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

First Reading:  Isaiah 66:10-14c

Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her. That you may suck, and be filled with the breasts of her consolations: that you may milk out, and flow with delights, from the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring upon her as it were a river of peace, and as an overflowing torrent the glory of the Gentiles, which you shall suck; you shall be carried at the breasts, and upon the knees they shall caress you. As one whom the mother caresseth, so will I comfort you, and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. You shall see and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb, and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants,

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 66 (65):1; V. 1-3b, 4-5, 6-7a, 16, 20

R.  Shout with joy to God, all the earth,

V.  Shout with joy to God, all the earth,

     Sing ye a psalm to his name;

     give glory to his praise.

     Say unto God, How terrible are thy works, O Lord!

V.  Let all the earth adore thee, and sing to thee:

     let it sing a psalm to thy name.

     Come and see the works of God;

     who is terrible in his counsels over the sons of men.

 6 Who turneth the sea into dry land,

     in the river they shall pass on foot:

     there shall we rejoice in him.

     Who by his power ruleth for ever:

V.  Come and hear, all ye that fear God,

     and I will tell you what great things he hath done for my soul.

     Blessed be God, who hath not turned away

     my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

Second Reading:  Galatians 6:14-18

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me; for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

And after these things the Lord appointed also other seventy-two: and he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come. And he said to them: The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest. Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way. Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house. And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.  But into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, going forth into the streets thereof, say:  Even the very dust of your city that cleaveth to us, we wipe off against you. Yet know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand. I say to you, it shall be more tolerable at that day for Sodom, than for that city. And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying: Lord, the devils also are subject to us in thy name. And he said to them: I saw Satan like lightning falling from heaven. Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall hurt you. But yet rejoice not in this, that spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice in this, that your names are written in heaven. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

Three Squared Times The Fourth Prime

If the title of my posts have some strange numerical or mathematical connotation, it usually means just one thing:  I have made it to another birthday.

That is more than enough reason to commemorate this day.

As I thank God for the gift of my life, I hopefully have become more appreciative of what that really means. I know I have cursed the darkness I have created in it more than I have lit candles from the Light of the World to show me the Way. I think that will probably be what the rest of my life's work--to allow Him to re-create me. I just need to learn to cooperate with His grace.

Be that as it may, I still look ahead to what lies before me. Maybe with more fear and trepidation than faith and trust, but that is a life-long lesson I am only beginning to learn. There is a lot more healing of psyche and soul that needs to be done, but it is all a part of reclaiming me. I am going forward; how boldly is a question for discussion.

But the most important thing is that I am here. And that I am, flawed and imperfect as my existence has been. But I am working on taking to heart a phrase from Revelation (21:5a) proclaimed on the Fifth Sunday of Easter. (I also have to admit the timing of some Scripture the past two years has been music to me and of great consolation.)

In Latin:  Et dixit qui sedebat in throno : Ecce nova facio omnia.

In English:  The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

May I embrace that promise.

So that at this time next year I can concoct another cryptic post title.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Elizabeth Of Portugal

First Reading:  1 John 3:14-18

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself. In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 112 (111):1; V. 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9

R.  Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord:

V.  Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord:

     he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.

     His seed shall be mighty upon earth:

     the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.

V.  Glory and wealth shall be in his house:

     and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.

     To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness:

     he is merciful, and compassionate and just.

V.  Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth:

     he shall order his words with judgment:

     Because he shall not be moved for ever.

     The just shall be in everlasting remembrance:

V.  (H)e shall not fear the evil hearing.

     His heart is ready to hope in the Lord:

     His heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved

     until he look over his enemies.

V.  He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor

     his justice remaineth for ever and ever:

     his horn shall be exalted in glory.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 25:31-46

And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty. And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats:  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me. Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you covered me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me. And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest

First Reading:  2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:1-3

Hold the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith, and in the love which is in Christ Jesus. Keep the good thing committed to thy trust by the Holy Ghost, who dwelleth in us. Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus:  And the things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commend to faithful men, who shall be fit to teach others also. Labour as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R.  {Psalm 40 (39):5a}  Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord;

OR

R.  {Psalm 1:2a}  But his will is in the law of the Lord,

OR

R.  {cf. Psalm 92 (91):13-14}  The just shall flourish like the palm tree:...in the courts of the house of our God.

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:  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.

