Readings

Proper readings

First Reading
1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2

The Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

A reading from the first Letter of Saint John

Beloved:
This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ
   and proclaim to you: God is light,
   and in him there is no darkness at all.
If we say, “We have fellowship with him,”
   while we continue to walk in darkness,
   we lie and do not act in truth.
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light,
   then we have fellowship with one another,
   and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves,
   and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just
   and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar,
   and his word is not in us.

My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
   Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
   and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 13-14, 17-18

R. :

℟. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul!

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
   and all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
   and forget not all his benefits.

℟. O bless the Lord, my soul!

He pardons all your iniquities,
   he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
   he crowns you with kindness and compassion.

℟. O bless the Lord, my soul!

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
   slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
   nor does he keep his wrath forever.

℟. O bless the Lord, my soul!

As a father has compassion on his children,
   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him,
For he knows how we are formed;
   he remembers that we are dust.

℟. O bless the Lord, my soul!

But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity to eternity
   toward those who fear him,
And his justice toward his children’s children
   among those who keep his covenant.

℟. O bless the Lord, my soul!

Acclamation before the Gospel
See Mt 11:25

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

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

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 11:25-30

You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to the childlike.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

At that time Jesus responded:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
   for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned
   you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
   and no one knows the Father except the Son
   and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
   and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
   for I am meek and humble of heart;
   and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:

Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.

Weekday readings

First Reading
Acts 4:32-37

The community of believers was of one heart and one mind.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
   and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
   but they had everything in common.
With great power the Apostles bore witness
   to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
   and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
   for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
   bring the proceeds of the sale,
   and put them at the feet of the Apostles,
   and they were distributed to each according to need.

Thus Joseph, also named by the Apostles Barnabas
   (which is translated “son of encouragement”),
   a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,
   sold a piece of property that he owned,
   then brought the money and put it at the feet of the Apostles.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5

R. :

℟. (1a) The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
   robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.

℟. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

And he has made the world firm,
   not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
   from everlasting you are, O LORD.

℟. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed:
   holiness befits your house,
   O LORD, for length of days.

℟. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

Acclamation before the Gospel
Jn 3:14-15

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Son of Man must be lifted up,
so that, everyone who believes in him
may have eternal life.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Jn 3:7b-15

No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes,
   but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
   so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus answered and said to him,
   “How can this happen?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
   “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?
Amen, amen, I say to you,
   we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen,
   but you people do not accept our testimony.
If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe,
   how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
No one has gone up to heaven
    except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
   so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
   so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:

Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.