First Reading

Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Cor 3: 15 — 4: 1, 3-6)

God has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God.

Brothers and sisters:
To this day, whenever Moses is read,
a veil lies over the hearts of the children of Israel,
but whenever a person turns to the Lord the veil is removed.
Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom.
All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,
as from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us,
we are not discouraged.
And even though our Gospel is veiled,
it is veiled for those who are perishing,
in whose case the god of this age
has blinded the minds of the unbelievers,
so that they may not see the light of the Gospel
of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,
and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.
For God who said, Let light shine out of darkness,
has shone in our hearts to bring to light
the knowledge of the glory of God
on the face of Jesus Christ.

— The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 85: 9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14

The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.

Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.

I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew (Mt 5: 20-26)

Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother,
Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool’ ,will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

— The Gospel of the Lord.

First Reading

Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Cor 3: 4-11)

He has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit.

Brothers and sisters:
Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit
for anything as coming from us;
rather, our qualification comes from God,
who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant,
not of letter but of spirit;
for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious
that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses
because of its glory that was going to fade,
how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious?
For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious,
the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory.
Indeed, what was endowed with glory
has come to have no glory in this respect
because of the glory that surpasses it.
For if what was going to fade was glorious,
how much more will what endures be glorious.

— The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 99: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Holy is the Lord our God.

Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.

O LORD, our God, you answered them;
a forgiving God you were to them,
though requiting their misdeeds.

Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.

Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.

Teach me your paths, my God,
and guide me in your truth.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew (Mt 5: 17-19)

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

— The Gospel of the Lord.

First Reading

Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Cor 1: 18-22)

Jesus Christ was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him.

Brothers and sisters:
As God is faithful, our word to you is not “yes” and “no.”
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us,
Silvanus and Timothy and me,
was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him.
For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him;
therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.
But the one who gives us security with you in Christ
and who anointed us is God;
he has also put his seal upon us
and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.

— The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 119: 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135

Lord, let your face shine on me.

Wonderful are your decrees;
therefore I observe them.

The revelation of your words sheds light,
gives understanding to the simple.

I gasp with open mouth
in my yearning for your commands.

Turn to me in pity
as you turn to those who love your name.

Steady my footsteps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity rule over me.

Let your countenance shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.

Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.

Let your light shine before others
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew (Mt 5: 13-16)

You are the light of the world.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”

— The Gospel of the Lord.