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

First Reading:  Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29

Now Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see: and he called Esau, his elder son, and said to him: My son? And he answered: Here I am. And his father said to him: Thou seest that I am old, and know not the day of my death. Take thy arms, thy quiver, and bow, and go abroad: and when thou hast taken some thing by hunting, Make me savoury meat thereof, as thou knowest I like, and bring it, that I may eat: and my soul may bless thee before I die. And when Rebecca had heard this, and he was gone into the field to fulfill his father's commandment, And she put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at home with her:  And the little skins of the kids she put about his hands, and covered the bare of his neck. And she gave him the savoury meat, and delivered him bread that she had baked. Which when he had carried in, he said: My father? But he answered: I hear. Who art thou, my son? And Jacob said: I am Esau thy firstborn: I have done as thou didst command me: arise, sit, and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said to his son: How couldst thou find it so quickly, my son? He answered: It was the will of God, that what I sought came quickly in my way. And Isaac said: Come hither, that I may feel thee, my son, and may prove whether thou be my son Esau, or not. He came near to his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said: The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob; but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he knew him not, because his hairy hands made him like to the elder. Then blessing him, He said: Art thou my son Esau? He answered: I am. Then he said: Bring me the meats of thy hunting, my son, that my soul may bless thee. And when they were brought, and he had eaten, he offered him wine also, which after he had drunk, He said to him: Come near me, and give me a kiss, my son. He came near, and kissed him. And immediately as he smelled the fragrant smell of his garments, blessing him, he said: Behold the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord hath blessed. God give thee the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, abundance of corn and wine. And let peoples serve thee, and tribes worship thee: be thou lord of thy brethren, and let thy mother's children bow down before thee. Cursed be he that curseth thee: and let him that blesseth thee be filled with blessings.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 135:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good:

V.  Praise ye the name of the Lord:

     O you his servants, praise the Lord:

     You that stand in the house of the Lord,

     in the courts of the house of our God.

V.  Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good:

     sing ye to his name, for it is sweet.

     For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself:

     Israel for his own possession.

V.  For I have known that the Lord is great,

     and our God is above all gods.

     Whatsoever the Lord hath pleased he hath done,

     in heaven, in earth, in the sea, and in all the deeps.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 9:14-17

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples do not fast? And Jesus said to them: Can the children of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast. And nobody putteth a piece of raw cloth unto an old garment. For it taketh away the fulness thereof from the garment, and there is made a greater rent. Neither do they put new wine into old bottles. Otherwise the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish. But new wine they put into new bottles: and both are preserved.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Friday Of The Thirteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67

And Sara lived a hundred and twenty-seven years. And she died in the city of Arbee which is Hebron, in the land of Chanaan: and Abraham came to mourn and weep for her. And after he rose up from the funeral obsequies, he spoke to the children of Heth, saying:  I am a stranger and sojourner among you: give me the right of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead. And so Abraham buried Sara his wife, in a double cave of the field, that looked towards Mambre, this is Hebron in the land of Chanaan. Now Abraham was old; and advanced in age: and the Lord had blessed him in all things. And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was ruler over all he had: Put thy hand under my thigh, That I may make thee swear by the Lord the God of heaven and earth, that thou take not a wife for my son, of the daughters of the Chanaanites, among whom I dwell:  But that thou go to my own country and kindred, and take a wife from thence for my son Isaac. The servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into this land, must I bring thy son back again to the place, from whence thou camest out? And Abraham said: Beware thou never bring my son back again thither. The Lord God of heaven, who took me out of my father's house, and out of my native country, who spoke to me, and swore to me, saying: To thy seed will I give this land: he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take from thence a wife for my son. At the same time Isaac was walking along the way to the well which is called Of the living and the seeing: for he dwelt in the south country. And he was gone forth to meditate in the field, the day being now well spent: and when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels coming afar off. Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel, And said to the servant: Who is that man who cometh towards us along the field? And he said to her: That man is my master. But she quickly took her cloak, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all that he had done. Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her to wife: and he loved her so much, that it moderated the sorrow which was occasioned by his mother's death. 

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5

R.  Give glory to the Lord, for he is good:

V.  Give glory to the Lord, for he is good:

     for his mercy endureth for ever.

     Who shall declare the powers of the Lord?

     who shall set forth all his praises?

V.  Blessed are they that keep judgment,

     and do justice at all times.

     Remember us, O Lord, in the favour of thy people:

V.  (V)isit us with thy salvation.

     That we may see the good of thy chosen,

     that we may rejoice in the joy of thy nation:

     that thou mayst be praised with thy inheritance.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 9:9-13

And when Jesus passed on from hence, he saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew; and he saith to him: Follow me. And he rose up and followed him. And it came to pass as he was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And the Pharisees seeing it, said to his disciples: Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners? But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Thirteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 21:5, 8-20a

When he was a hundred years old: for at this age of his father was Isaac born. And the child grew and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day of his weaning. And when Sara had seen the son of Agar the Egyptian playing with Isaac her son, she said to Abraham:  Cast out this bondwoman, and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac. Abraham took this grievously for his son. And God said to him: Let it not seem grievous to thee for the boy, and for thy bondwoman: in all that Sara hath said to thee, hearken to her voice: for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. But I will make the son also of the bondwoman a great nation, because he is thy seed. So Abraham rose up in the morning, and taking bread and a bottle of water, put it upon her shoulder, and delivered the boy, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Bersabee. And when the water in the bottle was spent, she cast the boy under one of the trees that were there.  And she went her way, and sat over against him a great way off as far as a bow can carry, for she said: I will not see the boy die: and sitting over against, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy: and an angel of God called to Agar from heaven, saying: What art thou doing, Agar? fear not: for God hath heard the voice of the boy, from the place wherein he is. Arise, take up the boy, and hold him by the hand: for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes: and she saw a well of water, and went and filled the bottle, and gave the boy to drink. And God was with him:

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 34 (33):7a; V. 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

R.  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him:

V.  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him:

     and saved him out of all his troubles.

