Saint Francis of Assisi (Solemnity) 2017:
FIRST LECTURE OF THE MASS
Sirach 50:1, 3-4, 6-7
1The 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. 3In his days a cistern for water was quarried out, a reservoir like the sea in circumference. 4He considered how to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city to withstand a seige. 6Like the morning star among the clouds, like the moon when it is full;7like the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High, and like the rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds;
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalms 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11
1Preserve me, O God, for in thee I take refuge. 2I say to the LORD, "Thou art my Lord;I have no good apart from thee." 5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;thou holdest my lot. 7I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;in the night also my heart instructs me. 8I keep the LORD always before me;because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 11Thou dost show me the path of life;in thy presence there is fulness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.
SECOND LECTURE OF THE MASS
Galatians 6:14-18
14But 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. 15For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. 17Henceforth let no man trouble me;for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
GOSPEL OF THE MASS
Matthew 11:25-30
25At 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;26yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. 27All 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. 28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
WEDNESDAY TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME 2017:
Ordinary Time.FIRST LECTURE OF THE MASS
Neh 2:1-8
In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,
when the wine was in my charge,
I took some and offered it to the king.
As I had never before been sad in his presence,
the king asked me, “Why do you look sad?
If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart.”
Though I was seized with great fear, I answered the king:
“May the king live forever!
How could I not look sad
when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins,
and its gates have been eaten out by fire?”
The king asked me, “What is it, then, that you wish?”
I prayed to the God of heaven and then answered the king:
“If it please the king,
and if your servant is deserving of your favor,
send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ graves,
to rebuild it.”
Then the king, and the queen seated beside him,
asked me how long my journey would take
and when I would return.
I set a date that was acceptable to him,
and the king agreed that I might go.
I asked the king further: “If it please the king,
let letters be given to me for the governors
of West-of-Euphrates,
that they may afford me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah;
also a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the royal park,
that he may give me wood for timbering the gates
of the temple-citadel and for the city wall
and the house that I shall occupy.”
The king granted my requests,
for the favoring hand of my God was upon me.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
PS 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
R. (6ab) Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the aspens of that land
we hung up our harps.
R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
Though there our captors asked of us
the lyrics of our songs,
And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:
“Sing for us the songs of Zion!”
R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
How could we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten!
R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy.
R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
GOSPEL OF THE MASS
Lk 9:57-62
As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding
on their journey, someone said to him,
"I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus answered him,
"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
And to another he said, "Follow me."
But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."
But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God."
And another said, "I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home."
Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."