Readings courtesy of USCCB

  • by USCCB
    Reading 1 1 Kings 3:4-13 Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there,because that was the most renowned high place.Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings.In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”Solomon answered:“You have shown great favor to your servant, my father David,because he behaved faithfully toward you,with justice and an upright heart;and you have continued this great favor toward him, even today,seating a son of his on his throne.O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant,king to succeed my […]
  • by USCCB
    Readings for the Memorial of Saint Paul Miki, Priest and Martyr, and his Companions, Martyrs Reading I Sirach 47:2-11 Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings,            so was David in Israel.He made sport of lions as though they were kids,            and of bears, like lambs of the flock.As a youth he slew the giant            and wiped out the people’s disgrace,When his hand let fly the slingstone            that crushed the pride of Goliath.Since he called upon the Most High God,             who gave strength to his right armTo defeat the skilled warrior            and raise up the might of his people,Therefore the women sang his praises,            and ascribed to […]
  • by USCCB
    Readings for the Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr Reading 1 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 When the time of David's death drew near,he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:"I am going the way of all flesh.Take courage and be a man.Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his waysand observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decreesas they are written in the law of Moses,that you may succeed in whatever you do,wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfillthe promise he made on my behalf when he said,'If your sons so conduct themselvesthat they remain faithful to […]
  • by USCCB
    Reading 1 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him,“Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-shebaand register the people, that I may know their number.”Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered:in Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military service; in Judah, five hundred thousand.Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people,and said to the LORD:“I have sinned grievously in what I have done.But now, LORD, forgive the guilt of your servant,for I have been very foolish.”When David rose in the morning,the LORD […]
  • by USCCB
    Reading 1 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30–19:3 Absalom unexpectedly came up against David's servants.He was mounted on a mule,and, as the mule passed under the branches of a large terebinth,his hair caught fast in the tree.He hung between heaven and earthwhile the mule he had been riding ran off.Someone saw this and reported to Joabthat he had seen Absalom hanging from a terebinth.And taking three pikes in hand,he thrust for the heart of Absalom,still hanging from the tree alive.Now David was sitting between the two gates,and a lookout went up to the roof of the gate above the city […]
  • by USCCB
    Reading I Malachi 3:1-4     Thus says the Lord GOD: Lo, I am sending my messenger     to prepare the way before me; And suddenly there will come to the temple     the LORD whom you seek, And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.     Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming?     And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire,     or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver,     and he will purify the sons […]