March 6, 2011 - Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading

Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32

 

Moses told the people,

"Take these words of mine into your heart and soul.

Bind them at your wrist as a sign,

and let them be a pendant on your forehead.

 

"I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a curse:

a blessing for obeying the commandments of the LORD, your God,

which I enjoin on you today;

a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,

but turn aside from the way I ordain for you today,

to follow other gods, whom you have not known."

 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 31:2-4, 17, 25

 

R. Lord, be my rock of safety.

 

In you, O LORD, I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

In your justice rescue me,

incline your ear to me,

make haste to deliver me!

 

R. Lord, be my rock of safety.

 

Be my rock of refuge,

a stronghold to give me safety.

You are my rock and my fortress;

for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.

 

R. Lord, be my rock of safety.

 

Let your face shine upon your servant;

save me in your kindness.

Take courage and be stouthearted,

all you who hope in the LORD.

 

R. Lord, be my rock of safety.

 

Second Reading

Romans 3:21-25, 28

 

Brothers and sisters,

Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,

though testified to by the law and the prophets,

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ

for all who believe.

For there is no distinction;

all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.

They are justified freely by his grace

through the redemption in Christ Jesus,

whom God set forth as an expiation,

through faith, by his blood.

For we consider that a person is justified by faith

apart from works of the law.

 

Gospel

Matthew 7:21-27

 

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'

will enter the kingdom of heaven,

but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day,

'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?

Did we not drive out demons in your name?

Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?'

Then I will declare to them solemnly,

'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'

 

"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them

will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

The rain fell, the floods came,

and the winds blew and buffeted the house.

But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.

And everyone who listens to these words of mine

but does not act on them

will be like a fool who built his house on sand.

The rain fell, the floods came,

and the winds blew and buffeted the house.

And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

 

Readings taken from: Lectionary for Mass. National Conference of Catholic Bishop.