Daily Mass Readings for Thursday, April 19, 2012

FIRST READING: Acts 5: 27 - 33

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27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,

28 saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us."

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.

31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

33 When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

PSALM: Psalms 34: 2, 9, 17 - 20

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2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.

9 O fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want!

17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

GOSPEL: John 3: 31 - 36

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31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all.

32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony;

33 he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.

34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit;

35 the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.

Daily Mass Readings for Wednesday, April 18, 2012

FIRST READING: Acts 5: 17 - 26

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17 But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sad'ducees, and filled with jealousy

18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison.

19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said,

20 "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."

21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught. Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called together the council and all the senate of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported,

23 "We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside."

24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.

25 And some one came and told them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."

26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

PSALM: Psalms 34: 2 - 9

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2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.

3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!

9 O fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want!

GOSPEL: John 3: 16 - 21

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16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.

Daily Mass Readings for Tuesday, April 17, 2012

"Nicodemus" - by James Tissot

FIRST READING: Acts 4: 32 - 37

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32 Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.

33 And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold

35 and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need.

36 Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

37 sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

PSALM: Psalms 93: 1 - 2, 5

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1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. Yea, the world is established; it shall never be moved;

2 thy throne is established from of old; thou art from everlasting.

5 Thy decrees are very sure; holiness befits thy house, O LORD, for evermore.

GOSPEL: John 3: 7 - 15

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7 Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.'

8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."

9 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can this be?"

10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this?

11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony.

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up,

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

Daily Mass Readings for Monday, April 16, 2012

"Interview Between Jesus and Nicodemus" - by James Tissot

FIRST READING: Acts 4: 23 - 31

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23 When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

25 who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say by the Holy Spirit, `Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?

26 The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed' --

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

28 to do whatever thy hand and thy plan had predestined to take place.

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,

30 while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus."

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.

PSALM: Psalms 2: 1 - 9

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1 Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his anointed, saying,

3 "Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us."

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD has them in derision.

5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6 "I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill."

7 I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my son, today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

GOSPEL: John 3: 1 - 8

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1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode'mus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."

3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

4 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.'

8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."

Sunday Mass Readings For April 15, 2012

"The Disbelief of Saint Thomas" - by James Tissot

Divine Mercy Sunday

FIRST READING: Acts 4: 32 - 35

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32 Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.

33 And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold

35 and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need.

PSALM: Psalms 118: 2 - 4, 13 - 15, 22 - 24

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2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."

3 Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."

4 Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."

13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

15 Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,

22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.

23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

SECOND READING: 1 John 5: 1 - 6

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1 Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child.

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.

5 Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.

GOSPEL: John 20: 19 - 31

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19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you."

27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing."

28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Daily Mass Readings for Saturday, April 14, 2012

Saturday in the Octave of Easter

FIRST READING: Acts 4: 13 - 21

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13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

14 But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another,

16 saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name."

18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;

20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened.

PSALM: Psalms 118: 1, 14 - 21

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1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!

14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

15 Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,

16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"

17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.

18 The LORD has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.

21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.

GOSPEL: Mark 16: 9 - 15

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9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.

10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

12 After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.

13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.

15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

Daily Mass Readings for Friday, April 13, 2012

"Meal of Our Lord and the Apostles" - by James Tissot

Friday in the Octave of Easter

FIRST READING: Acts 4: 1 - 12

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1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sad'ducees came upon them,

2 annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the morrow, for it was already evening.

4 But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

5 On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem,

6 with Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,

9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed,

10 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.

11 This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner.

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

PSALM: Psalms 118: 1 - 2, 4, 22 - 27

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1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!

2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."

4 Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."

22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.

23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success!

26 Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.

27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!

GOSPEL: John 21: 1 - 14

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1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe'ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way.

2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan'a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb'edee, and two others of his disciples were together.

3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5 Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No."

6 He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish.

7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea.

8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread.

10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."

11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.

14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Daily Mass Readings for Thursday, April 12, 2012

"The Appearance of Christ at the Cenacle" - by James Tissot

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

FIRST READING: Acts 3: 11 - 26

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11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's, astounded.

12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?

13 The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15 and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

16 And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.

19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

20 and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

21 whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.

22 Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

23 And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'

24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days.

25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'

26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness."

PSALM: Psalms 8: 2, 5 - 9

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2 by the mouth of babes and infants, thou hast founded a bulwark because of thy foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

5 Yet thou hast made him little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor.

6 Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet,

7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea.

9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth!

GOSPEL: Luke 24: 35 - 48

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35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

36 As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them.

37 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit.

38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts?

39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have."

41 And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"

42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

43 and he took it and ate before them.

44 Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled."

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,

46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses of these things.

Daily Mass Readings for Wednesday, April 11, 2012

"The Pilgrims of Emmaus on the Road" - by James Tissot

Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

FIRST READING: Acts 3: 1 - 10

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1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered the temple.

3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms.

4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, "Look at us."

5 And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

8 And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

10 and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

PSALM: Psalms 105: 1 - 4, 6 - 9

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1 O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!

3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

4 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually!

6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!

7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

8 He is mindful of his covenant for ever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

9 the covenant which he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac.

GOSPEL: Luke 24: 13 - 35

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13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us, about seven miles from Jerusalem,

14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

17 And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.

18 Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

19 And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened.

22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning

23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see."

25 And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"

27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further,

29 but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them.

31 And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.

32 They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?"

33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them,

34 who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"

35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Daily Mass Readings for Tuesday, April 10, 2012

"Touch Me Not" - by James Tissot

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

FIRST READING: Acts 2: 36 - 41

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36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"

38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him."

40 And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

PSALM: Psalms 33: 4 - 5, 18 - 20, 22

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4 For the word of the LORD is upright; and all his work is done in faithfulness.

5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

19 that he may deliver their soul from death, and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield.

22 Let thy steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in thee.

GOSPEL: John 20: 11 - 18

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11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb;

12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.

13 They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."

14 Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."

16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher).

17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

18 Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Daily Mass Readings for Monday, April 09, 2012

"Jesus Appears to the Holy Women" -- by James Tissot

Monday in the Octave of Easter

FIRST READING: Acts 2: 14, 22 - 33

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14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know --

23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

24 But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

25 For David says concerning him, `I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will dwell in hope.

27 For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let thy Holy One see corruption.

28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.'

29 "Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,

31 he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.

PSALM: Psalms 16: 1 - 2, 5, 7 - 11

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1 Preserve me, O God, for in thee I take refuge.

2 I say to the LORD, "Thou art my Lord; I have no good apart from thee."

5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; thou holdest my lot.

7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure.

10 For thou dost not give me up to Sheol, or let thy godly one see the Pit.

11 Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fulness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.

GOSPEL: Matthew 28: 8 - 15

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8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.

12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers

13 and said, "Tell people, `His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.'

14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."

15 So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Easter Sunday Mass Readings for April 08, 2012

FIRST READING: Acts 10: 34, 37 - 43

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34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality,

37 the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

39 And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;

40 but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest;

41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

43 To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

PSALM: Psalms 118: 1 - 2, 16 - 17, 22 - 23

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1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!

2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."

16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"

17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.

22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.

23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

SECOND READING: Colossians 3: 1 - 4 Or 1 Corinthians 5: 6 - 8

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1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

3 For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Or

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed.

8 Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

GOSPEL: John 20: 1 - 9

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1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

2 So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."

3 Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.

4 They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first;

5 and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying,

7 and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.

8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

9 for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.