LORD encamps
     around those who fear him, and delivers them.
     Taste and see how good the LORD is;
     blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R)

Second Reading (2 Tm. 4: 6-8, 17-18)

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to Timothy

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord

Gospel (Mt. 16:13-19)

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Matthew

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. 
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The Word of the Lord

Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul - Vigil Mass (Cycle C, Year I)

SOLEMNITY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL - Vigil Mass (RED)

First Reading (Acts 3:1-10)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Peter and John were going up to the temple area
for the three o’clock hour of prayer. 
And a man crippled from birth was carried
and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate”
every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple,
he asked for alms.
But Peter looked intently at him, as did John,
and said, “Look at us.”
He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.
Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold,
but what I do have I give you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”
Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up,
and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.
He leaped up, stood, and walked around,
and went into the temple with them,
walking and jumping and praising God.
When all the people saw the man walking and praising God,
they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging
at the Beautiful Gate of the temple,
and they were filled with amazement and astonishment
at what had happened to him.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 19: 2-3, 4-5)

R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

V. The heavens declare the glory of God;
     and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
     Day pours out the word to day;
     and night to night imparts knowledge. (R)
 
V. Not a word nor a discourse
     whose voice is not heard;
     through all the earth their voice resounds,
     and to the ends of the world, their message. (R)

Second Reading (Gal. 1:11-20)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians.

I want you to know, brothers and sisters,
that the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin.
For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it,
but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism,
how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure
and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism
beyond many of my contemporaries among my race,
since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions.
But when God, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart
and called me through his grace,
was pleased to reveal his Son to me,
so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles,
I did not immediately consult flesh and blood,
nor did I go up to Jerusalem
to those who were Apostles before me;
rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem
to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days.
But I did not see any other of the Apostles,
only James the brother of the Lord.
--As to what I am writing to you, behold,
before God, I am not lying.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Jn. 21:15-19)

The Gospel of the Lord According to St. John

Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples 
and, when they had finished breakfast, said to Simon Peter, 
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

The Word of the Lord

Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist - Mass during the Day (Cycle C, Year I)

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist - Mass during the Day

First Reading (Is. 49: 1-6)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Hear me, O coastlands,
listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.
You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.

Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God.
For now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 139:1B-3, 13-14AB, 14C-15)

R. (14) I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

V. O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:     you know when I sit and when I stand;     you understand my thoughts from afar.     My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,     with all my ways you are familiar. (R)
V. Truly you have formed my inmost being;     you knit me in my mother’s womb.     I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;     wonderful are your works. (R)
V. My soul also you knew full well;     nor was my frame unknown to you     When I was made in secret,     when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.

Second Reading (Acts 13:22-26)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostle

In those days, Paul said:
“God raised up David as king; 
of him God testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’

“My brothers, sons of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent.”

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Lk. 1: 57-66, 80)

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?”
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, 
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist-Vigil Mass (Cycle C, Year I)

SOLEMNITY of the NATIVITY of St. John the Baptist (Vigil Mass) - White

First Reading (Jer. 1:4-10)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.

In the days of King Josiah, the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

“Ah, Lord GOD!” I said,
“I know not how to speak; I am too young.”
But the LORD answered me,
Say not, “I am too young.”
To whomever I send you, you shall go;
whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Have no fear before them,
because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying,

See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you
over nations and over kingdoms,
to root up and to tear down,
to destroy and to demolish,
to build and to plant.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 71:1-2, 3-4A, 5-6AB, 15AB and 17)

R. (6) Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.

Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.

For you are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.

My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.

Second Reading (1Pt. 1:8-12)

A reading from the First Letter of St. Peter.

