Today is Sunday February 12, 2012
The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lv 13:1-2,44-46
Ps 32:1-2,5,11
1Cor 10:31-11:1
Mk 1:40-45

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A reading from the book of Leviticus.
Lv 13:1-2,44-46
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[1] The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,[2] "When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, [44] he is a leprous man, he is unclean; the priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head. [45] "The leper who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry, `Unclean, unclean.'[46] He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone in a habitation outside the camp. 

The Word of the Lord.



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From Psalm 32.
Ps 32:1-2,5,11
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[1] Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,whose sin is covered.[2] Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity,and in whose spirit there is no deceit.[5] I acknowledged my sin to thee,and I did not hide my iniquity;I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD";then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. [Selah][11] Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.



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A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.
1Cor 10:31-11:1
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[31] So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [32] Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, [33] just as I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. [1] Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

The Word of the Lord.



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A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.
Mk 1:40-45
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[40] And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean."[41] Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I will; be clean." [42] And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. [43] And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, [44] and said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people." [45] But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. 

The Gospel of the Lord.

2012 Feb 11 Sat: Ordinary Weekday/ BVM/ Our Lady of Lourdes
1 Kgs 12: 26-32; 13: 33-34/ Ps 106: 6-7ab. 19-20. 21-22/ Mk 8: 1-10

Today is Saturday, February 11^th, 2012, Saturday of the fifth week in Ordinary Time

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A reading from the first book of Kings

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[26] Jerobo'am said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David;
[27] if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehobo'am king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehobo'am king of Judah."
[28] So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, "You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt."
[29] And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.
[30] And this thing became a sin, for the people went to the one at Bethel and to the other as far as Dan.
[31] He also made houses on high places, and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites.
[32] And Jerobo'am appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices upon the altar; so he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.

The Word of the Lord

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From Psalm 106

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Remember us, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people

[6] Both we and our fathers have sinned;
we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
[7] Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,
did not consider thy wonderful works;

Remember us, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people

[19] They made a calf in Horeb
and worshiped a molten image.
[20] They exchanged the glory of God
for the image of an ox that eats grass.

Remember us, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people

[21] They forgot God, their Savior,
who had done great things in Egypt,
[22] wondrous works in the land of Ham,
and terrible things by the Red Sea.

Remember us, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people

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A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

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[1] In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him, and said to them,

[2] "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat;
[3] and if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a long way."
[4] And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these men with bread here in the desert?"
[5] And he asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven."
[6] And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.
[7] And they had a few small fish; and having blessed them, he commanded that these also should be set before them.
[8] And they ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
[9] And there were about four thousand people.
[10] And he sent them away; and immediately he got into the boat with his disciples, and went to the district of Dalmanu'tha.

The Gospel of the Lord

2012 Feb 10 Fri: Scholastica, v, r M
1 Kgs 11: 29-32; 12: 19/ Ps 81: 10-11ab. 12-13. 14-15/ Mk 7: 31-37

Today is Friday, February 10^th, 2012, Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin

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A reading from the first book of Kings

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[29] At that time, when Jerobo'am went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahi'jah the Shi'lonite found him on the road. Now Ahi'jah had clad himself with a new garment; and the two of them were alone in the open country.
[30] Then Ahi'jah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces.
[31] And he said to Jerobo'am, "Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and will give you ten tribes
[32] (but he shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel),

[12:19] So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

The Word of the Lord

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From Psalm 81

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I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.

[10] There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
[11] I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.

[12] "But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would have none of me.
[13] So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.

I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.

[14] O that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
[15] I would soon subdue their enemies,
and turn my hand against their foes.

I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.

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A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

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[31] Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decap'olis.

[32] And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him.
[33] And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue;
[34] and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Eph'phatha," that is, "Be opened."
[35] And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
[36] And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.
[37] And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."

The Gospel of the Lord

2012 Feb 9 Thu: Ordinary Weekday
1 Kgs 11: 4-13/ Ps 106: 3-4. 35-36. 37 and 40/ Mk 7: 24-30

Today is Thursday, February 9^th, 2012, Thursday of the fifth week in Ordinary Time

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A reading from the first book of Kings

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[4] When Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
[5] For Solomon went after Ash'toreth the goddess of the Sido'nians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
[6] So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done.
[7] Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem.
[8] And so he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
[9] And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,

[10] and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD commanded.
[11] Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this has been your mind and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.
[12] Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
[13] However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen."

The Word of the Lord

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From Psalm 106

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Remember me, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people

[3] Blessed are they who observe justice,
who do righteousness at all times!
[4] Remember me, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people;
help me when thou deliverest them;

Remember me, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people

[35] but they mingled with the nations
and learned to do as they did.
[36] They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.

Remember me, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people

[37] They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
[40] Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
and he abhorred his heritage.

Remember me, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people

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A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

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[24] Jesus went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house, and would not have any one know it; yet he could not be hid.

[25] But immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell down at his feet.
[26] Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoeni'cian by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
[27] And he said to her, "Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
[28] But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
[29] And he said to her, "For this saying you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter."
[30] And she went home, and found the child lying in bed, and the demon gone.

The Gospel of the Lord

2012 Feb 8 Wed: Ordinary Weekday/ Jerome Emiliani, p, rf/ Josephine Bakhita, v
1 Kgs 10: 1-10/ Ps 37: 30-31. 39-40/ Mk 7: 14-23

Today is Wednesday, February 8^th, 2012, Wednesday of the fifth week in Ordinary Time

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A reading from the first book of Kings

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[1] Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.

[2] She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind.
[3] And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king which he could not explain to her.
[4] And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
[5] the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings which he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.
[6] And she said to the king, "The report was true which I heard in my own land of your affairs and of your wisdom,

[7] but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half was not told me; your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report which I heard.
[8] Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!
[9] Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel for ever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness."
[10] Then she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones; never again came such an abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

The Word of the Lord

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From Psalm 37

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The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom

[5] Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
[6] He will bring forth your vindication as the light,
and your right as the noonday.

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom

[30] The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
[31] The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom

[39] The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in the time of trouble.
[40] The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked, and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom

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A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

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[14] Jesus called the people to him again, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand:

[15] there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him."
[17] And when he had entered the house, and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.
[18] And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him,
[19] since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
[20] And he said, "What comes out of a man is what defiles a man.
[21] For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery,
[22] coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
[23] All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."

The Gospel of the Lord

2012 Feb 7 Tue: Ordinary Weekday
1 Kgs 8: 22-23. 27-30/ Ps 84: 3. 4. 5 and 10. 11/ Mk 7: 1-13

Today is Tuesday, February 7, 2012, Tuesday of the fifth week in Ordinary Time

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A reading from the first book of Kings

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[22] Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;

[23] and said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to thy servants who walk before thee with all their heart;
[27] "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

[28] Yet have regard to the prayer of thy servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, hearkening to the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prays before thee this day;
[29] that thy eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which thou hast said, `My name shall be there,' that thou mayest hearken to the prayer which thy servant offers toward this place.
[30] And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant and of thy people Israel, when they pray toward this place; yea, hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place; and when thou hearest, forgive.”

The Word of the Lord

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From Psalm 84

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How lovely is thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

[3] My soul longs, yea, faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

How lovely is thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

[4] Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at thy altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.

How lovely is thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

[5] Blessed are those who dwell in thy house,
ever singing thy praise!
[10] Behold our shield, O God;
look upon the face of thine anointed!

How lovely is thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

[11] For a day in thy courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

How lovely is thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

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A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

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[1] Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem,

[2] they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed.
[3] (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders;
[4] and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.)
[5] And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?"
[6] And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
[7] in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'
[8] You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men."
[9] And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition!

[10] For Moses said, `Honor your father and your mother'; and, `He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die';
[11] but you say, `If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God) --
[12] then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother,
[13] thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand on. And many such things you do."

The Gospel of the Lord

2012 Feb 6 Mon: Paul Miki, p, mt, & co., mts M
1 Kgs 8: 1-7. 9-13/ Ps 132: 6-7. 8-10/ Mk 6: 53-56

Today is Monday, February 6^th, 2012, Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs

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A reading from the first book of Kings

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[1] Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.

[2] And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast in the month Eth'anim, which is the seventh month.
[3] And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
[4] And they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up.
[5] And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
[6] Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.
[7] For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles.
[9] There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
[10] And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD,
[11] so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
[12] Then Solomon said,

"The LORD has set the sun in the heavens,
but has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
[13] I have built thee an exalted house,
a place for thee to dwell in for ever."

The Word of the Lord

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From Psalm 132

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Arise, O LORD, and go to thy resting place

[6] Lo, we heard of it in Eph'rathah,
we found it in the fields of Ja'ar.
[7] "Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool!"

Arise, O LORD, and go to thy resting place

[8] Arise, O LORD, and go to thy resting place,
thou and the ark of thy might.
[9] Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness,
and let thy saints shout for joy.
[10] For thy servant David's sake
do not turn away the face of thy anointed one.

Arise, O LORD, and go to thy resting place

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A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

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[53] When they had crossed over to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennes'aret, and moored to the shore.

[54] And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him,
[55] and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard he was.
[56] And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.

