Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

First reading

1 John 5:1-5

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has already overcome the world

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ
has been begotten by God;
and whoever loves the Father that begot him
loves the child whom he begets.
We can be sure that we love God’s children
if we love God himself and do what he has commanded us;
this is what loving God is –
keeping his commandments;
and his commandments are not difficult,
because anyone who has been begotten by God
has already overcome the world;
this is the victory over the world –
our faith.

Who can overcome the world?
Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Psalm or canticle

Psalm 15(16):1-2,5,7-8,11

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
 I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.’
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
 it is you yourself who are my prize.

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
 who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
 since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

You will show me the path of life,
 the fullness of joy in your presence,
 at your right hand happiness for ever.

Gospel

Matthew 22:34-40

The commandments of love

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’