DR Squared: Thursday Of The Thirtieth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power. Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice, And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace:  In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit; and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints:  And for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the gospel. For which I am an ambassador in a chain, so that therein I may be bold to speak according as I ought.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 144 (143):1a; V. 1, 2, 9-10

R.  Blessed be the Lord my God,

V.  Blessed be the Lord my God,

     who teacheth my hands to fight, and my fingers to war.

V.  My mercy, and my refuge:

     my support, and my deliverer:

     My protector, and I have hoped in him:

     who subdueth my people under me.

V.  To thee, O God, I will sing a new canticle:

     on the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings I will sing praises to thee.

     Who givest salvation to kings:

     who hast redeemed thy servant David from the malicious sword:

Gospel Reading:  Luke 13:31-35

The same day, there came some of the Pharisees, saying to him: Depart, and get thee hence, for Herod hath a mind to kill thee. And he said to them: Go and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am consummated. Nevertheless I must walk today and tomorrow, and the day following, because it cannot be that a prophet perish, out of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children as the bird doth her brood under her wings, and thou wouldest not? Behold your house shall be left to you desolate. And I say to you, that you shall not see me till the time come, when you shall say: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Feast Of Saints Simon And Jude, Apostles

First Reading:  Ephesians 2:19-22

Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners; but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and the domestics of God, Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone:  In whom all the building, being framed together, groweth up into an holy temple in the Lord. In whom you also are built together into an habitation of God in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 19 (18):5a; V. 2-3, 4-5

R.  Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth:

V.  The heavens shew forth the glory of God,

     and the firmament declareth the work of his hands.

     Day to day uttereth speech,

     and night to night sheweth knowledge.

V.  There are no speeches nor languages,

     where their voices are not heard.

     Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth:

     and their words unto the ends of the world.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 6:12-16

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and he passed the whole night in the prayer of God. And when day was come, he called unto him his disciples; and he chose twelve of them (whom also he named apostles). Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who is called Zelotes, And Jude, the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 10/28/2025.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Thirtieth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Ephesians 5:21-33

Being subject one to another, in the fear of Christ. Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord:  Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the saviour of his body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and delivered himself up for it:

That he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life:  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish. So also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church:  Because we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh. This is a great sacrament; but I speak in Christ and in the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular love his wife as himself: and let the wife fear her husband.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 128 (127):1; V. 1-2, 3, 4-5

R.  Blessed are all they that fear the Lord:

V.  Blessed are all they that fear the Lord:

     that walk in his ways.

     For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands:

     blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

V.  Thy wife as a fruitful vine,

     on the sides of thy house.

     Thy children as olive plants,

     round about thy table.

V.  Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

     that feareth the Lord.

     May the Lord bless thee out of Sion:

     and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem

     all the days of thy life.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 13:18-21

He said therefore: To what is the kingdom of God like, and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and cast into his garden, and it grew and became a great tree, and the birds of the air lodged in the branches thereof. And again he said: Whereunto shall I esteem the kingdom of God to be like? It is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Thirtieth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Ephesians 4:32–5:8

And be ye kind one to another; merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ. Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints:  Or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no purpose; but rather giving of thanks. For know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief. Be ye not therefore partakers with them. For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Ephesians 5:1; V. Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6

R.  Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children;

V.  Blessed is the man who hath not walked

     in the counsel of the ungodly,

     nor stood in the way of sinners,

     nor sat in the chair of pestilence.

     But his will is in the law of the Lord,

     and on his law he shall meditate day and night.\

V.  And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters,

     which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season.

     And his leaf shall not fall off:

     and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

V.  Not so the wicked, not so:

     but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.  

     For the Lord knoweth the way of the just:

     and the way of the wicked shall perish.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 13:10-17

And he was teaching in their synagogue on their sabbath. And behold there was a woman, who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years: and she was bowed together, neither could she look upwards at all. Whom when Jesus saw, he called her unto him, and said to her: Woman, thou art delivered from thy infirmity. And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue (being angry that Jesus had healed on the sabbath) answering, said to the multitude: Six days there are wherein you ought to work. In them therefore come, and be healed; and not on the sabbath day. And the Lord answering him, said: Ye hypocrites, doth not every one of you, on the sabbath day, loose his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead them to water? And ought not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? And when he said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the things that were gloriously done by him.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Thirtieth Sunday In Ordinary Time (Year A)

First Reading:  Exodus 22:20-26  (DR--21-27)

Thou shalt not molest a stranger, nor afflict him: for yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not hurt a widow or an orphan. If you hurt them they will cry out to me, and I will hear their cry:  And my rage shall be enkindled, and I will strike you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor, that dwelleth with thee, thou shalt not be hard upon them as an extortioner, nor oppress them with usuries. If thou take of thy neighbour a garment in pledge, thou shalt give it him again before sunset. For that same is the only thing wherewith he is covered, the clothing of his body, neither hath he any other to sleep in: if he cry to me, I will hear him, because I am compassionate.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 18 (17):2; V. 2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 (DR--2-3a, 3b-4, 47, 51ab

R.  I will love thee, O Lord, my strength:

V.  I will love thee, O Lord, my strength:

     The Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer.

V.  My God is my helper, and in him will I put my trust.

     My protector and the horn of my salvation, and my support.

     Praising I will call upon the Lord:

     and I shall be saved from my enemies.

