The 28th of June, 2023, Wednesday is the Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr. The Holy Bible verses for the mass readings for this day came from the Liturgical Calendar of the Year 2023.
Reading 1: GN 15:1-12, 17-18
The first reading from the Book of Genesis.
After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”
Behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.”
Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.”
He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness.
He said to Abram, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”
He said, “Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?”
He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle dove, and a young pigeon.”
He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds.
The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.
It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.
In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.”
Responsorial Psalm: PS 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
Response: He has remembered his covenant forever.
Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works.
R: He has remembered his covenant forever.
Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
R: He has remembered his covenant forever.
You offspring of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is Yahweh, our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
R: He has remembered his covenant forever.
He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac.
R: He has remembered his covenant forever.
Gospel of the Day: MT 7:15-20
From the gospel scripture according to Matthew.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?
Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
