Readings for Thursday 15th Week in Ordinary Time

Year 2

First Reading
Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19

Awake and sing, you who lie in the dust.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

The way of the just is smooth;
   the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD,
   we look to you;
Your name and your title
   are the desire of our souls.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
   yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
When your judgment dawns upon the earth,
   the world’s inhabitants learn justice.
O LORD, you mete out peace to us,
   for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.

O LORD, oppressed by your punishment,
   we cried out in anguish under your chastising.
As a woman about to give birth
   writhes and cries out in her pains,
   so were we in your presence, O LORD.
We conceived and writhed in pain,
   giving birth to wind;
Salvation we have not achieved for the earth,
   the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth.
But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise;
   awake and sing, you who lie in the dust.
For your dew is a dew of light,
   and the land of shades gives birth.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 102:13-14ab and 15, 16-18, 19-21

R. :

R. (20b) From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

You, O LORD, abide forever,
   and your name through all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion,
   for it is time to pity her.
For her stones are dear to your servants,
   and her dust moves them to pity.

R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
   and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
   and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
   and not despised their prayer.

R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

Let this be written for the generation to come,
   and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
   from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
   to release those doomed to die.”

R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

Year 1

First Reading
Ex 3:13-20

I AM WHO AM. I AM has sent me to you.

A reading from the Book of Exodus

Moses, hearing the voice of the LORD from the burning bush, said to him,
   “When I go to the children of Israel and say to them,
   ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’
   if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?”
God replied, “I am who am.”
Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the children of Israel:
   I AM sent me to you.”

God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the children of Israel:
   The LORD, the God of your fathers,
   the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob,
   has sent me to you.

“This is my name forever;
this my title for all generations.

“Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and tell them:
   The LORD, the God of your fathers,
   the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
   has appeared to me and said:
   I am concerned about you
   and about the way you are being treated in Egypt;
   so I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egypt
   into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites,
   Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,
   a land flowing with milk and honey.

“Thus they will heed your message.
Then you and the elders of Israel
   shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him:
   “The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent us word.
Permit us, then, to go a three-days’ journey in the desert,
   that we may offer sacrifice to the LORD, our God.

“Yet I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go
   unless he is forced.
I will stretch out my hand, therefore,
   and smite Egypt by doing all kinds of wondrous deeds there.
After that he will send you away.”


Responsorial Psalm
105:1 and 5, 8-9, 24-25, 26-27

R. :

R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
  or:
R. Alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
   make known among the nations his deeds.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
   his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
  or:
R. Alleluia.

He remembers forever his covenant
   which he made binding for a thousand generations—
Which he entered into with Abraham
   and by his oath to Isaac.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
  or:
R. Alleluia.

He greatly increased his people
   and made them stronger than their foes,
Whose hearts he changed, so that they hated his people,
   and dealt deceitfully with his servants.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
  or:
R. Alleluia.

He sent Moses his servant;
   Aaron, whom he had chosen.
They wrought his signs among them,
   and wonders in the land of Ham.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
  or:
R. Alleluia.


Gospel Acclamation
Mt 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Mt 11:28-30

I am meek and humble of heart.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
   and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
   for I am meek and humble of heart;
   and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:

Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.


Homilies / Gospel Reflections





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