Daily Reading & Reflection Wednesday (December 31): "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"

The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
Lectionary: 204

Reading 1 1 jn 2:18-21

Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth
but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.

Responsorial Psalm ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13

R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the LORD.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Alleluia Jn 1:14a, 12a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him
he gave power to become the children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel jn 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.

And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son,
full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.

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How has Jesus revealed God to me during the past year?

Lord, you have taught me so much about God. Help me to understand your word. Grant me the wisdom to study your word more closely and develop a greater knowledge of you during the coming new year. Amen

Daily Reading & Reflection Sunday (December 28) "The favor of God was upon him"

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Lectionary: 17

Reading 1 sir 3:2-6, 12-14

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,

Daily Reading & Reflection: Wednesday (December 24): Nothing is Impossible with God

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Lectionary: 200

Reading 1 2 sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

When King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
“Here I am living in a house of cedar,

Daily Reading & Reflection: Monday (December 22): Joyful Expectation of the Messiah

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Lectionary: 198

Reading 1 1 sm 1:24-28

In those days,
Hannah brought Samuel with her,
along with a three-year-old bull,
an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine,
and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull,
Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said:
“Pardon, my lord!
As you live, my lord,
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”
She left Samuel there.

Responsorial Psalm 1 sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd

R. (see 1a) My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church;
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel lk 1:46-56

Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.
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REFLECTION

How have I been blessed by God recently?

Lord, you show blessing on me every day. But I am not always aware of them. Help me to be more alert to your many blessings and more thankful for them. Without your blessings my life would amount to nothing. Amem 

Daily Reading & Reflection Thursday (December 18): "He will save his people from their sins"

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 194

Reading 1 jer 23:5-8

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;
As king he shall reign and govern wisely,

Daily Reading & Reflection Wednesday (December 17): "The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David"

Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 193

Reading 1 gn 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 homage.”

Responsorial Psalm ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17

R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love;
come to teach us the path of knowledge!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel mt 1:1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,
whose mother was Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile,
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.
Abiud became the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok.
Zadok became the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations
from Abraham to David
is fourteen generations;
from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations;
from the Babylonian exile to the Christ,
fourteen generations.
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REFLECTION

Who of my ancestors had the most influence on my growth in faith in Jesus?

Lord, there have been many influences in my life. Help me to determine who has been the most influential regarding my faith. Grant me the courage to follow the teaching of that ancestor. Amen 

Daily Reading & Reflection Tuesday (December 16): Which son did the father's will?

Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 188

Reading 1 zep 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;

Daily Reading & Reflection: Monday (December 15): "All hold that John was a prophet"

Monday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 187

Reading 1 nm 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:

Daily Reading: Sunday (December 14): Who are you? And in whose name do you speak?

Third Sunday of Advent
Lectionary: 8

Reading 1 is 61:1-2a, 10-11

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,

Daily Reading & Reflection: Saturday (December 13): "Elijah must first come"

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Lectionary: 186

Reading 1 sir 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,

Daily Reading & Reflection: Friday (December 12): The Lord will lead you in the way you should go

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Lectionary: 690A

Reading 1 zec 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,

Daily Reading & Reflection: Thursday (December 11): "He is Elijah who is to come"

First Reading

Isaiah 41:13-20

13For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I will help you." 14Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I will help you, says the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. 15Behold, I will make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having

Daily Reading & Reflection Wednesday (December 10): "Come to me and I will give you rest"

First Reading

Isaiah 40:25-31

25To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. 27Why do

Daily Reading & Reflection: Tuesday (December 9): God carries us in his bosom

First Reading

Isaiah 40:1-11

1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the

Daily Reading & Reflection Monday (December 8): "For with God nothing will be impossible"

First Reading

Genesis 3:9-15, 20

9But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" 10And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." 11He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to

Daily Reading & Reflection Sunday (December 7): "Prepare the way of the Lord"

First Reading

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made

Daily Reading & Reflection: Saturday (December 6): "The kingdom of heaven is at hand"

First Reading

Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26

19Yea, O people in Zion who dwell at Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. 20And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any

Daily Reading & Reflection: Friday (December 5): "Do you believe?"

First Reading

Isaiah 29:17-24

17Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest? 18In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. 19The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the

Daily Reading & Reflection: Thursday (December 4): "Who shall enter the kingdom of heaven?"

First Reading

Isaiah 26:1-6

1In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. 2Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in. 3Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. 4Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. 5For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. 6The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy."

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

1O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever! 8It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 20This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. 21I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation. 25Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success! 26Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD. 27The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!

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Gospel

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

21"Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 24"Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." 

 

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REFLECTION

 

Jesus encourages us to listen to His words and build our lives on a firm foundation. Have I established a firm foundation?

Lord, I try very hard to know what you want from me. It is my hope that this has established a firm foundation for my life. Help me to understand if I must build a firmer one and grant me the vision to see what I must do. Amen

Daily Reading & Reflection Wednesday (December 3): "This is the LORD; we have waited for him"

First Reading

Isaiah 25:6-10

6On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. 7And he will destroy on this

Daily Reading & Reflection: Tuesday (December 2): "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see!"

Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
Lectionary: 176

Reading 1 is 11:1-10

On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,