Daily Mass Readings for Monday, November 14, 2011

FIRST READING: 1 Maccabees 1: 10 - 15, 41 - 43, 54 - 57, 62 - 63

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10 From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

11 In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying, "Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us."

12 This proposal pleased them,

13 and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles.

14 So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom,

15 and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.

41 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,

42 and that each should give up his customs.

43 All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.

54 Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege upon the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding cities of Judah,

55 and burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.

56 The books of the law which they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire.

57 Where the book of the covenant was found in the possession of any one, or if any one adhered to the law, the decree of the king condemned him to death.

62 But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food.

63 They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.

PSALM: Psalms 119: 53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158

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53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake thy law.

61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget thy law.

134 Redeem me from man's oppression, that I may keep thy precepts.

150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from thy law.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek thy statutes.

158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep thy commands.

GOSPEL: Luke 18: 35 - 43

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35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging;

36 and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant.

37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."

38 And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

40 And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him,

41 "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight."

42 And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."

43 And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Daily Mass Readings for Sunday, November 13, 2011

FIRST READING: Proverbs 31: 10 - 13, 19 - 20, 30 - 31

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10 A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

PSALM: Psalms 128: 1 - 5

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1 Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

4 Lo, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.

5 The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!

SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 5: 1 - 6

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1 But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you.

2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

3 When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape.

4 But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.

6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

GOSPEL: Matthew 25: 14 - 30 Or Matthew 25: 14 - 15, 19 - 21

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14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;

15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more.

17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more.

18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

21 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'

22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'

23 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'

24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow;

25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

26 But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?

27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'

Or

14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;

15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

21 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'

Daily Mass Readings for Saturday, November 12, 2011

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

FIRST READING: Wisdom 18: 14 - 16 ; 19: 6 - 9

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14 For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone,

15 thy all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed, a stern warrior

16 carrying the sharp sword of thy authentic command, and stood and filled all things with death, and touched heaven while standing on the earth.

6 For the whole creation in its nature was fashioned anew, complying with thy commands, that thy children might be kept unharmed.

7 The cloud was seen overshadowing the camp, and dry land emerging where water had stood before, an unhindered way out of the Red Sea, and a grassy plain out of the raging waves,

8 where those protected by thy hand passed through as one nation, after gazing on marvelous wonders.

9 For they ranged like horses, and leaped like lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who didst deliver them.

PSALM: Psalms 105: 2 - 3, 36 - 37, 42 - 43

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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!

36 He smote all the first-born in their land, the first issue of all their strength.

37 Then he led forth Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.

42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.

43 So he led forth his people with joy, his chosen ones with singing.

GOSPEL: Luke 18: 1 - 8

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1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man;

3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, `Vindicate me against my adversary.'

4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, `Though I neither fear God nor regard man,

5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"

6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Daily Mass Readings for Friday, November 11, 2011

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

FIRST READING: Wisdom 13: 1 - 9

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1 For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know him who exists, nor did they recognize the craftsman while paying heed to his works;

2 but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world.

3 If through delight in the beauty of these things men assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them.

4 And if men were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is he who formed them.

5 For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator.

6 Yet these men are little to be blamed, for perhaps they go astray while seeking God and desiring to find him.

7 For as they live among his works they keep searching, and they trust in what they see, because the things that are seen are beautiful.

8 Yet again, not even they are to be excused;

9 for if they had the power to know so much that they could investigate the world, how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things?

PSALM: Psalms 19: 2 - 5

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2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;

4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,

5 which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

GOSPEL: Luke 17: 26 - 37

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26 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of man.

27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise as it was in the days of Lot -- they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built,

29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom fire and sulphur rained from heaven and destroyed them all --

30 so will it be on the day when the Son of man is revealed.

31 On that day, let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away; and likewise let him who is in the field not turn back.

32 Remember Lot's wife.

33 Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.

34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.

35 There will be two women grinding together; one will be taken and the other left."

37 And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."