The Gospel of the Lord

2012 Feb 5 SUN: FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Jb 7: 1-4. 6-7/ Ps 147: 1-2. 3-4. 5-6/ 1 Cor 9: 16-19. 22-23/ Mk 1: 29-39

Today is Sunday, February 5, 2012, the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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A reading from the Book of Job

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Job spoke, saying:

[1] "Has not man a hard service upon earth,
and are not his days like the days of a hireling?
[2] Like a slave who longs for the shadow,
and like a hireling who looks for his wages,
[3] so I am allotted months of emptiness,
and nights of misery are apportioned to me.
[4] When I lie down I say, `When shall I arise?'
But the night is long,
and I am full of tossing till the dawn.
[6] My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle,
and come to their end without hope.
[7] Remember that my life is a breath;
my eye will never again see good.”

The Word of the Lord

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From Psalm 147

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Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted

[1] Praise the LORD!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for he is gracious, and a song of praise is seemly.
[2] The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted

[3] He heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds.
[4] He determines the number of the stars,
he gives to all of them their names.

Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted

[5] Great is our LORD, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
[6] The LORD lifts up the downtrodden,
he casts the wicked to the ground.

Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted

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A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

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Brothers and sisters:

[16] If I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
[17] For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.
[18] What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel.
[19] For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more.

 [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
[23] I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Word of the Lord

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A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

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[29] Jesus left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

[30] Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her.
[31] And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them.
[32] That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons.

[33] And the whole city was gathered together about the door.
[34] And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
[35] And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.

[36] And Simon and those who were with him pursued him,
[37] and they found him and said to him, "Every one is searching for you."
[38] And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out."
[39] And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The gospel of the Lord

Today is Saturday, January 7th, 2012, a Christmas Weekday

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A reading from the first letter of John
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[14] And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
[15] And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.
[16] If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.
[17] All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.
[18] We know that any one born of God does not sin, but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
[19] We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one.
[20] And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
[21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

The word of the Lord

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From Psalm 149
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The LORD takes pleasure in his people

[1] Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful!
[2] Let Israel be glad in his Maker,
let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King!

The LORD takes pleasure in his people

[3] Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with timbrel and lyre!
[4] For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with victory.

The LORD takes pleasure in his people

[5] Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their couches.
[6] Let the high praises of God be in their throats
[9] This is glory for all his faithful ones.
Praise the LORD!

The LORD takes pleasure in his people

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A reading from the holy gospel according to John
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[1] On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;
[2] Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples.
[3] When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."
[4] And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come."
[5] His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
[6] Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
[7] Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.
[8] He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it.
[9] When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom
[10] and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now."
[11] This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

The gospel of the Lord

Today is Friday, January 6th, 2012, a Christmas Weekday

==============================================
A reading from the first letter of John
==============================================
Beloved,
[5] Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
[6] This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.
[7] And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth.
[8] There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree.
[9] If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to his Son.
[10] He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son.
[11] And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
[12] He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life.
[13] I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

The Word of the Lord

==============================================
From Psalm 147
==============================================
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!

[12] Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
[13] For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your sons within you.

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!

[14] He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
[15] He sends forth his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!

[19] He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
[20] He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!

==============================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark
==============================================
[7] John the Baptist preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
[8] I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
[9] In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
[10] And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove;
[11] and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."

The gospel of the Lord

Today is Thursday, January 5th, 2012, Memorial of St. John Neumann, bishop

==============================================
A reading from the first letter of John
==============================================
Beloved
[11] this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
[12] and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.
[13] Do not wonder, brethren, that the world hates you.
[14] We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.
[15] Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
[16] By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
[17] But if any one has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
[18] Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.
[19] By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him
[20] whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
[21] Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

The Word of the Lord

==============================================
From Psalm 100
==============================================
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

[1] Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands!
[2] Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

[3] Know that the LORD is God!
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

[4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

[5] For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

==============================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to John
==============================================
[43] Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."
[44] Now Philip was from Beth-sa'ida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
[45] Philip found Nathan'a-el, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
[46] Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
[47] Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
[48] Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
[49] Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
[50] Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these."
[51] And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

The gospel of the Lord

Today is Wednesday, January 4th, 2012, Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious

==============================================
A reading from the first letter of John
==============================================
[7] Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous.
[8] He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
[9] No one born of God commits sin; for God's nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.
[10] By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother.

The Word of the Lord

==============================================
From Psalm 98
==============================================
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

[1] O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

[7] Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
[8] Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

[9] before the LORD, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

==============================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to John
==============================================
[35] John was standing with two of his disciples;
[36] and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
[37] The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
[38] Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
[39] He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
[40] One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
[41] He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).
[42] He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).

The gospel of the Lord

Today is Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012, a Christmas Weekday

 
==============================================
A reading from the first letter of John
==============================================
[29] If you know that God is righteous, you may be sure that every one who does right is born of him.
[1] See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
[2] Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
[3] And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
[4] Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
[5] You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
[6] No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.

The word of the Lord

==============================================
From Psalm 98
==============================================
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

[1] O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
[4] Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

[5] Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
[6] With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

==============================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to John
==============================================
[29] John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
[30] This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.'
[31] I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."
[32] And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.
[33] I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
[34] And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

The gospel of the Lord

Today is Monday, January 2nd, 2012, Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

==============================================
A reading from the first letter of John
==============================================
Beloved

[22] Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
[23] No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.
[24] Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father.
[25] And this is what he has promised us, eternal life.
[26] I write this to you about those who would deceive you;
[27] but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him.
[28] And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

The word of the Lord

==============================================
From Psalm 98
==============================================
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

[1] O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

[2] The LORD has made known his victory,
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
[3] He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
[4] Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

==============================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to John
==============================================
[19] This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
[20] He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
[21] And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No."
[22] They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
[23] He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
[24] Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
[25] They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"
[26] John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know,
[27] even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."
[28] This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The gospel of the Lord

Today is Sunday, January 1st, 2012, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

==============================================
A reading from the book of Numbers
==============================================
[22] The LORD said to Moses,
[23] "Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
[24] The LORD bless you and keep you:
[25] The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:
[26] The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
[27] "So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."

The Word of the Lord

 
==============================================
From Psalm 67
==============================================
May God bless us in his mercy

[2] May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
[3] that thy way may be known upon earth,
thy saving power among all nations.

May God bless us in his mercy

 [5] Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for thou dost judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.

May God bless us in his mercy

 [6] Let the peoples praise thee, O God;
let all the peoples praise thee!

May God bless us in his mercy

 [8] God has blessed us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

May God bless us in his mercy

 
==============================================
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Galatians
==============================================
Brothers and Sisters:

[4] when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
[5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
[6] And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
[7] So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.

The Word of the Lord

==============================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke
==============================================
[16] The shepherds went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
[17] And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child;
[18] and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
[19] But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
[20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
[21] And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The gospel of the Lord

1Jn 2:18-21
Ps 96:1-2.11-12.13
Jn 1:1-18

==============================================================
A reading from the first book of John  (1Jn 2:18-21)
==============================================================
[18] Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour.
[19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us.
[20] But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know.
[21] I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth.

The Word of the Lord

===============================================================
From Psalm 96  (Ps 96:1-2.11-12.13)
==============================================================
[1] O sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
[2] Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
[11] Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
[12] let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy
[13] before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with his truth.

===============================================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to John  (Jn 1:1-18)
===============================================================
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] He was in the beginning with God;
[3] all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
[4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
[5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
[7] He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
[8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
[9] The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
[10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.
[11] He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.
[12] But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;
[13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
[15] (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'")
[16] And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace.
[17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
[18] No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Gn 15:1-6;21:1-3
Ps 128:1-2,3,4-5
Heb 11:8.11-12.17-19
Lk 2:41-52

==============================================================
A reading from the book of Genesis  (Gn 15:1-6;21:1-3)
==============================================================
[1] After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."
[2] But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Elie'zer of Damascus?"
[3] And Abram said, "Behold, thou hast given me no offspring; and a slave born in my house will be my heir."
[4] And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; your own son shall be your heir."
[5] And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
[6] And he believed the LORD; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness.
[1] The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised.
[2] And Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.
[3] Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.

The Word of the Lord

===============================================================
From Psalm 128  (Ps 128:1-2,3,4-5)
===============================================================
[1] Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
[2] You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
[3] Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
[4] Lo, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the LORD.
[5] The LORD bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!

==============================================================
A reading from the book of Hebrews  (Heb 11:8.11-12.17-19)
==============================================================
[8]By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
[11] By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
[12] Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
[17] By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,
[18] of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named."
[19] He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

The Word of the Lord

===============================================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke  (Lk 2:41-52)
===============================================================
[41] Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
[42] And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom;
[43] and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
[44] but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances;
[45] and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.
[46] After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions;
[47] and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
[48] And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously."
[49] And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
[50] And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.
[51] And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
[52] And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.

The Gospel of the Lord.

1Jn 2:3-11
Ps 96:1-2a.2b-3.5b-6
Lk 2:22-35

==============================================================
A reading from the first letter of John  (1Jn 2:3-11)
==============================================================
[3] And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
[4] He who says "I know him" but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
[5] but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him:
[6] he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
[7] Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.
[8] Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
[9] He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still.
[10] He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling.
[11] But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

The Word of the Lord

===============================================================
From Psalm 96  (Ps 96:1-2a.2b-3.5b-6)
===============================================================
[1] O sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
[2] Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
[3] Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
But the LORD made the heavens.
[6] Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

===============================================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke  (Lk 2:22-35)
===============================================================
[22]And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
[23] (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
[24] and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
[25] Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
[26] And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
[27] And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
[28] he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
[29] "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
[30] for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
[31] which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
[32] a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."
[33] And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him;
[34] and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against
[35] (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."

The Gospel of the Lord.

