The 26th of September, 2023 is Tuesday in the Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time. The Holy Bible verses for the mass readings for this day came from the Liturgical Calendar of the Year 2023.
Reading 1: EZR 6:7-8, 12B, 14-20
The first reading from the Book of Ezra.
Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.
Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered.
I Darius have made a decree. Let it be done with all diligence.
The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
The children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
They set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.
The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
Because the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure. They killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5
Response: I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!”
I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!”
Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem!
R: I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!”
Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, even Yah’s tribes.
R: I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!”
According to an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to Yahweh’s name.
For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of David’s house.
R: I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!”
Gospel of the Day: LK 8:19-21
From the gospel scripture according to Luke.
His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd.
Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.”
But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
Other Celebration
An optional celebration on this day is the Memorial of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs.
