The 16th of August, 2023 is Wednesday in the Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the Year 2023 of Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: DT 34:1-12
The first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy.
Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is opposite Jericho. Yahweh showed him all the land of Gilead to Dan, and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the Western Sea, and the south, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, to Zoar.
Yahweh said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”
So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to Yahweh’s word.
He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor, but no man knows where his tomb is to this day.
Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his strength gone.
The children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended.
Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. The children of Israel listened to him, and did as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Since then, there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all the mighty hand, and in all the awesome deeds, which Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 66:1-3A, 5 and 8, 16-17
Response: Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer. You have refined us, as silver is refined.
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise!
Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds!”
R: Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer. You have refined us, as silver is refined.
Come, and see God’s deeds-awesome work on behalf of the children of men.
Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard.
R: Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer. You have refined us, as silver is refined.
Come and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.
I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue.
R: Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer. You have refined us, as silver is refined.
Gospel of the Day: MT 18:15-20
From the gospel verse according to Matthew.
“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
Other Celebration
An optional celebration on this day is the Memorial of Saint Stephen of Hungary as well as Saint Roch.