Today’s Readings

The Bride says:On my bed at night I sought himwhom my heart loves–I sought him but I did not find him.I will rise then and go about the city;in the streets and crossings I will seekHim whom my heart loves.I sought him but I did not find him.The watchmen came upon me,as they made their rounds of the city:Have you seen him whom my heart loves?I had hardly left themwhen I found him whom my heart loves.

OR  2 COR 5:14-17

Brothers and sisters:The love of Christ impels us,once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;therefore, all have died.He indeed died for all,so that those who live might no longer live for themselvesbut for him who for their sake died and was raised.Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,yet now we know him so no longer.So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:the old things have passed away;behold, new things have come.

R. (2) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.O God, you are my God whom I seek;for you my flesh pines and my soul thirstslike the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuaryto see your power and your glory,For your kindness is a greater good than life;my lips shall glorify you.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.Thus will I bless you while I live;lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.You are my help,and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.My soul clings fast to you;your right hand upholds me.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Tell us Mary, what did you see on the way?I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

On the first day of the week,Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,while it was still dark,and saw the stone removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peterand to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,"They have taken the Lord from the tomb,and we don't know where they put him." Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.And as she wept, she bent over into the tomband saw two angels in white sitting there,one at the head and one at the feetwhere the Body of Jesus had been.And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"She said to them, "They have taken my Lord,and I don't know where they laid him."When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,but did not know it was Jesus.Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?Whom are you looking for?"She thought it was the gardener and said to him,"Sir, if you carried him away,tell me where you laid him,and I will take him."Jesus said to her, "Mary!"She turned and said to him in Hebrew,"Rabbouni," which means Teacher.Jesus said to her,"Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.But go to my brothers and tell them,'I am going to my Father and your Father,to my God and your God.'"Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,"I have seen the Lord,"and then reported what he told her.

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,as he sat in the entrance of his tent,while the day was growing hot. Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them;and bowing to the ground, he said:"Sir, if I may ask you this favor,please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet,and then rest yourselves under the tree. Now that you have come this close to your servant,let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves;and afterward you may go on your way." The men replied, "Very well, do as you have said."Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah,"Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls." He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer,and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then Abraham got some curds and milk,as well as the steer that had been prepared,and set these before the three men;and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.They asked Abraham, "Where is your wife Sarah?"He replied, "There in the tent." One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year,and Sarah will then have a son."

R.(1a) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.One who walks blamelessly and does justice;who thinks the truth in his heartand slanders not with his tongue.R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Who harms not his fellow man,nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;by whom the reprobate is despised,while he honors those who fear the LORD.R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Who lends not his money at usuryand accepts no bribe against the innocent.One who does these thingsshall never be disturbed.R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Brothers and sisters:Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,and in my flesh I am filling upwhat is lacking in the afflictions of Christon behalf of his body, which is the church,of which I am a ministerin accordance with God's stewardship given to meto bring to completion for you the word of God,the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,to whom God chose to make known the riches of the gloryof this mystery among the Gentiles;it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is he whom we proclaim,admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Alleluia Cf. Lk 8:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heartand yield a harvest through perseverance.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.She had a sister named Marywho sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,"Lord, do you not carethat my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply,"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better partand it will not be taken from her."

The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth,about six hundred thousand men on foot,not counting the little ones.A crowd of mixed ancestry also went up with them,besides their livestock, very numerous flocks and herds.Since the dough they had brought out of Egypt was not leavened,they baked it into unleavened loaves.They had rushed out of Egypt and had no opportunityeven to prepare food for the journey.The time the children of Israel had stayed in Egyptwas four hundred and thirty years.At the end of four hundred and thirty years,all the hosts of the LORD left the land of Egypt on this very date.This was a night of vigil for the LORD,as he led them out of the land of Egypt;so on this same nightall the children of Israel must keep a vigil for the LORDthroughout their generations.

R. His mercy endures forever. or: R. Alleluia.Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,for his mercy endures forever;Who remembered us in our abjection,for his mercy endures forever;And freed us from our foes,for his mercy endures forever.R. His mercy endures forever.or: R. Alleluia.Who smote the Egyptians in their first-born,for his mercy endures forever;And brought out Israel from their midst,for his mercy endures forever;With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,for his mercy endures forever.R. His mercy endures forever.or: R. Alleluia.Who split the Red Sea in twain,for his mercy endures forever;And led Israel through its midst,for his mercy endures forever;But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,for his mercy endures forever.R. His mercy endures forever.    or: R. Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesusto put him to death.When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place.Many people followed him, and he cured them all,but he warned them not to make him known.This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,my beloved in whom I delight;I shall place my Spirit upon him,and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.He will not contend or cry out,nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.A bruised reed he will not break,a smoldering wick he will not quench,until he brings justice to victory.And in his name the Gentiles will hope.

 

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Apollinaris, please go here.