Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr. He announced the Gospel in Germany and was killed while celebrating the Eucharist (†754).

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

2 Timothy 3,10-16

You, though, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my aims, my faith, my patience and my love, my perseverance and the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in places like Antioch, Iconium and Lystra -- all the persecutions I have endured; and the Lord has rescued me from every one of them. But anybody who tries to live in devotion to Christ is certain to be persecuted; while these wicked impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others, and themselves deceived. You must keep to what you have been taught and know to be true; remember who your teachers were, and how, ever since you were a child, you have known the holy scriptures -from these you can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and useful for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and teaching them to be upright.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Paul has just warned Timothy that in the end times there will be difficult moments due to a general degradation of habits: "For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power." Paul warns him: "Avoid them!" And he invites Timothy to remember--given that he has "closely followed" him-- his example, his way of living with faith, with love, with magnanimity, and also to take into account the persecutions and suffering that ensue. Rather the apostle clearly states that, "Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Timothy must be aware-- and we too--that all the disciples will have the same fate as Jesus. This is why Paul calls on the disciple with paternal solicitude: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed." Our strength comes entirely from listening to the Holy Scriptures. Indeed, the Scriptures were inspired by God to be a living and pure source of a new wisdom. Holy Scriptures are useful for teaching, for convincing, for correcting and for building justice. Listening to the scriptures faithfully and continuously, forms the disciple according to the very thought of God. The scriptures have been sent by God himself "so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work."