Daily Readings

    Thus says the Lord GOD: Lo, I am sending my messenger     to prepare the way before me; And suddenly there will come to the temple     the LORD whom you seek, And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.     Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming?     And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire,     or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver,     and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver     that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem     will please the LORD,     as in the days of old, as in years gone by.  

R.    (8) Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord! Lift up, O gates, your lintels;     reach up, you ancient portals,     that the king of glory may come in! R.    Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord! Who is this king of glory?     The LORD, strong and mighty,     the LORD, mighty in battle. R.    Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord! Lift up, O gates, your lintels;     reach up, you ancient portals,     that the king of glory may come in! R.    Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord! Who is this king of glory?     The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory. R.    Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord!  

Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

R. Alleluia, alleluia. A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel. R. Alleluia, alleluia.  

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.  He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

    “Now, Master, you may let your servant go          in peace, according to your word,     for my eyes have seen your salvation,         which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:     a light for revelation to the Gentiles,         and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted -and you yourself a sword will pierce- so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

OR:

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.  He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

    “Now, Master, you may let your servant go          in peace, according to your word,     for my eyes have seen your salvation,         which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:     a light for revelation to the Gentiles,         and glory for your people Israel.”

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth,who have observed his law;seek justice, seek humility;perhaps you may be shelteredon the day of the LORD's anger.But I will leave as a remnant in your midsta people humble and lowly,who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:the remnant of Israel.They shall do no wrongand speak no lies;nor shall there be found in their mouthsa deceitful tongue;they shall pasture and couch their flockswith none to disturb them. 

R. (Mt 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!or:R. Alleluia.The LORD keeps faith forever,secures justice for the oppressed,gives food to the hungry.The LORD sets captives free.R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!or:R. Alleluia.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. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!or:R. Alleluia.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. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!or:R. Alleluia. 

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 became for us wisdom from God,as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,so that, as it is written,"Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord." 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Rejoice and be glad;your reward will be great in heaven.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

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 comforted.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 peacemakers,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 youand utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.Rejoice and be glad,for your reward will be great in heaven." 

The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him,Nathan said: “Judge this case for me!In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought.He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children.She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom.She was like a daughter to him.Now, the rich man received a visitor, but he would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him.Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor.”David grew very angry with that man and said to him: “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death!He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this and has had no pity.”Then Nathan said to David:  “You are the man!Thus says the LORD God of Israel:‘The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’Thus says the LORD:‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house.I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor.He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.’”Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin:you shall not die.But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.”Then Nathan returned to his house.The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill.David besought God for the child.He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.

R.        (12a)  Create a clean heart in me, O God.A clean heart create for me, O God,            and a steadfast spirit renew within me.Cast me not out from your presence,            and your Holy Spirit take not from me.R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.Give me back the joy of your salvation,            and a willing spirit sustain in me.I will teach transgressors your ways,            and sinners shall return to you.R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;            then my tongue shall revel in your justice.O Lord, open my lips,            and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:“Let us cross to the other side.”Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.And other boats were with him.A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,so that it was already filling up.Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.They woke him and said to him,“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”He woke up,rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”The wind ceased and there was great calm.Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?Do you not yet have faith?”They were filled with great awe and said to one another,“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”