4th Sunday of Advent

Date: December 20, 2015

First Reading (Micah 5: 1–4a)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Micah.
You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, so small that you are hardly named among the clans of Judah, from you shall I raise the one who is to rule over Israel. For he comes from from of old, from the ancient times. Yahweh, therefore, will abandon Israel until such time as she who is to give birth has given birth. Then the rest of his deported brothers will return to the people of Israel. He will stand and shepherd his flock with the strength of the Lord, in the glorious Name of the Lord, his God. They will live safely while he wins renown to the ends of the earth. He shall become peace.

Second Reading (Hebrews 10: 5–10)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews.
When you enter the world, Christ states: You did not desire sacrifice and offering; you were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said: "Here I am. It was written of me in the scroll. I will do your will, O God." First he says, "Sacrifice, offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire nor were you pleased with them — although they were acquired by the Law. Then he says: Here I am to do your will. This is enough to nullify the first will and establish the new. Now, by this will of God, we are sanctified at this once by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ.

Gospel (Luke 1: 39–45)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Mary set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit and giving a loud cry, she stated, "You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within my suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!"

3rd Sunday of Advent

Date: December 13, 2015

First Reading (Zephaniah 3: 14–18)
A reading from the book of Zephaniah.
Cry out with joy, O daughter of Zion; rejoice, O people of Israel! Sing joyfully with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has lifted your sentence and has driven your enemies away. The Lord, the King of Israel is with you; do not fear any misfortune. On that day they will say to Jerusalem: Do not be afraid nor let your hands tremble, for the Lord your God is within you, Yahweh, saving warrior. He will jump for joy on seeing you, for he has revived his love. For you he will cry out with joy, as you do in the days of the Feast. I will drive away the evil I warned you about, and you will no longer be shamed.

Second Reading (Philippians 4: 4–7)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: rejoice and may everyone experience your gentle and understanding heart. The Lord is near: do not be anxious about anything. In everything resort to prayer and supplication together with thanksgiving and bring your requests before God. Then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ.

Gospel (Luke 3: 10–18)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
The people asked John, "What are we supposed to do?" John answered, "If you have two coats, give one to the person who has none; and if you have food, do the same." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and asked John, "Master, what should we do?" John replied to them, "Collect no more than your fixed rate." People serving as soldiers asked John as well, "What about us? What should we do?" And he answered, "Do not take anything by force or threaten the people by denouncing them falsely. Be content with your pay." The people were wondering about John's identity. "Could he be the Messiah?" Then John answered them, "I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will do much more: he will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I am not worthy to untie his sandal. He comes with a winnowing fan to clear his threshing floor and gather the grain into his barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never extinguishes." With these and many other words, John announced the Good News to the people.

2nd Sunday of Advent

Date: December 6, 2015

First Reading (Baruch 5: 1–9)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Baruch.
Jerusalem, put off your garment of mourning and unhappiness, put on the splendor and glory of God forever. Wrap yourself in the mantle of holiness that comes from God, put on your head the crown of glory of the Eternal One. For God will show your splendor to every being under Heaven. He will call your name forever, "Peace in Justice" and "Glory in the Fear of the Lord." Rise up, Jerusalem, stand on the heights. Look towards the East and see your children gathered together from the setting of the sun to its rising, by the voice of the Holy One, rejoicing because God has remembered them. They left you on foot, taken away by the enemy. God will lead them back, carried gloriously like royal princes. For God has resolved to bring low every high mountain and the everlasting hills, to fill up the valleys and level out the ground, in order that Israel may walk in safety under the Glory of God. Even the forests and the fragrant trees will give shade to Israel at God's command. For God will lead Israel with joy by the light of his Glory, escorting them with his mercy and justice.

Second Reading (Philippians 1: 4–6 and 8–11)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
We, Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ pray for God, and we pray with joy. I cannot forget you shared with me in the service of the Gospel, from the first day until now. Since God began such a good work in you, I am certain that he will complete it in the day of Christ Jesus. God knows that I love you dearly with the love of Jesus Christ, and in my prayers I ask that your love may lead you each day to a deeper knowledge and clearer discernment, that you may have good criteria for everything. So you may be pure of heart and come blameless to the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of holiness which comes through Christ Jesus, for the glory and praise of God.

Gospel (Luke 3: 1–6)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
It was the fifteenth year of the rule of the Emperor Tiberious; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod ruled over Galilee, his brother Philip ruled over the country of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruled over Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the High Priests at that time when the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah in the desert. John proclaimed a baptism for repentant people to acquire forgiveness of sins and he went through the whole country bordering the Jordan Rover. It was just as is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: listen to this voice crying out in the desert: prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight. The valleys will be filled and the mountains and hills made low. Everything crooked will be made straight and the rough paths smooth; and every mortal will see the salvation of God.

1st Sunday of Advent

Date: November 29, 2015

First Reading (Jeremiah 33: 14–16)
A reading from the book of Jeremiah.
The Lord God of hosts states this, "The days are coming when I shall fulfill the promise that I made in favor of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout the shoot of righteousness from David's line; he will practice justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will experience salvation and Jerusalem will live in safety. He will be called Yahweh-Our-Righteousness."

Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 3:12 – 4:2)
A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians.
Brothers and sisters: May the Lord augment more and more your love for each other and for all people, as he augments our love for you. May he strengthen you interiorly to be holy and blameless before God, our Father, on the day that Jesus, our Lord, will come with all his saints. For the rest, brothers, we ask you in the name of Jesus, the Lord, and we urge you to live in a way that pleases God just as you have learned from us. This you do, but try to do still more. You know the instructions we gave you on behalf of the Lord Jesus.

Gospel (Luke 21: 25–28 and 34–36)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Jesus states, "There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of perplexed nations when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will faint with fear at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the forces of the universe will be shaken. And at this time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now, when you see the first events, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near. Be on your guard; let not your hearts be weighed down with a life of pleasure, drunkenness and worldly cares, lest that day catch you suddenly as a trap. For it will come upon all the inhabitants of the whole earth. But watch at all times and pray, that you may be able to escape all that is bound to happen and to stand before the Son of Man."

Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Date: November 22, 2015

First Reading (Daniel 7: 13–14)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Daniel.
Daniel states, "I continued watching the nocturnal vision: One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence. Dominion, honor, and kingship were given to him, and all the people and nations of every language served him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed."

Second Reading (Revelation 1: 5–8)
A reading from the book of Revelation.
From Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has washed away our sins with his own blood, making us a kingdom and priests for God his Father, to him be the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. See he comes with the clouds and everyone will see him, even those who pierced him; on his account all the nations of the earth will beat his breast. Yes, it will be so. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, he who is, who was and who is to come: the Master of the universe.

Gospel (John 18: 33b–37)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
Pilate called Jesus and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Does this word come from your own accord, or did you hear it from others?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingship does not come from this world. If I were a king of this world, my guards would have fought to save me from being handed over to the Jews. But my kingship is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king, then?" Jesus replied, "Just as you say, I am a king. For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth can hear my voice."

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: November 15, 2015

First Reading (Daniel 12: 1–3)

A reading from the book of the prophet Daniel.

At that time, Michael will rise, the Great Commander who defends your people. It shall be a time of anguish as never before since the nations first existed until this very day. Then all those whose names are written in the Book will be saved. Many of those who sleep in the Region of the Dust will awake, some to everlasting life but others to eternal horror and shame. Those who acquired knowledge will shine like the brilliance of the firmament; those who taught people to be just will shine like the stars for all eternity.

Second Reading (Hebrews 10: 11–14 and 18)

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

So, whereas every priest stands daily by the altar offering repeatedly the same sacrifices that can never take away sins, Christ has offered for all times a single sacrifice for sins and has taken his seat at the right hand of God, waiting until God puts his enemies as a footstool under his feet. By a single sacrifice he has brought those who are sanctified to what is perfect forever. So, if sins are forgiven, there is no longer need of any sacrifice for sin.

Gospel (Mark 13: 24–32)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Jesus stated this to his disciples: "Later on, in those days after that disastrous time, the sun will grow dark, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall out of the sky and the whole universe will be shaken.Then people will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And he will send the angels to gather his chosen people from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky. Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its branches become tender and it begins to sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the time is near, even at the door. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all this has happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But, regarding that Day and that Hour, no one knows when it will come, not even the angels, not even the Son, but only the Father."

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: November 8, 2015

First Reading (1 Kings 17: 10–16)
A reading from the first book of Kings.
Elijah went to Zarephath. On reaching the gate of the town, he saw a widow gathering sticks. He called to her and stated, "Bring me a little water in a vessel that I may drink." As she was going to bring it, he called after her and stated, "Bring me also a piece of bread." But she answered, "As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread left but only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am just now gathering some sticks so that I may go in and prepare something for myself and my son to eat — and die." Elijah then stated to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have stated, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it me; then make some for yourself and your son. For this is the word of the Lord, the God of Israel. 'The jar of meal shall not be emptied nor shall the jug of oil fail, until the day when the lord sends rain to the earth." So she went and did as Elijah told her; and she had food for herself, Elijah and her son from that day on. The jar of flour was not emptied nor did the jug of oil fail, in accordance with what the Lord had stated through Elijah.

Second Reading (Hebrews 9: 24–28)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews.
Christ did not enter some sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself. He is now in the presence of God on our behalf. He had not to offer himself many times, as the High Priest does: he who may return every year, because the blood is not his own. Otherwise he would have suffered many times from the creation of the world. But no; he manifested himself only now at the end of the ages, to take away sin by sacrifice, and as humans die only once and afterwards are judged, in the same way Christ sacrificed himself once to take away the sins of the multitude. There will be no further question of sin when he comes again to save those waiting for him.

Gospel (Mark 12: 38–44)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
While Jesus was teaching, he additionally stated to them, "Beware of those teachers of the Law who enjoy walking around in long robes and being greeted in the marketplace, and who like to occupy reserved seats in the synagogues and the first places at feasts. They even devour the widow's and the orphan's goods while marking a show of long prayers. How severe a sentence they will receive!" Jesus then sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the people dropping money into the treasury box; many rich people donated large offerings. However, a poor widow also came and drop in two small coins. When Jesus observed this, he called his disciples and announced to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those who gave offerings. For all of them gave from their plenty, but she gave from her poverty and put in everything she had, her very living."