2nd Week after Holy Cross

Revelation 5:1-10 The Scroll and the Lamb
A Reading from the Book of Revelation. Father, give your blessing.
Pause for the blessing, then read:
Brothers and Sisters:
Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll
written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I
saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to
open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth
or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I
began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the
scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep.
See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered,
so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw between
the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb
standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven
eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He
went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated
on the throne. When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures
and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp
and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
They sing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open
its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for
God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you
have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they
will reign on earth.”
Praise be to God always!

Matthew 12:38-42 The Demand for a Sign
Let us be attentive to the Gospel of Life and Salvation of our Lord Jesus
Christ as recorded by the apostle Matthew.
The Apostle Matthew writes:
Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to
see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous
generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign
of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights
in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son
of Man will be in the heart of the earth. The people of Nineveh will rise
up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they
repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than
Jonah is here! The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with
this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the
earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater
than Solomon is here!”
This is the truth. Peace be with you.