Daily Readings

Brothers and sisters:As long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth,Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Indeed I shall continue to rejoice,for I know that this will result in deliverance for methrough your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.My eager expectation and hopeis that I shall not be put to shame in any way,but that with all boldness, now as always,Christ will be magnified in my body,whether by life or by death.For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.And I do not know which I shall choose.I am caught between the two.I long to depart this life and be with Christ,for that is far better.Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.And this I know with confidence,that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of youfor your progress and joy in the faith,so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of mewhen I come to you again. 

R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.As the hind longs for the running waters,so my soul longs for you, O God.R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.When shall I go and behold the face of God?R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.I went with the throngand led them in procession to the house of God.Amid loud cries of joy and thanksgiving,with the multitude keeping festival.R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am meek and humble of heart. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

On a sabbath Jesus went to dineat the home of one of the leading Pharisees,and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited,noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,do not recline at table in the place of honor.A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,‘Give your place to this man,’and then you would proceed with embarrassmentto take the lowest place.Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest placeso that when the host comes to you he may say,‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus,to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,with the bishops and deacons:grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you,praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,because of your partnership for the Gospelfrom the first day until now.I am confident of this,that the one who began a good work in youwill continue to complete ituntil the day of Christ Jesus.It is right that I should think this way about all of you,because I hold you in my heart,you who are all partners with me in grace,both in my imprisonmentand in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel.For God is my witness,how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.And this is my prayer:that your love may increase ever more and morein knowledge and every kind of perception,to discern what is of value,so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,filled with the fruit of righteousnessthat comes through Jesus Christfor the glory and praise of God.

R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!or:R. Alleluia.I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heartin the company and assembly of the just.Great are the works of the LORD,exquisite in all their delights.R. How great are the works of the Lord!or:R. Alleluia.Majesty and glory are his work,and his justice endures forever.He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;gracious and merciful is the LORD.R. How great are the works of the Lord!or:R. Alleluia.He has given food to those who fear him;he will forever be mindful of his covenant.He has made known to his people the power of his works,giving them the inheritance of the nations.R. How great are the works of 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.

On a sabbath Jesus went to dineat the home of one of the leading Pharisees,and the people there were observing him carefully.In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy.Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?”But they kept silent; so he took the man and,after he had healed him, dismissed him.Then he said to them   “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?”  But they were unable to answer his question.

Brothers and sisters:Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firmagainst the tactics of the Devil.For our struggle is not with flesh and bloodbut with the principalities, with the powers,with the world rulers of this present darkness,with the evil spirits in the heavens.Therefore, put on the armor of God,that you may be able to resist on the evil dayand, having done everything, to hold your ground.So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,which is the word of God.

With all prayer and supplication,pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplicationfor all the holy ones and also for me,that speech may be given me to open my mouth,to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospelfor which I am an ambassador in chains,so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

R. (1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!Blessed be the LORD, my rock,who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!My mercy and my fortress,my stronghold, my deliverer,My shield, in whom I trust,who subdues my people under me.R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!O God, I will sing a new song to you;with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,You who give victory to kings,and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”He replied, “Go and tell that fox,‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,for it is impossible that a prophet should dieoutside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,how many times I yearned to gather your children togetheras a hen gathers her brood under her wings,but you were unwilling!Behold, your house will be abandoned.But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”