Bible readings

Daily mass readings for Nov 26, 2024

Daily mass readings : Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : RV 14:14-19

I, John, looked and there was a white cloud,
and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man,
with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Another angel came out of the temple,
crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud,
“Use your sickle and reap the harvest,
for the time to reap has come,
because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.”
So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth,
and the earth was harvested.

Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven
who also had a sharp sickle.
Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire,
and cried out in a loud voice
to the one who had the sharp sickle,
“Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines,
for its grapes are ripe.”
So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage.
He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.

Responsorial Psalm : 96:10, 11-12, 13

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
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.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Alleluia : RV 2:10C

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : LK 21:5-11

While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”


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Daily mass readings for Nov 25, 2024

Daily mass readings : Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5

I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand
who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
I heard a sound from heaven
like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder.
The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne,
before the four living creatures and the elders.
No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who had been ransomed from the earth.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They have been ransomed as the first fruits
of the human race for God and the Lamb.
On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.

Responsorial Psalm : Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.

R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.

R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia : Mt 24:42a, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : LK 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”


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Daily mass readings for Nov 24, 2024

Daily mass readings: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Reading I : Dn 7:13-14

As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm : Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5

R. (1a) The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

Reading II : Rv 1:5-8

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, ” says the Lord God,
“the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.”

Alleluia : Mk 11:9, 10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Jn 18:33b-37

Pilate said to Jesus,
“Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?”
Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”
So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”


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St. Josaphat of Polotsk

Feast dayJune 9

St. Josaphat of Polotsk:

Early Life and Monastic Career
Birth and Background: Ivan Kuntsevych was born around 1580 in Volodymyr, Ukraine. He was raised in a devout Ruthenian (Ukrainian) family. The Ruthenians were part of the Eastern Christian tradition.

Monastic Life: Ivan joined the Order of Saint Basil the Great in Vilnius (modern-day Lithuania) and took the name Josaphat. He quickly became known for his piety and dedication to the monastic life.

Episcopal Leadership
Archbishop of Polotsk: In 1617, Josaphat was appointed as the Archbishop of Polotsk, a significant and challenging role. During his tenure, he worked to unite the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. He pursued this unity through the Union of Brest.

Reforms and Controversies:
Union of Brest: The Union of Brest was established in 1596. Its aim was to reunite Eastern Christians with the Roman Catholic Church. It allowed them to retain their Eastern liturgical traditions. Josaphat was a staunch supporter of this union and worked tirelessly to implement its principles in his archdiocese.

Resistance: His reforms and commitment to the Union of Brest were met with fierce opposition from both clergy and laity who were loyal to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Josaphat’s efforts to enforce the union’s decrees earned him the nickname “Thief of Souls” among his detractors.

Martyrdom and Legacy
Martyrdom: On November 12, 1623, Josaphat was brutally murdered by a mob in Vitebsk (present-day Belarus) during an anti-Catholic uprising. His death was a result of the intense religious and political tensions of the time.

Canonization: Josaphat’s martyrdom and unwavering commitment to Church unity led to his canonization by Pope Pius IX in 1867. He is honored as a martyr and a patron of Church unity.

Veneration
Feast Day: St. Josaphat is commemorated on November 12th in the Roman Catholic Church, and his feast day is a significant occasion for remembering his contributions to the Church.

Relics and Pilgrimages: His relics were transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where they are venerated by pilgrims from around the world.

St. Josaphat of Polotsk remains a symbol of dedication to faith and the pursuit of unity within the Christian Church.

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St. Philip

Feast dayJune 9

St. Philip the Apostle:

Early Life: Philip was born in Bethsaida, Galilee, a town by the Sea of Galilee. He was originally a follower of John the Baptist before becoming a disciple of Jesus.

Introduction of Nathanael: Philip is known for bringing Nathanael (often identified with Bartholomew) to Jesus. Nathanael was skeptical at first but became a believer after meeting Jesus2.

Miracles: Philip was present during several miracles, including the Feeding of the 5,000. Jesus tested Philip by asking him how to feed the multitude. This led to the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes2.

Missionary Work: After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, Philip is believed to have preached in regions like Greece, Syria, and Phrygia. He played a significant role in spreading Christianity to the Greek-speaking world2.

Martyrdom: According to tradition, Philip was martyred for his faith. He is said to have been crucified upside down in Heliopolis, Egypt, around 54 A.D. His feast day is celebrated on May 3rd in the Western Christian tradition. It is celebrated on November 14th in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Philip’s legacy is one of dedication and faith, and he is venerated in various Christian denominations.


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St. Paul of the Cross

Feast dayJune 9

St. Paul of the Cross:

Early Life and Inspiration:
Paul Danei was born into a devout Catholic family. He exhibited a deep spiritual fervor from a young age. He was particularly moved by the Passion of Christ, the suffering and death of Jesus. This intense devotion inspired him to dedicate his life to spreading the message of God’s love through the Passion.

Founding of the Passionist Order:
In 1720, Paul had a series of mystical experiences and visions. He felt a divine calling to found a religious order. He retreated into a period of solitude and prayer. During this time, he wrote the rule for the new congregation. He also designed its distinctive habit—a black robe with a heart and cross emblem. The Passionists’ mission was to focus on preaching about the Passion of Christ. They meditated on it, living lives of contemplation, poverty, and humility.

