HOLY MASS READINGS FOR AUGUST 18, 2024

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B   (Green)

Mass of the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

LH: Office of the Twentieth Sunday, Week IV

Gloria, Creed, Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING
“Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.”
A reading from the Book of Proverbs (Proverbs 9: 1-6)

Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids to call from the highest places in the town, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” to him who is without sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm 34: 1-2.9-10.11- 12.13- 14 (R. 1)

R/. Taste and see that the Lord is good!

I will bless the Lord at all times,
praise of him is always in my mouth.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast;
the humble shall hear and be glad. R/.

Fear the Lord, you his holy ones.
They lack nothing, those who fear him.
The rich suffer want and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing. R/.

Come, children, and hear me,
that I may teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is it that desires life
and longs to see prosperous days? R/.

Guard your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn aside from evil and do good.
Seek after peace, and pursue it. R/.

SECOND READING
“Understand what the will of the Lord is.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 5:15-20)

Look carefully, brethren, how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

The word of the Lord.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 

John 6:56

Alleluia. 

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him, says the Lord. 

Alleluia.

 GOSPEL
“My flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 6:5 1-58)

At that time: Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.”

The Gospel of the Lord