Tuesday, 23 June 2026 Tuesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time – Year II Antiphons on p 963 and Readings on p 973 of the Daily Missal

Send us Fan MailEntrance AntiphonThe Lord is the strength of his people, a saving refuge for the one he has anointed. Save your people, Lord, and bless your heritage, and govern them forever.First Reading: 2 Kings 19: 9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36A reading from the second Book of KingsIn those days: Sennacherib, king of Assyria sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus shall you speak to Hezeki′ah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, destroying them utterly. And shall you be delivered?Hezeki′ah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezeki′ah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. And Hezeki′ah prayed before the Lord, and said: “O Lord the God of Israel, who art enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Of a truth, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they were destroyed. So now, O Lord our God, save us, I beg you, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him:“She despises you, she scorns you—    the virgin daughter of Zion;she wags her head behind you—    the daughter of Jerusalem.”For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord will do this.Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, says the Lord. For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”And that night the angel of the Lord went forth, and slew a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went home, and dwelt at Nin′eveh. The Word of the LordResponsorial psalm: Psalm 48:2-3ab.3cd-4.10-11R./ God establishes his city forever.Great is the Lord and highly to be praisedin the city of our God.His holy mountain rises in beauty,the joy of all the earth.Mount Sion, in the heart of the North,the city of the Mighty King!God, in the midst of its citadels,has shown himself its stronghold.Your merciful love, O God,we ponder in your temple.Your praise, O God, like your name,reaches the ends of the earth.Your right hand is filled with saving justice. R./ God establishes his city forever.Alleluia, alleluia.I am the light of the world, says the Lord; he who follows me will have the light of life.Alleluia.Gospel: Matthew 7:6.12-14A reading from the Holy Gospel according to MatthewAt that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you.So whatever you wish that people would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”The Gospel of the LordCommunion AntiphonThe eyes of all look to you, Lord, and you give them their food in due season.