The 25th of June, 2023 is the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2023 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: JER 20:10-13
The first reading from the Book of Jeremiah.
For I have heard the defaming of many: “Terror on every side! Denounce, and we will denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall. “Perhaps he will be persuaded, and we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.”
But Yahweh is with me as an awesome mighty one. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they won’t prevail. They will be utterly disappointed because they have not dealt wisely, even with an everlasting dishonor which will never be forgotten.
But Yahweh of Armies, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have revealed my cause to you.
Sing to Yahweh! Praise Yahweh, for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 69:7-9, 13 and 16, 32-34
Response: God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me.
Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s children.
For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
R: God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.
Answer me, Yahweh, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.
R: God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me.
The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.
For Yahweh hears the needy, and doesn’t despise his captive people.
Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein!
R: God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me.
Reading 2: ROM 5:12-15
The second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned.
For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come.
But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.
Gospel of the Day: MT 10:26-33
From the gospel verse according to Matthew.
“Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”
“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.”
