Readings

Proper readings

First Reading
Jer 1:17-19

Stand up and tell them all that I command you.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah

The word of the LORD came to me thus:
   Gird your loins;
      stand up and tell them
      all that I command you.
   Be not crushed on their account,
      as though I would leave you crushed before them;
   For it is I this day
      who have made you a fortified city,
   A pillar of iron, a wall of brass,
      against the whole land:
   Against Judah’s kings and princes,
      against its priests and people.
   They will fight against you, but not prevail over you,
      for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5-6ab, 15ab and 17

R. :

℟. (see 15ab) I will sing your salvation.

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.

℟. I will sing your salvation.

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

℟. I will sing your salvation.

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

℟. I will sing your salvation.

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.

℟. I will sing your salvation.

Acclamation before the Gospel
Mt 5:10

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 6:17-29

I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison
   on account of Herodias,
   the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
   “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
   and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
   and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
   yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
   gave a banquet for his courtiers,
   his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
   and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
   “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
   “I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
   even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
   “What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
   “I want you to give me at once
   on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
   but because of his oaths and the guests
   he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
   to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
   they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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
1 Thes 4:1-8

This is the will of God, your holiness.

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians

Brothers and sisters,
   we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
   as you received from us
   how you should conduct yourselves to please God—
   and as you are conducting yourselves—
   you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

This is the will of God, your holiness:
   that you refrain from immorality,
   that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself
   in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion
   as do the Gentiles who do not know God;
   not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter,
   for the Lord is an avenger in all these things,
   as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.
For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this,
   disregards not a human being but God,
   who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
97:1 and 2b, 5-6, 10, 11-12

R. :

℟. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
   let the many isles be glad.
   Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

℟. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
   before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
   and all peoples see his glory.

℟. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The LORD loves those who hate evil;
   he guards the lives of his faithful ones;
   from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.

℟. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Light dawns for the just;
   and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
   and give thanks to his holy name.

℟. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Acclamation before the Gospel
Lk 21:36

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Be vigilant at all times and pray,
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 25:1-13

Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
   who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
   brought no oil with them,
   but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
   they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
   ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
   ‘Give us some of your oil,
   for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
   ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
   the bridegroom came
   and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
   ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
   ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
   for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

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.