     The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him:

     and shall deliver them.

V.  Fear the Lord, all ye his saints:

     for there is no want to them that fear him.

     The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger:

     but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.

V.  Come, children, hearken to me:

     I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

     Who is the man that desireth life:

     who loveth to see good days? 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 8:28-34

And when he was come on the other side of the water, into the country of the Gerasens, there met him two that were possessed with devils, coming out of the sepulchres, exceeding fierce, so that none could pass by that way. And behold they cried out, saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And there was, not far from them, an herd of many swine feeding. And the devils besought him, saying: If thou cast us out hence, send us into the herd of swine. And he said to them: Go. But they going out went into the swine, and behold the whole herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea: and they perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled: and coming into the city, told every thing, and concerning them that had been possessed by the devils. And behold the whole city went out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart from their coasts.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

July 2025 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

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

For formation in discernment. Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.

(UPDATE:  8/1/2025) A reflection for this intention can be found here. 

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

First Reading:  Genesis 19:15-29

And when it was morning, the angels pressed him, saying: Arise, take thy wife, and the two daughters which thou hast: lest thou also perish in the wickedness of the city. And as he lingered, they took his hand, and the hand of his wife, and of his two daughters, because the Lord spared him. And they brought him forth, and set him without the city: and there they spoke to him, saying: Save thy life: look not back, neither stay thou in all the country about: but save thyself in the mountain, lest thou be also consumed. And Lot said to them: I beseech thee my Lord, Because thy servant hath found grace before thee, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewn to me, in saving my life, and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil seize me, and I die:  There is this city here at hand, to which I may flee, it is a little one, and I shall be saved in it: is it not a little one, and my soul shall live? And he said to him: Behold also in this, I have heard thy prayers, not to destroy the city for which thou hast spoken. Make haste and be saved there, because I cannot do any thing till thou go in thither. Therefore the name of that city was called Segor. The sun was risen upon the earth, and Lot entered into Segor. And the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he destroyed these cities, and all the country about, all the inhabitants of the cities, and all things that spring from the earth. And his wife looking behind her, was turned into a statue of salt. And Abraham got up early in the morning and in the place where he had stood before with the Lord, He looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha, and the whole land of that country: and he saw the ashes rise up from the earth as the smoke of a furnace. Now when God destroyed the cities of that country, remembering Abraham, he delivered Lot out of the destruction of the cities wherein he had dwelt.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 26 (25):3a; V. 2-3, 9-10, 11-12

R.  For thy mercy is before my eyes;

V.  Prove me, O Lord, and try me;

     burn my reins and my heart.

     For thy mercy is before my eyes;

     and I am well pleased with thy truth.

V.  Take not away my soul, O God, with the wicked:

     nor my life with bloody men:

     In whose hands are iniquities:

     their right hand is filled with gifts.

V.  But as for me, I have walked in my innocence:

     redeem me, and have mercy on me.

     My foot hath stood in the direct way:

     in the churches I will bless thee, O Lord.

 Gospel Reading:  Matthew 8:23-27

And when he entered into the boat, his disciples followed him:  And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep. And they came to him, and awaked him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish. And Jesus saith to them: Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then rising up he commanded the winds, and the sea, and there came a great calm. But the men wondered, saying: What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey him?

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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

First Reading:  Genesis 18:16-33

And when the men rose up from thence, they turned their eyes towards Sodom: and Abraham walked with them, bringing them on the way. And the Lord said: Can I hide from Abraham what I am about to do:  Seeing he shall become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed? For I know that he will command his children, and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord, and do judgment and justice: that for Abraham's sake the Lord may bring to effect all the things he hath spoken unto him. And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied, and their sin is become exceedingly grievous. I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry that is come to me: or whether it be not so, that I may know. And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way to Sodom: but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord. And drawing nigh he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with the wicked? If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty just, if they be therein? Far be it from thee to do this thing, and to slay the just with the wicked, and for the just to be in like case as the wicked, this is not beseeming thee: thou who judgest all the earth, wilt not make this judgment. And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake. And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes. What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou for five and forty destroy the whole city? And he said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty. And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty. Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find thirty there. Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more: What if ten should be found there? And he said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 103 (102):8a; V. 1b-2, 3-4, 8-9, 10-11

R.  The Lord is compassionate and merciful:

V.  Bless the Lord, O my soul:

     and let all that is within me bless his holy name.

     Bless the Lord, O my soul,

     and never forget all he hath done for thee.

V.  Who forgiveth all thy iniquities:

     who healeth all thy diseases.

     Who redeemeth thy life from destruction:

     who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion.

V.  The Lord is compassionate and merciful:

     longsuffering and plenteous in mercy.

     He will not always be angry:

     nor will he threaten for ever.

V.  He hath not dealt with us according to our sins:

     nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

     For according to the height of the heaven above the earth:

     he hath strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him.  

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 8:18-22

And Jesus seeing great multitudes about him, gave orders to pass over the water. And a certain scribe came and said to him: Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou shalt go. And Jesus saith 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. And another of his disciples said to him: Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said to him: Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.