January 29, 2023 - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

First Reading - Zep 2:3; 3:12-13

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law. Seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.

But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord: the remnant of Israel.

They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue. They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 146

R –Blessed are the poor in spirit. The Kingdom of heaven is theirs! 

* The Lord keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. R 

* The Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord raises up those who were bowed down. The Lord loves the just; the Lord protects strangers. R.

* The fatherless and the widow the Lord sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia! R. 

Second Reading - 1 Cor 1:26-31 

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who be- came for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Who- ever boasts, should boast in the Lord.” 

Gospel Acclamation - Mt 5:12a

Alleluia! Alleluia! Rejoice and be glad;
your reward will be great in heaven.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mt 5:1-12 

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

“BLESSED are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

BLESSED are they who mourn, for they will be com- forted.

BLESSED are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

BLESSED are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

BLESSED are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

BLESSED are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

BLESSED are the peace- makers, for they will be called children of God.

BLESSED are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

BLESSED are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” 

January 22, 2023 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

First Reading - Is 8:23-9:3

First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land west of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness: for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing; as they rejoice before you as at the har- vest, as people make merry when dividing spoils.

For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their task- master, you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 27 

R - The Lord is my light and my salvation!

* The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? R.

* One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple. R.

* I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. R.

Second Reading - 1 Cor 1:10-13.17 

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.

For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you. I mean that each of you is saying, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. 

Gospel Acclamation - Mt 4:23

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people. 
Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mt 4:12-23 

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.”

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Re- pent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

As he 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.

He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. 

January 15, 2023 - FEAST OF THE STO. NIÑO (Year A)

First Reading - Is 9:1-6 

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames.

For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God- Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful. He will rule as David’s successor, bas- ing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this! 

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, h is 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 - Eph 1:3-6.15-18 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and with- out blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. Therefore, I, too, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones. 

Gospel Acclamation - Jn 1:14.12

Alleluia! Alleluia!
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Anyone who did accept him, he empowered to become children of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mt 18:1-5.10 

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”

He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.  

See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” 

January 8, 2023 - SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY (Year A)

 

First Reading - Is 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.

Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you,  dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bear- ing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord. 

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 72

R – Lord, every nation on earth will adore you! 

* O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son. He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment. R.

* Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more. May he rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. R.

* The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute. All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him. R.

* For he shall rescue the poor man when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. R

Second Reading - Eph 3:2-3.5-6 

Brothers and sisters:

You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by rev- elation. It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel. 

Gospel Acclamation - Mt 2:2

Alleluia! Alleluia!We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mt 2:1-12 

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”

After their audience with the king, the Magi set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. The Magi were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. 

January 1, 2023 - MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (WORLD PEACE DAY)

 

First Reading - Nm 6:22-27

The Lord said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them:

‘The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!’

So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 67

R – May God bless us in his mercy! 

* May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. R.

* May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. R.

* May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! R. 

Second Reading - Gal 4:4-7 

Brothers and sisters:

When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption.

As proof that you are children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. 

Gospel Acclamation - Heb 1:1-2

Alleluia! Alleluia!
In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Lk 2:16-21 

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, the baby was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.