Mass Readings for June 12, 2024

1 Kings 18:20-39
Psalms 16:1-2,4-5,8,11
Matthew 5:17-19

1 Kings 18:20-39
(20) So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel. (21) Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say a word. (22) Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left as a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men. (23) Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it. (24) You call on the name of your god, and I will call on Yahweh’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.” All the people answered, “What you say is good.” (25) Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” (26) They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice, and nobody answered. They leaped about the altar which was made. (27) At noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud; for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.” (28) They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. (29) When midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the evening offering; but there was no voice, no answer, and nobody paid attention. (30) Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me!”; and all the people came near to him. He repaired Yahweh’s altar that had been thrown down. (31) Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom Yahweh’s word came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” (32) With the stones he built an altar in Yahweh’s name. He made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two seahs of seed. (33) He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood.” (34) He said, “Do it a second time”; and they did it the second time. He said, “Do it a third time”; and they did it the third time. (35) The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water. (36) At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came near, and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. (37) Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.” (38) Then Yahweh’s fire fell, and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. (39) When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!”

Psalms 16:1-2,4-5,8,11
(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.” (4) Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take their names on my lips. (5) Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure. (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 5:17-19
(17) “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. (18) For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. (19) Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.