The 12th of February, 2023 is the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2023 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: SIR 15:15-20
The first reading from The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus.
If you choose, you can keep the commandments. To be faithful is a matter of your choice.
He has set fire and water before you. You will stretch forth your hand to whichever you desire.
Before man is life and death. Whichever he likes, it will be given to him.
For the wisdom of the Lord is great. He is mighty in power, and sees all things.
His eyes are upon those who fear him. He knows every act of man.
He has not commanded any man to be ungodly. He has not given any man license to sin.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
Response: Blessed are those who walk according to Yahweh’s law.
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to Yahweh’s law.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes, who seek him with their whole heart.
R: Blessed are those who walk according to Yahweh’s law.
You have commanded your precepts, that we should fully obey them.
Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes!
R: Blessed are those who walk according to Yahweh’s law.
Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word.
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law.
R: Blessed are those who walk according to Yahweh’s law.
Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
R: Blessed are those who walk according to Yahweh’s law.
Reading 2: 1 COR 2:6-10
The second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing.
But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, “Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him.”
But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
Gospel of the Day: MT 5:17-37 or MT 5:20-22A, 27-28, 33-34A, 37
From the gospel verse according to Matthew.
“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.
For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”
“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.”
“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.”
“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.”
“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.”
