Wed 4 October

Saint Francis of Assisi

First reading

Galatians 6:14-18

The marks on my body are those of Jesus

The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not; what matters is for him to become an altogether new creature. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, who form the Israel of God.
I want no more trouble from anybody after this; the marks on my body are those of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brothers. Amen.

Psalm or canticle

Psalm 15(16):1-2,5,7-8,11

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
 I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.’
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
 it is you yourself who are my prize.

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
 who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
 since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

You will show me the path of life,
 the fullness of joy in your presence,
 at your right hand happiness for ever.

Gospel

Matthew 11:28-30

My yoke is easy and my burden light

Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’


This site copyright © 1996-2023 Universalis Publishing Ltd.

Scripture readings taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. For on-line information about other Random House, Inc. books and authors, see the Internet web site at http://www.randomhouse.com.

Tue 3 October

Tuesday of week 26 in Ordinary Time

First reading

Zechariah 8:20-23

Many peoples and great nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts

The Lord of Hosts says this:
‘There will be other peoples yet, and citizens of great cities. And the inhabitants of one city will go to the next and say, “Come, let us go and entreat the favour of the Lord, and seek the Lord of Hosts; I am going myself.” And many peoples and great nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favour of the Lord.’
The Lord of Hosts says this:
‘In those days, ten men of nations of every language will take a Jew by the sleeve and say, “We want to go with you, since we have learnt that God is with you.”’

Psalm or canticle

Psalm 86(87)

On the holy mountain is his city
 cherished by the Lord.
The Lord prefers the gates of Zion
 to all Jacob’s dwellings.
Of you are told glorious things,
 O city of God!

‘Babylon and Egypt I will count
 among those who know me;
Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia,
 these will be her children
and Zion shall be called “Mother”
 for all shall be her children.’

It is he, the Lord Most High,
 who gives each his place.
In his register of peoples he writes:
 ‘These are her children,’
and while they dance they will sing:
 ‘In you all find their home.’

Gospel

Luke 9:51-56

Jesus sets out for Jerusalem

As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.


This site copyright © 1996-2023 Universalis Publishing Ltd.

Scripture readings taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. For on-line information about other Random House, Inc. books and authors, see the Internet web site at http://www.randomhouse.com.

Mon 2 October

The Holy Guardian Angels

First reading

Exodus 23:20-23

I myself will send an angel before you

The Lord says this: ‘I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Give him reverence and listen to all that he says. Offer him no defiance; he would not pardon such a fault, for my name is in him. If you listen carefully to his voice and do all that I say, I shall be enemy to your enemies, foe to your foes. My angel will go before you.’

Psalm or canticle

Psalm 90(91):1-6,10-11

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
 and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: ‘My refuge,
 my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!’

It is he who will free you from the snare
 of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions
 and under his wings you will find refuge.

You will not fear the terror of the night
 nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness
 nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.

Upon you no evil shall fall,
 no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels,
 to keep you in all your ways.

Gospel

Matthew 18:1-5,10

Anyone who welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me

The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.’


This site copyright © 1996-2023 Universalis Publishing Ltd.

Scripture readings taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. For on-line information about other Random House, Inc. books and authors, see the Internet web site at http://www.randomhouse.com.