Daily Readings

Reading 1 Acts 9:1-20 Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,went to the high priest and asked himfor letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"He said, "Who are you, sir?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,for they heard the voice but could see no one.Saul got up from the ground,but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straightand ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.He is there praying,and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananiascome in and lay his hands on him,that he may regain his sight."But Ananias replied,"Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.And here he has authority from the chief prieststo imprison all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him,"Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mineto carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name." So Ananias went and entered the house;laying his hands on him, he said,"Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately things like scales fell from his eyesand he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized,and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,that he is the Son of God. Responsorial Psalm Ps 117:1bc, 2 R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.or:R. Alleluia.Praise the LORD, all you nations;glorify him, all you peoples!R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.or:R. Alleluia.For steadfast is his kindness toward us,and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 6:56 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood,remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:52-59 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,"How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them,"Amen, amen, I say to you,unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Bloodhas eternal life,and I will raise him on the last day.For my Flesh is true food,and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Bloodremains in me and I in him.Just as the living Father sent meand I have life because of the Father,so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,whoever eats this bread will live forever." These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Acts 8:26-40 The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,“Get up and head south on the roadthat goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,a court official of the Candace,that is, the queen of the Ethiopians,in charge of her entire treasury,who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home.Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.The Spirit said to Philip,“Go and join up with that chariot.” Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said,“Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied,“How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. This was the Scripture passage he was reading:Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,so he opened not his mouth.In his humiliation justice was denied him.Who will tell of his posterity?For his life is taken from the earth.Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply,“I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?About himself, or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage,he proclaimed Jesus to him.As they traveled along the roadthey came to some water,and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” Then he ordered the chariot to stop,and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water,and he baptized him. When they came out of the water,the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away,and the eunuch saw him no more,but continued on his way rejoicing. Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good newsto all the towns until he reached Caesarea. Responsorial Psalm Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20 R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia.Bless our God, you peoples,loudly sound his praise;He has given life to our souls,and has not let our feet slip.R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia.Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declarewhat he has done for me.When I appealed to him in words,praise was on the tip of my tongue.R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia.Blessed be God who refused me notmy prayer or his kindness!R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 6:51 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the living bread that came down from heaven,says the Lord;whoever eats this bread will live forever.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:44-51 Jesus said to the crowds:"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,and I will raise him on the last day.It is written in the prophets:They shall all be taught by God.Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.Not that anyone has seen the Fatherexcept the one who is from God;he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;this is the bread that comes down from heavenso that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven;whoever eats this bread will live forever;and the bread that I will giveis my Flesh for the life of the world." - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Acts 8:1b-8 There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,and all were scatteredthroughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,except the Apostles.Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;entering house after house and dragging out men and women,he handed them over for imprisonment.Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.Thus Philip went down to the city of Samariaand proclaimed the Christ to them.With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philipwhen they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,came out of many possessed people,and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.There was great joy in that city. Responsorial Psalm Ps 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia.Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,sing praise to the glory of his name;proclaim his glorious praise.Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia."Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,sing praise to your name!"Come and see the works of God,his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia.He has changed the sea into dry land;through the river they passed on foot;therefore let us rejoice in him.He rules by his might forever.R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia See Jn 6:40 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,and I shall raise him on the last day, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:35-40 Jesus said to the crowds,"I am the bread of life;whoever comes to me will never hunger,and whoever believes in me will never thirst.But I told you that although you have seen me,you do not believe.Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,because I came down from heaven not to do my own willbut the will of the one who sent me.And this is the will of the one who sent me,that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,but that I should raise it on the last day.For this is the will of my Father,that everyone who sees the Son and believes in himmay have eternal life,and I shall raise him on the last day." - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Acts 7:51—8:1a Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes:"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,you always oppose the Holy Spirit;you are just like your ancestors.Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one,whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.You received the law as transmitted by angels,but you did not observe it."When they heard this, they were infuriated,and they ground their teeth at him.But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of Godand Jesus standing at the right hand of God,and Stephen said, "Behold, I see the heavens openedand the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."But they cried out in a loud voice,covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.The witnesses laid down their cloaksat the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,"Lord, do not hold this sin against them";and when he said this, he fell asleep.Now Saul was consenting to his execution. Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab R. (6a) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.or:R. Alleluia.Be my rock of refuge,a stronghold to give me safety.You are my rock and my fortress;for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.or:R. Alleluia.Into your hands I commend my spirit;you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.My trust is in the LORD;I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy.R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.or:R. Alleluia.Let your face shine upon your servant;save me in your kindness.You hide them in the shelter of your presencefrom the plottings of men.R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 6:35ab R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the bread of life, says the Lord;whoever comes to me will never hunger.