Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wisdom 11:22 – 12:2 (JB)

A reading from the book of Wisdom

You have mercy on all things because you love everything that exists.

In your sight, Lord, the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales,

like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground.

Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things

and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent.

Yes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence,

for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it

And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist,

how be conserved if not called forth by you?

You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life,

you whose imperishable spirit is in all.

Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend,

you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned.

so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Wisdom 11:22 – 12:2 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Wisdom

The whole world before you, O Lord,

is like a speck that tips the scales,

and like a drop of morning dew that falls on the ground.

But you are merciful to all,

for you can do all things,

and you overlook people’s sins,

so that they may repent

Lord, you love all things that exist,

and detest none of the things that you have made,

for you would not have made anything if you had hated it.

How would anything have endured

if you had not willed it?

Or how would anything not called forth by you

have been preserved?

You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord,

you who love the living.

For your immortal spirit is in all things.

Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass,

and you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin,

so that they may be freed from wickedness

and put their trust in you, O Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 144:1-2, 8-11, 13-14 (JB)

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

I will give you glory, O God my King,

I will bless your name for ever.

I will bless you day after day

and praise your name for ever. R.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

How good is the Lord to all,

compassionate to all his creatures R.

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,

and your friends shall repeat their blessing.

They shall speak of the glory of your reign

and declare your might, O God. R.

The Lord is faithful in all his words

and loving in all hid deeds.

The Lord supports all who fall

and raises all who are bowed down. R.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 – 2:2 (JB)

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

The name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him.

We pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

To turn now, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 – 2:2 (NRSV)

A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

We always pray for you,

asking that our God will make you worthy of his call

and will fulfil by his power every good resolve and work of faith,

so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,

and you in him,

according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

and our being gathered together to him,

we beg you, brothers and sisters,

not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed,

either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us,

to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

John 3:16 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

God loved the world so much, he gave us his only Son,

that all who believe in him might have eternal life.

Alleluia!

John 3:16 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

God loved the world so much, he gave us his only Son,

that all who believe in him might have eternal life.

Alleluia!

Luke 19:1-10 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

The Son of Man came to seek and to find that which was lost.

Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd; so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor’ and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 19:1-10 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it.

A man was there named Zacchaeus;

he was a chief tax collector and was rich.

He was trying to see who Jesus was,

but on account of the crowd he could not,

because he was short in stature.

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus,

because he was going to pass that way.

When Jesus came to the place,

he looked up and said to him,

“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down;

for I must stay at your house today.”

So Zacchaeus hurried down and was happy to welcome Jesus.

All who saw it began to grumble and said,

“He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.”

Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,

“Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor;

and if I have defrauded anyone of anything,

I will pay back four times as much.”

Then Jesus said of him,

“Today salvation has come to this house,

because Zacchaeus too is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.