Mass Readings For Wednesday, October 4, 2006

St. Francis of Assisi, Deacon, Religious, Founder of the Three Orders (Solemnity)

FIRST READING: Sirach 50: 1, 3 - 4, 6 - 7 ----------------------------------------------------

1 The leader of his brethren and the pride of his people was Simon the high priest, son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house, and in his time fortified the temple.
3 In his days a cistern for water was quarried out, a reservoir like the sea in circumference.
4 He considered how to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city to withstand a seige.
6 Like the morning star among the clouds, like the moon when it is full;
7 like the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High, and like the rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds;

PSALM: Psalms 16: 1 - 2, 5, 7 - 8, 11 ----------------------------------------------------

1 Preserve me, O God, for in thee I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, "Thou art my Lord; I have no good apart from thee."
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; thou holdest my lot.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
11 Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fulness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.

SECOND READING: Galatians 6: 14 - 18 ----------------------------------------------------

14 But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.
17 Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

GOSPEL: Matthew 11: 25 - 30 ----------------------------------------------------

25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes;
26 yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.
27 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Mass Readings For Tuesday, October 3, 2006

FIRST READING: Job 3: 1 - 3, 11 - 17, 20 - 23 ----------------------------------------------------

1 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
2 And Job said:
3 "Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night which said, `A man-child is conceived.' 11 "Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?
12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should suck?
13 For then I should have lain down and been quiet; I should have slept; then I should have been at rest,
14 with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves,
15 or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
16 Or why was I not as a hidden untimely birth, as infants that never see the light?
17 There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.
20 "Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,
21 who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
22 who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has hedged in?

PSALM: Psalms 88: 2 - 8 ----------------------------------------------------

2 Let my prayer come before thee, incline thy ear to my cry!
3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.
4 I am reckoned among those who go down to the Pit; I am a man who has no strength,
5 like one forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom thou dost remember no more, for they are cut off from thy hand.
6 Thou hast put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep.
7 Thy wrath lies heavy upon me, and thou dost overwhelm me with all thy waves. [Selah]
8 Thou hast caused my companions to shun me; thou hast made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape;

GOSPEL: Luke 9: 51 - 56 ----------------------------------------------------

51 When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him;
53 but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?"
55 But he turned and rebuked them.
56 And they went on to another village.