Readings for
Sunday, June 20, 1999
Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading

Jeremiah 20:10-13 (94)

10

For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! "Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" say all my familiar friends, watching for my fall. "Perhaps he will be deceived, then we can overcome him, and take our revenge on him."

11

But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.

12

O LORD of hosts, who triest the righteous, who seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I committed my cause.

13

Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 69:8-17,33-35

8

I have become a stranger to my brethren, an alien to my mother's sons.

9

For zeal for thy house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me.

10

When I humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.

11

When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

12

I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.

13

But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of thy steadfast love answer me. With thy faithful help

14

rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.

15

Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.

16

Answer me, O LORD, for thy steadfast love is good; according to thy abundant mercy, turn to me.

17

Hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in distress, make haste to answer me.

33

For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds.

34

Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves therein.

35

For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; and his servants shall dwell there and possess it;

Second Reading

Romans 5:12-15

12

Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned--

13

sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

14

Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

Gospel

Matthew 10:26-33

26

"So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

27

What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops.

28

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

29

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will.

30

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

31

Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

32

So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven;

33

but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.