1Jn 1:5;2:2
Ps 124:2-3.4-5.7b-8
Mt 2:13-18

==============================================================
A reading from the first letter of John  (1Jn 1:5;2:2)
==============================================================
[5] This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
[6] If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth;
[7] but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
[8] If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
[1] My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
[2] and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

The Word of the Lord

===============================================================
From Psalm 124  (Ps 124:2-3.4-5.7b-8)
===============================================================
[2] if it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
when men rose up against us,
[3] then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
[4] then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
[5] then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
[7] We have escaped as a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!
[8] Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

===============================================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew  (Mt 2:13-18)
===============================================================
[13] Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."
[14] And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt,
[15] and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."
[16] Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men.
[17] Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
[18] "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more."

The Gospel of the Lord.

1Jn 1:1-4
Ps 97:1-2.5-6.11-12
Jn 20:1a&2-8

==============================================================
A reading from the first letter of John  (1Jn 1:1-4)
==============================================================
[1] That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life Ð
[2] the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us Ð
[3] that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
[4] And we are writing this that our joy may be complete.

The Word of the lord

==============================================================
From Psalm 97  (Ps 97:1-2.5-6.11-12)
==============================================================
[1] The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
[2] Clouds and thick darkness are round about him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
[5] The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
[6] The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
and all the peoples behold his glory.
[11] Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
[12] Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

===============================================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to John  (Jn 20:1a&2-8)
===============================================================
[1] Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
[3] Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.
[4] They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first;
[5] and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
[6] Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying,
[7] and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.
[8] Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

The Gospel of the Lord.

Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59
Ps 31:3cd-4.6&8ab.16bc&17
Mt 10:17-22

==============================================================
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles  (Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59)
==============================================================
[8] And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
[9] Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyre'nians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cili'cia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen.
[10] But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke
[54] Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him.
[55] But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
[56] and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."
[57] But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him.
[58] Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
[59] And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

The Word of the Lord

===============================================================
From Psalm 31  (Ps 31:3cd-4.6&8ab.16bc&17)
===============================================================
[2]Be thou a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
[3] Yea, thou art my rock and my fortress;
for thy nameÕs sake lead me and guide me,
thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
[7] I will rejoice and be glad for thy steadfast love,
[16] Let thy face shine on thy servant;
save me in thy steadfast love!

===============================================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew  (Mt 10:17-22)
===============================================================
[17] Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues,
[18] and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles.
[19] When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour;
[20] for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
[21] Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;
[22] and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 52:7-10
Ps 98:1.2-3.3-4.5-6(3c)
Heb 1:1-6
Jn 1:1-18

==============================================================
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah  (Is 52:7-10)
==============================================================
[7] How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good tidings,
who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
[8] Hark, your watchmen lift up their voice,
together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see
the return of the LORD to Zion.
[9] Break forth together into singing,
you waste places of Jerusalem;
for the LORD has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
[10] The LORD has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

The Word of the Lord

===============================================================
From Psalm 98  (Ps 98:1.2-3.3-4.5-6(3c))
===============================================================
[1] O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.
[2] The LORD has made known his victory,
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
[3] He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
[4] Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
[5] Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
[6] With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

==============================================================
A reading from the book of Hebrews  (Heb 1:1-6)
==============================================================
[1] In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets;
[2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
[3] He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
[4] having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs.
[5] For to what angel did God ever say,
"Thou art my Son,
today I have begotten thee"?
Or again, "I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son"?
[6] And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."

The Word of the Lord

===============================================================
A reading from the holy gospel according to John  (Jn 1:1-18)
===============================================================
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] He was in the beginning with God;
[3] all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
[4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
[5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
[7] He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
[8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
[9] The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
[10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.
[11] He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.
[12] But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;
[13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
[15] (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'")
[16] And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace.
[17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
[18] No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

The Gospel of the Lord.

2Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16
Ps 89:2-3,4-5,27&29
Lk 1:67-79

==================================================================
A reading from the Second Book of Samuel  (2Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16)
==================================================================
[1]  Now when the king dwelt in his house,
     and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies round about,
[2]  the king said to Nathan the prophet, \
     "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar,
     but the ark of God dwells in a tent."
[3]  And Nathan said to the king,
     "Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you."
[4]  But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
[5]  "Go and tell my servant David,
     `Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?'"
[8]  `Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture,
     from following the sheep,
     that you should be prince over my people Israel;
[9]  and I have been with you wherever you went,
     and have cut off all your enemies from before you;
     and I will make for you a great name,
     like the name of the great ones of the earth.
[10] And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them,
     that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more;
     and violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
[11] from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel;
     and I will give you rest from all your enemies.
     Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
[12] When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers,
     I will raise up your offspring after you,
     who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
[14] I will be his father, and he shall be my son.
[16] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me;
     your throne shall be established for ever.'"

The Word of the Lord.

=======================================
From Psalm 89  (Ps 89:2-3,4-5,27&29)
=======================================
*  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord

[1] I will sing of thy steadfast love, O LORD, for ever;
    with my mouth I will proclaim thy faithfulness to all generations.
[2] For thy steadfast love was established for ever,
    thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens.

*  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord

[3] Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
    I have sworn to David my servant:
[4] `I will establish your descendants for ever,
    and build your throne for all generations.'"

*  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord

[26] He shall cry to me, `Thou art my Father,
     my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'
[28] My steadfast love I will keep for him for ever,
     and my covenant will stand firm for him.

*  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord

===============================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke   (Lk 1:67-79)
===============================================================
[67] And his father Zechari'ah was filled with the Holy Spirit,
     and prophesied, saying,
[68] "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
     for he has visited and redeemed his people,
[69] and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
     in the house of his servant David,
[70] as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
[71] that we should be saved from our enemies,
     and from the hand of all who hate us;
[72] to perform the mercy promised to our fathers,
     and to remember his holy covenant,
[73] the oath which he swore to our father Abraham,
[74] to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
     might serve him without fear,
[75] in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
[76] And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
     for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
[77] to give knowledge of salvation to his people
     in the forgiveness of their sins,
[78] through the tender mercy of our God,
     when the day shall dawn upon us from on high
[79] to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
     to guide our feet into the way of peace."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mal 3:1-4,23-24
Ps 25:4-5ab,8-9,10&14
Lk 1:57-66

==================================================================
A reading from the Book of the prophet Malachi   (Mal 3:1-4; Mal 4:5-6)
==================================================================
Mal 3:
[1] "Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me,
    and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple;
    the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight,
    behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
[2] But who can endure the day of his coming,
    and who can stand when he appears?
    "For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap;
[3] he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,
    and he will purify the sons of Levi
    and refine them like gold and silver,
    till they present right offerings to the LORD.
[4] Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD
    as in the days of old and as in former years.
Mal 4:
[5] "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
    before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
[6] And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children
    and the hearts of children to their fathers,
    lest I come and smite the land with a curse."

The Word of the Lord.

=======================================
From Psalm 25 (Ps 25:4-5ab,8-9,10&14)
=======================================
*  Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand

[4]  Make me to know thy ways, O LORD;
     teach me thy paths.
[5]  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me,
     for thou art the God of my salvation;

*  Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand

[8]  Good and upright is the LORD;
     therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
[9]  He leads the humble in what is right,
     and teaches the humble his way.

*  Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand

[10] All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
     for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
[14] The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
     and he makes known to them his covenant.

*  Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand

===============================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:57-66)
===============================================================
[57] Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered,
     and she gave birth to a son.
[58] And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard
     that the Lord had shown great mercy to her,
     and they rejoiced with her.
[59] And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child;
     and they would have named him Zechari'ah after his father,
[60] but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John."
[61] And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name."
[62] And they made signs to his father,
     inquiring what he would have him called.
[63] And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote,
     "His name is John." And they all marveled.
[64] And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed,
     and he spoke, blessing God.
[65] And fear came on all their neighbors.
     And all these things were talked about
     through all the hill country of Judea;
[66] and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying,
     "What then will this child be?"
     For the hand of the Lord was with him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

1Sm 1:24-28
1Sm 2:1,4-5,6-7,8abcd
Lk 1:46-56

========================================================
A reading from the First Book of Samuel  (1Sm 1:24-28)
========================================================
[24] And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her,
     along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine;
     and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young.
[25] Then they slew the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.
[26] And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord,
     I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD.
[27] For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me my petition which I made to him.
[28] Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD."
     And they worshiped the LORD there.

The Word of the Lord.

=======================================
From First Samuel (1Sm 2:1,4-5,6-7,8abcd)
=======================================
*  My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

[1] "My heart exults in the LORD;
    my strength is exalted in the LORD.
    My mouth derides my enemies,
    because I rejoice in thy salvation.

*  My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

[4] The bows of the mighty are broken,
    but the feeble gird on strength.
[5] Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
    but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
    The barren has borne seven,
    but she who has many children is forlorn.

*  My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

[6] The LORD kills and brings to life;
    he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
[7] The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
    he brings low, he also exalts.

*  My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

[8] He raises up the poor from the dust;
    he lifts the needy from the ash heap,
    to make them sit with princes
    and inherit a seat of honor.

