"The Vision of Saint Joseph" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING:
Jeremiah 23:5-8
5
Behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will raise up to David a
just branch: and a king shall reign, and shall be wise, and shall
execute judgement and justice in the earth.
6
In those days shall Juda be saved, and Israel shall dwell
confidently: and this is the name that they shall call him: the Lord
our just one.
7
Therefore behold the days to come, saith the Lord, and they shall say
no more: The Lord liveth, who brought up the children of Israel out
of the land of Egypt:
8
But the Lord liveth, who hath brought out, and brought hither the
seed of the house of Israel from the land of the north, and out of
all the lands, to which I had cast them forth: and they shall dwell
in their own land.
PSALM:
Psalms 72:1-2,
12-13, 18-19
1
Give to the king thy judgment, O God, and to the king’s son thy
justice:
2
To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment.
12
For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy that had
no helper.
13
He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls of the
poor.
18
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone doth wonderful
things.
19
And blessed be the name of his majesty for ever: and the whole earth
shall be filled with his majesty. So be it. So be it.
Alleluia:
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
O
Leader of the House of Israel,
giver
of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come
to rescue us with your mighty power!
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 1:18-25
18
Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother
Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found
with child, of the Holy Ghost.
19
Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing
publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately.
20
But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord
appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not
to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her,
is of the Holy Ghost.
21
And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
For he shall save his people from their sins.
22
Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke
by the prophet, saying:
23
Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they
shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with
us.
24
And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had
commanded him, and took unto him his wife.
25
And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he
called his name Jesus.