TODAY’S GOSPEL READING (MATTHEW 25:1-13)

THE BRIDEGROOM IS HERE! GO OUT AND MEET HIM.

Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, “The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.’

At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out.’ But they replied, ‘There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves.’ They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us.’ But he replied, ‘I tell you solemnly, I do not know you.’ So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.”

V. The Gospel of the Lord.
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 

TODAY’S PSALM (PSALM 32)

R. They are happy, the people
the Lord has chosen as his own.

1. They are happy, whose God is the Lord,
the people he has chosen as his own.
From the heavens the Lord looks forth,
he sees all the children of men. (R.)

2. The Lord looks on those who revere him,
on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine. (R.)

3. Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
The Lord is our help and our shield.
May your love be upon us, O Lord,
as we place all our hope in you. (R.)

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, alleluia!
You will shine in the world like bright stars
because you are offering it the word of life.
Alleluia!

 

TODAY’S BIBLE READING (1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31)

GOD CHOSE WHAT IS WEAK BY HUMAN RECKONING.

For see your vocation, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble:

But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the strong.

And the base things of the world, and the things that are contemptible, hath God chosen, and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are:

That no flesh should glory in his sight.

But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and justice, and sanctification, and redemption:

That, as it is written: He that glorieth, may glory in the Lord.

V. The word of the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.

 

THE BEHEADING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, GOSPEL READING (MARK 6:17-29)

I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME JOHN THE BAPTIST’S HEAD, HERE AND NOW, ON A DISH.

Herod had sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, “It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.” As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and he liked to listen to him.

An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, “Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.” And he swore her an oath, “I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.”

The king was deeply distressed, but thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

V. The Gospel of the Lord.
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 

THE BEHEADING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, PSALM (PSALM 70)

R. My lips will tell of your justice, O Lord.

1. In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, free me:
pay heed to me and save me. (R.)

2. Be a rock where I can take refuge,
a mighty stronghold to save me;
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
Free me from the hand of the wicked. (R.)

3. It is you, O Lord, who are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, since my youth.
On you I have leaned from my birth,
from my mother’s womb you have been my help. (R.)

4. My lips will tell of your justice
and day by day of your help.
O God, you have taught me from my youth
and I proclaim your wonders still. (R.)

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, alleluia!
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right,
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Alleluia!

 

THE BEHEADING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, BIBLE READING (JEREMIAH 1:17-19)

STAND UP AND TELL THEM ALL I COMMAND YOU; DO NOT BE DISMAYED AT THEIR PRESENCE.

The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying:
“Brace yourself for action.
Stand up and tell them
all I command you.
Do not be dismayed at their presence,
or in their presence I will make you dismayed.
I, for my part, today will make you
into a fortified city,
a pillar of iron,
and a wall of bronze
to confront all this land:
the kings of Judah, its princes,
its priests and the country people.
They will fight against you
but shall not overcome you,
for I am with you to deliver you –
it is the Lord who speaks.”

V. The word of the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.

 

PRAYER ON THE MEMORIAL OF ST AUGUSTINE

Let us pray. Be attentive, almighty God, to our prayers, and as you encourage us to hope in your goodness, grant that, through the intercession of your confessor and bishop, blessed Augustine, we may enjoy the grace of your mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

ALL THINGS HAVE THEIR SEASON

ALL THINGS HAVE THEIR SEASON

All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, and a time to build.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.

A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away.

A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of peace.

What hath man more of his labour?

I have seen the trouble, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

He hath made all things good in their time, and hath delivered the world to their consideration, so that man cannot find out the work which God hath made from the beginning to the end.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-11)

 

TODAY’S GOSPEL READING (MATTHEW 24:42-51)

STAND READY.

Watch ye therefore, because you know not what hour your Lord will come.

But this know ye, that if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken into.

Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come.

Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath appointed over his family, to give them meat in season.

Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come he shall find so doing.

Amen I say to you, he shall place him over all his goods.

But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord is long a coming:

And shall begin to strike his fellow servants, and shall eat and drink with drunkards:

The lord of that servant shall come in a day that he hopeth not, and at an hour that he knoweth not:

And shall separate him, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

V. The Gospel of the Lord.
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 

TODAY’S PSALM (PSALM 144)

R. I will bless your name for ever, O Lord.

1. I will bless you day after day
and praise your name for ever.
The Lord is great, highly to be praised,
his greatness cannot be measured. (R.)

2. Age to age shall proclaim your works,
shall declare your mighty deeds,
shall speak of your splendour and glory,
tell the tale of your wonderful works. (R.)

3. They will speak of your terrible deeds,
recount your greatness and might.
They will recall your abundant goodness;
age to age shall ring out your justice. (R.)

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, alleluia!
I call you friends, says the Lord,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
Alleluia!