Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

First reading

Isaiah 61:1-3

He has sent me to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,
to bind up hearts that are broken;

to proclaim liberty to captives,
freedom to those in prison;
to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord,
a day of vengeance for our God,

to comfort all those who mourn and to give them
for ashes a garland;
for mourning robe the oil of gladness,
for despondency, praise.

Psalm or canticle

Psalm 88(89):2-5,21-22,25,27

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;
 through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,
 that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
 I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your dynasty for ever
 and set up your throne through all ages.

‘I have found David my servant
 and with my holy oil anointed him.
My hand shall always be with him
 and my arm shall make him strong.

‘My truth and my love shall be with him;
 by my name his might shall be exalted.
He will say to me: “You are my father,
 my God, the rock who saves me.”’

Gospel

Matthew 25:31-40-

I was naked and you clothed me; sick, and you visited me

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.
‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”’

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