3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: January 25, 2009

First Reading (Jonah 3: 1–5, 10)
A reading from the book of Jonah.
The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: "Go to Nineveh, the great city, and announce to them the message I give you." In obedience to the word of the Lord, Jonah went to Nineveh. It was a very large city, and it took three days just to cross it. So Jonah walked a single day's journey and began proclaiming, "Forty days more and Nineveh will be destroyed." The people of the city believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened upon them.

Second Reading (1 Corinthians 7: 29–31)
A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
I state this, brothers and sisters: time is running out, and those who are married must live as if not married; those who weep as if not weeping; those who are happy as if they were not happy; those buying something as if they had not bought it; and those enjoying the present life as if they were not enjoying it, for the order of this world is vanishing.

Gospel (Mark 1: 14–20)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching the Good News of God. He stated, "The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Change your ways and believe in the Good News." As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake, for they were fishermen. And Jesus stated to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once, they left their nets and followed him. Jesus went a little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets. Immediately, Jesus called them and they followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: January 18, 2009

First Reading (1 Samuel 3: 3b–10, 19)
A reading from the first book of Samuel.
Samuel lay down in the house of the Lord near the ark of God. Then the Lord called Samuel, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "I am here!" and ran to Eli saying, "I am here, did you not call me?" But Eli replied, "I did not call, go back to sleep." So Samuel went and lay down. Then the Lord called again, "Samuel! Samuel!" and Samuel stood up and went to Eli saying, "You called me; I am here." But Eli replied again, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep." Samuel did not yet know the Lord and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. But the Lord called Samuel a third time and he went to Eli again saying, "I am here for you have called me." Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel. "Go, lie down, and if he calls you again, answer, 'Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.'" Then the Lord came and stood there calling as he did before, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel answered, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." Samuel grew; the Lord was with him and made all his words become true.

Second Reading (1 Corinthians 6: 13c–15a, 17–20)
A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: For the Lord, the Lord is for the body. God, who raised the Lord, will also raise us with his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? On the contrary, anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Avoid unlawful sex entirely. Any other sin a person commits is outside the body but those who commit sexual immorality sin against their own body. Do you not know that you body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, given by God? You belong no longer to yourselves. Remember at what price you have been bought and make your body serve the glory of God.

Gospel (John 1: 35–42)
A reading from the holy Gospel of John.
On the following day, John was standing there again with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and stated, "There is the Lamb of God." On hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. He turned and saw them following, and he stated to them, "What are you looking for?" They answered, "Rabbi (Master), where are you staying?" Jesus stated, "Come and see." So they went and saw where he stayed and spent the rest of that day with him. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard what John had said and followed Jesus. Early the next morning, he found is brother Simon and stated to him, "We have found the Messiah" (the Christ). He brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and stated, "You are Simon, son of John, but you shall be called Cephas" (Rock).

The Baptism of the Lord

Date: January 11, 2009

First Reading (Isaiah 55: 1-11)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
Come here, all you who are thirsty, come to the water! All who have no money, come! Yes, without money and at no cost, buy and drink wine and milk. Why spend money on what is not food and labor for what does not satisfy? Listen to me, and you will eat well; you will enjoy the richest of fare. Incline your ear and come to me; listen, that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, I will fulfill in you my promises to David. See, I have given him for a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the people. Likewise you will summon a nation unknown to you, and nations that do not know you will come hurrying to you for the sake of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has promoted you. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near. Let the wicked abandon his way, let him forsake his thoughts, let him turn to the Lord for he will have mercy, for our God is generous in forgiving. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways, say the Lord. For as the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return till they have watered the earth, making it yield seed for the sower and food for others to eat, so is my word that goes forth out of my mouth: it will not return to me idle, but it shall accomplish my will, the purpose for which it has been sent.

