Daily Readings

The LORD says: 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. (Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, And the rest of his brethren shall return to the children of Israel.) He shall stand firm 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.

Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.

R. (Isaiah 61:10) With delight I rejoice in the Lord. Though I trusted in your mercy, let my heart rejoice in your salvation. R. With delight I rejoice in the Lord. Let me sing of the LORD, "He has been good to me." R. With delight I rejoice in the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise; from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."  

Brothers and sisters:It is widely reported that there is immorality among you,and immorality of a kind not found even among pagans–a man living with his father’s wife.And you are inflated with pride.Should you not rather have been sorrowful?The one who did this deed should be expelled from your midst.I, for my part, although absent in body but present in spirit,have already, as if present,pronounced judgment on the one who has committed this deed,in the name of our Lord Jesus:when you have gathered together and I am with you in spiritwith the power of the Lord Jesus,you are to deliver this man to Satanfor the destruction of his flesh,so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

Your boasting is not appropriate. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough,inasmuch as you are unleavened.For our Paschal Lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.Therefore, let us celebrate the feast,not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness,but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;no evil man remains with you;the arrogant may not stand in your sight.You hate all evildoers.R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.You destroy all who speak falsehood;The bloodthirsty and the deceitfulthe LORD abhors.R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.But let all who take refuge in yoube glad and exult forever.Protect them, that you may be the joyof those who love your name.R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.

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

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closelyto see if he would cure on the sabbathso that they might discover a reason to accuse him.But he realized their intentionsand said to the man with the withered hand,"Come up and stand before us."And he rose and stood there.Then Jesus said to them,"I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbathrather than to do evil,to save life rather than to destroy it?"Looking around at them all, he then said to him,"Stretch out your hand."He did so and his hand was restored.But they became enragedand discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

Thus says the LORD:You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.If I tell the wicked, "O wicked one, you shall surely die, "and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,the wicked shall die for his guilt,but I will hold you responsible for his death.But if you warn the wicked,trying to turn him from his way,and he refuses to turn from his way,he shall die for his guilt,but you shall save yourself. 

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;let us joyfully sing psalms to him.R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.Come, let us bow down in worship;let us kneel before the LORD who made us.For he is our God,and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.Oh, that today you would hear his voice:"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,as in the day of Massah in the desert,where your fathers tempted me;they tested me though they had seen my works."R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 

Brothers and sisters:Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery;you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, "and whatever other commandment there may be,are summed up in this saying, namely,"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no evil to the neighbor;hence, love is the fulfillment of the law. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.God was reconciling the world to himself in Christand entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Jesus said to his disciples:"If your brother sins against you,go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.If he does not listen,take one or two others along with you,so that 'every fact may be establishedon the testimony of two or three witnesses.'If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church,then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.Amen, I say to you,whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Again, amen, I say to you,if two of you agree on earthabout anything for which they are to pray,it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name,there am I in the midst of them."