MASS READING - Tuesday 4 April 2017

Tuesday of the 5th week of Lent
 (optional commemoration of Saint Isidore, Bishop, Doctor)

Liturgical Colour: Violet.


Readings at Mass

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Entrance Antiphon
Ps 26: 14

Wait for the Lord; be strong;
be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!


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Collect

Grant us, we pray, O Lord,
perseverance in obeying your will,
that in our days the people dedicated to your service
may grow in both merit and number.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.


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First reading
Numbers 21:4-9

The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt the land of Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’
    At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.


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Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 101(102):2-3,16-21

O Lord, listen to my prayer and let my cry for help reach you.

O Lord, listen to my prayer
    and let my cry for help reach you.
Do not hide your face from me
    in the day of my distress.
Turn your ear towards me
    and answer me quickly when I call.

O Lord, listen to my prayer and let my cry for help reach you.

The nations shall fear the name of the Lord
    and all the earth’s kings your glory,
when the Lord shall build up Zion again
    and appear in all his glory.
Then he will turn to the prayers of the helpless;
    he will not despise their prayers.

O Lord, listen to my prayer and let my cry for help reach you.

Let this be written for ages to come
    that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord;
for the Lord leaned down from his sanctuary on high.
    He looked down from heaven to the earth
that he might hear the groans of the prisoners
    and free those condemned to die.

O Lord, listen to my prayer and let my cry for help reach you.


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Gospel Acclamation
Jn8:12

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!


Or

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!


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Gospel
John 8:21-30

Again Jesus said to the Pharisees:

‘I am going away;
you will look for me
and you will die in your sin.
Where I am going, you cannot come.’

The Jews said to one another, ‘Will he kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ Jesus went on:

‘You are from below; I am from above.
You are of this world; I am not of this world.
I have told you already:
You will die in your sins.
Yes, if you do not believe that I am He,
you will die in your sins.’

So they said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus answered:

‘What I have told you from the outset.
About you I have much to say
and much to condemn;
but the one who sent me is truthful,
and what I have learnt from him
I declare to the world.’

They failed to understand that he was talking to them about the Father. So Jesus said:

‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man,
then you will know that I am He
and that I do nothing of myself:
what the Father has taught me is what I preach;
he who sent me is with me,
and has not left me to myself,
for I always do what pleases him.’

As he was saying this, many came to believe in him.


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Prayer over the Offerings

We offer you, O Lord, the sacrifice of conciliation,
that, being moved to compassion,
you may both pardon our offences
and direct our wavering hearts.
Through Christ our Lord.


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Communion Antiphon
Jn 12: 32

When I am lifted up from the earth,
I will draw all to myself, says the Lord.


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Prayer after Communion

Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that, ever seeking what is divine,
we may always be worthy
to approach these heavenly gifts.
Through Christ our Lord.


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Prayer over the People

O God, who choose to show mercy not anger
to those who hope in you,
grant that your faithful may weep, as they should,
for the evil they have done,
and so merit the grace of your consolation.
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.