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:30-35 The crowd said to Jesus:"What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?What can you do?Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:He gave them bread from heaven to eat."So Jesus said to them,"Amen, amen, I say to you,it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heavenand gives life to the world."So they said to Jesus,"Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life;whoever comes to me will never hunger,and whoever believes in me will never thirst." - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Acts 6:8-15 Stephen, filled with grace and power,was working great wonders and signs among the people.Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,Cyreneans, and Alexandrians,and people from Cilicia and Asia,came forward and debated with Stephen,but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.Then they instigated some men to say,“We have heard him speaking blasphemous wordsagainst Moses and God.”They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes,accosted him, seized him,and brought him before the Sanhedrin.They presented false witnesses who testified,“This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law.For we have heard him claimthat this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this placeand change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at himand saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Responsorial Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30 R.    (1ab)  Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!or:R.    Alleluia.Though princes meet and talk against me,your servant meditates on your statutes.Yes, your decrees are my delight;they are my counselors.R.    Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!or:R.    Alleluia.I declared my ways, and you answered me;teach me your statutes.Make me understand the way of your precepts,and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.R.    Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!or:R.    Alleluia.Remove from me the way of falsehood,and favor me with your law.The way of truth I have chosen;I have set your ordinances before me.R.    Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!or:R.    Alleluia. Alleluia Mt 4:4b R. Alleluia, alleluia.One does not live on bread alonebut on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:22-29 [After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]The next day, the crowd that remained across the seasaw that there had been only one boat there,and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat,but only his disciples had left.Other boats came from Tiberiasnear the place where they had eaten the breadwhen the Lord gave thanks.When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,they themselves got into boatsand came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.And when they found him across the sea they said to him,“Rabbi, when did you get here?”Jesus answered them and said,“Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for menot because you saw signsbut because you ate the loaves and were filled.Do not work for food that perishesbut for the food that endures for eternal life,which the Son of Man will give you.For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”So they said to him,“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”Jesus answered and said to them,“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 Peter said to the people:"The God of Abraham,the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus,whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presencewhen he had decided to release him.You denied the Holy and Righteous Oneand asked that a murderer be released to you.The author of life you put to death,but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.Now I know, brothers,that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;but God has thus brought to fulfillmentwhat he had announced beforehandthrough the mouth of all the prophets,that his Christ would suffer.Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away." Responsorial Psalm Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 R. (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us.or:R. Alleluia.When I call, answer me, O my just God,you who relieve me when I am in distress;have pity on me, and hear my prayer!R. Lord, let your face shine on us.or:R. Alleluia.Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.R. Lord, let your face shine on us.or:R. Alleluia.O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!You put gladness into my heart.R. Lord, let your face shine on us.or:R. Alleluia.As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep,for you alone, O LORD,bring security to my dwelling.R. Lord, let your face shine on us.or:R. Alleluia. Reading 2 1 Jn 2:1-5a My children, I am writing this to youso that you may not commit sin.But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,Jesus Christ the righteous one.He is expiation for our sins,and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.The way we may be sure that we know him is to keephis commandments.Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandmentsare liars, and the truth is not in them.But whoever keeps his word,the love of God is truly perfected in him. Alleluia Cf. Lk 24:32 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us;make our hearts burn while you speak to us.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 24:35-48 The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread.While they were still speaking about this,he stood in their midst and said to them,"Peace be with you."But they were startled and terrifiedand thought that they were seeing a ghost.Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled?And why do questions arise in your hearts?Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bonesas you can see I have."And as he said this,he showed them his hands and his feet.While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?"They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.He said to them,"These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,that everything written about me in the law of Mosesand in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled."Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.And he said to them,"Thus it is written that the Christ would sufferand rise from the dead on the third dayand that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,would be preached in his nameto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.You are witnesses of these things." - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Acts 6:1-7 As the number of disciples continued to grow,the Hellenists complained against the Hebrewsbecause their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,filled with the Spirit and wisdom,whom we shall appoint to this task,whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayerand to the ministry of the word.”The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.They presented these men to the Apostleswho prayed and laid hands on them.The word of God continued to spread,and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith. Responsorial Psalm PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.or:R. Alleluia.Exult, you just, in the LORD;praise from the upright is fitting.Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.or:R. Alleluia.Upright is the word of the LORD,and all his works are trustworthy.He loves justice and right;of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.or:R. Alleluia.See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,upon those who hope for his kindness,To deliver them from deathand preserve them in spite of famine.R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.Christ is risen, who made all things;he has shown mercy on all people.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:16-21 When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.When they had rowed about three or four miles,they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,and they began to be afraid.But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”They wanted to take him into the boat,but the boat immediately arrived at the shoreto which they were heading. Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Martin I, pope and martyr - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.