Category: Daily Readings

  • March 18, 2024

    Daniel 13: 1- 9, 15- 17, 19- 30, 33- 62

    13:1And there was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Joakim.
    13:2And he received a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who was very beautiful and God-fearing.
    13:3For her parents, because they were righteous, had educated their daughter according to the law of Moses.
    13:4But Joakim was very wealthy, and he had an orchard near his house, and the Jews flocked to him, because he was the most honorable of them all.
    13:5And two elder judges had been appointed among the people that year, about whom the Lord has said, “Iniquity has come out of Babylon, from the elder judges, who seemed to govern the people.”
    13:6These frequented the house of Joakim, and all came to them, who had need of judgment.
    13:7But when the people departed at noontime, Susanna went in and walked around in her husband’s orchard.
    13:8And the elders saw her entering and walking around every day, and they were inflamed with desire towards her.
    13:9And they perverted their reason and turned away their eyes, so that they would not look to heaven, nor call to mind just judgments.
    13:15But it happened, while they watched for an opportune day, that she entered at a particular time, just as yesterday and the day before, with only two maids, and she wanted to wash in the orchard, because it was so hot.
    13:16And there was no one there, except the two elders in hiding, and they were studying her.
    13:17And so she said to the maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the doors of the orchard, so that I may wash.”
    13:19But when the maids had departed, the two elders arose and hurried to her, and they said,
    13:20“Behold, the doors of the orchard are closed, and no one can see us, and we are in desire for you. Because of these things, consent to us and lie with us.
    13:21But if you will not, we will bear witness against you that a young man was with you and, for this reason, you sent your maids away from you.”
    13:22Susanna sighed and said, “I am closed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death to me; yet if I do not do it, I will not escape your hands.
    13:23But it is better for me to fall unavoidably into your hands, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.”
    13:24And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, but the elders also cried out against her.
    13:25And one of them hurried to the door of the orchard and opened it.
    13:26And so, when the servants of the house heard the outcry in the orchard, they rushed in by the back door to see what was happening.
    13:27But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed, for there had never been anything of this kind said about Susanna. And it happened on the next day,
    13:28when the people came to Joakim her husband, that the two appointed elders also came, full of wicked plans against Susanna, in order to put her to death.
    13:29And they said before the people, “Send for Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” And immediately they sent for her.
    13:30And she arrived with her parents, and sons, and all her relatives.
    13:33Therefore, her own and all who knew her wept.
    13:34Yet the two appointed elders, rising up in the midst of the people, set their hands upon her head.
    13:35And weeping, she gazed up to heaven, for her heart had faith in the Lord.
    13:36And the appointed elders said, “While we were talking a walk in the orchard alone, this one came in with two maids, and she shut the doors of the orchard, and she sent the maids away from her.
    13:37And a young man came to her, who was in hiding, and he lay down with her.
    13:38Furthermore, since we were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, we ran up to them, and we saw them consorting together.
    13:39And, indeed, we were unable to catch him, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out.
    13:40But, since we had apprehended this one, we demanded to know who the young man was, but she was unwilling to tell us. On this matter, we are witnesses.”
    13:41The multitude believed them, just as if they were elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.
    13:42But Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, “Eternal God, who knows what is hidden, who knows all things before they happen,
    13:43you know that they have borne false witness against me, and behold, I must die, though I have done none of these things, which these men have maliciously invented against me.”
    13:44But the Lord heeded her voice.
    13:45And when she was led away to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.
    13:46And he cried out with a loud voice, “I am clean of the blood of this one.”
    13:47And all the people, turning back towards him, said, “What is this word that you are saying?”
    13:48But he, while standing in the midst of them, said, “Are you so foolish, sons of Israel, that without judging and without knowing what the truth is, you have condemned a daughter of Israel?
    13:49Return to judgment, because they have spoken false witness against her.”
    13:50Therefore, the people returned with haste, and the old men said to him, “Come and sit down in our midst and show us, since God has given you the honor of old age.”
    13:51And Daniel said to them, “Separate these at a distance from one another, and I will judge between them.”
    13:52And so, when they were divided, one from the other, he called one of them, and he said to him, “You deep-rooted ancient evil, now your sins have come out, which you have committed before,
    13:53judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and setting free the guilty, though the Lord declares, ‘The innocent and the just you must not put to death.’
    13:54Now then, if you saw her, declare under which tree you saw them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen mastic tree.”
    13:55But Daniel said, “Truly, you have lied against your own head. For behold, the angel of God, having received the sentence from him, will split you down the middle.
    13:56And, having put him aside, he commanded the other to approach, and he said to him, “You offspring of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and desire has perverted your heart.
    13:57Thus did you do to the daughters of Israel, and they, out of fear, consorted with you, but a daughter of Judah would not tolerate your iniquity.
    13:58Now then, declare to me, under which tree you caught them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen oak tree.”
    13:59And Daniel said to him, “Truly, you also have lied against your own head. For the angel of the Lord waits, holding a sword, to cut you down the middle and put you to death.”
    13:60And then the entire assembly cried out in a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saves those who hope in him.
    13:61And they rose up against the two appointed elders, (for Daniel had convicted them, by their own mouth, of bearing false witness,) and they did to them just as they had wickedly done against their neighbor,
    13:62so as to act according to the law of Moses. And they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved on that day.

