First Reading
Jer 20, 10-13
Jeremiah said: I hear many people whispering, "Terror is all around! Denounce him!
Yes, denounce him!" All my friends watch me to see if I will slip: "Perhaps he can be
deceived," they say; "then we can get the better of him and have our revenge." But
Yahweh, a mighty warrior, is with me. My persecutors will stumble and not prevail;
that failure will be their shame and their disgrace will never be forgotten. Yahweh,
God of hosts, you test the just and probe the heart and mind. Let me see your revenge
on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause. Sing to Yahweh! Praise Yahweh and
say: he has rescued the poor from the clutches of the wicked!
Responsorial Psalm
Since I am held in contempt for your sake,
and shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my kindred,
an alien to my mother's sons.
Zeal for your house consumes me
as fire and those
who insult you insult me as well.
But I pray to you, O Lord,
at a time most favourable to you.
In your great love, O God,
answer me with your unfailing help.
In your mercy, O Lord,
give me a good answer;
in your great compassion, turn to me.
Let the lowly witness this and be glad.
You who seek God, may your hearts be revived.
For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise those in captivity.
Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and whatever moves in them.
Second Reading
Rom 5, 12-15
Sin entered the world through one man and through sin, death, and later on death
spread to all humankind, because all sinned. As long as there was no law, they could
not speak of disobedience, but sin was already in the world. This is why from Adam
to Moses death reigned among them, although their sin was not disobedience as in
Adam's case - this was not the true Adam, but foretold the other who was to come.
Such has been the fall, but God's gift goes far beyond. Multitudes die because of the
fault of one man, but how much more does the grace of God spread when the gift he
granted reaches the multitudes, from this unique man Jesus Christ.
Gospel
Mt 10, 26-33
Jesus instructed the Twelve as fallows: “Do not be afraid. For everything that is now
covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I am
telling you in the dark, you must speak in the light. What you hear in private, proclaim
from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but have no power to
kill the soul. Rather be afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. For
only a few cents you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground
without your Father's consent. As for you, every hair of your head has been counted.
So do not be afraid: you are worth much more than many sparrows. Whoever
acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
Whoever rejects me before others I will reject before my Father in heaven.