FIRST
READING: Daniel
6: 12 - 28
12
And they came and spoke to the king concerning the edict: O king,
hast thou not decreed, that every man that should make a request to
any of the gods, or men, for thirty days, but to thyself, O king,
should be cast into the den of the lions? And the king answered them,
saying: The word is true according to the decree of the Medes and
Persians, which it is not lawful to violate.
13
Then they answered, and said before the king: Daniel, who is of the
children of the captivity of Juda, hath not regarded thy law, nor the
decree that thou hast made: but three times a day he maketh his
prayer.
14
Now when the king had heard these words, he was very much grieved,
and in behalf of Daniel he set his heart to deliver him and even till
sunset he laboured to save him.
15
But those men perceiving the king's design, said to him: Know thou, O
king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree which
the king hath made, may be altered.
16
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into
the den of the lions. And the king said to Daniel: Thy God, whom thou
always servest, he will deliver thee.
17
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den: which
the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles,
that nothing should be done against Daniel.
18
And the king went away to his house and laid himself down without
taking supper, and meat was not set before him, and even sleep
departed from him.
19
Then the king rising very early in the morning, went in haste to the
lions' den:
20
And coming near to the den, cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel,
and said to him: Daniel, servant of the living God, hath thy God,
whom thou servest always, been able, thinkest thou, to deliver thee
from the lions?
21
And Daniel answering the king, said: O king, live for ever:
22
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut up the mouths of the lions,
and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him justice hath been
found in me: yea and before thee, O king, I have done no offence.
23
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and he commanded that
Daniel should be taken out of the den: and Daniel was taken out of
the den, and no hurt was found in him, because he believed in his
God.
24
And by the king's commandment, those men were brought that had
accused Daniel: and they were cast into the lions' den, they and
their children, and their wives: and they did not reach the bottom of
the den, before the lions caught them, and broke all their bones in
pieces.
25
Then king Darius wrote to all people, tribes, and languages, dwelling
in the whole earth: PEACE be multiplied unto you.
26
It is decreed by me, that in all my empire and my kingdom all men
dread and fear the God of Daniel. For he is the living and eternal
God for ever: and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his power
shall be for ever.
27
He is the deliverer, and saviour, doing signs and wonders in heaven,
and in earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions' den.
28
Now Daniel continued unto the reign of Darius, and the reign of Cyrus
the Persian.
PSALM:
Daniel 3:
68 - 74
68
O ye dews and hoar frosts, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above
all for ever.
69
O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all
for ever.
70
O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for
ever.
71
O ye nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all
for ever.
72
O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above
all for ever.
73
O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him
above all for ever.
74
O let the earth bless the Lord: let it praise and exalt him above all
for ever.
GOSPEL:
Mark 14:
12 - 16, 22 - 26
20
And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed about with an army; then
know that the desolation thereof is at hand.
21
Then let those who are in Judea, flee to the mountains; and those who
are in the midst thereof, depart out: and those who are in the
countries, not enter into it.
22
For these are the days of vengeance, that all things may be
fulfilled, that are written.
23
But woe to them that are with child, and give suck in those days; for
there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this
people.
24
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword; and shall be led away
captives into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the
Gentiles; till the times of the nations be fulfilled.
25
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the
stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the
confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves;
26
Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon
the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved;
27
And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great
power and majesty.
28
But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up
your heads, because your redemption is at hand.
