Today’s
Readings

First Reading

Wisdom 9:13-18b

1. 13

   For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of God is?

2. 14

   For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels uncertain.

3. 15

   For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.

4. 16

   And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things that are in heaven, who shall search out?

5. 17

   And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above:

6. 18

   And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and men may learn the things that please thee?

A letter after a verse number marks part of that verse. The full verse is shown here.

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition · public domain · 73 books. Psalm numbers follow the Roman lectionary.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17

1. 3

   Turn not man away to be brought low: and thou hast said: Be converted, O ye sons of men.

2. 4

   For a thousand years in thy sight are as yesterday, which is past. And as a watch in the night,

3. 5

   Things that are counted nothing, shall their years be.

4. 6

   In the morning man shall grow up like grass; in the morning he shall flourish and pass away: in the evening he shall fall, grow dry, and wither.

5. 12

   Can number thy wrath? So make thy right hand known: and men learned in heart, in wisdom.

6. 13

   Return, O Lord, how long? and be entreated in favour of thy servants.

7. 14

   We are filled in the morning with thy mercy: and we have rejoiced, and are delighted all our days.

8. 17

   And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and direct thou the works of our hands over us; yea, the work of our hands do thou direct.

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition · public domain · 73 books. Psalm numbers follow the Roman lectionary.

Second Reading

Philemon 9-10, 12-17

1. 9

   For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.

2. 10

   I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,

3. 12

   Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.

4. 13

   Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:

5. 14

   But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

6. 15

   For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again for ever:

7. 16

   Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord?

8. 17

   If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition · public domain · 73 books. Psalm numbers follow the Roman lectionary.

Gospel

Luke 14:25-33

1. 25

   And there went great multitudes with him. And turning, he said to them:

2. 26

   If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

3. 27

   And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

4. 28

   For which of you having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down, and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it:

5. 29

   Lest, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him,

6. 30

   Saying: This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

7. 31

   Or what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down, and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him?

8. 32

   Or else, whilst the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace.

9. 33

   So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be my disciple.

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition · public domain · 73 books. Psalm numbers follow the Roman lectionary.