*  My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

===============================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke  (Lk 1:46-56)
===============================================================
[46] And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
[47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
[48] for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
     For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
[49] for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
     and holy is his name.
[50] And his mercy is on those who fear him
     from generation to generation.
[51] He has shown strength with his arm,
     he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
[52] he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
     and exalted those of low degree;
[53] he has filled the hungry with good things,
     and the rich he has sent empty away.
[54] He has helped his servant Israel,
     in remembrance of his mercy,
[55] as he spoke to our fathers,
     to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."
[56] And Mary remained with her about three months,
     and returned to her home.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Sg 2:8-14
Ps 33:2-3,11-12,20-21
Lk 1:39-45

========================================================
A reading from the Book of Songs  (Sg 2:8-14)
========================================================
[8]  The voice of my beloved!
     Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains,
     bounding over the hills.
[9]  My beloved is like a gazelle, or a young stag.
     Behold, there he stands behind our wall,
     gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice.
[10] My beloved speaks and says to me:
     "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away;
[11] for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
[12] The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come,
     and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
[13] The fig tree puts forth its figs,
     and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.
     Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

The Word of the Lord.

=======================================
From Psalm 33   (Ps 33:2-3,11-12,20-21)
=======================================
*  Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

[2]  Praise the LORD with the lyre,
     make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
[3]  Sing to him a new song,
     play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

*  Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

[11] The counsel of the LORD stands for ever,
     the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
[12] Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
     the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

*  Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

[20] Our soul waits for the LORD;
     he is our help and shield.
[21] Yea, our heart is glad in him,
     because we trust in his holy name.

*  Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

===============================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:39-45)
===============================================================
[39] In those days Mary arose and went with haste
     into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
[40] and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth.
[41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary,
     the babe leaped in her womb;
     and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
[42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry,
     "Blessed are you among women,
     and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
[43] And why is this granted me,
     that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
[44] For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears,
     the babe in my womb leaped for joy.
[45] And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment
     of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 7:10-14
Ps 24:1-2,3-4ab,5-6
Lk 1:26-38

==========================================================
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah  (Is 7:10-14)
==========================================================
[10] Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz,
[11] "Ask a sign of the LORD your God;
     let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven."
[12] But Ahaz said, "I will not ask,
     and I will not put the LORD to the test."
[13] And he said, "Hear then, O house of David!
     Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?
[14] Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
     Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son,
     and shall call his name Imman'u-el.

The Word of the Lord.

====================================
From Psalm 24 (Ps 24:1-2,3-4ab,5-6)
====================================
*  Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory

[1] The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof,
    the world and those who dwell therein;
[2] for he has founded it upon the seas,
    and established it upon the rivers.

*  Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory

[3] Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
[4] He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false

*  Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory

[5] He will receive blessing from the LORD,
    and vindication from the God of his salvation.
[6] Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

*  Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory

===============================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:26-38)
===============================================================
[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
     to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
[27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,
     of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
[28] And he came to her and said,
     "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
[29] But she was greatly troubled at the saying,
     and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
[30] And the angel said to her,
     "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
[31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
     and you shall call his name Jesus.
[32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
     and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
[33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
     and of his kingdom there will be no end."
[34] And Mary said to the angel,
     "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"
[35] And the angel said to her,
     "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
     and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
     therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
     the Son of God.
[36] And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age
     has also conceived a son;
     and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
[37] For with God nothing will be impossible."
[38] And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord;
     let it be to me according to your word."
     And the angel departed from her.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Jgs 13:2-7,24-25a
Ps 71:3-4a,5-6ab,16-17
Lk 1:5-25

========================================================
A reading from the Book of Judges  (Jgs 13:2-7,24-25a)
========================================================
[2]  And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Mano'ah; and his wife was barren and had no children.
[3]  And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold, you are barren and have no children; but you shall conceive and bear a son.
[4]  Therefore beware, and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean,
[5]  for lo, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines."
[6]  Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and his countenance was like the countenance of the angel of God, very terrible; I did not ask him whence he was, and he did not tell me his name;
[7]  but he said to me, `Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son; so then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.'"
[24] And the woman bore a son, and called his name Samson; and the boy grew, and the LORD blessed him.
[25] And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Ma'haneh-dan, between Zorah and Esh'ta-ol.

The Word of the Lord.

=======================================
From Psalm 71  (Ps 71:3-4a,5-6ab,16-17)
=======================================
*  My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory

[3]  Be thou to me a rock of refuge,
     a strong fortress, to save me,
     for thou art my rock and my fortress.
[4]  Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,

*  My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory

[5]  For thou, O Lord, art my hope,
     my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
[6]  Upon thee I have leaned from my birth;
     thou art he who took me from my mother's womb.

*  My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory

[16] With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come,
     I will praise thy righteousness, thine alone.
[17] O God, from my youth thou hast taught me,
     and I still proclaim thy wondrous deeds.

*  My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory

===============================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:5-25)
===============================================================
[5]  In the days of Herod, king of Judea,
     there was a priest named Zechari'ah, of the division of Abi'jah;
     and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
[6]  And they were both righteous before God,
     walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
[7]  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren,
     and both were advanced in years.
[8]  Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,
[9]  according to the custom of the priesthood,
     it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
[10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
[11] And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord
     standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
[12] And Zechari'ah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
[13] But the angel said to him,
     "Do not be afraid, Zechari'ah, for your prayer is heard,
     and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
[14] And you will have joy and gladness,
     and many will rejoice at his birth;
[15] for he will be great before the Lord,
     and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink,
     and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
     even from his mother's womb.
[16] And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,
[17] and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Eli'jah,
     to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
     and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
     to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."
[18] And Zechari'ah said to the angel,
     "How shall I know this?
     For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."
[19] And the angel answered him,
     "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God;
     and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
[20] And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak
     until the day that these things come to pass,
     because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."
[21] And the people were waiting for Zechari'ah,
     and they wondered at his delay in the temple.
[22] And when he came out, he could not speak to them,
     and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple;
     and he made signs to them and remained dumb.
[23] And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
[24] After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived,
     and for five months she hid herself, saying,
[25] "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me,
     to take away my reproach among men."

The Gospel of the Lord.

2Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16
Ps 89:2-3,4-5,27,29
Rom 16:25-27
Lk 1:26-38

========================================================
A reading from the Second Book of Samuel  (2Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16)
========================================================
[1]  Now when the king dwelt in his house,
     and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies round about,
[2]  the king said to Nathan the prophet,
     "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar,
      but the ark of God dwells in a tent."
[3]  And Nathan said to the king,
     "Go, do all that is in your heart;
     for the LORD is with you."
[4]  But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
[5]  "Go and tell my servant David,
     `Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?
[8]  `Thus says the LORD of hosts,
     I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep,
     that you should be prince over my people Israel;
[9]  and I have been with you wherever you went,
     and have cut off all your enemies from before you;
     and I will make for you a great name,
     like the name of the great ones of the earth.
[10] And I will appoint a place for my people Israel,
     and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place,
     and be disturbed no more;
     and violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
[11] from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel;
     and I will give you rest from all your enemies.
     Moreover the LORD declares to you
     that the LORD will make you a house.
[12] When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers,
     I will raise up your offspring after you,
     who shall come forth from your body,
     and I will establish his kingdom.
[14] I will be his father, and he shall be my son.
[16] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me;
     your throne shall be established for ever.'"

The Word of the Lord.

=======================================
From Psalm 89 (Ps 89:1-2,3-4,27,29)
=======================================
*  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

[1]  I will sing of thy steadfast love, O LORD, for ever;
     with my mouth I will proclaim thy faithfulness to all generations.
[2]  For thy steadfast love was established for ever,
     thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens.

*  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

[3]  Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
     I have sworn to David my servant:
[4]  `I will establish your descendants for ever,
     and build your throne for all generations.'"

*  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

[26] He shall cry to me, `Thou art my Father,
     my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'
[28] My steadfast love I will keep for him for ever,
     and my covenant will stand firm for him.

*  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

========================================================================
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans  (Rom 16:25-27)
========================================================================
[25] Now to him who is able to strengthen you
     according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
     according to the revelation of the mystery
     which was kept secret for long ages
[26] but is now disclosed
     and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations,
     according to the command of the eternal God,
     to bring about the obedience of faith --
[27] to the only wise God be glory for evermore
     through Jesus Christ! Amen.

The Word of the Lord.

===============================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:26-38)
===============================================================
[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
     to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
[27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,
     of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
[28] And he came to her and said,
     "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
[29] But she was greatly troubled at the saying,
     and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
[30] And the angel said to her,
     "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
[31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
     and you shall call his name Jesus.
[32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
     and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
[33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
     and of his kingdom there will be no end."
[34] And Mary said to the angel,
     "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"
[35] And the angel said to her,
     "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
     and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
     therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
     the Son of God.
[36] And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age
     has also conceived a son;
     and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
[37] For with God nothing will be impossible."
[38] And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord;
     let it be to me according to your word."
     And the angel departed from her.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Gn 49:2,8-10
Ps 72:1-2,3-4ab,7-8,17
Mt 1:1-17

========================================================
A reading from the book of Genesis.
Gn 49:2,8-10
========================================================
[1] Then Jacob called his sons, and said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in days to come.
[2] Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob,
and hearken to Israel your father.
[8] Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
your father's sons shall bow down before you.
[9] Judah is a lion's whelp;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down, he couched as a lion,
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him up?
[10] The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until he comes to whom it belongs;
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
From Psalm 72
Ps 72:1-2,3-4ab,7-8,17
========================================================
[1] Give the king thy justice, O God,
and thy righteousness to the royal son!
[2] May he judge thy people with righteousness,
and thy poor with justice!
[3] Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!
[4] May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy,
and crush the oppressor!
[5] May he live while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
[7] In his days may righteousness flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
[8] May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
[17] May his name endure for ever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May men bless themselves by him,
all nations call him blessed!

