The 18th of August, 2022 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 2022.
Reading 1: EZ 36:23-28
The first reading from the Book of Ezekiel.
“‘ “I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh,” says the Lord Yahweh, “when I am proven holy in you before their eyes.”_’_”
“‘ “For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them.
You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. You will be my people, and I will be your God.”_’_”
Responsorial Psalm: PS 51:10-11, 12-13, 16-17
Response: “‘ “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.”_’_”
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
R: “‘ “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.”_’_”
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners will be converted to you.
R: “‘ “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.”_’_”
For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.
R: “‘ “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.”_’_”
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.”
