Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/judges/2:11 JGS 2:11-19 The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals.Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers,who led them out of the land of Egypt,they followed the other gods of the various nations around them,and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtaroth,the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel,and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them.He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies round aboutwhom they were no longer able to withstand.Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them,as in his warning he had sworn he would do,till they were in great distress.Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver themfrom the power of their despoilers,they did not listen to their judges,but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods.They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken,and did not follow their example of obedienceto the commandments of the LORD.Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judgeand save them from the power of their enemiesas long as the judge livedit was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful criesof affliction under their oppressors.But when the judge died,they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors,following other gods in service and worship,relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct. Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/106:34 PS 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43AB AND 44 R. (4a)Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.They did not exterminate the peoples,as the LORD had commanded them,But mingled with the nationsand learned their works.R.Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.They served their idols,which became a snare for them.They sacrificed their sonsand their daughters to demons.R.Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.They became defiled by their works,and wanton in their crimes.And the LORD grew angry with his people,and abhorred his inheritance.R.Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.Many times did he rescue them,but they embittered him with their counsels.Yet he had regard for their afflictionwhen he heard their cry.R.Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people. Alleluia and//www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5and3 MT 5and3 R.Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are the poor in spiritfor theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19:16 MT 19:16-22 A young man approached Jesus and said, Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”He answered him, Why do you ask me about the good?There is only One who is good.If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”He asked him, Which ones?”And Jesus replied, You shall not killyou shall not commit adulteryyou shall not stealyou shall not bear false witnesshonor your father and your motherand you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”The young man said to him, All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”Jesus said to him, If you wish to be perfect, go,sell what you have and give to the poor,and you will have treasure in heaven.Then come, follow me.”When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,for he had many possessions.