    John 8: 1- 11

    8:1But Jesus continued on to the Mount of Olives.
    8:2And early in the morning, he went again to the temple; and all the people came to him. And sitting down, he taught them.
    8:3Now the scribes and Pharisees brought forward a woman caught in adultery, and they stood her in front of them.
    8:4And they said to him: “Teacher, this woman was just now caught in adultery.
    8:5And in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such a one. Therefore, what do you say?”
    8:6But they were saying this to test him, so that they might be able to accuse him. Then Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the earth.
    8:7And then, when they persevered in questioning him, he stood upright and said to them, “Let whoever is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”
    8:8And bending down again, he wrote on the earth.
    8:9But upon hearing this, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, with the woman standing in front of him.
    8:10Then Jesus, raising himself up, said to her: “Woman, where are those who accused you? Has no one condemned you?”
    8:11And she said, “No one, Lord.” Then Jesus said: “Neither will I condemn you. Go, and now do not choose to sin anymore.”
  • March 17, 2024

    The Book of Jeremiah   31: 31-34

    31:31Behold, the days are approaching, says the Lord, when I will form a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
    31:32not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand, so as to lead them away from the land of Egypt, the covenant which they nullified, though I was the ruler over them, says the Lord.
    31:33But this will be the covenant that I will form with the house of Israel, after those days, says the Lord: I will give my law to their inner most being, and I will write it upon their heart. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
    31:34And they will no longer teach, a man his neighbor, and a man his brother, saying: ‘Know the Lord.’ For all will know me, from the littlest of them even to the greatest, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will no longer remember their sin.

    The Letter to the Hebrews   5: 7-9

    5:7It is Christ who, in the days of his flesh, with a strong cry and tears, offered prayers and supplications to the One who was able to save him from death, and who was heard because of his reverence.
    5:8And although, certainly, he is the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things that he suffered.
    5:9And having reached his consummation, he was made, for all who are obedient to him, the cause of eternal salvation,

    The Holy Gospel According to John   12: 20: 33

    12:20Now there were certain Gentiles among those who went up so that they might worship on the feast day.
    12:21Therefore, these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and they petitioned him, saying: “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
    12:22Philip went and told Andrew. Next, Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
    12:23But Jesus answered them by saying: “The hour arrives when the Son of man shall be glorified.
    12:24Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
    12:25it remains alone. But if it dies, it yields much fruit. Whoever loves his life, will lose it. And whoever hates his life in this world, preserves it unto eternal life.
    12:26If anyone serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, there too my minister shall be. If anyone has served me, my Father will honor him.
    12:27Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say? Father, save me from this hour? But it is for this reason that I came to this hour.
    12:28Father, glorify your name!” And then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
    12:29Therefore, the crowd, which was standing near and had heard it, said that it was like thunder. Others were saying, “An Angel was speaking with him.”
    12:30Jesus responded and said: “This voice came, not for my sake, but for your sakes.
    12:31Now is the judgment of the world. Now will the prince of this world be cast out.
    12:32And when I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things to myself.”
    12:33(Now he said this, signifying what kind of death he would die.)
  • March 16, 2024

