First Reading: 1 Kings 3.5-12: Solomon’s prayer for understanding

Responsorial Psalm: 119.57+72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130 (R. 97)

Response:

Second Reading: Romans 8.28-30: God predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son

Gospel Acclamation:

Gospel: Matthew 13.44-52: Parables of the Kingdom

Hymn: Be thou my vision

[Choir of Salisbury Cathedral]

Words: Irish, 8TH Century, trans. Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880-1931);
versified by Eleanor Henrietta Hull (1860-1935)

Tune: SLANE Irish traditional melody

1. Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

2. Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
be thou ever with me and I with thee, Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

3. Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;
be thou my soul’s shelter, be thou my strong tower:
O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

4. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise:
be thou mine inheritance now and always;
be thou and thou only the first in my heart;
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.

5. High King of Heaven, thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after victory is won;
great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

The seventeenth Sunday in ordinary time