Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 20:7-9 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Jeremiah

The word of the Lord God has meant derision for me.

You have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced;

you have overpowered me: you were the stronger.

I am a daily laughing-stock,

everybody’s butt.

Each time I speak the word, I have to howl

and proclaim: ‘Violence and ruin!’

The word of the Lord has meant for me

insult, derision, all day long.

I used to say, ‘I will not think about him,

I will not speak in his name any more.’

Then there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart,

imprisoned in my bones.

The effort to restrain it wearied me,

I could not bear it.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Jeremiah 20:7-9 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah

Jeremiah cried out to the Lord:

“O Lord, you have enticed me,

and I was enticed;

you have overpowered me,

and you have prevailed.

I have become a laughingstock all day long;

everyone mocks me.

For whenever I speak, I must cry out,

I must shout, ‘Violence and destruction’!

For the word of the Lord has become for me

a reproach and derision all day long.

“If I say, ‘I will not mention him,

or speak any more in his name,’

then within me there is something like a burning fire

shut up in my bones;

I am weary with holding it in,

and I cannot.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 62:2-6, 8-9 (JB)

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

O God, you are my God, for you I long;

for you my soul is thirsting.

My body pines for you

like a dry, weary land without water. R.

So I gaze on you in the sanctuary

to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,

my lips will speak your praise. R.

So I will bless you all my life,

in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,

my mouth shall praise you with joy. R.

For you have been my help;

in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

My soul clings to you;

your right hand holds me fast. R.

Romans 12:1-2 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans

May you present your bodies as a living sacrifice.

Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Romans 12:1-2 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,

by the mercies of God,

to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,

holy and acceptable to God,

which is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your minds,

so that you may discern what is the will of God-

what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

cf Ephesians 1:17, 18 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

enlighten the eyes of our heart,

that we might see how great is the hope

to which we are called.

Alleluia!

Ephesians 1:17, 18 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our heart,

that we might see how great is the hope to which we are called.

Alleluia!

Matthew 16:21-27 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself.

Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord,’ he said. ‘This must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?

‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:21-27 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

Jesus sternly warned his disciples

not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

From that time on,

Jesus began to show his disciples

that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering

at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes,

and be killed,

and on the third day be raised.

And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, saying,

“God forbid it, Lord!

This must never happen to you.”

But he turned and said to Peter,

“Get behind me, Satan!

You are a stumbling block to me;

for you are setting your mind not on divine things

but on human things.”

Then Jesus told his disciples,

“If any want to become my followers,

let them deny themselves

and take up their cross and follow me.

For those who want to save their life will lose it,

and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

For what will it profit them

if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?

Or what will they give in return for their life?

“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels

in the glory of his Father,

and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.