Daily Readings for November 21, 2015

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

1ST READING

This prophecy in the Book of Zechariah looks forward to the coming of the Messiah. The coming of many different nations to Jerusalem will mark this time. It prophesies that the Messiah will usher in a new understanding of faith, that it will also be available to the Gentiles. Today we see the partial fulfillment of the prophecy. We wait for the time when all people will bow their knee at Jesus in His second coming. Let us make the Gospel known to as many people as possible.

Zechariah 2:14-17 (or 1 Maccabees 6:1-13)

14 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the Lord. 15 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. 16 The Lord will possess Judah as his portion of the holy land, and he will again choose Jerusalem. 17 Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the Lord! He stirs forth from his holy dwelling.

P S A L M

Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55 (or Psalm 9:2-3, 4, 6, 16, 19)

R: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

46 “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (R) 48 “For he has looked upon his lowly servant; from this day all generations will call me blessed: 49 the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.” (R) 50 “He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. 51 He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.” (R) 52 “He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent away empty.” (R) 54 He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy, 55 the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus asserts that for faith to be true to itself, it must be lived out in our daily lives. Without this, Christians will be accused of hypocrisy. We must live out the demands of our faith to the fullest. This is done first in our relationships with others. No one is more or less important than someone else.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.

Matthew 12:46-50 (or Luke 20:27-40)

46 While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” 48 But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”