Saturday, February 21

Saturday after Ash Wednesday – Year A

First Reading – Isaiah 58:9-14

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. “If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. “If you turn back your foot from the sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

℟ Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God;

℟ Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.

Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

℟ Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in mercy to all who call on you.

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication.

℟ Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

Verse Before the Gospel – Ezekiel 33:11

Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

Gospel – Luke 5:27-32

After this he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he left everything, and rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius Press, Copyright ⓒ 2006.