Friday, 16th Week in Ordinary Time -1- godgossip

OT16FR1

Friday, 16th Week in Ordinary Time -1-

Matthew 13:18-23 "The one who hears the word and understands it; this bears fruit and produces a hundred, or sixty, or thirty times more."

First Reading: Exodus 20:1-17

In those days:
God delivered all these commandments:

          "I, the Lord, am your God,
          who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me.
You shall not carve idols for yourselves
          in the shape of anything in the sky above
          or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;
          you shall not bow down before them or worship them.
For I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God,
          inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness
          on the children of those who hate me,
          down to the third and fourth generation;
          but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation
          on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.

"You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
For the Lord will not leave unpunished
          him who takes his name in vain.

"Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
Six days you may labor and do all your work,
          but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord, your God.
No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter,
          or your male or female slave, or your beast,
          or by the alien who lives with you.
In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth,
          the sea and all that is in them;
          but on the seventh day he rested.
That is why the Lord has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

"Honor your father and your mother,
          that you may have a long life in the land
          which the Lord, your God, is giving you.

"You shall not kill.

"You shall not commit adultery.

"You shall not steal.

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife,
          nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass,
          nor anything else that belongs to him."

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R./ Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the Lord is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R./ Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R./ Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the Lord are true,
all of them just.
R./ Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R./ Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:18-23

        Jesus said to his disciples, "Now listen to the parable of the sower.
When a person hears the message of the Kingdom but without taking it to himself, the devil comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed that fell along the footpath.

        The seed that fell on rocky ground stands for the one who hears the word and accepts it at once with joy. But this fickle and has no roots. No sooner is he harassed or persecuted because of the word, than he gives up.

        The seed that fell among the thistles is the one who hears the word, but then the worries of this life and the love of money choke the word, and it does not bear fruit.

        As for the seed that fell on good soil it is the one who hears the word and understands it; this bears fruit and produces a hundred, or sixty, or thirty times more."