First Reading

First reading

Reading from the book of Jeremiah

Jeremiah 20, 7-9

You seduced me, Lord, and I let myself be seduced;
you were stronger than I, and you prevailed.
I have become a laughingstock to all;
day after day they mock me.
Since I began to speak,
I have had to cry out violence and destruction.
For proclaiming the word of the Lord,
I have become an object of reproach and derision all day long.
I said to myself, «I will no longer remember the Lord
nor speak in his name again.»
But within me there was like a burning fire,
shut up in my bones;
I tried to contain it, and I could not.

Second reading

Reading from the letter of the apostle Saint Paul to the Romans

Romans 12, 1-2

Brothers and sisters: By the mercy that God has shown you, I urge you to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, for this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but let a new way of thinking transform you inwardly, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 16, 21-27

At that time, Jesus began to announce to his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem to suffer much at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes; that he had to be condemned to death and rise on the third day.

Peter took him aside and tried to dissuade him, saying: «God forbid, Lord; this must not happen to you.» But Jesus turned to Peter and said: «Get behind me, Satan, and do not try to make me stumble on my path, for your way of thinking is not God’s, but men’s!»

Then Jesus said to his disciples: «Whoever wants to come with me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

For the Son of Man will come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to what their deeds deserve.»