Reading 1 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30–19:3 Absalom unexpectedly came up against David's servants.He was mounted on a mule,and, as the mule passed under the branches of a large terebinth,his hair caught fast in the tree.He hung between heaven and earthwhile the mule he had been riding ran off.Someone saw this and reported to Joabthat he had seen Absalom hanging from a terebinth.And taking three pikes in hand,he thrust for the heart of Absalom,still hanging from the tree alive.Now David was sitting between the two gates,and a lookout went up to the roof of the gate above the city wall,where he looked about and saw a man running all alone.The lookout shouted to inform the king, who said,"If he is alone, he has good news to report."The king said, "Step aside and remain in attendance here."So he stepped aside and remained there.When the Cushite messenger came in, he said,"Let my lord the king receive the good newsthat this day the LOR

Reading 1 2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17 At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign,David sent out Joab along with his officersand the army of Israel,and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.David, however, remained in Jerusalem.One evening David rose from his siestaand strolled about on the roof of the palace.From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful.David had inquiries made about the woman and was told,“She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam,and wife of Joab’s armor bearer Uriah the Hittite.”Then David sent messengers and took her.When she came to him, he had relations with her.She then returned to her house.But the woman had conceived,and sent the information to David, “I am with child.”David therefore sent a message to Joab,“Send me Uriah the Hittite.”So Joab sent Uriah to David.When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers,and how the war was going, and Uriah answered

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 2 Samuel 7:4-17 That night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:"Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD:Should you build me a house to dwell in?I have not dwelt in a house from the day on which I led the children of Israel out of Egypt to the present, but I have been going about in a tent under cloth.In all my wanderings everywhere among the children of Israel, did I ever utter a word to any one of the judges whom I charged to tend my people Israel, to ask: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'"Now then, speak thus to my servant David, 'The LORD of hosts has this to say: It was I who took you from the pastureand from the care of the flockto be commander of my people Israel.I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.And I will make you famous like the great ones of

Readings for the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops Reading 1 2 Timothy 1:1-8 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of Godfor the promise of life in Christ Jesus,to Timothy, my dear child:grace, mercy, and peace from God the Fatherand Christ Jesus our Lord.I am grateful to God,whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faiththat first lived in your grandmother Loisand in your mother Euniceand that I am confident lives also in you.For this reason, I remind you to stir into flamethe gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.For God did not give us a spirit of cowardicebut rather of power and love and self-control.So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;but bear your share of hardship for the Gospelwith the