FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

INTRODUCTION

July 9, 2023

Good morning/noon/afternoon brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are now in the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The First Reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah. It talks about a Messiah, presenting Him as "king", "just savior", and "promoter of peace".

The Second Reading is taken from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans. St. Paul said to them, "the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you."

The Gospel is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest..."

Let us all stand to begin the Eucharistic celebration.

FIRST READING

Zec. 9:9-10

See, your king comes to you humbly.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah Thus says the LORD:

Thus say the lord

Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king shall come to you;

a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass.

He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior's bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.

His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14

R. (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. Every day will I bless you,

and I will praise your name forever and ever.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.

The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

The LORD is faithful in all his words

and holy in all his works.

The LORD lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

SECOND READING

Rom. 8:9, 11-13

If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters:

You are not in the flesh;

on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.

Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Consequently, brothers and sisters,

we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA

cf. Mt 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the king- dom.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Mt. 11:25-30

I am meek and humble of heart.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

At that time Jesus exclaimed:

"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father.

No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

July 9, 2023

Priest: Gathered as members of God's family, each of us burdened with a number of problems and difficulties, we turn to Jesus, the source of our home and consolation. To him we offer our petitions as we pray: LORD, MAKE US HUMBLE.

1. That the Holy Father, the Bishops, Priests, Religious men and women and the Deacons may experience the consolation of God's grace even in the midst of the difficulties they encounter in their ministry. Let us pray.

2. That all our civil leaders and other people in authority, encourage them for true and just administration for the benefit of all people. Let's pray.

3. That all those who are weary, sick at homes and in hospitals may find Jesus in the attending doctors and nurses and their relatives and experience the relief they yearn for. Let us pray.

4. That those who offered praises and gratefulness to God especially, __________ may receive humble hearts to be instruments of God's grace to the needy. Let us pray. 

5. That the faithful departed _______ especially may receive eternal rest with the angels and saints in heaven. Let us pray. 

6. In silence, let pray for our personal intentions. (Pause)

Priest: Lord Jesus, King of mercy and of all consolation, teach us to be gentle and humble of heart as you are. May we faithfully carry out our duties, so as to experience the joy of your comfort and inherit your lasting reward in heaven. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.