The first reading is a reading from the book of Ruth.

Once in the time the judges, there was a famine in the land, so a man from Bethlehem of Judah

departed with his wife and two sons to reside on the plateau of Moab.

Alamek, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons,

who married Moabite women. One named Oprah, the other Ruth. When they had lived there about

ten years, both Matham and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband. She then made ready

to go back to the plateau of Moab, because word reached her there that the Lord had visited his people

and given them food. Oprah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth stayed with her. Naomi said, see now, your sister-in-law has gone back to her

people and her God. Go back after your sister-in-law. But Ruth said, do not ask me to abandon or

forsake you. For wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you lodge, I will lodge.

Your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God.

Thus it was that Naomi returned with the Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth,

who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab.

They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

The word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

The responsorial psalm is,

Praise the Lord my soul.

Praise the Lord my soul. Blessed is he who help the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord is God.

And made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. Praise the Lord my soul. The Lord keeps faith forever, rejoices, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets captives free.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord raises up those who are bowed down.

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