    Jeremiah 11: 18- 20

    11:18But you, O Lord, have revealed this to me, and I have understood. Then you displayed their efforts to me.
    11:19And I was like a meek lamb, who is being carried to be a victim. And I did not realize that they had devised plans against me, saying: “Let us place wood upon his bread, and let us eradicate him from the land of the living, and let his name no longer be remembered.”
    11:20But you, O Lord of hosts, who judges justly, and who tests the temperament and the heart, let me see your vengeance against them. For I have revealed my case to you.

    John 7: 40- 53

    7:40Therefore, some from that crowd, when they had heard these words of his, were saying, “This one truly is the Prophet.”
    7:41Others were saying, “He is the Christ.” Yet certain ones were saying: “Does the Christ come from Galilee?
    7:42Does Scripture not say that the Christ comes from the offspring of David and from Bethlehem, the town where David was?”
    7:43And so there arose a dissension among the multitude because of him.
    7:44Now certain ones among them wanted to apprehended him, but no one laid hands upon him.
    7:45Therefore, the attendants went to the high priests and the Pharisees. And they said to them, “Why have you not brought him?”
    7:46The attendants responded, “Never has a man spoken like this man.”
    7:47And so the Pharisees answered them: “Have you also been seduced?
    7:48Have any of the leaders believed in him, or any of the Pharisees?
    7:49But this crowd, which does not know the law, they are accursed.”
    7:50Nicodemus, the one who came to him by night and who was one of them, said to them,
    7:51“Does our law judge a man, unless it has first heard him and has known what he has done?”
    7:52They responded and said to him: “Are you also a Galilean? Study the Scriptures, and see that a prophet does not arise from Galilee.”
    7:53And each one returned to his own house.
  • March 15, 2024

    Wisdom 2: 1, 12- 22

    2:1For they have said, reasoning with themselves incorrectly: “Our lifetime is brief and tedious, and there is no relief within the limits of man, and no one is acknowledged to have returned from the dead.
    2:12Therefore, let us encircle the just, because he is useless to us, and he is against our works, and he reproaches us with our legal offenses, and makes known to us the sins of our way of life.
    2:13He promises that he has the knowledge of God and he calls himself the son of God.
    2:14He was made among us to expose our very thoughts.
    2:15He is grievous for us even to behold, for his life is unlike other men’s lives, and immutable are his ways.
    2:16It is as if we are considered by him to be insignificant, and he abstains from our ways as from filth; he prefers the newly justified, and he glories that he has God for his father.
    2:17Let us see, then, if his words are true, and let us test what will happen to him, and then we will know what his end will be.
    2:18For if he is the true son of God, he will receive him and deliver him from the hands of his adversaries.
    2:19Let us examine him with insult and torture, that we may know his reverence and try his patience.
    2:20Let us condemn him to a most shameful death, for, according to his own words, God will care for him.”
    2:21These things they thought, and they were mistaken, for their own malice blinded them.
    2:22And they were ignorant of the mysteries of God; they neither hoped for the reward of justice, nor judged the value of holy souls.

