The 19th of August, 2021 is Thursday in the Twentieth Week of Ordinary Time. The Holy Bible verses for the mass readings for this day came from the Liturgical Calendar Year 2021.
Reading 1: JGS 11:29-39A
The first reading from the Book of Judges.
Then Yahweh’s Spirit came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.
Jephthah vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, “If you will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”
So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Yahweh delivered them into his hand.
He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back.”
She said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon.”
Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me. Leave me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.”
He said, “Go.” He sent her away for two months; and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains.
At the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 40:4, 6-7A, 7B-8, 9
Response: Then I said, “Behold, I have come.” “I delight to do your will, my God.”
Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.
R: Then I said, “Behold, I have come.” “I delight to do your will, my God.”
Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come.”
R: Then I said, “Behold, I have come.” “I delight to do your will, my God.”
“It is written about me in the book in the scroll.
I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”
R: Then I said, “Behold, I have come.” “I delight to do your will, my God.”
I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know.
R: Then I said, “Behold, I have come.” “I delight to do your will, my God.”
Gospel of the Day: MT 22:1-14
From the gospel scripture according to Matthew.
Jesus answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding feast for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast!”_’
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; and the rest grabbed his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.”
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren’t worthy.
Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the wedding feast.’
Those servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.”
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless.
Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’
For many are called, but few chosen.”
Other Celebration
An optional celebration on this day is the Memorial of Saint John Eudes, Priest as well as Saint Ezequiel Moreno Diaz, Bishop.
