First Reading

Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Cor 3: 4-11)

He has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit.

Brothers and sisters:
Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit
for anything as coming from us;
rather, our qualification comes from God,
who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant,
not of letter but of spirit;
for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious
that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses
because of its glory that was going to fade,
how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious?
For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious,
the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory.
Indeed, what was endowed with glory
has come to have no glory in this respect
because of the glory that surpasses it.
For if what was going to fade was glorious,
how much more will what endures be glorious.

— The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 99: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Holy is the Lord our God.

Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.

O LORD, our God, you answered them;
a forgiving God you were to them,
though requiting their misdeeds.

Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.

Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.

Teach me your paths, my God,
and guide me in your truth.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew (Mt 5: 17-19)

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

— The Gospel of the Lord.