Daily Readings

From Paphos, Paul and his companionsset sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia.But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats.After the reading of the law and the prophets,the synagogue officials sent word to them,“My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortationfor the people, please speak.”So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,“Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.The God of this people Israel chose our ancestorsand exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.With uplifted arm he led them out,and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,he gave them their land as an inheritanceat the end of about four hundred and fifty years.After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet.Then they asked for a king.God gave them Saul, son of Kish,a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;of him he testified,I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;he will carry out my every wish.From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentanceto all the people of Israel;and as John was completing his course, he would say,‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.Behold, one is coming after me;I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’" 

R.        (2)  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.or:R.        Alleluia.The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;            through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;            in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.R.        For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.or:R.        Alleluia.“I have found David, my servant;            with my holy oil I have anointed him,That my hand may be always with him,            and that my arm may make him strong.”R.        For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.or:R.        Alleluia.“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,            and through my name shall his horn be exalted.He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,            my God, the Rock, my savior.’”R.        For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.or:R.        Alleluia. 

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.

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his masternor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.I am not speaking of all of you.I know those whom I have chosen.But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.From now on I am telling you before it happens,so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I sendreceives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

The word of God continued to spread and grow.After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,they returned to Jerusalem,taking with them John, who is called Mark.Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saulfor the work to which I have called them.”Then, completing their fasting and prayer,they laid hands on them and sent them off.So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,went down to Seleuciaand from there sailed to Cyprus.When they arrived in Salamis,they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. 

R.        (4)  O God, let all the nations praise you!or:R.        Alleluia.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.        O God, let all the nations praise you!or:R.        Alleluia.May the nations be glad and exult            because you rule the peoples in equity;            the nations on the earth you guide.R.        O God, let all the nations praise you!or:R.        Alleluia.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.        O God, let all the nations praise you!or:R.        Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the light of the world, says the Lord;whoever follows me will have the light of life.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus cried out and said,“Whoever believes in me believes not only in mebut also in the one who sent me,and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.I came into the world as light,so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,I do not condemn him,for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.Whoever rejects me and does not accept my wordshas something to judge him: the word that I spoke,it will condemn him on the last day,because I did not speak on my own,but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.And I know that his commandment is eternal life.So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

Those who had been scattered by the persecutionthat arose because of Stephenwent as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,preaching the word to no one but Jews.There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,proclaiming the Lord Jesus.The hand of the Lord was with themand a great number who believed turned to the Lord.The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.When he arrived and saw the grace of God,he rejoiced and encouraged them allto remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.And a large number of people was added to the Lord.Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.For a whole year they met with the Churchand taught a large number of people,and it was in Antioch that the discipleswere first called Christians.

R.    (117:1a)  All you nations, praise the Lord.or:R.    Alleluia.His foundation upon the holy mountainsthe LORD loves:The gates of Zion,more than any dwelling of Jacob.Glorious things are said of you,O city of God!R.    All you nations, praise the Lord.or:R.    Alleluia.I tell of Egypt and Babylonamong those who know the LORD;Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:“This man was born there.”And of Zion they shall say:“One and all were born in her;And he who has established heris the Most High LORD.”R.    All you nations, praise the Lord.or:R.    Alleluia.They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:“This man was born there.”And all shall sing, in their festive dance:“My home is within you.”R.    All you nations, praise the Lord.or:R.    Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;I know them, and they follow me.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.It was winter.And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,“How long are you going to keep us in suspense?If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.My sheep hear my voice;I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.No one can take them out of my hand.My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.The Father and I are one.”