First reading Isaiah 55:10-11

‘The rain makes the earth bring forth and sprout.’

Thus says the Lord:

‘For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.’

The word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm Ps 65(64):10a-d. 10e-11. 12-13. 14. ℟ Luke 8:8

Some seed fell into good soil and yielded its fruit.

You visit the earth, give it water;

you fill it with riches.

God’s ever-flowing river brims over

to prepare the grain. 

Some seed fell into good soil and yielded its fruit.

And thus you prepare it:

you drench its furrows;

you level it, soften it with showers;

you bless its growth. 

Some seed fell into good soil and yielded its fruit.

You crown the year with your bounty.

Abundance flows in your pathways;

in pastures of the desert it flows.

The hills are girded with joy. 

Some seed fell into good soil and yielded its fruit.

The meadows clothed with flocks.

The valleys are decked with wheat.

They shout for joy; yes, they sing! 

Some seed fell into good soil and yielded its fruit.

Second reading Romans 8:18-23

‘The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.’

Brothers and Sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption, and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

The word of the Lord



Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia.

The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;

all who find him will live for ever.

Alleluia.