========================================================
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Mt 1:1-17
========================================================
[1] The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
[2] Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
[3] and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,
[4] and Ram the father of Ammin'adab, and Ammin'adab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,
[5] and Salmon the father of Bo'az by Rahab, and Bo'az the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
[6] and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uri'ah,
[7] and Solomon the father of Rehobo'am, and Rehobo'am the father of Abi'jah, and Abi'jah the father of Asa,
[8] and Asa the father of Jehosh'aphat, and Jehosh'aphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzzi'ah,
[9] and Uzzi'ah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezeki'ah,
[10] and Hezeki'ah the father of Manas'seh, and Manas'seh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josi'ah,
[11] and Josi'ah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
[12] And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoni'ah was the father of She-al'ti-el, and She-al'ti-el the father of Zerub'babel,
[13] and Zerub'babel the father of Abi'ud, and Abi'ud the father of Eli'akim, and Eli'akim the father of Azor,
[14] and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eli'ud,
[15] and Eli'ud the father of Elea'zar, and Elea'zar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob,
[16] and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
[17] So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 56:1-3a,6-8
Ps 67:2-3,5,7-8
Jn 5:33-36

========================================================
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Is 56:1-3a,6-8
========================================================
[1] Thus says the LORD:
"Keep justice, and do righteousness,
for soon my salvation will come,
and my deliverance be revealed.
[2] Blessed is the man who does this,
and the son of man who holds it fast,
who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it,
and keeps his hand from doing any evil."
[3] Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say,
"The LORD will surely separate me from his people";
[6] "And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,
and to be his servants,
every one who keeps the sabbath, and does not profane it,
and holds fast my covenant --
[7] these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.
[8] Thus says the Lord GOD,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
I will gather yet others to him
besides those already gathered."

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
From Psalm 67
Ps 67:2-3,5,7-8
========================================================
[1] May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, [Selah]
[2] that thy way may be known upon earth,
thy saving power among all nations.

[4] Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for thou dost judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. [Selah]

[6] The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
[7] God has blessed us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

========================================================
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John.
Jn 5:33-36
========================================================
[33] You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
[34] Not that the testimony which I receive is from man; but I say this that you may be saved.
[35] He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
[36] But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 54:1-10
Ps 30:2&4,5-6,11-12a&13b
Lk 7:24-30

========================================================
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Is 54:1-10
========================================================
[1]"Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;
break forth into singing and cry aloud,
you who have not been in travail!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than the children of her that is married, says the LORD.
[2] Enlarge the place of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
hold not back, lengthen your cords
and strengthen your stakes.
[3] For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,
and your descendants will possess the nations
and will people the desolate cities.
[4] "Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;
be not confounded, for you will not be put to shame;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
[5] For your Maker is your husband,
the LORD of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
[6] For the LORD has called you
like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
[7] For a brief moment I forsook you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
[8] In overflowing wrath for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,
says the LORD, your Redeemer.
[9] "For this is like the days of Noah to me:
as I swore that the waters of Noah
should no more go over the earth,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
and will not rebuke you.
[10] For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
From Psalm 30
Ps 30:2&4,5-6,11-12a&13b
========================================================
[1] I will extol thee, O LORD, for thou hast drawn me up,
and hast not let my foes rejoice over me.
[2] O LORD my God, I cried to thee for help,
and thou hast healed me.
[3] O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol,
restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
[4] Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
[5] For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
[10] Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me!
O LORD, be thou my helper!"
[11] Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing;
thou hast loosed my sackcloth
and girded me with gladness,

========================================================
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
Lk 7:24-30
========================================================
[24] When the messengers of John had gone, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind?
[25] What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.
[26] What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
[27] This is he of whom it is written, `Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.'
[28] I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
[29] (When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John;
[30] but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 45:6c-8,18,21c-25
Ps 85:9ab&10,11-12,13-14
Lk 7:18b-23

========================================================
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Is 45:6c-8,18,21c-25
========================================================
[5] I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I gird you, though you do not know me,
[6] that men may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
[7] I form light and create darkness,
I make weal and create woe,
I am the LORD, who do all these things.
[18] For thus says the LORD,
who created the heavens
(he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
(he established it;
he did not create it a chaos,
he formed it to be inhabited!):
"I am the LORD, and there is no other.
[22] "Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
[23] By myself I have sworn,
from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
`To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear.'
[24] "Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me,
are righteousness and strength;
to him shall come and be ashamed,
all who were incensed against him.
[25] In the LORD all the offspring of Israel
shall triumph and glory."

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
From Psalm 85
Ps 85:9ab&10,11-12,13-14
========================================================
[8] Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his saints, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
[9] Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.

[10] Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
[11] Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.

[12] Yea, the LORD will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
[13] Righteousness will go before him,
and make his footsteps a way.

========================================================
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
Lk 7:18b-23
========================================================
[19] And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?"
[20] And when the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, `Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?'"
[21] In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight.
[22] And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.
[23] And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Zep 3:1-2,9-13
Ps 34:2-3,6-7,17-18,19&23
Mt 21:28-32

========================================================
A reading from the book of the prophet Zephaniah.
Zep 3:1-2,9-13
========================================================
[1] Woe to her that is rebellious and defiled,
the oppressing city!
[2] She listens to no voice,
she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the LORD,
she does not draw near to her God.
[9] "Yea, at that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the LORD
and serve him with one accord.
[10] From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
my suppliants, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
shall bring my offering.
[11] "On that day you shall not be put to shame
because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
in my holy mountain.
[12] For I will leave in the midst of you
a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,
[13] those who are left in Israel;
they shall do no wrong
and utter no lies,
nor shall there be found in their mouth
a deceitful tongue.
For they shall pasture and lie down,
and none shall make them afraid."

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
Responsorial Psalm.
Ps 34:2-3,6-7,17-18,19&23
========================================================
R. The poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.

[1] I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
[2] My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and be glad.

R. The poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.

[5] Look to him, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
[6] This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him,
and saved him out of all his troubles.

R. The poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.

[16] The face of the LORD is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
[17] When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears,
and delivers them out of all their troubles.

R. The poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.

[18] The LORD is near to the brokenhearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.
[22] The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

R. The poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.

========================================================
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Mt 21:28-32
========================================================
[28] "What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, `Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'
[29] And he answered, `I will not'; but afterward he repented and went.
[30] And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, sir,' but did not go.
[31] Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
[32] For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Zec 2:14-17
Jdt 13:18bcde,19
Lk 1:26-38

========================================================
A reading from the book of the prophet Zechariah.
Zec 2:14-17
========================================================
[10] Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the LORD.
[11] And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
[12] And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem."
[13] Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
Responsorial Psalm.
Jdt 13:18bcde,19
========================================================
R. You are the highest honor of our race.

[18] And Uzziah said to her, "O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth,

R. You are the highest honor of our race.

[19] Your hope will never depart from the hearts of men, as they remember the power of God.

R. You are the highest honor of our race.

========================================================
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
Lk 1:26-38
========================================================
[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
[27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
[28] And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
[29] But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
[30] And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
[31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
[32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
[33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end."
[34] And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"
[35] And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
the Son of God.
[36] And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
[37] For with God nothing will be impossible."
[38] And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 61:1-2a,10-11
Lk 1:46-48,49-50,53-54
1Thes 5:16-24
Jn 1:6-8,19-28

========================================================
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Is 61:1-2a,10-11
========================================================
[1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
[2] to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
[10] I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
my soul shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
[11] For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring forth before all the nations.

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
Responsorial Psalm
Lk 1:46-48,49-50,53-54
========================================================
R. my soul shall exult in my God;

[46] And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
[47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
[48] for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

R. my soul shall exult in my God;

[49] for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
[50] And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.

R. my soul shall exult in my God;

[53] he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
[54] He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,

R. my soul shall exult in my God;

========================================================
A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians.
1Thes 5:16-24
========================================================
[16] Rejoice always,
[17] pray constantly,
[18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
[19] Do not quench the Spirit,
[20] do not despise prophesying,
[21] but test everything; hold fast what is good,
[22] abstain from every form of evil.
[23] May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[24] He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John.
Jn 1:6-8,19-28
========================================================
[6]There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
[7] He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
[8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
[19]And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
[20] He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
[21] And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No."
[22] They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
[23] He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
[24]Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
[25] They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"
[26] John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know,
[27] even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."
[28] This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Sir 48:1-4,9-11
Ps 80:(RSV)1ac&2b,14-15&17b,17-18
Mt 17:9a,10-13

===============================================================
A reading from the book of Sirach
Sir 48:1-4,9-11
===============================================================
[1]  Then the prophet Elijah arose like a fire,
     and his word burned like a torch.
[2]  He brought a famine upon them,
     and by his zeal he made them few in number.
[3]  By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens,
     and also three times brought down fire.
[4]  How glorious you were, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
     And who has the right to boast which you have?
[9]  You who were taken up by a whirlwind of fire,
     in a chariot with horses of fire;
[10] you who are ready at the appointed time, it is written,
     to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury,
     to turn the heart of the father to the son,
     and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
[11] Blessed are those who saw you,
     and those who have been adorned in love;
     for we also shall surely live.

