December 26, 2021: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Year C)

 

First Reading: Sir 3:2-6.12-14

    God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. 

    Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children, and, when he prays, is heard. Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. 

    My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not, as long as he lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life. Kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins – a house raised in justice to you.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128 

R –Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!

* Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored. R. 

* Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home; your children like olive plants around your table. R. 

* Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion: May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. R. 

Second Reading: Col 3:12-21

    Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another. As the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these, put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. 

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 

     Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

    Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel: Lk 2:41-52

    Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. 

    He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

December 25, 2021 CHRISTMAS (Mass During the Day) Year C

 

First Reading: Is 52:7-10

    How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!” 

     Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the Lord restoring Zion. Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! 

     For the Lord comforts his people, he redeems Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98 

R –All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God!

* Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. R. 

* The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. R. 

* All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise! R. 

* Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn, sing joyfully before the King, the Lord! R. 

Second Reading: Heb 1:1-6

    Brothers and sisters: In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets. In these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe. 

    He is the refulgence of God’s glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.     For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; this day I have begotten you”? Or again: “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me”? And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says: “Let all the angels of God worship him.”

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. For today a great light has come upon the earth. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel: Jn 1:1-5.9-14

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. 

    What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. 

    But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. 

    And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only

December 19, 2021: 4th Sunday of Advent Year C

 

First Reading: Mi 5:1-4

    Thus says the Lord: You, Bethlehem–Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.      The Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, and the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel. 

    He shall stand fi rm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, his God. And they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth. He shall be peace.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 80 

R –Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved!

* O shepherd of Israel, hearken, from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. Rouse your power, and come to save us. R. 

* Once again, O Lord of hosts, look down from heaven, and see. Take care of this vine, and protect what your right hand has planted, the son of man whom you yourself made strong. R. 

* May your help be with the man of your right hand, with the son of man whom you yourself made strong. Then we will no more withdraw from you. Give us new life, and we will call upon your name. R. 

Second Reading: Heb 10:5-10

    Brothers and sisters: When Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifi ce and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’ ” 

    First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” (These are offered according to the law.) Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.”      He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Gospel Acclamation: Lk 1:38 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel: Lk 1:39-45

    Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 

    When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

December 12, 2021 - 3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) Year C

 

First Reading: Zep 3:14-18

    Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 

     The Lord has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. 

     On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love. He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.” 

Responsorial Psalm:  Is 12 

R –Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the Great and Holy One of Israel!

* God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord. He has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. R. 

* Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. R. 

* Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel! R.

Second Reading: Phil 4:4-7

    Brothers and sisters: 

    Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! 

    Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Acclamation: Is 61:1 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel: Lk 3:10-18

    The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” 

    Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” 

     Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fi re. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fi re.” 

    Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

December 5, 2021 - 2nd Sunday of Advent Year C

 

First Reading: Bar 5:1-9

    Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. 
     For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship. 

     Up, Jerusalem! Stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. 

     Led away on foot by their enemies they left you, but God will bring them back to you, borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. 

     For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low. And that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God. 

     The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 126 

R –The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy!

* When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was 

filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. R.

* Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. R. 

* Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. R. 

* Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. R. 

Second Reading- Phil 1:4-6.8-11

    Brothers and sisters: 

    I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Gospel Acclamation: Lk 3:4.6 

All – Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all mankind shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel: Lk 3:1-6

    In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert. 

    John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: 

     “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be fi lled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

November 28, 2021 First Sunday of Advent (Year C)

 

First Reading: 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, at 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 

R – 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. 

* 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. 

* 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.

Second Reading: 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.

Gospel Acclamation Ps 85:8 

All –Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Show us, Lord, your love, and grant us your salvation. 

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.”

November 20, 2021: SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING (Year B)

 

First Reading: Dn 7:13-14

    As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven. When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. 
    His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm : Ps 93 

R –The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty!

* The Lord is king, in splendor robed; robed is the Lord and girt about with strength. R. 

* And he has made the world fi rm, not to be moved. Your throne stands fi rm from of old; from everlasting you are, O Lord. R. 

* Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed; holiness befits your house, O Lord, for length of days. R. 

Second Reading: Rv 1:5-8

    Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen! 

    Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes! Amen! 

    “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.”

Gospel Acclamation

All – Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel: Jn 18:33-37

    Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 

    Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own, or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” 

    Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not here.” 

    So Pilate said to him, “Then, you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Sunday, 14 November 2021 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)

First Reading: Dn 12:1-3 

 In those days, I, Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: “At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people. 

It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. 

At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” 

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 16 

 R –You are my inheritance, O Lord! 

* O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. R. 

 * Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. R.

 * You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. R. 

  Second Reading: Heb 10:11-14.18 

Brothers and sisters: 

Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one [Jesus] offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God. Now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. 

Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is no longer offering for sin. 

Gospel Acclamation 

All –Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel: Mk 13:24-32 

In those days after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 

And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. 

Learn a lesson from the fi g tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. 

Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”