Readings

First Reading 2 Kings 5:14-17 (JB) A reading from the second book of the Kings Naaman returned to Elisha, the prophet, and acknowledged the Lord. Naaman the leper went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, as Elisha had told him to do. And his flesh became clean once more like the flesh…

First Reading Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 (JB) A reading from the prophet Habakkuk The just will live by faithfulness. How long, Lord, am I to cry for help while you will not listen; to cry ‘Oppression!’ in your ear and you will not save? Why do you set injustice before me, why do you look on…

First Reading Amos 6:1, 4-7 (JB) A reading from the prophet Amos You who give yourself to licentiousness and revelry will be exiled. The almighty Lord says this: Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Zion and to those who feel so safe on the mountain of Samaria. Lying on ivory beds and sprawling on…

First Reading Amos 8:4-7 (JB) A reading from the prophet Amos The Lord God spoke against those who buy the poor for money. Listen to this, you who trample on the needy and try to suppress the poor people of the country, you who say, ‘When will New Moon be over so that we can…

First Reading Numbers 21:4-9 (JB) A reading from the book of Numbers When those that were afflicted looked upon it, they were healed. On the way through the wilderness the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there…

First Reading Wisdom 9:13-18 (JB) A reading from the book of Wisdom Who can comprehend the will of God? What man can know the intentions of God? Who can divine the will of the Lord? The reasonings of mortals are unsure and our intentions unstable; for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this…

First Reading Sirach 3:17-20, 28-29 (JB) A reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus Humble yourself and you will find favour with the Lord. My son, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver. The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly, and then you…

First Reading Isaiah 66:18-21 (JB) A reading from the prophet Isaiah They will gather all of your people from all nations. The Lord says this: I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory. I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to…

First Reading Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 (JB) A reading from the prophet Jeremiah You bore me to be a man of strife for the whole world. The king’s leading men spoke to the king. ‘Let Jeremiah be put to death: he is unquestionably disheartening the remaining soldiers in the city, and all the people too, by…

First Reading Wisdom 18:6-9 (JB) A reading from the book of Wisdom Just as you struck our enemies, you made us glorious by calling us to you. That night had been foretold to our ancestors, so that, once they saw what kind of oaths they had put their trust in, they would joyfully take courage.…