The 14th of March, 2021 is the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare). The Bible scriptures for the Year B holy mass readings for this day came from the 2021 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: 2 CHR 36:14-16, 19-23
The first reading from the Book of Chronicles.
Moreover all the chiefs of the priests and the people trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted Yahweh’s house which he had made holy in Jerusalem.
Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place; but they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until Yahweh’s wrath arose against his people, until there was no remedy.
They burned God’s house, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all of its valuable vessels.
He carried those who had escaped from the sword away to Babylon, and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill Yahweh’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, “Cyrus king of Persia says, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up.’_”
Responsorial Psalm: PS: 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
Response: Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you.
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
On the willows in that land, we hung up our harps.
R: Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you.
For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
R: Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you.
How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.
R: Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you.
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you, if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.
R: Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you.
Reading 2: EPH 2:4-10
The second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.
But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
Verse Before Gospel: JN 3:16
From the good news according to John.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Gospel of the Day: JN 3:14-21
From the gospel scripture according to John.
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God.
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.
But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
Other 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare) Reading
You can also check out the 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare) – 2nd Scrutiny Year A reading.
