FIRST READING                     
“Abram went, as the Lord had told him.”
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 12: 1-9)

In those days: The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you will I curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five year old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions which they had gathered, and the persons that they had gotten in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the Oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. Thence he moved to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on, still going towards the Neged.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM   Psalm 33:12-13.18-19.20 and 22(R. 12b)
R/. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen as his heritage.

Blessed the nation whose God is Lord,
The people he has chosen as his heritage.
From the heavens the Lord looks forth; 
He sees all the children of men. R.

Yes, the Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him,
Who hope in his merciful love,
To rescue their souls from death,
To keep them alive in famine. R.

Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
May your merciful love be upon us,
As we hope in you, O Lord. R.

ALLELUIA Hebrews 4:12
Alleluia. The word of the Lord is living and active, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Alleluia.

GOSPEL                                
“First take the log out of your own eye.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 7: 1-5)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s   eye.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

We are all on a journey to the world described in today’s Gospel reading – a world free from prejudice, a world where we are not quick to label and judge, and a world where we respect one another as brothers and sisters. How we judge others reveals a great deal about ourselves and our view of God. The Promised Land is not a piece of real estate but the condition of our soul. Like Abraham, we are promised marvelous things if we leave our old ways. We are promised intimacy with God, life without end and the capacity to channel God’s life to others.

FIRST READING
I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses.
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (Corinthians 12: 1-10)

Brethren: I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 34:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 (R. 9a)
R/. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who fear him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed the man who seeks refuge in him. R.

 Fear the Lord, you his holy ones.
They lack nothing, those who fear him.
The rich suffer want and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing. R.

R/. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Come, children, and hear me,
that I may teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is it that desires life
 and longs to see prosperous days? R.

ALLELUIA 2 Corinthians 8:9
Alleluia. Though Jesus Christ was rich, yet for your sake he be- came poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Alleluia.

GOSPEL               
“Do not be anxious about tomorrow. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 6:24-34)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Our loving and generous God provides so much for us. To worry is an avoidable waste of time and energy. Of course, there will be occasional pain and distress, but we cannot live in worry and anxiety about our earthly sustenance. When we constantly focus on what could happen rather than on what is happening, and what we can control, we deny ourselves the chance to truly experience the joy of the present moment. We have to see Jesus in the here and now. Worrying about tomorrow results in the loss of the beauty of today.

FIRST READING       
Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches.”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11: 18.21b-30)

Brethren:  Since many boast of worldly things, I too will boast. Whatever any one dares to boast of — I am speaking as a fool – I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one — I am talking like a madman — with far greater labours, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  Psalm 34:2-3.4-5.6-7 (R. see 18b)
R/. The Lord rescues them in all their distress.

I will bless the Lord at all times,
praise of him is always in my mouth.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast;
the humble shall hear and be glad. R.

Glorify the Lord with me;
together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free. R.

R/. The Lord rescues them in all their distress.

Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This lowly one called; the Lord heard,
and rescued him from all his distress. R.

ALLELUIA Matthew 5:3
Alleluia. Blessed are the pure in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia.

GOSPEL         
“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 6:19-23)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

The Gospel of the Lord.
 

Today’s Reflection
Paul sees a threat to the new faith of his beloved Corinthian community posed by a rival group of preachers, who insist that converts embrace all of Jewish law as well as Christian baptism, and try to undermine Paul’s teaching on this issue. Paul maintains that he can meet and even surpass all the criteria of authenticity that they claim for their ministry, yet at the end he boasts not of his strength but of his weakness. It is weakness that opens him to the only source of strength that counts: the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Like Paul, true disciples do not base their confidence on the externals that elicit public acclaim and recognition, but on the strength that comes from trust in God.

FIRST READING
“I preached God’s Gospel without cost to you.”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:1-11)

Brethren: I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlative apostles. Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things. Did I commit a sin in abasing myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel without cost to you? I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. And when I was with you and was in want, I did not burden any one, for my needs were supplied by the brethren who came from Macedonia. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 111:1b-2.3-4.7-8 (R. 7a)
R/. The Lord’s handiwork is justice and truth.
Or:  Alleluia.

I will praise the Lord with all my heart,
in the meeting of the just and the assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who delight in them. R.

Majestic and glorious his work;
his justice stands firm forever.
He has given us a memorial of his wonders.
The Lord is gracious and merciful. R.

R/. The Lord’s handiwork is justice and truth.
Or:  Alleluia.

His handiwork is justice and truth;
his precepts are all of them sure,
standing firm forever and ever,
wrought in uprightness and truth. R.

