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| "The Visitation" - by James Tissot |
FIRST READING:
Zephaniah 3: 14 - 18 Or
Romans 12: 9 - 16
14
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult
with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15
The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has cast out
your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you
shall fear evil no more.
16
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17
The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he
will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
18
as on a day of festival. "I will remove disaster from you, so
that you will not bear reproach for it.
Or
9
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
10
love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in
showing honor.
11
Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.
12
Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in
prayer.
13
Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.
14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16
Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate
with the lowly; never be conceited.
PSALM:
Isaiah 12: 2 - 6
2
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be
afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has
become my salvation."
3
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
4
And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call
upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations, proclaim that
his name is exalted.
5
"Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this
be known in all the earth.
6
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your
midst is the Holy One of Israel."
GOSPEL: Luke
1: 39 - 56
39
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country,
to a city of Judah,
40
and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth.
41
And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her
womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42
and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43
And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to
me?
44
For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe
in my womb leaped for joy.
45
And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of
what was spoken to her from the Lord."
46
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold,
henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49
for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his
name.
50
And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.
51
He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the
imagination of their hearts,
52
he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of
low degree;
53
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent
empty away.
54
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55
as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for
ever."
56
And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her
home.
