Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent (March 18)

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/20:10 JER 20:10-13 I hear the whisperings of manyand Terror on every side!Denounce! let us denounce him!”All those who were my friendsare on the watch for any misstep of mine. Perhaps he will be trapped then we can prevail,and take our vengeance on him.”But the LORD is with me, like a mighty championandmy persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.In their failure they will be put to utter shame,to lasting, unforgettable confusion.O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,who probe mind and heart,Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,for to you I have entrusted my cause.Sing to the LORD,praise the LORD,For he has rescued the life of the poorfrom the power of the wicked! Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/18:2 PS 18:2-3A, 3BC-4, 5-6, 7 R. (see 7)In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice. I love you, O LORD, my strength,O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.R.In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.My God, my rock of refuge,my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,and I am safe from my enemies. R.In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice. The breakers of death surged round about me,the destroying floods overwhelmed meThe cords of the nether world enmeshed me,the snares of death overtook me. R.In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice. In my distress I called upon the LORDand cried out to my GodFrom his temple he heard my voice,and my cry to him reached his ears. R.In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice. Verse Before TheGospel and//usccb.org/bible/john/6and63 SEE JN 6and63C, 68C Your words, Lord, are Spirit and lifeyou have the words of everlasting life. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/john/10:31 JN 10:31-42 The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.Jesus answered them, I have shown you many good works from my Father.For which of these are you trying to stone me?”The Jews answered him, We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.You, a man, are making yourself God.”Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,and Scripture cannot be set aside,can you say that the onewhom the Father has consecrated and sent into the worldblasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe mebut if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,believe the works, so that you may realize and understandthat the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”Then they tried again to arrest himbut he escaped from their power.He went back across the Jordanto the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.Many came to him and said, John performed no sign,but everything John said about this man was true.”And many there began to believe in him.