Date: December 28, 2014
First Reading (Genesis 15: 1–6 and 21: 1–3)
A reading from the book of Genesis.
After this the word of the lord was spoken to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward will be very great!" Abram stated, "My Lord God, where are your promises? I am still childless and all I have will go to Eliezer of Damascus. You have given me no children, so a slave of mine will be my heir." Then the word of the Lord was spoken to him again, "Eliezer will not be your heir, but a child born of you (your own flesh and blood) will be your heir." Then the Lord brought him outside and stated to him, "Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that." Abram believed the Lord who, because of this, held him to be an upright man. The Lord was kind to Sarah as he had stated, and fulfilled his promise to her. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time the Lord had promised. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son that Sarah bore him.
Second Reading (Hebrews 11: 8, 11–12 and 17–19)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews.
It was by faith that Abraham, called be God, set out for a country that would be given to him as an inheritance; for he parted without knowing where he was going. By faith Sarah herself received power to become a mother, in spite of her advanced age; since she believed that he who had made the promise would be faithful. Therefore, from an almost impotent man were born descendants as numerous as the stars of heavens, as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. By faith Abraham went to offer Isaac when God tested him. And so he who had received the promise of God offered his only son although God had told him: Isaac's descendants will bear your name. Abraham reasoned that God is capable even of raising the dead, and he received back his son, which has a figurative meaning.
Gospel (Luke 2: 22–40)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
When the day came for the purification according to the law of Moses, they brought the baby up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to God. And they offered a sacrifice as ordered in the law of Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. There lived in Jerusalem at this time a very upright and devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel, and he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord. So he was led into the Temple by the Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law. Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God, stating, "Now, O Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace, for you have fulfilled your word and my eyes have seen your salvation, which you display for all the people to see. Here is the light you will reveal to the nations and the glory of your people Israel." His father and mother wondered at what was stated about the child. Simeon blessed them and stated to Mary, his mother, "See him; he will be for the rise or fall of the multitudes of Israel. He shall stand as a sign of contradiction, while a sword will pierce your own soul. Then the secret thoughts of many may be brought to light." There was also a prophetess named Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. After leaving her father's home, she had been seven years with her husband, and since then she had been continually about the Temple, serving God as a widow night and day in fasting and prayer. She was now eighty-four. Coming up at that time, she gave praise to God and spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem. When the parents had fulfilled all that was required by the law of the Lord, they returned to their town, Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew in stature and strength and was filled with wisdom: the grace of God was upon him.
First Reading (Genesis 15: 1–6 and 21: 1–3)
A reading from the book of Genesis.
After this the word of the lord was spoken to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward will be very great!" Abram stated, "My Lord God, where are your promises? I am still childless and all I have will go to Eliezer of Damascus. You have given me no children, so a slave of mine will be my heir." Then the word of the Lord was spoken to him again, "Eliezer will not be your heir, but a child born of you (your own flesh and blood) will be your heir." Then the Lord brought him outside and stated to him, "Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that." Abram believed the Lord who, because of this, held him to be an upright man. The Lord was kind to Sarah as he had stated, and fulfilled his promise to her. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time the Lord had promised. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son that Sarah bore him.
Second Reading (Hebrews 11: 8, 11–12 and 17–19)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews.
It was by faith that Abraham, called be God, set out for a country that would be given to him as an inheritance; for he parted without knowing where he was going. By faith Sarah herself received power to become a mother, in spite of her advanced age; since she believed that he who had made the promise would be faithful. Therefore, from an almost impotent man were born descendants as numerous as the stars of heavens, as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. By faith Abraham went to offer Isaac when God tested him. And so he who had received the promise of God offered his only son although God had told him: Isaac's descendants will bear your name. Abraham reasoned that God is capable even of raising the dead, and he received back his son, which has a figurative meaning.
Gospel (Luke 2: 22–40)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
When the day came for the purification according to the law of Moses, they brought the baby up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to God. And they offered a sacrifice as ordered in the law of Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. There lived in Jerusalem at this time a very upright and devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel, and he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord. So he was led into the Temple by the Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law. Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God, stating, "Now, O Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace, for you have fulfilled your word and my eyes have seen your salvation, which you display for all the people to see. Here is the light you will reveal to the nations and the glory of your people Israel." His father and mother wondered at what was stated about the child. Simeon blessed them and stated to Mary, his mother, "See him; he will be for the rise or fall of the multitudes of Israel. He shall stand as a sign of contradiction, while a sword will pierce your own soul. Then the secret thoughts of many may be brought to light." There was also a prophetess named Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. After leaving her father's home, she had been seven years with her husband, and since then she had been continually about the Temple, serving God as a widow night and day in fasting and prayer. She was now eighty-four. Coming up at that time, she gave praise to God and spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem. When the parents had fulfilled all that was required by the law of the Lord, they returned to their town, Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew in stature and strength and was filled with wisdom: the grace of God was upon him.
Rayos, el Año nuevo está cercano.
ReplyDeleteGuau, tienes razón. New Year's is just around the corner.
DeleteBohb! You are so fortunate that you have obtained first comment. I am annoyed with this word verification thing. What is this for?
DeleteThe word verification has a purpose of provide essential security measures for the blog. It prevents spammers from publishing their comments.
Delete¿Puedes hablarme en español para que pueda practicar leerlo?
Delete¡Seguro! La verificación de las palabras tiene el propósito de proveer medidas esenciales de seguridad para el blog. Previene que los mensajeros que crean "spam" publiquen sus comentarios aquí.
DeleteMuy bien. Entiendo lo que dices.
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