"Saint John the Baptist and the Pharisees" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: 1 John 2: 22-28
22
Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is
Antichrist, who denieth the Father, and the Son.
23
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that
confesseth the Son, hath the Father also.
24
As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning, abide
in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the
beginning, you also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.
25
And this is the promise which he hath promised us, life everlasting.
26
These things have I written to you, concerning them that seduce you.
27
And as for you, let the unction, which you have received from him,
abide in you. And you have no need that any man teach you; but as his
unction teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie. And
as it hath taught you, abide in him.
28
And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we
may have confidence, and not be confounded by him at his coming.
PSALM:
Psalms 98: 1-4
1
Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because he hath done wonderful
things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is
holy.
2
The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his justice
in the sight of the Gentiles.
3
He hath remembered his mercy his truth toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4
Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing.
Alleluia:
Hebrews 1: 1-2
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
God,
who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to
the fathers by the prophets;
In
these days hath spoken to us by his Son.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL:
John 1: 19-28
19
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem
priests and Levites to him, to ask him: Who art thou?
20
And he confessed, and did not deny: and he confessed: I am not the
Christ.
21
And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not.
Art thou the prophet? And he answered: No.
22
They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an
answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself?
23
He said: I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make
straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias.
24
And they that were sent, were of the Pharisees.
25
And they asked him, and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if
thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?
26
John answered them, saying: I baptize with water; but there hath
stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not.
27
The same is he that shall come after me, who is preferred before me:
the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose.
28
These things were done in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where John was
baptizing.