Daily Readings

Beloved:Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God,because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flamesand the elements melted by fire.But according to his promisewe await new heavens and a new earthin which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.

Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned,be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipledand to fall from your own stability.But grow in graceand in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

R.    (1)  In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.Before the mountains were begottenand the earth and the world were brought forth,from everlasting to everlasting you are God.R.    In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.You turn man back to dust,saying, “Return, O children of men.”For a thousand years in your sightare as yesterday, now that it is past,or as a watch of the night.R.    In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.Seventy is the sum of our years,or eighty, if we are strong,And most of them are fruitless toil,for they pass quickly and we drift away.R.    In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.Let your work be seen by your servantsand your glory by their children.R.    In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

R.    Alleluia, alleluia.May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christenlighten the eyes of our hearts,that we may know what is the hopethat belongs to his call.R.    Alleluia, alleluia.

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sentto Jesus to ensnare him in his speech.They came and said to him,“Teacher, we know that you are a truthful manand that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion.You do not regard a person’s statusbut teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?Should we pay or should we not pay?”Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them,“Why are you testing me?Bring me a denarius to look at.”They brought one to him and he said to them,“Whose image and inscription is this?”They replied to him, “Caesar’s.”So Jesus said to them,“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesarand to God what belongs to God.”They were utterly amazed at him.

Beloved:May grace and peace be yours in abundancethrough knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.His divine power has bestowed on useverything that makes for life and devotion,through the knowledge of himwho called us by his own glory and power.Through these, he has bestowed on usthe precious and very great promises,so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature,after escaping from the corruption that is in the worldbecause of evil desire.For this very reason,make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control,self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion,devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love. 

R. (see 2b) In you, my God, I place my trust.You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,Say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust."R. In you, my God, I place my trust.Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress.R. In you, my God, I place my trust.I will deliver him and glorify him;with length of days I will gratify himand will show him my salvation.R. In you, my God, I place my trust. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness,the firstborn of the dead;you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes,and the elders in parables."A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it,dug a wine press, and built a tower.Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey.At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenantsto obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard.But they seized him, beat him,and sent him away empty-handed.Again he sent them another servant.And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully.He sent yet another whom they killed.So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed.He had one other to send, a beloved son.He sent him to them last of all, thinking, 'They will respect my son.'But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir.Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'So they seized him and killed him,and threw him out of the vineyard.What then will the owner of the vineyard do?He will come, put the tenants to death,and give the vineyard to others.Have you not read this Scripture passage:The stone that the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone;by the Lord has this been done,and it is wonderful in our eyes?"They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd,for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them.So they left him and went away. 

Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinaias the LORD had commanded him,taking along the two stone tablets.Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses thereand proclaimed his name, "LORD."Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity."Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord,do come along in our company.This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins,and receive us as your own." 

R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever!Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;And blessed is your holy and glorious name,praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.R. Glory and praise for ever!Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.R. Glory and praise for ever!Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.R. Glory and praise for ever!Blessed are you who look into the depthsfrom your throne upon the cherubim,praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.R. Glory and praise for ever! 

Brothers and sisters, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another,agree with one another, live in peace,and the God of love and peace will be with you.Greet one another with a holy kiss.All the holy ones greet you.The grace of the Lord Jesus Christand the love of Godand the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;to God who is, who was, and who is to come.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,so that everyone who believes in him might not perishbut might have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,but that the world might be saved through him.Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.