Readings: St. Theresa of Jesus, Memorial

First Reading: Galatians  4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1

Brothers and sisters: 
It is written that Abraham had two sons, 
          one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman. 
The son of the slave woman was born naturally, 
          the son of the freeborn through a promise. 
Now this is an allegory. 
These women represent two covenants. 
One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; 
          this is Hagar. 
But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother. 
For it is written: 
                    Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children; 
                              break forth and shout, you who were not in labor; 
                    for more numerous are the children of the deserted one 
                              than of her who has a husband. 
Therefore, brothers and sisters, 
          we are children not of the slave woman 
          but of the freeborn woman. 
  
For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm 
          and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7

R./ Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.   or: Alleluia.

Praise, you servants of the Lord, 
          praise the name of the Lord. 
Blessed be the name of the Lord 
          both now and forever. 
R./ Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.   or: Alleluia.

From the rising to the setting of the sun 
          is the name of the Lord to be praised. 
High above all nations is the Lord; 
          above the heavens is his glory. 
R./ Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.   or: Alleluia.

Who is like the Lord, our God, 
          who looks upon the heavens and the earth below? 
He raises up the lowly from the dust; 
          from the dunghill he lifts up the poor. 
R./ Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.   or: Alleluia.

Gospel Introduction
      Jesus reprimands the Jews for not believing unless they see spectacular signs. But Christ proclaims that faith consists in trust in the word and in the person of the one who is sent. The early Christian community specified further: faith rests in confidence in the risen Christ. The preeminent sign is Jesus Christ himself. We believe not because of this or that wonder or proof but because Jesus makes God visible to us.

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:29-32

As the crowd increased, Jesus began to speak in this way, "People of the present time are evil people. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be a sign for this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here there is greater than Solomon. The people of Nineveh will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for Jonah's preaching made them turn from their sins, and here there is greater than Jonah."