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
From Psalm 80
Ps 80:(RSV)1ac&2b,14-15&17b,17-18
========================================================
*   Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

[1]  Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
     Thou who art enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
     Stir up thy might

*   Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

[14] Turn again, O God of hosts!
     Look down from heaven, and see;
     have regard for this vine,
[15] the stock which thy right hand planted.
[17] the son of man whom thou hast made strong for thyself!

*   Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

[17] But let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand,
     the son of man whom thou hast made strong for thyself!
[18] Then we will never turn back from thee;
     give us life, and we will call on thy name!

*   Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

=================================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 17:9a,10-13
=================================================================
[9a] And as they were coming down the mountain,
[10] the disciples asked him,
     "Then why do the scribes say that first Eli'jah must come?"
[11] He replied, "Eli'jah does come, and he is to restore all things;
[12] but I tell you that Eli'jah has already come,
     and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased.
     So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands."
[13] Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 48:17-19
Ps 1:1-2,3,4&6
Mt 11:16-19

==============================================================
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah
Is 48:17-19
==============================================================
[17] Thus says the LORD,
     your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
     "I am the LORD your God,
     who teaches you to profit,
     who leads you in the way you should go.
[18] O that you had hearkened to my commandments!
     Then your peace would have been like a river,
     and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;
[19] your offspring would have been like the sand,
     and your descendants like its grains;
     their name would never be cut off
     or destroyed from before me."

The Word of the Lord.

===============================================================
From Psalm 1
Ps 1:1-2,3,4&6
===============================================================
*  Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

[1] Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
    nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
[2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

*  Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

[3] He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water,
    that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
    In all that he does, he prospers.

*  Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

[4] The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff which the wind drives away.
[6] for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

*  Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

=================================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 11:16-19
=================================================================
[16] "But to what shall I compare this generation?
     It is like children sitting in the market places
     and calling to their playmates,
[17] `We piped to you, and you did not dance;
     we wailed, and you did not mourn.'
[18] For John came neither eating nor drinking,
     and they say, `He has a demon';
[19] the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say,
     `Behold, a glutton and a drunkard,
     a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'
     Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Gn 3:9-15,20
Ps 98:1,2-3ab,3cd-4
Eph 1:3-6,11-12
Lk 1:26-38

======================================================================
A reading from the book of Genesis
Gn 3:9-15,20
======================================================================
[9]  But the LORD God called to the man,
     and said to him, "Where are you?"
[10] And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden,
     and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
[11] He said, "Who told you that you were naked?
     Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
[12] The man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me,
     she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."
[13] Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?"
     The woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate."
[14] The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,
     cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals;
     upon your belly you shall go,
     and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
[15] I will put enmity between you and the woman,
     and between your seed and her seed;
     he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
[16] To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing;
     in pain you shall bring forth children,
     yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."
[17] And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife,
     and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you,
     `You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you;
     in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
[18] thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you;
     and you shall eat the plants of the field.
[19] In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
     till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken;
     you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
[20] The man called his wife's name Eve,
     because she was the mother of all living.

The Word of the Lord.

================================================================
From Psalm 98
Ps 98:1,2-3ab,3cd-4
================================================================
*  Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

[1] O sing to the LORD a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things!
    His right hand and his holy arm
    have gotten him victory.

*  Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

[2] The LORD has made known his victory,
    he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
[3] He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
    to the house of Israel.

*  Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

    All the ends of the earth have seen
    the victory of our God.
[4] Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

*  Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

======================================================================
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians
Eph 1:3-6,11-12
======================================================================
[3]  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
     who has blessed us in Christ
     with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
[4]  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,
     that we should be holy and blameless before him.
[5]  He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ,
     according to the purpose of his will,
[6]  to the praise of his glorious grace
     which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
[11] In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things
     according to the counsel of his will,
[12] we who first hoped in Christ have been destined
     and appointed to live for the praise of his glory.

The Word of the Lord.

====================================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Lk 1:26-38
====================================================================
[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
     to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
[27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,
     of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
[28] And he came to her and said,
     "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
[29] But she was greatly troubled at the saying,
     and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
[30] And the angel said to her,
     "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
[31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
     and you shall call his name Jesus.
[32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
     and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
[33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
     and of his kingdom there will be no end."
[34] And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"
[35] And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
     and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
     therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
[36] And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son;
     and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
[37] For with God nothing will be impossible."
[38] And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord;
     let it be to me according to your word."
     And the angel departed from her.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 40:25-31
Ps 103:1-2,3-4,8&10
Mt 11:28-30

=====================================================================
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Is 40:25-31
=====================================================================
[25] To whom then will you compare me,
     that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
[26] Lift up your eyes on high and see:
     who created these?
     He who brings out their host by number,
     calling them all by name;
     by the greatness of his might,
     and because he is strong in power
     not one is missing.
[27] Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel,
     "My way is hid from the LORD,
     and my right is disregarded by my God"?
[28] Have you not known? Have you not heard?
     The LORD is the everlasting God,
     the Creator of the ends of the earth.
     He does not faint or grow weary,
     his understanding is unsearchable.
[29] He gives power to the faint,
     and to him who has no might he increases strength.
[30] Even youths shall faint and be weary,
     and young men shall fall exhausted;
[31] but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
     they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
     they shall run and not be weary,
     they shall walk and not faint.

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
From Psalm 103
Ps 103:1-2,3-4,8&10
========================================================
*  O bless the Lord, my soul!

[1]  Bless the LORD, O my soul;
     and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
[2]  Bless the LORD, O my soul,
     and forget not all his benefits,

*  O bless the Lord, my soul!

[3]  who forgives all your iniquity,
     who heals all your diseases,
[4]  who redeems your life from the Pit,
     who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

*  O bless the Lord, my soul!

[8]  The LORD is merciful and gracious,
     slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
[10] He does not deal with us according to our sins,
     nor requite us according to our iniquities.

*  O bless the Lord, my soul!

===================================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 11:28-30
===================================================================
[28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
     and I will give you rest.
[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;
     for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
     and you will find rest for your souls.
[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 40:1-11
Ps 96:1-2,3&10ac,11-12,13
Mt 18:12-14

=====================================================================
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Is 40:1-11
=====================================================================
[1]  Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
[2]  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her
     that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned,
     that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
[3]  A voice cries:
     "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
     make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
[4]  Every valley shall be lifted up,
     and every mountain and hill be made low;
     the uneven ground shall become level,
     and the rough places a plain.
[5]  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
     and all flesh shall see it together,
     for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
[6]  A voice says, "Cry!"
     And I said, "What shall I cry?"
     All flesh is grass,
     and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
[7]  The grass withers, the flower fades,
     when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
     surely the people is grass.
[8]  The grass withers, the flower fades;
     but the word of our God will stand for ever.
[9]  Get you up to a high mountain,
     O Zion, herald of good tidings;
     lift up your voice with strength,
     O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, fear not;
     say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"
[10] Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him;
     behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
[11] He will feed his flock like a shepherd,
     he will gather the lambs in his arms,
     he will carry them in his bosom,
     and gently lead those that are with young.

The Word of the Lord.

========================================================
From Psalm 96
Ps 96:1-2,3&10ac,11-12,13
========================================================
*  The Lord our God comes with power.

[1]  O sing to the LORD a new song;
     sing to the LORD, all the earth!
[2]  Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
     tell of his salvation from day to day.

*  The Lord our God comes with power.

[3]  Declare his glory among the nations,
     his marvelous works among all the peoples!
[10] Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!
     he will judge the peoples with equity."

*  The Lord our God comes with power.

[11] Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
     let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
[12] let the field exult, and everything in it!
     Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy

*  The Lord our God comes with power.

[13] before the LORD, for he comes,
     for he comes to judge the earth.
     He will judge the world with righteousness,
     and the peoples with his truth.

*  The Lord our God comes with power.

==================================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 18:12-14
==================================================================
[12] What do you think?
     If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray,
     does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains
     and go in search of the one that went astray?
[13] And if he finds it, truly, I say to you,
     he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.
[14] So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven
     that one of these little ones should perish.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 35:1-10
Ps 85:9ab&10,11-12,13-14
Lk 5:17-26

=====================================================================
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Is 35:1-10
=====================================================================
[1]  The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
     the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus
[2]  it shall blossom abundantly,
     and rejoice with joy and singing.
     The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
     the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
     They shall see the glory of the LORD,
     the majesty of our God.
[3]  Strengthen the weak hands,
     and make firm the feeble knees.
[4]  Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
     "Be strong, fear not!
     Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
     with the recompense of God.
     He will come and save you."
[5]  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
     and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
[6]  then shall the lame man leap like a hart,
     and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy.
     For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
     and streams in the desert;
[7]  the burning sand shall become a pool,
     and the thirsty ground springs of water;
     the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
     the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
[8]  And a highway shall be there,
     and it shall be called the Holy Way;
     the unclean shall not pass over it,
     and fools shall not err therein.
[9]  No lion shall be there,
     nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
     they shall not be found there,
     but the redeemed shall walk there.
[10] And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
     and come to Zion with singing;
     everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
     they shall obtain joy and gladness,
     and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The Word of the Lord

===================================================
From Psalm 85
Ps 85:8-9,10-11,12-13
===================================================
*  Our God will come to save us!

[8]  Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
     for he will speak peace to his people,
[9]  Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
     that glory may dwell in our land.

*  Our God will come to save us!

[10] Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
     righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
[11] Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
     and righteousness will look down from the sky.

*  Our God will come to save us!

[12] Yea, the LORD will give what is good,
     and our land will yield its increase.
[13] Righteousness will go before him,
     and make his footsteps a way.

