Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(II).

First reading
Micah 6:1-4, 6-8

‘He has told you, O man, and what does the Lord require of you.’

Hear what the Lord says: Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the Lord has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel.

‘O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

‘With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’ He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 50(49):5-6. 8-9. 16b-17. 21, 23. ℟23b

To one whose way is blameless,

I will show the salvation of God.

‘Gather my faithful ones to me,

who made covenant with me by sacrifice.’

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

for God himself is the judge.

To one whose way is blameless,

I will show the salvation of God.

‘I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices;

your offerings are always before me.

I do not take more bullocks from your farms,

nor goats from among your herds.’

To one whose way is blameless,

I will show the salvation of God.

‘How can you recite my commandments,

and take my covenant on your lips,

you who despise correction,

and cast my words behind you.’

To one whose way is blameless,

I will show the salvation of God.

‘You do this, and should I keep silence?

Do you think that I am like you?

I accuse you, lay the charge before you.

A sacrifice of praise gives me honour,

and to one whose way is blameless,

I will show the salvation of God.’

To one whose way is blameless,

I will show the salvation of God.

Gospel Acclamation
Cf. Psalm 95(94):8a, 7c

Alleluia, alleluia.

Harden not your hearts today,

but listen to the voice of the Lord.

Alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 12:38-42

‘The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with this generation.’

At that time: Some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Jesus, saying, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.’ But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great sea creature, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.’

You can also view this page with the New Testament in Greek and English.

Christian Art

Each day, The Christian Art website gives a picture and reflection on the Gospel of the day.

The readings on this page are from the English Standard Version, which is used at Mass in Great Britain. The Jerusalem Bible (which is used at Mass in much of the English-speaking world) will appear instead if you set this page to use a calendar from outside Great Britain. The New American Bible readings, which are used at Mass in the United States, are available in the Universalis apps, programs and downloads.