Daily Mass Readings

First Reading

2 Maccabees 6:18-31

¹⁸Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh.

¹⁹But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.

²⁰And considering in what manner he was come to it, patiently bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of life.

²¹But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded of the flesh of the sacrifice:

²²That by so doing he might be delivered from death: and for the sake of their old friendship with the man they did him this courtesy.

²³But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient years, and the inbred honour of his grey head, and his good life and conversation from a child: and he answered without delay, according to the ordinances of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would rather be sent into the other world.

²⁴For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble: whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore and ten years, was gone over to the life of the heathens:

²⁵And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a corruptible life, should be deceived, and hereby I should bring a stain and a curse upon my old age.

²⁶For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the punishments of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead.

²⁷Wherefore by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew myself worthy of my old age:

²⁸And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a ready mind and constancy I suffer an honourable death, for the most venerable and most holy laws. And having spoken thus, he was forthwith carried to execution.

²⁹And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, were changed to wrath for the words he had spoken, which they thought were uttered out of arrogancy.

³⁰But when he was now ready to die with the stripes, he groaned, and said: O Lord, who hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly that whereas I might be delivered from death, I suffer grevious pains in body: but in soul am well content to suffer these things because I fear thee.

³¹Thus did this man die, leaving not only to young men, but also to the whole nation, the memory of his death for an example of virtue and fortitude.

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (Catholic canon)

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

²Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

³But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

⁴I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

⁵I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

⁶I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

⁷Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Text shown in KJV (public domain).

Gospel

Luke 19:1-10

¹And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

²And, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

³And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

⁴And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

⁵And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him,Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

⁶And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

⁷And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

⁸And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

⁹And Jesus said unto him,This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

¹⁰For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Text shown in KJV (public domain).

The readings proclaimed at Mass in the United States follow the NABRE Lectionary. Read today's official text at USCCB →

Verse text shown from public-domain translations (KJV; Douay-Rheims chain for deuterocanonical books). The text proclaimed at Mass in the United States is the NABRE Lectionary — read it at the USCCB link.