*  Our God will come to save us!

=================================================================
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Lk 5:17-26
=================================================================
[17] On one of those days, as he was teaching,
     there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by,
     who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem;
     and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
[18] And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed,
     and they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus;
[19] but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd,
     they went up on the roof
     and let him down with his bed through the tiles
     into the midst before Jesus.
[20] And when he saw their faith he said,
     "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
[21] And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying,
     "Who is this that speaks blasphemies?
     Who can forgive sins but God only?"
[22] When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them,
     "Why do you question in your hearts?
[23] Which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven you,'
     or to say, `Rise and walk'?
[24] But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"
     He said to the man who was paralyzed
     "I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home."
[25] And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay,
     and went home, glorifying God.
[26] And amazement seized them all,
     and they glorified God and were filled with awe,
     saying, "We have seen strange things today."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 40:1-5,9-11
Ps 85:9-10-11-12,13-14
2Pt 3:8-14
Mk 1:1-8

=====================================================================
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Is 40:1-5,9-11
=====================================================================
[1]  Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
[2]  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her
     that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned,
     that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
[3]  A voice cries:
     "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
     make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
[4]  Every valley shall be lifted up,
     and every mountain and hill be made low;
     the uneven ground shall become level,
     and the rough places a plain.
[5]  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
     and all flesh shall see it together,
     for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
[9]  Get you up to a high mountain,
     O Zion, herald of good tidings;
     lift up your voice with strength,
     O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, fear not;
     say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"
[10] Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him;
     behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
[11] He will feed his flock like a shepherd,
     he will gather the lambs in his arms,
     he will carry them in his bosom,
     and gently lead those that are with young.

The Word of the Lord.

===================================================
From Psalm 85
Ps 85:8-9,10-11,12-13
===================================================
*  Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

[8]  Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
     for he will speak peace to his people,
[9]  Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
     that glory may dwell in our land.

*  Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

[10] Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
     righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
[11] Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
     and righteousness will look down from the sky.

*  Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

[12] Yea, the LORD will give what is good,
     and our land will yield its increase.
[13] Righteousness will go before him,
     and make his footsteps a way.

*  Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

==============================================================================
A reading from the Second Letter of Saint Peter
2Pt 3:8-14
==============================================================================
[8]  But do not ignore this one fact, beloved,
     that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years,
     and a thousand years as one day.
[9]  The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness,
     but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish,
     but that all should reach repentance.
[10] But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
     and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise,
     and the elements will be dissolved with fire,
     and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.
[11] Since all these things are thus to be dissolved,
     what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
[12] waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,
     because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved,
     and the elements will melt with fire!
[13] But according to his promise
     we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
[14] Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these,
     be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

The Word of the Lord.

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A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
Mk 1:1-8
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[1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
[2] As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
    "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
    who shall prepare thy way;
[3] the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
    Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight"
[4] John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness,
    preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
[5] And there went out to him all the country of Judea,
    and all the people of Jerusalem;
    and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan,
    confessing their sins.
[6] Now John was clothed with camel's hair,
    and had a leather girdle around his waist,
    and ate locusts and wild honey.
[7] And he preached, saying,
    "After me comes he who is mightier than I,
    the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
[8] I have baptized you with water;
    but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Is 30:19–21,23–26
Ps 147:1–6
Mt 9:35-10:1,5,6–8

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Isaiah 30:19–21,23–26
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19 Yea, O people in Zion who dwell at Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you.
20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.
21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
23 And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and grain, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. In that day your cattle will graze in large pastures;
24 and the oxen and the asses that till the ground will eat salted provender, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork.
25 And upon every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
26 Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the LORD binds up the hurt of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

The Word of the Lord

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Psalms 147:1–6
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1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is seemly.
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars, he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our LORD, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The LORD lifts up the downtrodden, he casts the wicked to the ground.

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Matthew 9:35-10:1,5,6–8
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35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
38 pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,
6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.

The Gospel of the Lord

Is 29:17–24
Ps 27:1,4,13–14
Mt 9:27–31

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Isaiah 29:17–24
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17 Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.
19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the ruthless shall come to nought and the scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,
21 who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.
22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “Jacob shall no more be ashamed, no more shall his face grow pale.
23 For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 And those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmur will accept instruction.”

The Word of the Lord

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Psalms 27:1,4,13–14
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1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the LORD!

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Matthew 9:27–31
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27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”
28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”
29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.”
31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district

The Gospel of the Lord

Is 26:1–6
Ps 118:1,8–9,19–21,25–27
Mt 7:21,24–27

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Isaiah 26:1–6
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1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.
2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in.
3 Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.
4 Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
5 For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust.
6 The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.”

The Word of the Lord

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Psalms 118:1,8–9,19–21,25–27
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1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.

25 Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success!
26 Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!

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Matthew 7:21,24–27
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21 “Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
24 “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock;
25 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand;
27 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Rom 10:9-18
Ps 19:8–11
Mt 4:18–22

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Romans 10:9-18
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9 because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.
11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him.
13 For, “every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?
15 And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

The Word of the Lord

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Psalms 19:8–11
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8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

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Matthew 4:18–22
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18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zeb’edee and John his brother, in the boat with Zeb’edee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

The Gospel of the Lord

Is 11:1–10
Ps 72:1–2,7–8,12–13,17
Lk 10:21-24

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Isaiah 11:1–10
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1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.
6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.
9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious.

The Word of the Lord

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Psalms 72:1–2,7–8,12–13,17
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1 Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice!

7 In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!

12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.

17 May his name endure for ever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May men bless themselves by him, all nations call him blessed!

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Luke 10:21-24
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[21] In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.
[22] All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
[23] Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see!
[24] For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

The Gospel of the Lord

Is 2:1–5
Ps 122:1–9
Mt 8:5-11

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Isaiah 2:1–5
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1 The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,
3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

The Word of the Lord

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Psalms 122:1–9
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1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem, built as a city which is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5 There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they prosper who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers!”
8 For my brethren and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.

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Matthew 8:5-11
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5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him,
6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
7 He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
8 The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.
9 For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
11 I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven.

The Gospel of the Lord

Is 63:16–17,19,64:2-7
Ps 80:2–3,15–16,18–19
1Cor 1:3–9
Mk 13:33–37

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Isaiah 63:16–17,19;64:2-7
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[16] For thou art our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us; thou, O LORD, art our Father, our Redeemer from of old is thy name.
[17] O LORD, why dost thou make us err from thy ways and harden our heart, so that we fear thee not? Return for the sake of thy servants, the tribes of thy heritage.
[19] We have become like those over whom thou hast never ruled, like those who are not called by thy name.

[1] O that thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down,  that the mountains might quake at thy presence --
[2] as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil -- to make thy name known to thy adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at thy presence!
[3] When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence.
[4] From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides thee, who works for those who wait for him.
[5] Thou meetest him that joyfully works righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways. Behold, thou wast angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? [6] We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. [7] There is no one that calls upon thy name, that bestirs himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast delivered us into the hand of our iniquities.

The Word of the Lord

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Psalms 80  
Ps 80:2–3,15–16,18–19
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2 before E’phraim and Benjamin and Manas’seh! Stir up thy might, and come to save us!
3 Restore us, O God; let thy face shine, that we may be saved!

15 the stock which thy right hand planted.
16 They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance!

18 Then we will never turn back from thee; give us life, and we will call on thy name!
19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! let thy face shine, that we may be saved!

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1 Corinthians 1:3–9
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3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,
5 that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge —
6 even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you —
7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ;
8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Word of the Lord

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Mark 13:33–37
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33 Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.
35 Watch therefore — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning —
36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
37 And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.”

The Gospel of the Lord

========================================
A Reading from the Book of Daniel (Dn 7: 15-27)
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[15] "As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious and the visions of my head alarmed me. [16] I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made known to me the interpretation of the things. [17] `These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. [18] But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, for ever and ever.'
[19] "Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrible, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze; and which devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; [20] and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up and before which three of them fell, the horn which had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and which seemed greater than its fellows. [21] As I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over them, [22] until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the kingdom. [23] "Thus he said: `As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. [24] As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. [25] He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, two times, and half a time. [26] But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. [27] And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.'

The Word of the Lord

========================================
The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[60] Bless the Lord, you sons of men, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[61] Bless the Lord, O Israel, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[62] Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[63] Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[64] Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[65] Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 34-36)
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[34] "But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; [35] for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. [36] But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man."

The Gospel of the Lord

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A Reading from The Book of Daniel (Dn 7: 2-14)
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[2] Daniel said, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. [3] And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. [4] The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand upon two feet like a man; and the mind of a man was given to it. [5] And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side; it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, `Arise, devour much flesh.' [6] After this I looked, and lo, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back; and the beast had four heads; and dominion was given to it. [7] After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrible and dreadful and exceedingly strong; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. [8] I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
[9] As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire. [10] A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. [11] I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. [12] As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
[13] I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. [14] And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

The Word of the Lord

========================================
The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[53] Bless the Lord, mountains and hills, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[54] Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[55] Bless the Lord, you springs, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[56] Bless the Lord, seas and rivers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[57] Bless the Lord, you whales and all creatures that move in the waters, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[58] Bless the Lord, all birds of the air, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[59] Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 29-33)
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[29] And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees; [30] as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. [31] So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. [32] Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place. [33] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The Gospel of the Lord

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A Reading from The Book of Daniel (Dn 6: 12-28)
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[11] Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. [12] Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the interdict, "O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that any man who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." [13] Then they answered before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no heed to you, O king, or the interdict you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day." [14] Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed, and set his mind to deliver Daniel; and he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. [15] Then these men came by agreement to the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance which the king establishes can be changed." [16] Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!" [17] And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
[18] Then the king went to his palace, and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. [19] Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. [20] When he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish and said to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?" [21] Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live for ever! [22] My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong." [23] Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God. [24] And the king commanded, and those men who had accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions -- they, their children, and their wives; and before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
[25] Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you. [26] I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God, enduring for ever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. [27] He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions."

