Sunday Mass Readings For December 02, 2012

First Sunday of Advent

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 33: 14 - 16

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14 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfil the promise

I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring forth

for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And

this is the name by which it will be called: `The LORD is our righteousness.'

PSALM: Psalms 25: 4 - 5, 8 - 10, 14

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4 Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for

thee I wait all the day long.

8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who

keep his covenant and his testimonies.

14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known

to them his covenant.

SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 3: 12 - 13

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12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and

to all men, as we do to you,

13 so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God

and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

GOSPEL: Luke 21: 25 - 28, 34 - 36

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25 "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth

distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,

26 men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world;

for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and

great glory.

28 Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads,

because your redemption is drawing near."

34 "But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with

dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you

suddenly like a snare;

35 for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.

36 But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these

things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man."

Mass Readings For Saturday, December 01, 2012

FIRST READING: Revelation 22: 1 - 7

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1 And he shewed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street thereof, and on both sides of the river, was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruits every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no curse any more; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him.

4 And they shall see his face: and his name shall be on their foreheads.

5 And night shall be no more: and they shall not need the light of the lamp, nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall enlighten them, and they shall reign for ever and ever.

6 And he said to me: These words are most faithful and true. And the Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to shew his servants the things which must be done shortly.

7 And, Behold I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.

PSALM: Psalms 95: 1 - 7

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1 Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.

2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.

3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

4 For in his hand are all the ends of the earth: and the heights of the mountains are his.

5 For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.

7 For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.

GOSPEL: Luke 21: 34 - 36

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34 And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly.

35 For as a snare shall it come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of man.

Mass Readings for Friday, November 30, 2012

"The Calling of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew " -- by James Tissot

Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle

FIRST READING: Romans 10: 9 - 18

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9 because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.

11 The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame."

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him.

13 For, "every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

14 But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?

15 And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!"

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"

17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."

PSALM: Psalms 19: 8 - 11

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8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

GOSPEL: Matthew 4: 18 - 22

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18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, in the boat with Zeb'edee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Mass Readings for Thursday, November 29, 2012

FIRST READING: Revelation 18: 1 - 2, 21 - 23; 19: 1 - 3, 9

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1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendor.

2 And he called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit, a haunt of every foul and hateful bird;

21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So shall Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and shall be found no more;

22 and the sound of harpers and minstrels, of flute players and trumpeters, shall be heard in thee no more; and a craftsman of any craft shall be found in thee no more; and the sound of the millstone shall be heard in thee no more;

23 and the light of a lamp shall shine in thee no more; and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall be heard in thee no more; for thy merchants were the great men of the earth, and all nations were deceived by thy sorcery.

1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

2 for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants."

3 Once more they cried, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."

9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God."

PSALM: Psalms 100: 1 - 5

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1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands!

2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name!

5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

GOSPEL: Luke 21: 20 - 28

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20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it;

22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all that is written.

23 Alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! For great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon this people;

24 they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,

26 men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."