Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/ezra/6and7 EZR 6and7-8, 12B, 14-20 King Darius issued an order to the officialsof West-of-Euphratesand Let the governor and the elders of the Jewscontinue the work on that house of Godthey are to rebuild it on its former site.I also issue this decreeconcerning your dealing with these elders of the Jewsin the rebuilding of that house of GodandFrom the royal revenue, the taxes of West-of-Euphrates,let these men be repaid for their expenses, in full and without delay.I, Darius, have issued this decreelet it be carefully executed.”The elders of the Jews continued to make progress in the building,supported by the message of the prophets,Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo.They finished the building according to the commandof the God of Israeland the decrees of Cyrus and Dariusand of Artaxerxes, king of Persia.They completed this house on the third day of the month Adar,in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.The children of Israel–priests, Levites,and the other returned exiles–celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.For the dedication of this house of God,they offered one hundred bulls,two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs,together with twelve he-goats as a sin-offering for all Israel,in keeping with the number of the tribes of Israel.Finally, they set up the priests in their classesand the Levites in their divisionsfor the service of God in Jerusalem,as is prescribed in the book of Moses.The exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.The Levites, every one of whom had purified himself for the occasion,sacrificed the Passover for the rest of the exiles,for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/122:1 PS 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5 R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. I rejoiced because they said to me, We will go up to the house of the LORD.”And now we have set footwithin your gates, O Jerusalem. R.Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. Jerusalem, built as a citywith compact unity.To it the tribes go up,the tribes of the LORD. R.Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. According to the decree for Israel,to give thanks to the name of the LORD.In it are set up judgment seats,seats for the house of David. R.Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. Alleluia and//usccb.org/bible/luke/11:28 LK 11:28 R.Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are those who hear the word of Godand observe it.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/luke/8:19 LK 8:19-21 The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to himbut were unable to join him because of the crowd.He was told, Your mother and your brothers are standing outsideand they wish to see you.”He said to them in reply, My mother and my brothersare those who hear the word of God and act on it.”