Daily Readings for August 23, 2019

1st READING 

Ruth is a good woman who is committed to her mother-in-law. She is the epitome of faithfulness and loyalty. Let us foster loyalty and faithfulness in our relationship with Jesus. May we grow in discipleship and be better witnesses to the Gospel.

Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22

1 Once in the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land; so a man from Bethlehem of Judah departed with his wife and two sons to reside on the plateau of Moab. 3 Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons, 4 who married Moabite women, one named Orpah, the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband. 6 She then made ready to go back from the plateau of Moab because word reached her there that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 14 Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her. 15 Naomi said, “See now! Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” 22 Thus it was that Naomi returned with the Moabite daughter-in- law, Ruth, who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

PSALM

Psalm 146:5-6, 6-7, 8-9, 9-10

R: Praise the Lord, my soul!

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord, his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. (R) The Lord keeps faith forever, 7 secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. (R) 8 The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord raises up those that were bowed down; the Lord loves the just. 9 The Lord protects strangers. (R) The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. 10 The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. (R)

GOSPEL

The two greatest commandments are about love of God and love of neighbor. If we always take the loving path in our relationships with God and others then we will be able to obey the rest of the commandments. Love for God and neighbor summarizes all of the commandments. May we grow in our love for God and one another.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Teach me your paths, my God, guide me in your truth.

Matthew 22:34-40

34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com