Wednesday, 21 August 2024
Wednesday, 20th Week of Ordinary Time – Year II
Memorial St Pius X, Pope
Antiphons on p. 1916 and Readings on p. 1180 of the Daily Missal.
Entrance Antiphon.
The Lord chose him for himself as high priest, and opening his treasure house, made him rich in all good things.
First Reading: Ezekiel 34:1-11
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel.
The word of the Lord came to me:
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,
prophesy, and say to them
even to the shepherds:
Thus says the Lord God:
Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves!
Should not shepherds feed the sheep?
You eat the fat,
you clothe yourselves with the wool,
you slaughter the fatlings,
but you do not feed the sheep.
The weak you have not strengthened,
the sick you have not healed,
the crippled you have not bound up,
the strayed you have not brought back,
the lost you have not sought,
and with force and harshness, you have ruled them.
So they were scattered,
because there was no shepherd;
and they became food for all the wild beasts.
My sheep were scattered,
they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill;
my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth,
with no one to search or seek for them.
Therefore, you shepherds,
hear the word of the Lord:
As I live, says the Lord God,
because my sheep have become a prey,
and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts,
since there was no shepherd;
and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep,
but the shepherds have fed themselves,
and have not fed my sheep;
therefore, you shepherds,
hear the word of the Lord:
Thus says the Lord God,
Behold, I am against the shepherds;
and I will require my sheep at their hand,
and put a stop to their feeding the sheep;
no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves.
I will rescue my sheep from their mouths,
that they may not be food for them.
For thus says the Lord God:
Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep,
and will seek them out.”
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3a.3b-4.5.6 (R. 1)
Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm
R/. The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall not want.
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me;
he revives my soul.
He guides me along the right path,
for the sake of his name.
Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
no evil would I fear, for you are with me.
Your crook and your staff will give me comfort.
You have prepared a table before me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
for length of days unending.
R/. The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall not want.
Please stand for the Gospel.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
The word of the Lord is living and active, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16a
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
At that time:
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder
