Readings at Mass

Readings for the feria

Readings for the memorial

These are the readings for the feria

First reading
Genesis 46:1-7,28-30

'I can die, now that I have seen you alive'

Israel left Canaan with his possessions, and reached Beersheba. There he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in a vision at night, ‘Jacob, Jacob’, he said. ‘I am here’, he replied. ‘I am God, the God of your father’, he continued. ‘Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I myself will go down to Egypt with you. I myself will bring you back again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.’ Then Jacob left Beersheba. Israel’s sons conveyed their father Jacob, their little children and their wives in the waggons Pharaoh had sent to fetch him.

Taking their livestock and all that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, they went to Egypt, Jacob and all his family with him: his sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his grand-daughters, in a word, all his children he took with him to Egypt.

Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph, so that the latter might present himself to him in Goshen. When they arrived in the land of Goshen, Joseph had his chariot made ready and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. As soon as he appeared he threw his arms round his neck and for a long time wept on his shoulder. Israel said to Joseph, ‘Now I can die, now that I have seen you again, and seen you still alive.’

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 36(37):3-4,18-19,27-28,39-40

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

If you trust in the Lord and do good,

then you will live in the land and be secure.

If you find your delight in the Lord,

he will grant your heart’s desire.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

He protects the lives of the upright,

their heritage will last for ever.

They shall not be put to shame in evil days,

in time of famine their food shall not fail.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Then turn away from evil and do good

and you shall have a home for ever;

for the Lord loves justice

and will never forsake his friends.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord,

their stronghold in time of distress.

The Lord helps them and delivers them

and saves them: for their refuge is in him.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation	1P1:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

The word of the Lord remains for ever:

What is this word?

It is the Good News that has been brought to you.

Alleluia!

Or:	Jn16:13,14:26

Alleluia, alleluia!

When the Spirit of truth comes

he will lead you to the complete truth,

and he will remind you of all I have said to you.

Alleluia!

Gospel
Matthew 10:16-23

The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.

‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved. If they persecute you in one town, take refuge in the next; and if they persecute you in that, take refuge in another. I tell you solemnly, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’

Continue

These are the readings for the memorial

First reading	Proverbs 2:1-9

Apply your heart to truth

My son, if you take my words to heart,

if you set store by my commandments,

tuning your ear to wisdom,

and applying your heart to truth:

yes, if your plea is for clear perception,

if you cry out for discernment,

if you look for it as if it were silver,

and search for it as for buried treasure,

you will then understand what the fear of the Lord is,

and discover the knowledge of God.

For the Lord himself is giver of wisdom,

from his mouth issue knowledge and discernment.

He keeps his help for honest men,

he is the shield of those whose ways are honourable;

he stands guard over the paths of justice,

he keeps watch on the way of his devoted ones.

Then you will understand what virtue is, justice, and fair dealing,

all paths that lead to happiness.