Daily Readings for December 13, 2015

1ST READING

Anticipation and hope are powerful motivators. Today, Gaudete (Hope) Sunday, is a day when we anticipate the hope that comes to the world in the form of the Son of God born of the Virgin Mary. The Church invites us to look beyond the preparation and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Let us stay faithful in reaching the goal of salvation. There will be countless times when we will need such hope. Let us ritualize it in today’s Mass as we move one week closer to Christmas.

Zephaniah 3:14-18

14 Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; the King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. 16 On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! 17 The Lord your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, 18 as one sings at festivals.

P S A L M

Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6

R: Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

2 God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. 3 With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. (R) 4 Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. (R) 5 Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. 6 Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel! (R)

2ND READING

It was never a part of God’s plan that we suffer. It is our sins that cause suffering in the world. We have only ourselves to blame. God does not condemn us but redeems us. Do we humbly accept the hope and new life that He offers?

Philippians 4:4-7

4 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! 5 Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. 6 Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. 7 Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

GOSPEL

We should bring hope to each other. While we need to plan sensibly for the future, still we should not replace our hope and trust in God with good planning. Let God show us how He will work in our lives.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

Luke 3:10-18

10 The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” 11 He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” 15 Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. 16 John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

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