Responsorial Psalm
Bless the Lord, my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, my soul,
and do not forget all his kindness;
he forgives all your sins and heals all your sickness;
he redeems your life from destruction and crowns you with love and compassion;
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
abounding in love and slow to anger;
He does not treat us according to our sins,
nor does he punish us as we deserve.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove from us our sins.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord pities those who fear him.
2nd. READING (1Cor 15,45-49)
Scripture says that Adam, the first human being, was given natural life; but the last
Adam has become spirit that gives life. The spirit does not appear first, but the natural
life, and afterwards comes the spirit. The first man comes from the earth and is
earthly, while the second one comes from heaven. As it was with the earthly one, so is
it with the earthly people. As it is with Christ, so with the heavenly. This is why, after
bearing the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.
Gospel
But I say to you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
Bless those who curse you and pray for those who treat you badly. To the one who
strikes you on the cheek, turn the other cheek; from the one who takes your coat, do
not keep back your shirt. Give to the one who asks and if anyone has taken something
from you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have others do to you. If
you love only those who love you, what kind of graciousness is yours? Even sinners
love those who love them. If you do favors to those who are good to you, what kind of
graciousness is yours? Even sinners do the same. If you lend only when you expect to
receive, what kind of graciousness is yours? For sinners also lend to sinners, expecting
to receive something in return. But love your enemies and do good to them, and lend
when there is nothing to expect in return. Then will your reward be great and you will
be sons and daughters of the Most High. For he is kind towards the ungrateful and the
wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Don't be a judge of others and
you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and
you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your
sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give
will be the measure you receive back."
