First Reading
Joshua 24:1-2,15-18 (JB)

A reading from the book of Joshua

We will serve the Lord God, because he is our God.

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem; then he called the elders, leaders, judges and scribes of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. Then Joshua said to all the people: ‘If you will not serve the Lord, choose today whom you wish to serve, whether the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are now living. As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord.’

The people answered, ‘We have no intention of deserting the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery, who worked those great wonders before our eyes and preserved us all along the way we travelled and among all the peoples through whom we journeyed. We too will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Joshua

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem,

and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges,

and the officers of Israel;

and they presented themselves before God.

And Joshua said to all the people,

“If you are unwilling to serve the Lord,

choose this day whom you will serve,

whether the gods your ancestors served

in the region beyond the River

or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living.

As for me and my household,

we will serve the Lord.”

Then the people answered,

“Far be it from us

that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods;

for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors

up from the land of Egypt,

out of the house of slavery,

and who did those great signs in our sight.

He protected us along all the way that we went,

and among all the peoples through whom we passed;

Therefore we also will serve the Lord,

for he is our God.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 33:2-3, 16-23 (JB)

R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the Lord at all times,

his praise always on my lips;

in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.

The humble shall hear and be glad. R.

The Lord turns his face against the wicked

to destroy their remembrance from the earth.

The Lord turns his eyes to the just

and his ears to their appeal. R.

They call and the Lord hears

and rescues them in all their distress.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;

those whose spirit is crushed he will save. R.

Many are the trials of the just man

but from them all the Lord will rescue him.

He will keep guard over all his bones,

not one of his bones shall be broken. R.

Evil brings death to the wicked;

those who hate the good are doomed.

The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants.

Those who hide in him shall not be condemned. R.

Second Reading
Ephesians 5:21-32 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians

This is the great mystery, it applies to Christ and the Church.

Give way to one another in obedience to Christ. Wives should regard their husbands as they regard the Lord, since as Christ is head of the Church and saves the whole body, so is a husband the head of his wife; and as the Church submits to Christ, so should wives submit to their husbands, in everything. Husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her in water with a form of words, so that when he took her to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and faultless. In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies; for a man to love his wife is for him to love himself. A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats the Church, because it is his body – and we are its living parts. For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one body. This mystery has many implications; but I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ephesians 5:21-32 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians

Beloved,

be kind to one another, tenderhearted,

forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,

and live in love, as Christ loved us

and gave himself up for us,

a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife

just as Christ is the head of the church,

the body of which he is the Saviour.

Just as the church is subject to Christ,

so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives,

just as Christ loved the church

and gave himself up for her,

in order to make her holy

by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word,

so as to present the church to himself in splendour;

without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind-

yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish.

In the same way, husbands should love their wives

as they do their own bodies.

He who loves his wife loves himself.

For no one ever hates his own body,

but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it,

just as Christ does for the church,

because we are members of his body.

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother

and be joined to his wife,

and the two will become one flesh.”

This is a great mystery,

and I am applying it to Christ and the church.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation
cf John 6:63, 68 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your words, Lord, are spirit and life:

you have the words of everlasting life.

Alleluia!

John 6:63, 68 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your words, Lord, are spirit and life;

you have the words of everlasting life.

Alleluia!

Gospel
John 6:60-69 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Lord, whom shall we go to? You have the words of everlasting life.

After hearing his doctrine many of the followers of Jesus said, ‘This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?’ Jesus was aware that his followers were complaining about it and said, ‘Does this upset you? What if you should see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before?

‘It is the spirit that gives life,

the flesh has nothing to offer.

The words I have spoken to you are spirit

and they are life.

‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the outset those who did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. He went on, ‘This is why I told you that no one could come to me unless the Father allows him.’ After this, many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him.

Then Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 6:60-69 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to John

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man

and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”

When many of his disciples heard this, they said:

“This teaching is difficult;

who can accept it?”

But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it,

said to them, “Does this offend you?

Then what if you were to see the Son of Man

ascending to where he was before?

It is the spirit that gives life;

the flesh is useless.

The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

But among you there are some who do not believe.”

For Jesus knew from the first

who were the ones that did not believe,

and who was the one that would betray him.

And he said,

“For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me

unless it is granted by the Father.”

Because of this many of his disciples turned back,

and no longer went about with him.

So Jesus asked the twelve,

“Do you also wish to go away?”

Simon Peter answered him,

“Lord, to whom can we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

We have come to believe and know

that you are the Holy One of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Posted in Readings