Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Malachi 1:14 – 2:2, 8-10 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Malachi

You have strayed from the way, you have caused many to stumble by your teaching.

I am a great king, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is feared throughout the nations. And now, priests, this warning is for you. If you do not listen, if you do not find it in your heart to glorify my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send the curse on you and curse your very blessing. You have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching. You have destroyed the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts. And so I in my turn have made you contemptible and vile in the eyes of the whole people in repayment for the way you have not kept to my paths but have shown partiality in your administration.

Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why, then, do we break faith with one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Malachi 1:14 – 2:2, 8-10 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Malachi

“I am a great King,” says the Lord of hosts,

“and my name is reverenced among the nations.

“And now, O priests, this command is for you.

If you will not listen,

if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name,”

says the Lord of hosts,

“then I will send the curse on you

and I will curse your blessings;

indeed I have already cursed them,

because you do not lay it to heart.

“You have turned aside from the way;

you have caused many to stumble by your instruction;

you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,”

says the Lord of hosts,

“and so I make you despised and abased before all the people,

inasmuch as you have not kept my ways

but have shown partiality in your instruction.”

Have we not all one father?

Has not one God created us?

Why then are we faithless to one another,

profaning the covenant of our ancestors?

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 130 (JB)

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

O Lord, my heart is not proud

nor haughty my eyes.

I have not gone after things too great

nor marvels beyond me. R.

Truly I have set my soul

in silence and peace.

A weaned child on its mother’s breast,

even so is my soul. R.

O Israel, hope in the Lord

both now and for ever. R.

1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians

We were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our lives as well.

Like a mother feeding and looking after her own children, we felt so devoted and protective towards you, and had come to love you so much, that we were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives as well. Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good news to you.

Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

Though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ,

we were gentle among you,

like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children.

So deeply do we care for you

that we are determined to share with you

not only the gospel of God but also our own selves,

because you have become very dear to us.

You remember our labour and toil,

brothers and sisters;

we worked night and day,

so that we might not burden any of you

while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

We also constantly give thanks to God for this,

that when you received the word of God

that you heard from us,

you accepted it not as a human word

but as what it really is, God’s word,

which is also at work in you believers.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Matthew 23:9, 10 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

You have one Father, your Father in heaven;

you have one teacher: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia!

Matthew 23:9, 10 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

You have one Father, your Father in heaven;

you have one teacher: the Lord Jesus Christ!

Alleluia!

Matthew 23:1-12 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

They do not practise what they preach.

Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.

‘You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one Master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 23:1-12 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ chair;

therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it;

but do not do as they do,

for they do not practice what they teach.

They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,

and lay them on the shoulders of others;

but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.

They do all their deeds to be seen by others;

for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.

They love to have the place of honour at banquets

and the best seats in the synagogues,

and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,

and to have people call them rabbi.

“But you are not to be called rabbi,

for you have one teacher,

and you are all students.

And call no one your father on earth,

for you have one Father-the one in heaven.

Nor are you to be called instructors,

for you have one instructor, the Messiah.

The greatest among you will be your servant.

All who exalt themselves will be humbled,

and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.