26/02/2026
*THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH 2026.*
*FIRST WEEK OF LENT.*
*FIRST READING*
I have no helper but you, Lord.
*A reading from the Book of Esther (ESTHER 14: 1, 3 - 4, 11, 13 - 14)*
In those days: Esther the queen, seized with deathly anxiety, fled to the Lord. And she lay on the earth together with all her maid- servants, from morning until evening, and said: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you; help me, who am alone and have no helper but you, for my danger is in my hand. I have heard from the books of my ancestors that you liberate all those who are pleasing to you, O Lord, until the very end. And now, assist me, who am all alone, and have no one but you, O Lord, my God. Come to my aid, for I am an orphan. Put eloquent speech in my mouth before the lion, and turn his heart to hate the man who is fighting against us, so that there may be an end of him and those who agree with him. But save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our affliction into well-being.”
*The Word of the Lord.*
*RESPONSORIAL PSALM*
Taken from Psalm 138: 1 - 2a, 2bcd - 3, 7d - 8 (R.) 3a
*R/. On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.*
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I praise you.
I bow down toward your holy temple. *R/.*
I give thanks to your name
for your merciful love and your faithfulness.
You have exalted your name and your promise over all.
On the day I called, you answered me;
you increased the strength of my soul. *R/.*
With your right hand you save me;
the Lord will accomplish this for me.
O Lord, your merciful love is eternal;
discard not the work of your hands. *R/.*
*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION*
Psalm 51: 10a, 12a
*Glory and praise to you, O Christ.*
Create in me a clean heart, O God; restore to me the joy of your salvation.
*Glory and praise to you, O Christ.*
*GOSPEL*
“Everyone who asks receives.”
*A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (MATTHEW 7: 7 - 12)*
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
*The Gospel of the Lord.*