    John 7: 1- 2. 10, 25- 30

    7:1Then, after these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee. For he was not willing to walk in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.
    7:2Now the feast day of the Jews, the Feast of Tabernacles, was near.
    7:10But after his brothers went up, then he also went up to the feast day, not openly, but as if in secret.
    7:25Therefore, some of those from Jerusalem said: “Is he not the one whom they are seeking to kill?
    7:26And behold, he is speaking openly, and they say nothing to him. Could the leaders have decided that it is true this one is the Christ?
    7:27But we know him and where he is from. And when the Christ has arrived, no one will know where he is from.”
    7:28Therefore, Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying: “You know me, and you also know where I am from. And I have not arrived of myself, but he who sent me is true, and him you do not know.
    7:29I know him. For I am from him, and he has sent me.”
    7:30Therefore, they were seeking to apprehend him, and yet no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.
  • March 14, 2024

    The Book of Exodus   32: 7-14

    32:7Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Go, descend. Your people, whom you led away from the land of Egypt, have sinned.
    32:8They have quickly withdrawn from the way which you revealed to them. And they have made for themselves a molten calf, and they have worshiped it. And immolating victims to it, they have said: ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who led you away from the land of Egypt.’ ”
    32:9And again, the Lord said to Moses: “I discern that this people is stiff-necked.
    32:10Release me, so that my fury may be enraged against them, and I may destroy them, and then I will make of you a great nation.”
    32:11Then Moses prayed to the Lord his God, saying: “Why, O Lord, is your fury enraged against your people, whom you led away from the land of Egypt, with great strength and with a mighty hand?
    32:12I beg you, let not the Egyptians say, ‘He cleverly led them away, so that he could put them to death in the mountains and destroy them from the earth.’ Let your anger be quieted and appeased concerning the wickedness of your people.
    32:13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your very self, saying: ‘I will multiply your offspring like the stars of heaven. And this entire land, about which I have spoken, I will give to your offspring. And you shall possess it forever.’ ”
    32:14And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had spoken against his people.

    The Holy Gospel According to John   5: 31-47

    5:31If I offer testimony about myself, my testimony is not true.
    5:32There is another who offers testimony about me, and I know that the testimony which he offers about me is true.
    5:33You sent to John, and he offered testimony to the truth.
    5:34But I do not accept testimony from man. Instead, I say these things, so that you may be saved.
    5:35He was a burning and shining light. So you were willing, at the time, to exult in his light.
    5:36But I hold a greater testimony than that of John. For the works which the Father has given to me, so that I may complete them, these works themselves that I do, offer testimony about me: that the Father has sent me.
    5:37And the Father who has sent me has himself offered testimony about me. And you have never heard his voice, nor have you beheld his appearance.
    5:38And you do not have his word abiding in you. For the one whom he sent, the same you would not believe.
    5:39Study the Scriptures. For you think that in them you have eternal life. And yet they also offer testimony about me.
    5:40And you are not willing to come to me, so that you may have life.
    5:41I do not accept glory from men.
    5:42But I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you.
    5:43I have come in the name of my Father, and you do not accept me. If another will arrive in his own name, him you will accept.
    5:44How are you able to believe, you who accept glory from one another and yet do not seek the glory that is from God alone?
    5:45Do not consider that I might accuse you with the Father. There is one who accuses you, Moses, in whom you hope.
    5:46For if you were believing in Moses, perhaps you would believe in me also. For he wrote about me.
    5:47But if you do not believe by his writings, how will you believe by my words?”
  • March 13, 2024

    The Book of the Prophet Isaiah   49: 8-15

    49:8Thus says the Lord: In a pleasing time, I have heeded you, and in the day of salvation, I have assisted you. And I have preserved you, and I have presented you as a covenant of the people, so that you would lift up the earth, and possess the scattered inheritances,
    49:9so that you would say to those who are bound, “Go forth!” and to those who are in darkness, “Be released!” They will pasture along the roads, and their pastures will be in every open place.
    49:10They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the heat of the sun beat down upon them. For the one who takes pity on them will rule them, and he will give them to drink from fountains of waters.
    49:11And I will make all my mountains into a road, and my paths will be exalted.
    49:12Behold, some will come from far away, and behold, others from the north and from the sea, and still others from the land of the south.
    49:13Give praise, O heavens! And exult, O earth! Let the mountains give praise with jubilation! For the Lord has consoled his people, and he will take pity on his poor ones.
    49:14And Zion said: “The Lord has abandoned me, and the Lord has forgotten me.”
    49:15Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to take pity on the child of her womb? But even if she would forget, still I shall never forget you.