ALLELUIA Romans 8:15bc
Alleluia. You have received the spirit of sonship; in him we cry, “Abba! Father!” Alleluia.

GOSPEL  
“Pray then like this.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 6:7-15)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

The surest sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit is joy. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to us on the basis for joy. He came to share our human life so that we might share his divine life. In the privacy of our inner life with God, we meet our heavenly father in loving intimacy when we pray to him “In secret”. In Jesus, we have the same relationship with God that he had with his heavenly Father. Our prayer – the Lord’s Prayer – is to be like the communication between a loving parent and a beloved child. This truth should be the unfailing source of our joy as Christians, in good times and in bad.

FIRST READING           
“God loves a cheerful giver.”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 9:6-11)

Brethren: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  Psalm 112: 1b-2.3-4.9 (R. 1 b)
R/. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Or:  Alleluia.

Blessed the man who fears the Lord,
who takes great delight in his commandments.
His descendants shall be powerful on earth;
the generation of the upright will be blest. R.

Riches and wealth are in his house;
his justice stands firm forever.
A light rises in the darkness for the upright;
he is generous, merciful and just. R.

R/. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Or:  Alleluia.

Open-handed, he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm forever.
His might shall be exalted in glory. R.

ALLELUIA John 14:23
Alleluia. If a man loves me, he will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. Alleluia.

GOSPEL               
“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street comers, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

William Shakespeare writes that “the quality of mercy is not strained.” Generosity ought to be cheerfully shown and not given out of compulsion. Any act of goodness given grudgingly or out of compulsion amounts to sowing sparingly. If we truly want to reap a rich harvest with our generosity and kindness, it must be done with a real smile on our face. Again, while giving, we must not blow our trumpet. The dignity of the receiver must also be respected. We cannot expect to reap bountifully from an act of goodness that is done to draw appreciation and praise from others. If we do it to be noticed by others, we forgo being noticed by God, who alone can reward us bountifully.

FIRST READING      
For your sake Christ became poor.
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 8: 1-9)

We want you to know, brethren, about the grace of God which has been shown in the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints — and this, not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. Accordingly we have urged Titus that as he had already made a beginning, he should also complete among you this gracious work. Now as you excel in everything in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us — see that you excel in this gracious work also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 146: 1b-2.5-6ab.6c-7.8-9a (R. 1b)
R. My soul, give praise to the Lord!
Or:  Alleluia.

My soul, give praise. to the Lord;
I will praise the Lord all my life,
sing praise to my God while I live. R.

Blessed is he who is helped by Jacob’s God,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made the heavens and the earth,
the seas and all they contain. R.

R. My soul, give praise to the Lord!
Or:  Alleluia.

It is the Lord who preserves fidelity forever,
who does justice to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord who sets prisoners free. R.

It is the Lord who opens the eyes of the blind,
the Lord who raises up those who are bowed down.
It is the Lord who loves the just,
the Lord who protects the stranger. R.

ALLELUIA  John 13:34
Alleluia. A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“Love your enemies.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 5:43-48)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Do we, like the Christians that Paul praises, “beg for the favour” of giving generously? We are asked to give not only money but love and deep compassion as well; to give not just to those who ‘deserve’, but to any needy person. In the Gospel, Jesus asks us not to judge whether someone is worthy of our love or not. If our heavenly father can extend his loving care to all, the good and evil alike, can we do any less? But we can’t begin to love in this way without the constant help of God’s grace, which enables us to fulfil Christ’s command to be perfect, just as our heavenly Father is perfect.”

FIRST READING   
As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way.
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 6: 1- 10)

Brethren: Working together with Christ, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labours, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 98: 1 .2-3ab.3cd-4 (R. 2a)
R/. The Lord has made known his salvation.

O sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation. R.

The Lord has made known his salvation,
has shown his deliverance to the nations.
He has remembered his merciful love
and his truth for the house of Israel. R.

R/. The Lord has made known his salvation.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song,
and sing out your praise. R.

ALLELUIA Psalm 119:105
Alleluia. Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light for my path.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL                                                                 
“I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 5:38-42)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Martin Luther King Jr. said that “returning violence for violence multiples violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.” Contrary to popular thinking, non-violent responses to injustice aren’t signs of weakness. Christians must be peacemakers. Reacting in a spirit of vengeance wastes time and resources; it distracts us from focusing on the pressing needs of those who might lash out in hostility and frustration. To engage in the work of peace, we must be bold in seeking understanding and justice. Let us pray for the grace and patience to find non-violent means to heal troubled human relationships.