Beloved:
Although you have not seen Jesus Christ you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation,
prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours
searched and investigated it,
investigating the time and circumstances
that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated
when he testified in advance
to the sufferings destined for Christ
and the glories to follow them.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you
with regard to the things that have now been announced to you
by those who preached the Good News to you
through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
things into which angels longed to look.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Lk. 1:5 - 17)

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,
there was a priest named Zechariah
of the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth.
Both were righteous in the eyes of God,
observing all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren
and both were advanced in years.
Once when he was serving
as priest in his division’s turn before God,
according to the practice of the priestly service,
he was chosen by lot
to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside
at the hour of the incense offering,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
John will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn their hearts toward their children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time - GREEN

First Reading (Zec. 12:10-11; 13:1)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah

Thus says the LORD:
I will pour out on the house of David
and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem
a spirit of grace and petition;
and they shall look on him whom they have pierced, 
and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son,
and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn.

On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great
as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

On that day there shall be open to the house of David
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9)

R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

V. O God, you are my God whom I seek;
     for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
     like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R)

V. Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
     to see your power and your glory,
     For your kindness is a greater good than life;
     my lips shall glorify you. (R)

V. Thus will I bless you while I live;
     lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
     As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
     and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R)
 
V. You are my help,
     and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
     My soul clings fast to you;
     your right hand upholds me. (R)

Second Reading (Gal. 3:26-29)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians.

Brothers and sisters:
Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free person,
there is not male and female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ,
then you are Abraham’s descendant,
heirs according to the promise.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Lk. 9:18-24)

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist;
others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them
and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

June 9, 2013

TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - GREEN

First Reading: 1Kgs. 17:17-24

A reading from the Book of Kings

Now it happened that, after these things, the son of the woman who was the mother of the family became ill. And the sickness was very powerful, so that no breath remained in him. Therefore, she said to Elijah: "What is there between you and me, O man of God? Have you entered to me, so that my iniquities would be remembered, and so that you would put death to my son?" And Elijah said to her, "Give your son to me." And he took him from her bosom, and he carried him to an upper room where he himself was staying. And he placed him on his own bed. And he cried out to the Lord and he said, "O Lord, my God, have you even afflicted the widow by whom I am, in a sense, sustained, so that you would put to death her son?" and he stretched himself out beside the boy three times. And he cried out to the Lord and said, "O  Lord, my God, let the soul of this boy, I beg you, return to his body." And the Lord heeded the voice of Elijah. And the soul of the boy returned to him, and he revived. And Elijah took the boy, and he brought him down from the upper room to the lower part of the house. And he gave him to his mother. And he said to her, "See, you son lives." And the woman said to Elijah, "By this, I now realize that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is true."

The Word of the Lord.

Psalm Response: Ps. 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13

R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

V. I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
     and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
     O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
     you preserved me from among those going down into the pit. (R)

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

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

Second Reading: Gal. 1:11-19 

A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians.

For I would have you understand, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel which has been preached by me is not according to man. And I did not receive it from man, nor did I learn it, except through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former behavior within Judaism: that, beyond measure, I persecuted the Church of God and fought against Her. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my equals among my own kind, having proven to be more abundant in zeal toward the tradition of my fathers. But, when it pleased him who, from my mothers womb, had set me apart, and who has called me by his grace, to reveal his Son within me, so that I might evangelize him among the Gentiles, I did not seek the consent of flesh and blood. Neither did I go to Jerusalem, to those who were Apostles before me. Instead, I went into Arabia, and next I returned to Damascus. And then, after three years, I went to Jerusalem to see Peter; and I stayed with him for fifteen days. But I saw none of the other Apostles, except James, the brother of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Lk. 7:11-17

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke.

Jesus went to a city called Nain and his disciples, and an abundant crowd, went with him. Then, when he had drawn near to the gate of the city, behold, a deceased person was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord had seen her, being moved by mercy over her, he said to her, "Do not weep." And he drew near the coffin and touched the coffin. Then those who carried it stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead youth sat up and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Then fear fell over all of them. And they magnified God, saying: "For a great prophet has risen up among us, and, For God has visited his people." And this word about him went out to all of Judea and to the entire surrounding region.

The Gospel of the Lord


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