Daily Readings for December 17, 2016

1ST READING

God will always bless the House of Judah. We, too, are assured of His graces. Out of His goodness, God provides us the grace to respond to His call and follow His will. Let us open our hearts to God and walk in His presence wherever we go.

Genesis 49:2, 8-10

2 Jacob called his sons and said to them: “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. 8 “You, Judah, shall your brothers praise — your hand on the neck of your enemies; the sons of your father shall bow down to you. 9 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? 10 The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his legs, while tribute is brought to him, and he receives the peoples’ homage.”

P S A L M

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

R: Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.

1 O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son; 2 He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment. (R) 3 The mountains shall yield peace for the people, and the hills justice. 4 He shall defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the poor. (R) 7 Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more. 8 May he rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. (R) 17 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)

GOSPEL

Genealogies are important for the Jews. They tell us where a person comes from according to his bloodline. This is an indication of what God will call him to do. For example, men from the tribe of Levi were the priests of the nation. Each of the tribes has been given a particular gifting to be used in the service of the people. The Messiah is to come from the House of Judah and so the lineage of Jesus needs to reflect this.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

Matthew 1:1-17

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 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, 6 Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. 8 Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. 12 After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, 15 Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. 17 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.

Daily Readings for December 16, 2016

1ST READING

Integrity is a constant challenge in life. It is easier to know what is good and right than to live it out. Let us not compromise the values of the Gospel.

Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8

1 Thus says the Lord: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, the son of man who holds to it; who keeps the sabbath free from profanation, and his hand from any evildoing. 3 Let not the foreigner say, when he would join himself to the Lord, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” 6 The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants — all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, 7 them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 8 Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: Others will I gather to him besides those already gathered.

P S A L M

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8

R: O God, let all the nations praise you!

1 [2] May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. 2 [3] So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. (R) 4 [5] May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. (R) 6 [7] The earth has yielded its fruits; God, our God, has blessed us. 7 [8] May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus is confident about His true identity. He knows that His testimony is greater than John’s. Jesus has a strong relationship with the Father in heaven, something many of us have been deprived of due to damaged relationships with our own earthly fathers. God can heal us and fill in what is lacking through our understanding and experience of His love.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Come, Lord, bring us your peace that we may rejoice before you with a perfect heart.

John 5:33-36

33 Jesus said to the Jews: “You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. 34 I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.”

Daily Readings for December 15, 2016

1ST READING

Isaiah encourages us to “enlarge the space of our tents.” This means we should not limit the possibilities of what God can do through us. Our lack of vision constricts the work of the Holy Spirit. Let us be open and expect the Lord to use us mightily.

Isaiah 54:1-10

1 Raise a glad cry, you barren one who did not bear, break forth in jubilant song, you who were not in labor, for more numerous are the children of the deserted wife than the children of her who has a husband, says the Lord. 2 Enlarge the space for your tent, spread out your tent cloths unsparingly; lengthen your ropes and make firm your stakes. 3 For you shall spread abroad to the right and to the left; your descendants shall dispossess the nations and shall people the desolate cities. 4 Fear not, you shall not be put to shame; you need not blush, for you shall not be disgraced. The shame of your youth you shall forget, the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember. 5 For he who has become your husband is your Maker; his name is the Lord of hosts; your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth. 6 The Lord calls you back, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, a wife married in youth and then cast off, says your God. 7 For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great tenderness I will take you back. 8 In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; but with enduring love I take pity on you, says the Lord, your redeemer. 9 This is for me like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah should never again deluge the earth; so I have sworn not to be angry with you, or to rebuke you. 10 Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, my love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

P S A L M

Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13

R: I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

1 [2] I will extol you, O Lord, for you drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. 3 [4] O Lord, you brought me up from the nether world; you preserved me from among those going down into the pit. (R) 4 [5] Sing praise to the Lord, you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 [6] For his anger lasts but a moment; a lifetime, his goodwill. At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing. (R) 10 [11] “Hear, O Lord, and have pity on me; O Lord, be my helper.” 11 [12] You changed my mourning into dancing; 12 [13] O Lord, my God, forever will I give you thanks. (R)

GOSPEL

There will be people who will reject the Gospel when we proclaim it. We need to pray and hope that they will respond at a later time. We can only work with those who are willing to listen and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let us be committed to working with them in the service of the Kingdom of God. Working together in proclaiming the Gospel will see us through the difficult times. It is good to have people who encourage us when we struggle with our faith.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: All flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Luke 7:24-30

24 When the messengers of John the Baptist had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. “What did you go out to the desert to see — a reed swayed by the wind? 25 Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress  luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. 26 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom Scripture says: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you. 28 I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; 30 but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves.)

Daily Readings for December 14, 2016

1ST READING

Today is the feast day of St. John of the Cross, one of the giants of the Church’s spiritual tradition. He reformed the Carmelite way of life and brought back its original simplicity. He is one of the most profound mystical writers the Church has seen. You cannot exhaust the lessons from his deep and profound writings. There is always something new to discover and learn.

Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25

6 I am the Lord, there is no other; 7 I form the light, and create the darkness, I make well-being and create woe; I, the Lord, do all these things. 8 Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the Lord, have created this. 18 For thus says the Lord, the creator of the heavens, who is God, the designer and maker of the earth who established it, not creating it to be a waste, but designing it to be lived in: I am the Lord, and there is no other. 21 Who announced this from the beginning and foretold it from of old? Was it not I, the Lord, besides whom there is no other God? There is no just and saving God but me. 22 Turn to me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God; there is no other! 23 By myself I swear, uttering my just decree and my unalterable word: to me every knee shall bend; by me every tongue shall swear, 24 saying, “Only in the Lord are just deeds and power. Before him in shame shall come all who vent their anger against him. 25 In the Lord shall be the vindication and the glory of all the descendants of Israel.”

P S A L M

Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

R: Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.

8 [9] I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord — for he proclaims peace to his people. 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. (R) 10 [11] Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 12 [13] The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)

GOSPEL

The life of Jesus speaks for itself. There is no need for Him to answer the question because of the clarity of His life’s witness. Can we say the same for us? If we are serious about discipleship, then we must be like Jesus. May we never be afraid to confront our sinfulness.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Raise your voice and tell the Good News: Behold, the Lord God comes with power.

Luke 7:18-23

18 At that time, John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 20 When the men came to the Lord, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’ ” 21 At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. 22 And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. 23 And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

Daily Readings for December 13, 2016

1ST READING

God will purify us and take away our sin and even the unrepentant sinners. Let us make our lives as untainted as possible by repenting of our sins and allowing the Holy Spirit to recreate us anew in His grace and power. The goal of a Christian disciple is to be recreated in Christ.

Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13

1 Thus says the Lord: Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted, to the tyrannical city! 2 She hears no voice, accepts no correction; in the Lord she has not trusted, to her God she has not drawn near. 9 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; 10 from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia and as far as the recesses of the North, they shall bring me offerings. 11 On that day you need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me; for then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, and you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain. 12 But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord; 13 the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; they shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.

P S A L M

Psalm 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19, 23

R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 16 [17] The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. 17 [18] When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. (R) 18 [19] The Lord is close to the  brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. 22 [23] The Lord redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him. (R)

GOSPEL

Here is another parable about action. It is also about the function of our conscience. The first son listened to his conscience and allowed it to guide his action. The second son acted as if he did not have a conscience, or it had been completely dulled by previous inaction on his promises. It is the first son whose example we must follow. May our consciences be well informed with what is good, right and just.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Come, O Lord, do not delay; forgive the sins of your people.

Matthew 21:28-32

28 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 30 The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you. 32 When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”