Readings of the day

Mass readings

1. First reading 1 Kings 21:17-29

   ¹⁷The LORD’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ¹⁸“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. ¹⁹You shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ You shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours.”’” ²⁰Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in the LORD’s sight. ²¹Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel. ²²I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation with which you have provoked me to anger, and have made Israel to sin.” ²³The LORD also spoke of Jezebel, saying, “The dogs will eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel. ²⁴The dogs will eat whoever dies of Ahab in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in the field.” ²⁵But there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. ²⁶He did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. ²⁷When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his body, fasted, lay in sackcloth, and went about despondently. ²⁸The LORD’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ²⁹“See how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but I will bring the evil on his house in his son’s day.”

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: 1 Kings 21:17-29

2. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6a, 11, 16

   ¹For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. ²Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin. ³For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. ⁴Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge. ⁹Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities. ¹⁴Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

   Some verses are read only in part; the whole verse is shown.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6a, 11, 16

3. Gospel acclamation John 13:34

4. Gospel Matthew 5:43-48

   ⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. ⁴⁶For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁸Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Matthew 5:43-48