Mass Readings for August 19, 2023

Joshua 24:14-29
Psalms 16:1-2,5,7-8,11
Matthew 19:13-15

Joshua 24:14-29
(14) “Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh. (15) If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.” (16) The people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods; (17) for it is Yahweh our God who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went, and among all the peoples through the middle of whom we passed. (18) Yahweh drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve Yahweh; for he is our God.” (19) Joshua said to the people, “You can’t serve Yahweh, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins. (20) If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good.” (21) The people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve Yahweh.” (22) Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him.” They said, “We are witnesses.” (23) “Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel.” (24) The people said to Joshua, “We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice.” (25) So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. (26) Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Yahweh. (27) Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all Yahweh’s words which he spoke to us. It shall be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your God.” (28) So Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance. (29) After these things, Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred ten years old.

Psalms 16:1-2,5,7-8,11
(1) Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge. (2) My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing.” (5) Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure. (7) I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons. (8) I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (11) You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.

Matthew 19:13-15
(13) Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. (14) But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.” (15) He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.