The 24th of March, 2022 is Thursday in the Third Week of Lent. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the Year 2022 of Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: JER 7:23-28
The first reading from the Book of Jeremiah.
“But this thing I commanded them, saying, ‘Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. Walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’
But they didn’t listen or turn their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them.
Yet they didn’t listen to me or incline their ear, but made their neck stiff. They did worse than their fathers.”
“You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you.
You shall tell them, ‘This is the nation that has not listened to Yahweh their God’s voice, nor received instruction. Truth has perished, and is cut off from their mouth.’_”
Responsorial Psalm: PS 95:1-2, 6-7ABC, 7D-9
Response: Today, oh that you would hear his voice! Don’t harden your heart.
Oh come, let’s sing to Yahweh. Let’s shout aloud to the rock of our salvation!
Let’s come before his presence with thanksgiving. Let’s extol him with songs!
R: Today, oh that you would hear his voice! Don’t harden your heart.
Oh come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel before Yahweh, our Maker, for he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep in his care.
R: Today, oh that you would hear his voice! Don’t harden your heart.
Today, oh that you would hear his voice!
Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me, tested me, and saw my work.
R: Today, oh that you would hear his voice! Don’t harden your heart.
Verse Before Gospel: JL 2:12-13
From the Book of Joel.
“Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
Tear your heart and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity.
Gospel of the Day: LK 11:14-23
From the gospel verse according to Luke.
Jesus was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marveled.
But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”
Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven.
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls.
If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.
But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
But if I by God’s finger cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come to you.”
“When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe.
But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his plunder.”
“He who is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters.”