The Word of the Lord

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The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[46] Bless the Lord, dews and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[47] Bless the Lord, nights and days, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[48] Bless the Lord, light and darkness, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[49] Bless the Lord, ice and cold, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[50] Bless the Lord, frosts and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[51] Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[52] Let the earth bless the Lord; let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 20-28)
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[20] "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. [21] Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it; [22] for these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all that is written. [23] Alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! For great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon this people; [24] they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
[25] "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, [26] men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [27] And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

The Gospel of the Lord

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A Reading from The Book of Daniel (Dn 5: 1-6. 13-14. 16-17. 23-28)
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[1] King Belshaz'zar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in front of the thousand. [2] Belshaz'zar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver which Nebuchadnez'zar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. [3] Then they brought in the golden and silver vessels which had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. [4] They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. [5] Immediately the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand; and the king saw the hand as it wrote. [6] Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
[13] Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. [14] I have heard of you that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
[16] But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. [17] Then Daniel answered before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.
[23] but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. [24] "Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. [25] And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. [26] This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; [27] TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; [28] PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

The Word of the Lord

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The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[40] Bless the Lord, sun and moon, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[41] Bless the Lord, stars of heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[42] Bless the Lord, all rain and dew, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[43] Bless the Lord, all winds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[44] Bless the Lord, fire and heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[45] Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 12-19)
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[12] But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. [13] This will be a time for you to bear testimony. [14] Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; [15] for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. [16] You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; [17] you will be hated by all for my name's sake. [18] But not a hair of your head will perish. [19] By your endurance you will gain your lives.

The Gospel of the Lord

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A Reading from The Book of Daniel (Dn 2: 31-45)
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[31] "You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. [32] The head of this image was of fine gold, its breast and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, [33] its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. [34] As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it smote the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces; [35] then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
[36] "This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation. [37] You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, [38] and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the sons of men, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the air, making you rule over them all -- you are the head of gold. [39] After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. [40] And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things; and like iron which crushes, it shall break and crush all these. [41] And as you saw the feet and toes partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the miry clay. [42] And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. [43] As you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. [44] And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever; [45] just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure."

The Word of the Lord

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The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 57. 58. 59. 60. 61)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[35] "Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[36] Bless the Lord, you heavens, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[37] Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[38] Bless the Lord, all waters above the heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[39] Bless the Lord, all powers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 5-11)
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[5] And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said,
 [6] "As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."
[7] And they asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to take place?" [8] And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. [9] And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once." [10] Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; [11] there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

The Gospel of the Lord

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A Reading from the Book of Daniel (Dn 1: 1-6. 8-20)
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[1] In the third year of the reign of Jehoi'akim king of Judah, Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. [2] And the Lord gave Jehoi'akim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
[3] Then the king commanded Ash'penaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, [4] youths without blemish, handsome and skilful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to serve in the king's palace, and to teach them the letters and language of the Chalde'ans. [5] The king assigned them a daily portion of the rich food which the king ate, and of the wine which he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. [6] Among these were Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah of the tribe of Judah.
[8] But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's rich food, or with the wine which he drank; therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. [9] And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs; [10] and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear lest my lord the king, who appointed your food and your drink, should see that you were in poorer condition than the youths who are of your own age. So you would endanger my head with the king." [11] Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah; [12] "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. [13] Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's rich food be observed by you, and according to what you see deal with your servants." [14] So he hearkened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. [15] At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's rich food. [16] So the steward took away their rich food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. [17] As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. [18] At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnez'zar. [19] And the king spoke with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah; therefore they stood before the king. [20] And in every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

The Word of the Lord

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The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 52. 53. 54. 55. 56)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[29] "Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever;
[30] And blessed is thy glorious, holy name and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever;
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[31] Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holy glory and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[32] Blessed art thou, who sittest upon cherubim and lookest upon the deeps, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[33] Blessed art thou upon the throne of thy kingdom and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[34] Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven and to be sung and glorified for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 1-4)
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[1] He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; [2] and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. [3] And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; [4] for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had."

The Gospel of the Lord

The Word of the Lord

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From Psalm 23: (Ps 23: 1-2. 2-3. 5-6)
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R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want
[1] The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
[2] he makes me lie down in green pastures.
R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me beside still waters;
[3] he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want
[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want
[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want

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A Reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 15: 20-26. 28)
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[20]But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
[21] For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
[22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
[23] But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
[24] Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
[25] For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
[26] The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
[28] When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.

The Word of the Lord

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Matthew (Mt 25: 31- 46)
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[31] "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
[32] Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
[33] and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
[34] Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
[35] for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
[36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
[37] Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
[38] And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
[39] And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'
[40] And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
[41] Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
[42] for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
[43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
[44] Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'
[45] Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'
[46] And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

The Gospel of The Lord

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A reading from First Maccabees (Ch. 6)
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[1] King Antiochus was going through the upper provinces when he heard that Elymais in Persia was a city famed for its wealth in silver and gold.
[2] Its temple was very rich, containing golden shields, breastplates, and weapons left there by Alexander, the son of Philip, the Macedonian king who first reigned over the Greeks.
[3] So he came and tried to take the city and plunder it, but he could not, because his plan became known to the men of the city
[4] and they withstood him in battle. So he fled and in great grief departed from there to return to Babylon.
[5] Then some one came to him in Persia and reported that the armies which had gone into the land of Judah had been routed;
[6] that Lysias had gone first with a strong force, but had turned and fled before the Jews; that the Jews had grown strong from the arms, supplies, and abundant spoils which they had taken from the armies they had cut down;
[7] that they had torn down the abomination which he had erected upon the altar in Jerusalem; and that they had surrounded the sanctuary with high walls as before, and also Beth-zur, his city.
[8] When the king heard this news, he was astounded and badly shaken. He took to his bed and became sick from grief, because things had not turned out for him as he had planned.
[9] He lay there for many days, because deep grief continually gripped him, and he concluded that he was dying.
[10] So he called all his friends and said to them, “Sleep departs from my eyes and I am downhearted with worry.
[11] I said to myself, `To what distress I have come! And into what a great flood I now am plunged! For I was kind and beloved in my power.’
[12] But now I remember the evils I did in Jerusalem. I seized all her vessels of silver and gold; and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without good reason.
[13] I know that it is because of this that these evils have come upon me; and behold, I am perishing of deep grief in a strange land.”

The Word of the Lord.

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From Psalm 9
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[1] I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all thy wonderful deeds.
[2] I will be glad and exult in thee, I will sing praise to thy name, O Most High.
[3] When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before thee.
[5] Thou hast rebuked the nations, thou hast destroyed the wicked; thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever.
[15] The nations have sunk in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid has their own foot been caught.
[18] For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.

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A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Ch. 20)
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[27] There came to Jesus some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection,
[28] and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother.
[29] Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children;
[30] and the second
[31] and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died.
[32] Afterward the woman also died.
[33] In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”
[34] And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage;
[35] but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,
[36] for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
[37] But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.
[38] Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him.”
[39] And some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.”
[40] For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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A reading from First Maccabees  (Ch. 4)
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[36] Then said Judas and his brothers, “Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.”
[37] So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion.
[52] Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year,
[53] they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering which they had built.
[54] At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals.
[55] All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them.
[56] So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness; they offered a sacrifice of deliverance and praise.
[57] They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and furnished them with doors.
[58] There was very great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was removed.
[59] Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with gladness and joy for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev.

The Word of the Lord.

==============================================
Responsorial Psalm (From 1 Chronicles, Ch. 29)
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[10] “Blessed art thou, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
[11] Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
[12] Both riches and honor come from thee, and thou rulest over all. In thy hand are power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

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A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Ch. 19)
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[45] And Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold,
[46] saying to them, “It is written, `My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.”
[47] And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him;
[48] but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon his words. 

The Gospel of the Lord.

==============================================
A reading from First Maccabees (Ch. 2)
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[15] Then the king’s officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them offer sacrifice.
[16] Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathias and his sons were assembled.
[17] Then the king’s officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: “You are a leader, honored and great in this city, and supported by sons and brothers.
[18] Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.”
[19] But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: “Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his fathers,
[20] yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers.
[21] Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances.
[22] We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left.”
[23] When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Modein, according to the king’s command.
[24] When Mattathias saw it, be burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar.
[25] At the same time he killed the king’s officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar.
[26] Thus he burned with zeal for the law, as Phinehas did against Zimri the son of Salu.
[27] Then Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: “Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!”
[28] And he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the city.
[29] Then many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the wilderness to dwell there,

The Word of the Lord.

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From Psalm 50
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[1] The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
[2] Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
[5] “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
[6] The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! [Selah]
[14] Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High;
[15] and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

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A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Ch. 19)
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[41] And when Jesus drew near and saw Jerusalem he wept over it,
[42] saying, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes.
[43] For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side,
[44] and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

The Gospel of the Lord.