DAILY MASS READINGS

Thursday 5 March 2026

Thursday of the 2nd week of Lent 

Liturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).

Readings at Mass

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First reading

Jeremiah 17:5-10

‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man; blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.’

Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

    ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.’

    The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ‘I, the LORD, search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.’

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Responsorial Psalm

Ps 1:1-2. 3. 4, 6. ℟ Psalm 40(39):5a

Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the LORD.

Blessed indeed is the man

who follows not the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the path with sinners,

nor abides in the company of scorners,

but whose delight is the law of the LORD,

and who ponders his law day and night. 

Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the LORD.

He is like a tree that is planted

beside the flowing waters,

that yields its fruit in due season,

and whose leaves shall never fade;

and all that he does shall prosper. 

Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the LORD.

Not so are the wicked, not so!

For they, like winnowed chaff,

shall be driven away by the wind.

For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish. 

Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the LORD.

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Gospel Acclamation

Cf. Luke 8:15

Glory to you, O Christ, Wisdom of God the Father.

Blessed are those who hold fast to the word of God

in an honest and good heart,

and bear fruit with patience.

Glory to you, O Christ, Wisdom of God the Father.

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Gospel

Luke 16:19-31

‘You received good things, and Lazarus bad things; now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.’

At that time: Jesus said to the Pharisees, ‘There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not do so, and none may cross from there to us.” And he said, “Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house — for I have five brothers — so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” But Abraham said, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.” And he said, “No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” ’