Eucharistic Readings

As for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

⁴¹ Let your faithful love come unto me, O Lord, *
 even your salvation, according to your promise.
⁴² Then shall I answer those who taunt me, *
 for my trust is in your word.
⁴³ O take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, *
 for my hope is in your judgements.
⁴⁴ So shall I always keep your law; *
 I shall keep it for ever and ever.
⁴⁵ I will walk at liberty, *
 because I study your commandments.
⁴⁶ I will tell of your testimonies, even before kings, *
 and will not be ashamed.
⁴⁷ My delight shall be in your commandments, *
 which I have greatly loved.
⁴⁸ My hands will I lift up to your commandments,
   which I love, *
 and I will meditate on your statutes.

Zayin Memor esto verbi tui

⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant, *
 on which you have built my hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my trouble, *
 that your promise gives me life.
⁵¹ The proud have derided me cruelly, *
 but I have not turned aside from your law.
⁵² I have remembered your everlasting judgements, O Lord, *
 and have been comforted.
⁵³ I am seized with indignation at the wicked, *
 for they have forsaken your law.
⁵⁴ Your statutes have been like songs to me *
 in the house of my pilgrimage.
⁵⁵ I have thought on your name in the night, O Lord, *
 and so have I kept your law.
⁵⁶ These blessings have been mine, *
 for I have kept your commandments.

Heth Portio mea, Domine

⁵⁷ You only are my portion, O Lord; *
 I have promised to keep your words.
⁵⁸ I entreat you with all my heart, *
 be merciful to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹ I have considered my ways *
 and turned my feet back to your testimonies.
⁶⁰ I made haste and did not delay *
 to keep your commandments.
⁶¹ Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *
 I do not forget your law.
⁶² At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *
 because of your righteous judgements.
⁶³ I am a companion of all those who fear you, *
 those who keep your commandments.
⁶⁴ The earth, O Lord, is full of your faithful love; *
 instruct me in your statutes.

For the LORD spoke thus to me while his hand was strong upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. He will become a sanctuary, a stone one strikes against; for both houses of Israel he will become a rock one stumbles over--a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; they shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.

Bind up the testimony, seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. See, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. Now if people say to you, "Consult the ghosts and the familiar spirits that chirp and mutter; should not a people consult their gods, the dead on behalf of the living, for teaching and for instruction?" Surely, those who speak like this will have no dawn!

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”’ (that is, to bring Christ down) ‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’

¹ The heavens are telling the glory of God *
 and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
² One day pours out its song to another *
 and one night unfolds knowledge to another.
³ They have neither speech nor language *
 and their voices are not heard,
⁴ Yet their sound has gone out into all lands *
 and their words to the ends of the world.
⁵ In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun, *
 that comes forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber
   and rejoices as a champion to run his course.
⁶ It goes forth from the end of the heavens
   and runs to the very end again, *
 and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; *
 the testimony of the Lord is sure
   and gives wisdom to the simple.
⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right and rejoice the heart; *
 the commandment of the Lord is pure
   and gives light to the eyes.
⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *
 the judgements of the Lord are true
   and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
   more than much fine gold, *
 sweeter also than honey,
   dripping from the honeycomb.
¹¹ By them also is your servant taught *
 and in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² Who can tell how often they offend? *
 O cleanse me from my secret faults!
¹³ Keep your servant also from presumptuous sins
   lest they get dominion over me; *
 so shall I be undefiled,
   and innocent of great offence.
¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
   be acceptable in your sight, *
 O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Beatus ver

¹ Alleluia.
   Blessed are those who fear the Lord *
 and have great delight in his commandments.
² Their descendants will be mighty in the land, *
 a generation of the faithful that will be blest.
³ Wealth and riches will be in their house, *
 and their righteousness endures for ever.
⁴ Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *
 gracious and full of compassion are the righteous.
⁵ It goes well with those who are generous in lending *
 and order their affairs with justice,
⁶ For they will never be shaken; *
 the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance.
⁷ They will not be afraid of any evil tidings; *
 their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
⁸ Their heart is sustained and will not fear, *
 until they see the downfall of their foes.
⁹ They have given freely to the poor;
   their righteousness stands fast for ever; *
 their head will be exalted with honour.
¹⁰ The wicked shall see it and be angry;
   they shall gnash their teeth in despair; *
 the desire of the wicked shall perish.

"But where shall wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
Mortals do not know the way to it,
and it is not found in the land of the living.

The deep says, 'It is not in me,'
and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
It cannot be gotten for gold,
and silver cannot be weighed out as its price.
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
in precious onyx or sapphire.
Gold and glass cannot equal it,
nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal;
the price of wisdom is above pearls.
The chrysolite of Ethiopia cannot compare with it,
nor can it be valued in pure gold.

"Where then does wisdom come from?
And where is the place of understanding?
It is hidden from the eyes of all living,
and concealed from the birds of the air.
Abaddon and Death say,
We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'
"God understands the way to it,
and he knows its place.
For he looks to the ends of the earth,
and sees everything under the heavens.
When he gave to the wind its weight,
and apportioned out the waters by measure;
when he made a decree for the rain,
and a way for the thunderbolt;
then he saw it and declared it;
he established it, and searched it out.
And he said to humankind,
'Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
and to depart from evil is understanding.'"

Matthew 13:44-52

‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’