FIRST
READING: 1 John 1:5-2:2
5
And this is the declaration which we have heard from him, and declare
unto you: That God is light, and in him there is no darkness.
6
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we
lie, and do not the truth.
7
But if we walk in the light, as he also is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin.
8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us.
9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.
10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word
is not in us.
1
My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not
sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the just:
2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but
also for those of the whole world.
PSALM:
Psalms 124:2-5, 7-8
2
If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up
against us,
3
Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled
against us,
4
Perhaps the waters had swallowed us up.
5
Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had passed
through a water insupportable.
7
Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the
fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered.
8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
GOSPEL:
Matthew
2:13-18
13
And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in
sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother,
and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will
come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.
14
Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired
into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod:
15
That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet,
saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.
16
Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was
exceeding angry; and sending killed all the men children that were in
Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and
under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the
wise men.
17
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet,
saying:
18
A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel
bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are
not.
