December 1, 2024

First Sunday of Advent

Reading I Jer 33:14-16 The days are coming, says the LORD,      when I will fulfill the promise      I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time,      I will raise up for David a just shoot ;      he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe      and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;      this is what they shall call her:      “The LORD our justice.” Responsorial Psalm Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 R. (1b)  To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;    teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me,    for you are God my savior,    and for you I wait all the day.  R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Good and upright is the LORD;    thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice,    and teaches the humble his way.  R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy    toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees. The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,    and his covenant, for their instruction.  R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Reading II 1 Thes 3:12—4:2 Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you,  so as to strengthen your hearts,  to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father  at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.  Amen. Finally, brothers and sisters,  we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us  how you should conduct yourselves to please God and as you are conducting yourselves you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. Alleluia Ps 85:8 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Show us, Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 21:25-28, 34-36 Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,  and on earth nations will be in dismay,  perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright  in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,  for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man  coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen,  stand erect and raise your heads  because your redemption is at hand. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy  from carousing and drunkenness  and the anxieties of daily life,  and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times  and pray that you have the strength  to escape the tribulations that are imminent  and to stand before the Son of Man.” - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
November 30, 2024

Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

Reading I Rom 10:9-18 Brothers and sisters: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news! But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us? Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for     Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,         and their words to the ends of the world. Responsorial Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 R.    (10)  The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or: R.    (John 6:63)  Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect,     refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,     giving wisdom to the simple. R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or: R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The precepts of the LORD are right,     rejoicing the heart; The command of the LORD is clear,     enlightening the eye. R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or: R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The fear of the LORD is pure,     enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true,     all of them just. R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or: R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. They are more precious than gold,     than a heap of purest gold; Sweeter also than syrup     or honey from the comb. R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or: R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. Alleluia Mt 4:19 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 4:18-22 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father  and followed him. - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
November 29, 2024

Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 RV 20:1-4, 11—21:2 I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain. He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, which is the Devil or Satan, and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss, which he locked over it and sealed, so that it could no longer lead the nations astray until the thousand years are completed. After this, it is to be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted with judgment. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence and there was no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the second death.) Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.   Responsorial Psalm PS 84:3, 4, 5-6A AND 8A R. (Rev. 21:3b) Here God lives among his people. My soul yearns and pines  for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. R. Here God lives among his people. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young– Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my king and my God! R. Here God lives among his people. Blessed they who dwell in your house! continually they praise you. Blessed the men whose strength you are! They go from strength to strength. R. Here God lives among his people.     Alleluia LUKE 21:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Stand erect and raise your headsbecause your redemption is at hand.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel LK 21:29-33 Jesus told his disciples a parable.“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.When their buds burst open,you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;in the same way, when you see these things happening,know that the Kingdom of God is near.Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass awayuntil all these things have taken place.Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
November 28, 2024

Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings for the Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time-ThanksgivingReadings for the Thanksgiving Day Reading 1 RV 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9A I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth became illumined by his splendor. He cried out in a mighty voice:  “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. She has become a haunt for demons. She is a cage for every unclean spirit, a cage for every unclean bird, a cage for every unclean and disgusting beast.” A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone and threw it into the sea and said: “With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down, and will never be found again. No melodies of harpists and musicians, flutists and trumpeters, will ever be heard in you again. No craftsmen in any trade will ever be found in you again. No sound of the millstone will ever be heard in you again. No light from a lamp will ever be seen in you again. No voices of bride and groom will ever be heard in you again. Because your merchants were the great ones of the world, all nations were led astray by your magic potion.” After this I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying: “Alleluia! Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great harlot  who corrupted the earth with her harlotry. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” They said a second time: “Alleluia!  Smoke will rise from her forever and ever.” Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” Responsorial Psalm PS 100:1B-2, 3, 4, 5 R. (Rev. 19: 9a) Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song. R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; Give thanks to him; bless his name. R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. For he is good: the LORD, whose kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations. R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.     Alleluia LK 21:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Stand erect and raise your headsbecause your redemption is at hand.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel LK 21:20-28 Jesus said to his disciples: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the Scriptures are fulfilled. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.