Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/nehemiah/2and1 NEH 2and1-8 In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,when the wine was in my charge,I took some and offered it to the king.As I had never before been sad in his presence,the king asked me, Why do you look sad?If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart.”Though I was seized with great fear, I answered the kingand May the king live forever!How could I not look sadwhen the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins,and its gates have been eaten out by fire?”The king asked me, What is it, then, that you wish?”I prayed to the God of heaven and then answered the kingand If it please the king,and if your servant is deserving of your favor,send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ graves,to rebuild it.”Then the king, and the queen seated beside him,asked me how long my journey would takeand when I would return.I set a date that was acceptable to him,and the king agreed that I might go.I asked the king furtherand If it please the king,let letters be given to me for the governorsof West-of-Euphrates,that they may afford me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judahalso a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the royal park,that he may give me wood for timbering the gatesof the temple-citadel and for the city walland the house that I shall occupy.”The king granted my requests,for the favoring hand of my God was upon me. Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/137and1 PS 137and1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you! By the streams of Babylonwe sat and weptwhen we remembered Zion.On the aspens of that landwe hung up our harps. R.Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you! Though there our captors asked of usthe lyrics of our songs,And our despoilers urged us to be joyousand Sing for us the songs of Zion!” R.Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you! How could we sing a song of the LORDin a foreign land?If I forget you, Jerusalem,may my right hand be forgotten! R.Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you! May my tongue cleave to my palateif I remember you not,If I place not Jerusalemahead of my joy. R.Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you! Alleluia and//usccb.org/bible/philippians/3and8 PHIL 3and8-9 R.Alleluia, alleluia.I consider all things so much rubbishthat I may gain Christ and be found in him.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/luke/9:57 LK 9:57-62 As Jesus and his disciples were proceedingon their journey, someone said to him, I will follow you wherever you go.”Jesus answered him, Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”And to another he said, Follow me.”But he replied, Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”But he answered him, Let the dead bury their dead.But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”And another said, I will follow you, Lord,but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”Jesus answered him, No one who sets a hand to the plowand looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”