DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Eighth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Sirach 35:1-12

He that keepeth the law, multiplieth offerings. It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the commandments, and to depart from all iniquity. And to depart from injustice, is to offer a propitiatory sacrifice for injustices, and a begging of pardon for sins. He shall return thanks, that offereth fine flour: and he that doth mercy, offereth sacrifice. To depart from iniquity is that which pleaseth the Lord, and to depart from injustice, is an entreaty for sins. Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of the Lord. For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of God. The oblation of the just maketh the altar fat, and is an odour of sweetness in the sight of the most High. The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will not forget the memorial thereof. Give glory to God with a good heart: and diminish not the firstfruits of thy hands. In every gift shew a cheerful countenance, and sanctify thy tithes with joy. Give to the most High according to what he hath given to thee, and with a good eye do according to the ability of thy hands:

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 50 (49):23b; V. 5-6, 7-8, 14, 23

R. (A)nd there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.

V. Gather ye together his saints to him: who set his covenant before sacrifices.

     And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge.

V. Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify to thee: I am God, thy God.

     I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices: and thy burnt offerings are always in my sight.

V. Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: and pay thy vows to the most High.

    The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: and there is the way by which I will shew him the        salvation of God.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 10:28-31

And Peter began to say unto him: Behold, we have left all things, and have followed thee. Jesus answering, said: Amen I say to you, there is no man who hath left house or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, Who shall not receive an hundred times as much, now in this time; houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions: and in the world to come life everlasting. But many that are first, shall be last: and the last, first. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Eighth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Sirach 17:20-24

But to the penitent he hath given the way of justice, and he hath strengthened them that were fainting in patience, and hath appointed to them the lot of truth. Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy sins:  Make thy prayer before the face of the Lord, and offend less. Return to the Lord, and turn away from thy injustice, and greatly hate abomination. And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high God.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 32 (31):11a; V. 1-2, 5, 6, 7

R. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just,

V. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

    Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is        no guile.

V.  I have acknowledged my sin to thee, and my injustice I have not concealed.

     I said I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord: and thou hast forgiven the       wickedness of my sin.

V. For this shall every one that is holy pray to thee in a seasonable time.

    And yet in a flood of many waters, they shall not come nigh unto him.

V. Thou art my refuge from the trouble which hath encompassed me:

     my joy, deliver me from them that surround me.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 10:17-27

And when he was gone forth into the way, a certain man running up and kneeling before him, asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may receive life everlasting? And Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? None is good but one, that is God. Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, bear not false witness, do no fraud, honour thy father and mother. But he answering, said to him: Master, all these things I have observed from my youth. And Jesus looking on him, loved him, and said to him: One thing is wanting unto thee: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. Who being struck sad at that saying, went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looking round about, saith to his disciples: How hardly shall they that have riches, enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus again answering, saith to them: Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches, to enter into the kingdom of God? It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Who wondered the more, saying among themselves: Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking on them, saith: With men it is impossible; but not with God: for all things are possible with God.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Eighth Sunday In Ordinary Time (Year C)

First Reading:  Sirach 27:4-7 (D-R:  5-8)

As when one sifteth with a sieve, the dust will remain: so will the perplexity of a man in his thoughts. The furnace trieth the potter's vessels, and the trial of affliction just men. As the dressing of a tree sheweth the fruit thereof, so a word out of the thought of the heart of man. Praise not a man before he speaketh, for this is the trial of men.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 92 (91):2a; V. 2-3, 13-14, 15-16

R. It is good to give praise to the Lord:

V. It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to thy name, O most High.

    To shew forth thy mercy in the morning, and thy truth in the night:

V. The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.

    They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of          our God.

V. They shall still increase in a fruitful old age: and shall be well treated,

    That they may shew, That the Lord our God is righteous, and there is no iniquity in him.

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 15:54-58

And when this mortal hath put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? Now the sting of death is sin: and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast and unmoveable; always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 6:39-45

And he spoke also to them a similitude: Can the blind lead the blind? do they not both fall into the ditch The disciple is not above his master: but every one shall be perfect, if he be as his master. And why seest thou the mote in thy brother's eye: but the beam that is in thy own eye thou considerest not? Or how canst thou say to thy brother: Brother, let me pull the mote out of thy eye, when thou thyself seest not the beam in thy own eye? Hypocrite, cast first the beam out of thy own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to take out the mote from thy brother's eye. For there is no good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit; nor an evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

March 2025 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

Here is the intention for this month when praying the Morning Offering:

For families in crisis. Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.

DR Squared: Saturday Of The Seventh Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Sirach 17:1-15

God created man of the earth, and made him after his own image. And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with strength according to himself. He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power over all things that are upon the earth. He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion over beasts and fowls. He created of him a helpmate like to himself: he gave them counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: and he filled them with the knowledge of understanding. He created in them the science of the spirit, he filled their heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil. He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the greatness of his works:  That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and glory in his wondrous acts, that they might declare the glorious things of his works. Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life for an inheritance. He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed them his justice and judgments. And their eye saw the majesty of his glory. and their ears heard his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity. And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his neighbour. Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from his eyes. Over every nation he set a ruler. And Israel was made the manifest portion of God.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 103 (102):17a; V. 13-14, 15-16, 17-18

R. But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear him:

V. As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that        fear him:

    For he knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust:

V. Man's days are as grass, as the flower of the field so shall he flourish.

     For the spirit shall pass in him, and he shall not be: and he shall know his place no               more.

V. But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear him:           And his justice unto children's children,

    To such as keep his covenant, And are mindful of his commandments to do them. 

Gospel Reading:  Mark 10:13-16

And they brought to him young children, that he might touch them. And the disciples rebuked them that brought them. Whom when Jesus saw, he was much displeased, and saith to them: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Amen I say to you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter into it. And embracing them, and laying his hands upon them, he blessed them.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.