    The Holy Gospel According to John   5: 17-30

    5:17But Jesus answered them, “Even now, my Father is working, and I am working.”
    5:18And so, because of this, the Jews were seeking to kill him even more so. For not only did he break the Sabbath, but he even said that God was his Father, making himself equal to God.
    5:19Then Jesus responded and said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son is not able to do anything of himself, but only what he has seen the Father doing. For whatever he does, even this does the Son do, similarly.
    5:20For the Father loves the Son, and he shows him all that he himself does. And greater works than these will he show him, so much so that you shall wonder.
    5:21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wills.
    5:22For the Father does not judge anyone. But he has given all judgment to the Son,
    5:23so that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him.
    5:24Amen, amen, I say to you, that whoever hears my word, and believes in him who sent me, has eternal life, and he does not go into judgment, but instead he crosses from death into life.
    5:25Amen, amen, I say to you, that the hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear it shall live.
    5:26For just as the Father has life in himself, so also has he granted to the Son to have life in himself.
    5:27And he has given him the authority to accomplish judgment. For he is the Son of man.
    5:28Do not be amazed at this. For the hour is coming in which all who are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God.
    5:29And those who have done good shall go forth to the resurrection of life. Yet truly, those who have done evil shall go to the resurrection of judgment.
    5:30I am not able to do anything of myself. As I hear, so do I judge. And my judgment is just. For I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
  • March 12, 2024

    Ezekiel   47: 1-9, 12

    47:1And he turned me back to the gate of the house. And behold, waters went out, from under the threshold of the house, toward the east. For the face of the house looked toward the east. But the waters descended on the right side of the temple, toward the south of the altar.
    47:2And he led me out, along the way of the north gate, and he turned me back toward the way outside the exterior gate, the way which looked toward the east. And behold, the waters overflowed on the right side.
    47:3Then the man who held the rope in his hand departed toward the east, and he measured one thousand cubits. And he led me forward, through the water, up to the ankles.
    47:4And again he measured one thousand, and he led me forward, through the water, up to the knees.
    47:5And he measured one thousand, and he led me forward, through the water, up to the waist. And he measured one thousand, into a torrent, through which I was not able to pass. For the waters had risen to become a profound torrent, which was not able to be crossed.
    47:6And he said to me: “Son of man, certainly you have seen.” And he led me out, and he turned me back to the bank of the torrent.
    47:7And when I had turned myself around, behold, on the bank of the torrent, there were very many trees on both sides.
    47:8And he said to me: “These waters, which go forth toward the hillocks of sand to the east, and which descend to the plains of the desert, will enter the sea, and will go out, and the waters will be healed.
    47:9And every living soul that moves, wherever the torrent arrives, will live. And there will be more than enough fish, after these waters have arrived there, and they will be healed. And all things will live, where the torrent arrives.
    47:12And above the torrent, on its banks on both sides, every kind of fruit tree will rise up. Their foliage will not fall away, and

    The Holy Gospel According to John    5: 1-16

    5:1After these things, there was a feast day of the Jews, and so Jesus ascended to Jerusalem.
    5:2Now at Jerusalem is the Pool of Evidence, which in Hebrew is known as the Place of Mercy; it has five porticos.
    5:3Along these lay a great multitude of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the withered, waiting for the movement of the water.
    5:4Now at times an Angel of the Lord would descend into the pool, and so the water was moved. And whoever descended first into the pool, after the motion of the water, he was healed of whatever infirmity held him.
    5:5And there was a certain man in that place, having been in his infirmity for thirty-eight years.
    5:6Then, when Jesus had seen him reclining, and when he realized that he had been afflicted for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”
    5:7The invalid answered him: “Lord, I do not have any man to put me in the pool, when the water has been stirred. For as I am going, another descends ahead of me.”
    5:8Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your stretcher, and walk.”
    5:9And immediately the man was healed. And he took up his stretcher and walked. Now this day was the Sabbath.
    5:10Therefore, the Jews said to the one who had been healed: “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to take up your stretcher.”
    5:11He answered them, “The one who healed me, he said to me, ‘Take up your stretcher and walk.’ ”
    5:12Therefore, they questioned him, “Who is that man, who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk?’ ”
    5:13But the one who had been given health did not know who it was. For Jesus had turned aside from the crowd gathered in that place.
    5:14Afterwards, Jesus found him in the temple, and he said to him: “Behold, you have been healed. Do not choose to sin further, otherwise something worse may happen to you.”
    5:15This man went away, and he reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had given him health.
    5:16Because of this, the Jews were persecuting Jesus, for he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
  • March 11, 2024