V.  The Lord liveth, and blessed be my God,

     and let the God of my salvation be exalted:

     Giving great deliverance to his king,

     and shewing mercy to David his anointed:

Second Reading:  1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10

(A)s you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes. And you became followers of us, and of the Lord; receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  So that you were made a pattern to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia, and in Achaia, but also in every place, your faith which is towards God, is gone forth, so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves relate of us, what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God. And to wait for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the dead,) Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 22:34-40

But the Pharisees hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, came together:  And one of them, a doctor of the law, asking him, tempting him:  Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop

Frist Reading:  Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace: of him that sheweth forth good, that preacheth salvation, that saith to Sion: Thy God shall reign! The voice of thy watchmen: they have lifted up their voice, they shall praise together: for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall convert Sion. Rejoice, and give praise together, O ye deserts of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people: he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath prepared his holy arm in the sight of all the Gentiles: and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.  

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 96 (95):3; V. 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

R.  Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

V.  Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle:

     sing to the Lord, all the earth.

     Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name:

V. (S)hew forth his salvation from day to day.

     Declare his glory among the Gentiles:

     his wonders among all people.

V.  Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles,

     bring ye to the Lord glory and honour:

     Bring to the Lord glory unto his name.

V.  Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned.

     For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved:

     he will judge the people with justice.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 1:14-20

And after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying: The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel. And passing by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting nets into the sea (for they were fishermen). And Jesus said to them: Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And immediately leaving their nets, they followed him. And going on from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were mending their nets in the ship:  And forthwith he called them. And leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with his hired men, they followed him.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 10/24/2025.

DR Squared: Saturday Of The Twenty-Ninth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

Frist Reading:  Ephesians 4:7-16

But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ. Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men. Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors, For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ; That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive. But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things grow up in him who is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly joined together, by what every joint supplieth, according to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in charity.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 122 (121):1; V. 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5

R.  I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord.

V.  I rejoiced at the things that were said to me:

     We shall go into the house of the Lord.

     Our feet were standing in thy courts,

     O Jerusalem.

V.  Jerusalem, which is built as a city,

     which is compact together.

     For thither did the tribes go up,

     the tribes of the Lord:

V. (T)he testimony of Israel,

     to praise the name of the Lord.

     Because their seats have sat in judgment,

     sets upon the house of David.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 13:1-9

And there were present, at that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answering, said to them: Think you that these Galileans were sinners above all the men of Galilee, because they suffered such things? No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe, and slew them: think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish. He spoke also this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. And he said to the dresser of the vineyard: Behold, for these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down therefore: why cumbereth it the ground? But he answering, said to him: Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig about it, and dung it. And if happily it bear fruit: but if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint John Of Capistrano, Priest

First Reading:  2 Corinthians 5:14-20

For the charity of Christ presseth us: judging this, that if one died for all, then all were dead. And Christ died for all; that they also who live, may not now live to themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth, we know no man according to the flesh. And if we have known Christ according to the flesh; but now we know him so no longer. If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new. But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins; and he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation. For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 16 (15):5a; V. 1b-2a, 5, 7-8, 11

R.  The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup:

V.  Preserve me, O Lord, for I have put my trust in thee.

     I have said to the Lord, thou art my God,

     The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup:

     it is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me.

V.  I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding:

     moreover my reins also have corrected me even till night.

     I set the Lord always in my sight:

     for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved.

V.  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life,

     thou shalt fill me with joy with thy countenance:

     at thy right hand are delights even to the end.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 9:57-62

And it came to pass, as they walked in the way, that a certain man said to him: I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. Jesus said to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. But he said to another: Follow me. And he said: Lord, suffer me first to go, and to bury my father. And Jesus said to him: Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou, and preach the kingdom of God. And another said: I will follow thee, Lord; but let me first take my leave of them that are at my house. Jesus said to him: No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 10/23/2025.

DR Squared: Friday Of The Twenty-Ninth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Ephesians 4:1-6

I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called, With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity. Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 24 (23):6; V. 1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R.  This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek the face of the God of            Jacob.

V.  The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof:

     the world, and all they that dwell therein.

     For he hath founded it upon the seas;

     and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

V.  Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord:

     or who shall stand in his holy place?

     The innocent in hands, and clean of heart,

     who hath not taken his soul in vain,

V.  He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,

     and mercy from God his Saviour.

     This is the generation of them that seek him,

     of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 12:54-59

And he said also to the multitudes: When you see a cloud rising from the west, presently you say: A shower is coming: and so it happeneth:  And when ye see the south wind blow, you say: There will be heat: and it cometh to pass. You hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth: but how is it that you do not discern this time? And why even of yourselves, do you not judge that which is just? And when thou goest with thy adversary to the prince, whilst thou art in the way, endeavour to be delivered from him: lest perhaps he draw thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the exacter, and the exacter cast thee into prison. I say to thee, thou shalt not go out thence, until thou pay the very last mite.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint John Paul II, Pope

First Reading:  Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace: of him that sheweth forth good, that preacheth salvation, that saith to Sion: Thy God shall reign! The voice of thy watchmen: they have lifted up their voice, they shall praise together: for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall convert Sion. Rejoice, and give praise together, O ye deserts of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people: he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath prepared his holy arm in the sight of all the Gentiles: and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 96 (95):3; V. 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8, 10

R.  Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

V.  Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle:

     sing to the Lord, all the earth.

     Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name:

V.  (S)hew forth his salvation from day to day.

     Declare his glory among the Gentiles:

     his wonders among all people.

V.  Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles,

     bring ye to the Lord glory and honour:

     Bring to the Lord glory unto his name.

V.  Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned.

     For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved:

     he will judge the people with justice.

 

Gospel Reading:  John 21:15-17

When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 10/22/2025.