Readings courtesy of USCCB

  • by USCCB
    Reading 1 Genesis 49:2, 8-10 Jacob called his sons and said to them: “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. “You, Judah, shall your brothers praise –your hand on the neck of your enemies; the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Judah, like a lion’s whelp, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches like a lion recumbent, the king of beasts–who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his legs, While tribute is brought to him, and he receives the people’s […]
  • by USCCB
    Reading I Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 Thus says the LORD: Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted,     to the tyrannical city! She hears no voice,     accepts no correction; In the LORD she has not trusted,     to her God she has not drawn near. For then I will change and purify     the lips of the peoples, That they all may call upon the name of the LORD,     to serve him with one accord; From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia     and as far as the recesses of the North,     they shall bring me offerings.     On […]
  • by USCCB
    Reading 1 Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him, and he gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of a man whose eye is true, The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled: How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel! They are like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the […]
  • by USCCB
    Reading 1 Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will […]
  • by USCCB
    Readings for the Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr Reading 1 Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11 In those days, like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; By the Lord's word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses. You were destined, it is written, in time […]
  • by USCCB
    Reading 1 Zechariah 2:14-17 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!  See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land, and he will again choose Jerusalem. Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD! For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling. or Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab   God’s […]