Apostolic Work and Spiritual Legacy
Paul traveled extensively across Italy, preaching and establishing Passionist communities. He became renowned for his powerful sermons, which deeply moved his audiences and drew many to a more profound faith. His spiritual writings, including letters and meditations, continue to inspire Christians worldwide.

Recognition and Canonization
Paul’s holiness and the impact of his work led to his veneration even during his lifetime. He died on October 18, 1775, and was buried in Rome. Paul of the Cross was beatified in 1853 and canonized on June 29, 1867, by Pope Pius IX. His feast day is celebrated on October 19th. He is honored as one of the great mystics and spiritual teachers of the Catholic Church.

Passionist Spirituality
The Passionist order remains active today. Members continue Paul’s mission by reflecting on the Passion of Christ. They also preach about it. Passionists work in parishes, retreat centers, and mission fields. They help individuals deepen their spiritual lives. This is achieved through contemplation and understanding of Christ’s sufferings.

Paul of the Cross’s life and teachings emphasize the power of meditation on the Passion. It serves as a means to grow closer to God. It also helps find strength in the face of personal suffering.


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Daily mass readings for Nov 23, 2024

Daily mass readings : Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Reading : Rv 11:4-12

I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me:
Here are my two witnesses:
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands
that stand before the Lord of the earth.
If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths
and devours their enemies.
In this way, anyone wanting to harm them is sure to be slain.
They have the power to close up the sky
so that no rain can fall during the time of their prophesying.
They also have power to turn water into blood
and to afflict the earth with any plague as often as they wish.

When they have finished their testimony,
the beast that comes up from the abyss
will wage war against them and conquer them and kill them.
Their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city,
which has the symbolic names “Sodom” and “Egypt,”
where indeed their Lord was crucified.
Those from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation
will gaze on their corpses for three and a half days,
and they will not allow their corpses to be buried.
The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them
and be glad and exchange gifts
because these two prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth.
But after the three and a half days,
a breath of life from God entered them.
When they stood on their feet, great fear fell on those who saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here.”
So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies looked on.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 144:1, 2, 9-10

R. (1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Alleluia : See 2 Tm 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Lk 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,
came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child,
his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers;
the first married a woman but died childless.
Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?
For all seven had been married to her.”
Jesus said to them,
“The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called ‘Lord’
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive.”
Some of the scribes said in reply,
“Teacher, you have answered well.”
And they no longer dared to ask him anything.


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Daily mass readings for Nov 22, 2024

Daily mass readings: Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

Reading 1 : RV 10:8-11

I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me.
Then the voice spoke to me and said:
“Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel
who is standing on the sea and on the land.”
So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll.
He said to me, “Take and swallow it.
It will turn your stomach sour,
but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.”
I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it.
In my mouth it was like sweet honey,
but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.
Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again
about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

Responsorial Psalm : PS 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

R. (103a) How sweet to my taste is your promise!
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
How sweet to my palate are your promises,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
Your decrees are my inheritance forever;
the joy of my heart they are.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
I gasp with open mouth
in my yearning for your commands.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Alleluia : JN 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : LK 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
“It is written,
My house shall be a house of prayer,
but you have made it a den of thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.
The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose
because all the people were hanging on his words.


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Daily mass readings for Nov 21,2024

Daily mass readings : Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reading 1 : RV 5:1-10

I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne.
It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice,
“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth
was able to open the scroll or to examine it.
I shed many tears because no one was found worthy
to open the scroll or to examine it.
One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep.
The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed,
enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”

Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne
and the four living creatures and the elders
a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.
He had seven horns and seven eyes;
these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world.
He came and received the scroll from the right hand
of the one who sat on the throne.
When he took it,
the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb.
Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,
which are the prayers of the holy ones.
They sang a new hymn:

“Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth.”

Responsorial Psalm : PS 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B

R. (Rev. 5:10) The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia :PS 95:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : LK 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”


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St. Adelina

Feast dayJune 9


St. Adelina of Mortain, also known as Adeline, was a remarkable figure in Catholic history. Born in the 11th century, she was the granddaughter of William the Conqueror, the famous Norman king who conquered England in 10661. Adelina was the sister of another revered saint, Saint Vitalis.

Adelina’s faith and dedication to God led her to the path of religious life. She entered the Benedictine order and became a nun1. As her brother Vitalis was known for his generosity and piety, he founded the convent of La Blanche in Moriton, Normandy, and Adelina was appointed as its abbess. As an abbess, her responsibilities included overseeing the spiritual and practical aspects of the community, providing guidance and support to her fellow sisters1.

Under Adelina’s leadership, the convent of La Blanche flourished. She was known for her strong character, wisdom, and attentiveness to the needs of her fellow sisters1. She fostered an environment of prayer and contemplation, instilling in her community a deep love and reverence for God. Saint Adelina’s life was marked by her unwavering commitment to her faith and her immense dedication to her duties as an abbess1.

Saint Adelina passed away in the year 1125, having lived a life of remarkable service to God and her community. She died of natural causes and was honored for her sanctity even during her lifetime1. Although her representation in art is currently not known, her memory and legacy endure. While Saint Adelina has not been officially designated as the patron saint of any specific cause or group, her very life serves as an example of dedication, piety, and service1.

Her feast day is celebrated on October 20th, a time when the Church and faithful remember and honor her life and virtues. Though Saint Adelina’s canonization took place before the formal establishment of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, her sanctity has been recognized by the Church1. By studying her life and imitating her virtues, we can find inspiration to live our own lives in accordance with the teachings of Christ.

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