Neh 8:1-4a.5-6.7b-12; Luke 10

The Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest & Doctor of the Church
Readings on p.1318 and Antiphons on p 1768 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon
Blessed indeed is the man who ponders the law of the Lord day and night: he will yield his fruit in due season.

First Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-4a.5-6.7b-12

A reading from the Book of Nehemiah.

In those days:
All the people gathered as one man
into the square before the Water Gate,
and they told Ezra the scribe
to bring the book of the law of Moses
which the Lord had given to Israel.
And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
both men and women
and all who could hear with understanding,
on the first day of the seventh month.
And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate
from early morning until midday,
in the presence of the men and the women
and those who could understand;
and the ears of all the people
were attentive to the book of the law.
And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit
which they had made for the purpose.

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people,
for he was above all the people;
and when he opened it all the people stood.
And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God;
and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,”
lifting up their hands;
and they bowed their heads
and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Also the Levites, helped the people to understand the law,
while the people remained in their places.
And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly;
and they gave the sense
so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor,
and Ezra the priest and scribe,
and the Levites who taught the people
said to all the people,
“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn or weep.”
For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
Then he said to them, “Go your way,
eat the fat and drink sweet wine
and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord,
and do not be grieved,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

So the Levites stilled all the people, saying,
“Be quiet, for this day is holy;
do not be grieved.”

And all the people went their way to eat and drink
and to send portions and to make great rejoicing
because they had understood the words
that were declared to them.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8.9.10.11 (R. 9ab)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. The precepts of the Lord are right;
they gladden the heart.

The law of the Lord is perfect;
it revives the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are steadfast;
they give wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right;
they gladden the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear;
it gives light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
abiding forever.
The judgments of the Lord are true;
they are, all of them, just.

They are more to be desired than gold,
than quantities of gold.
And sweeter are they than honey,
than honey flowing from the comb.

R/. The precepts of the Lord are right;
they gladden the heart.

Please stand for the Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.
The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 10:1-12

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

At that time:
The Lord appointed seventy others
and sent them on ahead of him, two by two,
into every town and place where he himself was about to come.
And he said to them,
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few;
pray therefore the Lord of the harvest
to send out labourers into his harvest.
Go your way;
behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals;
and salute no one on the road.
Whatever house you enter,
first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’
And if a child of peace is there,
your peace shall rest upon him;
but if not, it shall return to you.

And remain in the same house,
eating and drinking what they provide,
for the labourer deserves his wages;
do not go from house to house.

Whenever you enter a town and they receive you,
eat what is set before you;
heal the sick in it and say to them,
‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you,
go into its streets and say,
‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet,
we wipe off against you;
nevertheless know this,
that the kingdom of God has come near.’

I tell you,
it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom
than for that town.

The Gospel of the Lord

Communion Antiphon
Lord God, your words were found and I consumed them; your word became the joy and the happiness of my heart.