Second Reading (1 John 5: 1-9)
A reading from the first letter of Saint John.
Brothers and sisters: All those who believe that Jesus is the Anointed, are born of God; if you love the Father you also love all those born of him. How may we know that we love the children of God? If we love God and fulfill his commands, for God's love requires us to keep his commands. In fact, his commandments are not a burden because all those born of God overcome the world. And the victory which overcomes the world is our faith. Who has overcome the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus Christ was acknowledged through water, but also through blood. Not only water but water and blood. And the Spirit too, witnesses to him for the Spirit is truth. There are then three testimonies: the Spirit, the water and the blood, and these three witnesses agree. If we accept human testimony, with greater reason must we accept that of God, given in favor of his Son.

Gospel (Mark 1: 7-11)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
John preached to the people saying, "After me comes one who is more powerful than I am; I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. As for me, I am not worth to bend down and untie his sandals." At that time Jesus came from Nazareth, a town of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And the moment he came up out of the water, heaven opened before him and he saw the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. And these words were heard from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved, the One I have chosen."

The Epiphany of the Lord

Date: January 4, 2009

First reading (Isaiah 60: 1–6)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
Arise and shine, Jerusalem, for your light has come. The Glory of the Lord rises upon you. Night still covers the earth and gloomy clouds veil the peoples, but the Lord now rises and over you his glory appears. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes round about and see: they are all gathered and are coming to you, your sons from afar, your daughters tenderly carried. This sight will make your face radiant, your heart throbbing and full; the riches of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you. A flood of camels will cover you, caravans from Midian and Ephah. Those from Sheba will come, bringing with them gold and incense, all singing in praise of the Lord.

Second reading (Ephesians 3: 2–3 and 5–6)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.
Brothers and sisters: You may have heard of the graces God bestowed on me for your sake. By a revelation he gave me the knowledge of his mysterious design, as I have explained in a few words. This mystery was not made known to past generations but only now, through revelations given to holy apostles and prophets. Now the non-Jewish people share the Inheritance; in Christ Jesus the non-Jews are incorporated and are to enjoy the Promise, for this is the Good News.

Gospel (Matthew 2: 1–12)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Judea, during the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem. They asked, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw the rising of his star in the east and have come to honor him." When Herod heard this, he was greatly disturbed and with him all of Jerusalem. He immediately called a meeting of all high-ranking priests and those who taught the people of God his Law, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. "In the town of Bethlehem in Judea," they told him, "for this is what the prophet wrote: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the clans of Judah, for from you will become a leader, the one who is to shepherd my people Israel." Then Herod surreptitiously called the wise men and asked them the precise time the star appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem with the instruction, "Go and get precise information about the child. As soon as you have located him, report to me, so that I too may go and honor him." After the meeting with the king, they set out. The star that they had seen in the East went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. The wise men were overjoyed on seeing the star again. They went into the house and when they saw the child with Mary his mother, they knelt and worshiped him. They opened their bags and offered him their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. In a dream they were warned not to return to Herod, so they returned to their home country by another way.

Solemnity of Mary; the Holy Mother of God

Date: January 1, 2009

First Reading (Numbers 6: 22–27)

A reading from the book of Numbers.

The Lord spoke to Moses stating, "Speak to Aaron and his sons and state to them: This is how you shall bless the people of Israel; you shall say: May the Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord let his face shine on you, and be gracious to you! May the Lord look kindly on you, and give you his peace! In that way shall they put my name on the people of Israel and I will bless them."

Second Reading (Galatians 4: 4–7)

A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians.

Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son. He came born of woman and subject to the Law, in order to redeem the subjects of the Law, that we may be given our full rights of sons and daughters of God. And because you are sons, God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his which cries out: Abba! that is, Father! You yourself are no longer a slave but a son or daughter, and yours is the inheritance by God's grace.

Gospel (Luke 2: 16–21)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

The shepherds came hurriedly to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger. On seeing this they related what they had been told about the child, and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds. As for Mary, she treasured all these messages and continually pondered over them. The shepherds then returned giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them. On the eighth day the circumcision of the baby had to be performed; he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.