Thursday after Pentecost: FEAST OF JESUS CHRIST, ETERNAL AND HIGH PRIEST MASS PRAYERS AND READINGS.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Iurávit Dóminus et non paenitébit eum: Tu es sacérdos in aetérnum secúndum órdinem Melchísedech.
The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change: You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
[–» Greeting]
COLLECT
O God, who for your glory and the salvation of the human race willed to establish Christ as the eternal High Priest, grant that the people he has gained for you by his Blood, through their participation in his memorial, may experience the power of his Cross and Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you.
Proper Readings
Year A
First Reading Genesis 22:9–18
The sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith.
A reading from the Book of Genesis
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’
And he said, ‘Here am I.’
He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’ And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord will provide; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’ And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, ‘By myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore.
And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.’ The word of the Lord.
Or:
First Reading Hebrews 10:4–10
It is written of me in the roll of the book: I have come to do you will, O God.
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews
For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, “Lo, I have come to do your will, O God,” as it is written of me in the roll of the book.’ When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings’ (these are offered according to the law), then he added, ‘Lo, I have come to do your will.’ He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 40(39):7-8a, 10-11ab, 17 (± 8a, 9a)
± Behold I have come, Lord, to do your will.
You delight not in sacrifice and offering, but in an open ear.
You do not ask for holocaust and sin offering. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come.’
Your righteousness I have proclaimed in the great assembly. My lips I have not sealed; you know it, O Lord. Your saving help I have not hidden in my heart; of your faithfulness and salvation I have spoken, O let there be rejoicing and gladness for all who seek you,
Let them ever say, ‘The Lord is great,’ who long for your salvation.
Alleluia Philippians 2:8–9
± Alleluia.
Christ became obedient for us unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has exalted him and given him a name which is above every name.
± Alleluia.
Gospel Matthew 26:36-42
My soul is sorrowful unto death.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus went with the disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here, while I go yonder and pray.’ And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’
And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’
Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done.’ The Gospel of the Lord.
Year B
First Reading Jeremiah 31:31-34
I will make a new covenant with them; I will remember their sins no more.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah
‘Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
And no longer shall each man teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’ The word of the Lord.
Or:
First Reading Hebrews 10:11-18
He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews
Every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet.
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,’
then he adds,
‘I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more.’
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 110(109):1b-e, 2, 3 (± 4b)
± You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Lord’s revelation to my lord:
‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your foes your footstool.’
The Lord will send from Zion your sceptre of power: rule in the midst of your foes.
With you is princely rule on the day of your power.
In holy splendour, from the womb before the dawn, I have begotten you.
Alleluia Hebrews 5:8-9
± Alleluia.
Since he was Son, He learned obedience through those things which he suffered, and having been made perfect, he has become for all who obey him the author of eternal salvation.
± Alleluia.
Gospel Mark 14:22-25
This is my body. This is my blood.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them,
and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.
And he said to them,
‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’ The Gospel of the Lord.
Year C
First Reading Isaiah 6:1-4, 8 Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of hosts.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.
Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ The word of the Lord.
Or:
First Reading Hebrews 2:10-18
He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin.
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews
It was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin.
That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying,
‘I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’ And again,‘I will put my trust in him.’
And again, ‘Here am I, and the children God has given me.’ Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.
For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham.
Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people.
For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23 (22):2-3, 5, 6 (±1)
± The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me; he revives my soul.
He guides me along the right path, for the sake of his name.
You have prepared a table before me in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for length of days unending.
Alleluia Ezekiel 36:25a, 26a
± Alleluia.
I will pour clean water upon you and I will give you a new heart; a new spirit I will put within you.
± Alleluia.
Gospel John 17:1-2, 9, 14-26
For their sake I consecrate myself, so that they may also be consecrated in truth.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said,
‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you did send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth.
‘I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which you have given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you; and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
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PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that we may participate worthily in these mysteries, for whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated the work of our redemption is accomplished. Through Christ our Lord.
[–» Eucharistic Prayer]
[–» Preface of the Most Holy Eucharist]
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Hoc Corpus, quod pro vobis tradétur; hic calix novi testaménti est in meo Sánguine, dicit Dóminus. Hoc fácite quotiescúmque súmitis, in meam commemoratiónem.
This is the Body that will be given up for you; this is the Chalice of the new covenant in my Blood, says the Lord; do this, whenever you receive, in memory of me.
[–» Communion]
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
We pray, O Lord, that through our partaking in this sacrifice, which your Son commanded to be offered in his memory, you may make us together with him an everlasting oblation to you. Through Christ our Lord.
[–» Concluding Rite]
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