December 11, 2022 - 3rd Sunday of Advent (Year A)

 

First Reading - Is 35:1-6.10

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak. Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared. Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing. Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy. They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 146

R -  Lord, come and save us!

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

Second Reading - Jas 5:7-10 

Brothers and sisters:

Be patient until the coming of the Lord. See how the farm- er waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.

You, too, must be patient. Make your hearts firm be- cause the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation - Is 61:1 

All –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 - Mt 11:2-11 

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.’

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” 

 

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

First Reading - Genesis 3:9-15, 20 

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”

He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.”

Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!”

The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me – she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”

The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?”

The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”

Then the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”

The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living.Responsorial 

Psalm - Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 

R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

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. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

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. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

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 to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 

R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

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. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

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. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

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 to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Second Reading - Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 

Brothers and sisters:

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 without 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.

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

Gospel - Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”

And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

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

Then the angel departed from her.

December 4, 2022 - Second Sunday of Advent (Year A)

 

First Reading - Is 11:1-10

On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.

Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.

There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea.

On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious. 

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 72

R – Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever! 

* O God, with your judg- ment 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.

* 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.

* May his name be blessed forever; as long as the sun, his name shall remain. In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed; all the nations shall proclaim his happiness. R.

Second Reading - Rom 15:4-9 

Brothers and sisters:

Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.

For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God’s truthful- ness, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing praises to your name.”

Gospel Acclamation - Lk 3:4-6

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

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mt 3:1-12 

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: “A voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Pre- pare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’ ”

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were go- ing out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees com- ing to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not pre- sume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 

November 27, 2022 - First Sunday of Advent (Year A)

 

First Reading - Is 2:1-5

    This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 

    In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. 

    They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 122 

R – Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord!

* I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the Lord.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. R. 

* Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. R. 

* According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. R. 

* Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings. R. 

* Because of my brothers and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!” Because of the house of the Lord, our God, I will pray for your good. R. 

Second Reading - Rom 13:11-14 

    Brothers and sisters: 

    You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 

    The night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. 

Gospel Acclamation - Ps 85:8 

Alleluia! Alleluia!

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

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mt 24:37-44

    Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.     So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the fi eld; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. 

    Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” 

November 20, 2022 - Solemnity of Christ the King (Year C)

 

First Reading - 2 Sm 5:1-3

    In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: “Here we are, your bone and your flesh. In days past, when Saul was our king, it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.’ ”      When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the Lord, and they anointed him king of Israel. 

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 122 

R –Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord!

* I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the Lord.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. R. 

* Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. R. 

* According to the decree name of the Lord. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. R. 

Second Reading - Col 1:12-20

    Brothers and sisters: 

    Let us give thanks to the Father, who has made you fi t to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 

    He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. 

    He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the Church. 

     He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent.     For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven. 

 Gospel Acclamation - Mk 11:9.10 

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 - Lk 23:35-43

    The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God!” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to off er him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself!” Above him there was an inscription that read, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 

    Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” 

    The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” 

    Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

November 13, 2022 - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

 

First Reading - Mal 3:19-20

    Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble. And the day that is coming will set them on fi re, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the Lord of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays. 

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 98 

R –The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice!

* 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.

* Let the sea and what fills it  resound, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy. R. 

* Before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to rule the earth. He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity. R. 

Second Reading - 2 Thes 3:7-12

    Brothers and sisters: 

    You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. 

     Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. 

    We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food. 

Gospel Acclamation - Lk 21:28 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Lk 21:5-19

    While some people were speaking about how the Temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” 

    Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. 

    Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

November 6, 2022 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

 

First Reading - 2 Mc 7:1-2.9-14

    It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law. One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said: “What do you expect to achieve by questioning us? We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.” 

     At the point of death, he said: “You accursed fi end! You are depriving us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying.” 

     After him, the third suffered their cruel sport. He put out his tongue at once when told to do so, and bravely held out his hands, as he spoke these noble words: “It was from Heaven that I received these. For the sake of his laws I disdain them. From him I hope to receive them again.” 

     Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man’s courage, because he regarded his sufferings as nothing. 

     After he had died, they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way. When he was near death, he said, “It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the hope God gives of being raised up by him; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 17 

R –Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full!

* Hear, O Lord, a just suit; attend to my outcry. Hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit. R. 

* My steps have been steadfast in your paths, my feet have not faltered. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God. Incline your ear to me; hear my word. R. 

* Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings. But I in justice shall behold your face; on waking I shall be content in your presence. R. 

Second Reading - 2 Thes 2:16-3:5

    Brothers and sisters: 

     May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word. Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith. 

    But the Lord is faithful. He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 

    We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you are doing and will continue to do.     May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ. 

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Jesus Christ is the firstborn of the dead; to him be glory and power, forever and ever. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Lk 20:27-38

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now, at the resurrection, whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” 

    Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”