Christmas Weekday
"Nathaniel Under the Fig Tree" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: 1 John 3:11-21
11
For this is the declaration, which you have heard from the beginning,
that you should love one another.
12
Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and killed his brother. And
wherefore did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked: and his
brother's just.
13
Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you.
14
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the
brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death.
15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no
murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself.
16
In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down
his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17
He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother
in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity
of God abide in him?
18
My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in
deed, and in truth.
19
In this we know that we are of the truth: and in his sight shall
persuade our hearts.
20
For if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart, and
knoweth all things.
21
Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence
towards God.
PSALM:
Psalms 100:1-5
1
Sing joyfully to God, all the earth:
2
serve ye the Lord with gladness. Come in before his presence with
exceeding great joy.
3
Know ye that the Lord he is God: he made us, and not we ourselves. We
are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
4
Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and
give glory to him. Praise ye his name:
5
For the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth for ever, and his truth to
generation and generation.
GOSPEL:
John 1:43-51
43
On the following day, he would go forth into Galilee, and he findeth
Philip. And Jesus saith to him: Follow me.
44
Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him: We have found him of whom
Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph
of Nazareth.
46
And Nathanael said to him: Can any thing of good come from Nazareth?
Philip saith to him: Come and see.
47
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him: and he saith of him: Behold an
Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.
48
Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered, and
said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the
fig tree, I saw thee.
49
Nathanael answered him, and said: Rabbi, thou art the Son of God,
thou art the King of Israel.
50
Jesus answered, and said to him: Because I said unto thee, I saw thee
under the fig tree, thou believest: greater things than these shalt
thou see.
51
And he saith to him: Amen, amen I say to you, you shall see the
heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon
the Son of man.