Daily Readings for December 13, 2017

1ST READING

The Lord promises to the faithful that they will never grow weary, or to put it in another way, He will always provide them the strength to do His will. This is an important promise. We can never use the excuse that we are not strong enough to do something, or we do not have the resources to follow God’s will. Through Isaiah God promises that He will provide the rest that we need.

Isaiah 40:25-31

27 [25] To whom can you liken me as an equal? Says the Holy One. 28 [26] Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these. He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name. By his great might and the strength of his power not one of them is missing! 29 [27] Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 30 [28] Do you not know or have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. 31 [29] He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. 32 [30] Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, 33 [31] they that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

P S A L M

Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10

R: O bless the Lord, my soul!

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) 3 He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. (R) 8 Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus tells us that He will carry our burdens. His yoke, the yoke of the Holy Spirit, will bring ease to our lives if we trust Him. This is what discipleship is all about — surrendering our lives to Jesus and following where He leads. God created us and He knows what is best for us.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”