The LORD is a God of justice

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/sirach/35:12 SIR 35:12-14, 16-18 The LORD is a God of justice,who knows no favorites.Though not unduly partial toward the weak,yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan,nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.The one who serves God willingly is heardhis petition reaches the heavens.The prayer of the lowly pierces the cloudsit does not rest till it reaches its goal,nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,judges justly and affirms the right,and the Lord will not delay. Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34and2 PS 34and2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 R. (7a)The Lord hears the cry of the poor.I will bless the LORD at all timeshis praise shall be ever in my mouth.Let my soul glory in the LORDthe lowly will hear me and be glad.R.The Lord hears the cry of the poor.The LORD confronts the evildoers,to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,and from all their distress he rescues them.R.The Lord hears the cry of the poor.The LORD is close to the brokenheartedand those who are crushed in spirit he saves.The LORD redeems the lives of his servantsno one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.R.The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Reading 2 and//www.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/4and6 2 TM 4and6-8, 16-18 BelovedandI am already being poured out like a libation,and the time of my departure is at hand.I have competed well I have finished the raceI have kept the faith.From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,which the Lord, the just judge,will award to me on that day, and not only to me,but to all who have longed for his appearance.At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,but everyone deserted me.May it not be held against them!But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,so that through me the proclamation might be completedand all the Gentiles might hear it.And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.The Lord will rescue me from every evil threatand will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. Alleluia and//www.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/5:19 2 COR 5:19 R.Alleluia, alleluia.God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,and entrusting to us the message of salvation.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/luke/18:9 LK 18:9-14 Jesus addressed this parableto those who were convinced of their own righteousnessand despised everyone else. Two people went up to the temple area to prayone was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’But the tax collector stood off at a distanceand would not even raise his eyes to heavenbut beat his breast and prayed,‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the formerfor whoever exalts himself will be humbled,and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.