Friday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/deuteronomy/4:32 DT 4:32-40 Moses said to the peopleand Ask now of the days of old, before your time,ever since God created man upon the earthask from one end of the sky to the otherandDid anything so great ever happen before?Was it ever heard of?Did a people ever hear the voice of Godspeaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himselffrom the midst of another nation,by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,all of which the LORD, your God,did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?All this you were allowed to seethat you might know the LORD is God and there is no other.Out of the heavens he let you hear his voice to discipline youon earth he let you see his great fire,and you heard him speaking out of the fire.For love of your fathers he chose their descendantsand personally led you out of Egypt by his great power,driving out of your way nations greater and mightier than you,so as to bring you inand to make their land your heritage, as it is today.This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart,that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below,and that there is no other.You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today,that you and your children after you may prosper,and that you may have long life on the landwhich the LORD, your God, is giving you forever.” Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/77:12 PS 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 AND 21 R. (12a)I remember the deeds of the Lord.I remember the deeds of the LORDyes, I remember your wonders of old.And I meditate on your worksyour exploits I ponder.R.I remember the deeds of the Lord.O God, your way is holywhat great god is there like our God?You are the God who works wondersamong the peoples you have made known your power.R.I remember the deeds of the Lord.With your strong arm you redeemed your people,the sons of Jacob and Joseph.You led your people like a flockunder the care of Moses and Aaron.R.I remember the deeds of the Lord. Alleluia and//www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5:10 MT 5:10 R.Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousnessfor theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/16:24 MT 16:24-28 Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me.For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.What profit would there be for one to gain the whole worldand forfeit his life?Or what can one give in exchange for his life?For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,and then he will repay each according to his conduct.Amen, I say to you, there are some standing herewho will not taste deathuntil they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”