A Reading from the book of Tobit Tob 12, 6-13
In those days: Raphael called the two men aside privately and said to them:
“Thank God! Give him the praise and the glory.
Before all the living, acknowledge the many good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name in song.
Honor and proclaim God’s deeds, and do not be slack in praising him. A king’s secret it is prudent to keep,
but the works of God are to be declared and made known.
Praise them with due honor. Do good, and evil will not find its way to you. Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness.
A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold;
for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin.
Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life;
but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies.
“I will now tell you the whole truth; I will conceal nothing at all from you. I have already said to you,
‘A king’s secret it is prudent to keep,
but the works of God are to be made known with due honor.’
I can now tell you that when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed,
it was I who presented and read the record of your prayer
before the Glory of the Lord;
and I did the same thing when you used to bury the dead.
When you did not hesitate to get up
and leave your dinner in order to go and bury the dead,
I was sent to put you to the test.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm PS 102.1-4. 8-9. 13-14. 17-18a
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,
And his justice toward children’s children
among those who keep his covenant.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Second Reading
A Reading from the First letter of St. John the Apostle 1 Jn 4:7-16
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
If God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Jn 13,34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
R. Alleluia, alleluia
Gospel
P: The Lord be with you.
P: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Mt 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left,
‘Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
BIDDING PRAYERS:
As we give praise to God for the wonders of love that he showed us through St. Julian, we ask him for the grace to teach us to show love towards those in need so that, when our time comes, we may achieve the glory of eternal life with him.
- Heavenly Father, fill Pope Leon, our Archbishop Charles, bishops and priests with love and zeal so that their hearts resemble that of your son Jesus Christ. Lord hear us…
- We pray, Lord, for all the Commissions and Associations in our parish so that, as we journey together, we seek that our work is for the good of the community and for your glory. Lord hear us…
- Creator of all, cast your gaze on our young people so that they may recognize more and more how to open their hearts to you and allow you to lead them in their lives. Lord hear us…
- Merciful Father, we pray for all the families of our parish; instil in them a sense of love and unity, and make them living witnesses of the values of the Gospel. Lord hear us…
- God of all comfort, we pray for our relatives, benefactors and other past contributors to the parish who have passed on to eternal life, welcome them into your heavenly kingdom. Lord hear us…
Lord, we ask that you accept our prayers and, following the example of St. Julian, enable us to carry out the good deeds that you send our way and help us to be your disciples in our love towards all brothers and sisters. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
