Lord Jesus, make of us good and fertile soil, for the reception of the seed of your grace, and make it yield worthy fruits of penance, so that with your help we may merit to live eternally in your glory, who are blessed throughout all ages. Amen.
Anthony of Padua

1 Help, LORD, for the godly are no more;
the faithful have vanished from among men.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbor;
their flattering lips speak with deception.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue
4 that says, "We will triumph with our tongues;
we own our lips —who is our master?"
5 "Because of the oppression of the weak
and the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise," says the LORD.
"I will protect them from those who malign them."
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace of clay,
purified seven times.
Psalm 12 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Esther 5:4-14 – Acts 18:12-28 – Luke 3:15-22