22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - A

Lectionary: 124

FIRST READING (Jeremiah 20:7-9)

“The word of the Lord has become a reproach for me.”

A reading from the Book of Jeremiah

O LORD, you have deceived me,

and I was deceived;

you are stronger than I,

  and you have prevailed.

I have become a laughingstock all the day;

  every one mocks me.

For whenever I speak, I cry out,

  I shout, “Violence and destruction!”

For the word of the LORD has become for me

  a reproach and derision all day long.

If I say, “I will not mention him,

  or speak any more in his name,”

there is in my heart as it were a burning fire

  shut up in my bones,

and I am weary with holding it in,

  and I cannot.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 63:2, 3–4, 5–6, 8–9 (R. see 2ab)

℟ For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.

O God, you are my God; at dawn I seek you;

for you my soul is thirsting.

For you my flesh is pining,

like a dry, weary land without water. ℟

I have come before you in the sanctuary,

to behold your strength and your glory.

Your loving mercy is better than life;

my lips will speak your praise. ℟ 

I will bless you all my life;

in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul shall be filled as with a banquet;

with joyful lips, my mouth shall praise you. ℟

For you have been my strength;

in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

My soul clings fast to you;

your right hand upholds me. ℟

SECOND READING (Romans 12:1–2) 

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.”

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans

I appeal to you, brethren, by the mercies of God,

to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,

holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this world

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

that you may prove what is the will of God,

what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation (Ephesians 1:17–18) 

ALLELUIA  

℣. Alleluia.  ℟. Alleluia.  

℣. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

enlighten the eyes of our hearts

that we might know what is the hope

to which he has called us.

 ℟. Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Matthew 16:21–27

“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself.”

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew  

At that time:

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem

and suffer many things from the elders

and chief priests and scribes,

and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying,

“God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”

But he turned and said to Peter,

“Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me;

for you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

Then Jesus told his disciples,

"If any man would come after me,

let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

For whoever would save his life will lose it,

and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

For what will it profit a man,

if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?

Or what shall a man give in return for his life?

For the Son of man is to come with his angels

in the glory of his Father,

and then he will repay every man for what he has done."

The Gospel of the Lord.