FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME ( 29 January 2023)
FIRST READING (I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly.)
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah (2:3; 3:12-13)
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.
But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord: the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; they shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them. —The Word of the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10)
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs! (Mt 5:3)
Or Alleluia.
The Lord keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. (R)
The Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord raises up those who were bowed down. The Lord loves the just; the Lord protects strangers. (R)
The fatherless and the widow the Lord sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. (R)
SECOND READING (God chose the weak of the world.)
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1:26-31)
Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.” —The Word of the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Mt 5:12a)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad; your reward will be great in heaven. (R)
GOSPEL (Blessed are the poor in spirit.)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (5:1-12a)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” —The Gospel of the Lord.
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Priest: Gathered together by Christ, let us call to mind our Heavenly Father’s many blessings and ask him to hear the prayers which we now make.
Prayers
1. That the Church will continue to preach the word of God with integrity and responsibility, (pause) let us pray to the Lord.
2. That those who lead the nations will be true peacemakers, (pause) let us pray to the Lord.
3. That those persecuted for what is right will rejoice in Christ’s promise of salvation, (pause) let us pray to the Lord.
4. That God may bestow his abundant grace upon us so that we will have the strength to submit to His will, (pause) let us pray to the Lord.
5. That those who have died, especially our loved ones, may find that the kingdom of heaven is theirs, (pause) let us pray to the Lord.
Priest: Heavenly Father, as we strive to do your will, receive these prayers we offer you. In your love, make up for what is lacking in our faith. We ask this, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
