Readings of the day

Mass readings

1. First reading Wisdom of Solomon 18:6-9

   ⁶Our fathers were made aware of that night beforehand, that, having sure knowledge, they might be cheered by the oaths which they had trusted. ⁷Salvation of the righteous and destruction of the enemies was expected by your people. ⁸For as you took vengeance on the adversaries, by the same means, calling us to yourself, you glorified us. ⁹For holy children of good men offered sacrifice in secret, and with one consent they agreed to the covenant of the divine law, that they would partake alike in the same good things and the same perils, the fathers already leading the sacred songs of praise.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Wisdom of Solomon 18:6-9

2. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20, 22

   ¹Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous! Praise is fitting for the upright. ¹²Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance. ¹⁸Behold, the LORD’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness, ¹⁹to deliver their soul from death, to keep them alive in famine. ²⁰Our soul has waited for the LORD. He is our help and our shield. ²²Let your loving kindness be on us, LORD, since we have hoped in you.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Psalms 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20, 22

3. Second reading Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

   ¹Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. ²For by this, the elders obtained approval. ⁸By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. ⁹By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. ¹¹By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. ¹²Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead. ¹³These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. ¹⁵If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. ¹⁶But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. ¹⁷By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, ¹⁸to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” ¹⁹concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

   Or: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

4. Gospel acclamation Matthew 24:42a, 44

5. Gospel Luke 12:32-48

   ³²“Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. ³³Sell what you have and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁵“Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. ³⁶Be like men watching for their lord when he returns from the wedding feast, that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. ³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will dress himself, make them recline, and will come and serve them. ³⁸They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch and finds them so. ³⁹But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.” ⁴¹Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?” ⁴²The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? ⁴³Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. ⁴⁴Truly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. ⁴⁵But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and to be drunken, ⁴⁶then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. ⁴⁷That servant who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, ⁴⁸but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

   Or: Luke 12:35-40

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Luke 12:32-48