August 15, 2014

Reading

Revelation   11: 19, 12: 1-6, 10

11:19

And the temple of God was opened in heaven. And the Ark of his Testament was seen in his temple. And there were lightnings and voices and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 12

12:1	And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.
12:2	And being with child, she cried out while giving birth, and she was suffering in order to give birth.
12:3	And another sign was seen in heaven. And behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.
12:4	And his tail drew down a third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman, who was about to give birth, so that, when she had brought forth, he might devour her son.
12:5	And she brought forth a male child, who was soon to rule all the nations with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne.
12:6	And the woman fled into solitude, where a place was being held ready by God, so that they might pasture her in that place for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
12:10	And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying: “Now have arrived salvation and virtue and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. For the acuser of our brothers has been cast down, he who accused them before our God day and night.

Second Reading

First Letter to Corinthians    15: 20-27

15:20 But now Christ has risen again from the dead, as the first-fruits of those who sleep.

15:21 For certainly, death came through a man. And so, the resurrection of the dead came through a man

15:22 And just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be brought to life,

15:23 but each one in his proper order: Christ, as the first-fruits, and next, those who are of Christ, who have believed in his advent.

15:24 Afterwards is the end, when he will have handed over the kingdom to God the Father, when he will have emptied all principality, and authority, and power.

15:25 For it is necessary for him to reign, until he has set all his enemies under his feet.

15:26 Lastly, the enemy called death shall be destroyed. For he has subjected all things under his feet. And although he says,

15:27 “All things have been subjected to him,” without doubt he does not include the One who has subjected all things to him.

Gospel

Luke    1: 39-56

1:39 And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah.

1:40 And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth.

1:41 And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

1:42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

1:43 And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me?

1:44 For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

1:45 And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.”

1:46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.

1:47 And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour.

1:48 For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed.

1:49 For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

1:50 And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him.

1:51 He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart.

1:52 He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.

1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

1:54 He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy,

1:55 just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

1:56 Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house.