Saint Gregory the Great, Pope, Doctor

First reading

2 Corinthians 4:1-2,5-7

God has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of his glory

Since we have by an act of mercy been entrusted with this work of administration, there is no weakening on our part. On the contrary, we will have none of the reticence of those who are ashamed, no deceitfulness or watering down the word of God; but the way we commend ourselves to every human being with a conscience is by stating the truth openly in the sight of God. For it is not ourselves that we are preaching, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. It is the same God that said, ‘Let there be light shining out of darkness’, who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, the glory on the face of Christ.
We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.

Psalm or canticle

Psalm 95(96):1-3,7-8,10

O sing a new song to the Lord,
 sing to the Lord all the earth.
 O sing to the Lord, bless his name.

Proclaim his help day by day,
 tell among the nations his glory
 and his wonders among all the peoples.

Give the Lord, you families of peoples,
 give the Lord glory and power;
 give the Lord the glory of his name.

Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’
 The world he made firm in its place;
 he will judge the peoples in fairness.

Gospel

Luke 22:24-30

I confer a kingdom on you, just as the Father conferred one on me

A dispute arose between the disciples about which should be reckoned the greatest, but Jesus said to them:
‘Among pagans it is the kings who lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are given the title Benefactor. This must not happen with you. No; the greatest among you must behave as if he were the youngest, the leader as if he were the one who serves. For who is the greater: the one at table or the one who serves? The one at table, surely? Yet here am I among you as one who serves!
‘You are the men who have stood by me faithfully in my trials; and now I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father conferred one on me: you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.’