    Isaiah   65: 17-21

    65:17For behold, I create the new heavens and the new earth. And the former things will not be in memory and will not enter into the heart.
    65:18But you will be glad and exult, even forever, in these things that I create. For behold, I create Jerusalem as an exultation, and its people as a joy.
    65:19And I will exult in Jerusalem, and I will rejoice in my people. And neither a voice of weeping, nor a voice of outcry, will be heard in her anymore.
    65:20There will no longer be an infant of only a few days there, nor an elder who does not complete his days. For a mere child dies at a hundred years of age, and a sinner of a hundred years will be accursed.
    65:21And they will build houses, and will inhabit them. And they will plant vineyards, and will eat their fruits.

    The Holy Gospel According to John    4: 43-54

    4:43Then, after two days, he departed from there, and he traveled into Galilee.
    4:44For Jesus himself offered testimony that a Prophet has no honor in his own country.
    4:45And so, when he had arrived in Galilee, the Galileans received him, because they had seen all that he had done at Jerusalem, in the day of the feast. For they also went to the feast day.
    4:46Then he went again into Cana of Galilee, where he made water into wine. And there was a certain ruler, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
    4:47Since he had heard that Jesus came to Galilee from Judea, he sent to him and begged him to come down and heal his son. For he was beginning to die.
    4:48Therefore, Jesus said to him, “Unless you have seen signs and wonders, you do not believe.”
    4:49The ruler said to him, “Lord, come down before my son dies.”
    4:50Jesus said to him, “Go, your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and so he went away.
    4:51Then, as he was going down, his servants met him. And they reported to him, saying that his son was alive.
    4:52Therefore, he asked them at which hour he had become better. And they said to him, “Yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him.”
    4:53Then the father realized that it was at the same hour that Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And both he and his entire household believed.
    4:54This next sign was the second that Jesus accomplished, after he had arrived in Galilee from Judea.

  • March 10, 2024

    The Second Book of Chronicles   36: 14-16, 19-23

    36:14Then too, all the leaders of the priests, with the people, transgressed iniquitously, in accord with all the abominations of the Gentiles. And they polluted the house of the Lord, which he had sanctified to himself in Jerusalem.
    36:15Then the Lord, the God of their fathers, sent to them, by the hand of his messengers, rising in the night and daily admonishing them. For he was lenient to his people and to his habitation.
    36:16But they ridiculed the messengers of God, and they gave little weight to his words, and they mocked the prophets, until the fury of the Lord ascended against his people, and there was no remedy.
    36:19The enemies set fire to the house of God, and they destroyed the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the towers. And whatever was precious, they demolished.
    36:20If anyone had escaped from the sword, he was led into Babylon. And he served the king and his sons, until the king of Persia would command,
    36:21and the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah would be fulfilled, and the land would celebrate her Sabbaths. For during all the days of the desolation, she kept a Sabbath, until the seventy years were completed.
    36:22Then, in the first year of Cyrus, the king of the Persians, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the heart of Cyrus, the king of the Persians, who commanded this to be proclaimed throughout his entire kingdom, and also in writing, saying:
    36:23“Thus says Cyrus, the king of the Persians: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth. And he has instructed me that I should build for him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea. Who among you is from his entire people? May the Lord his God be with him, and let him ascend.”

    The Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians   2: 4-10

    2:4Yet still, God, who is rich in mercy, for the sake of his exceedingly great charity with which he loved us,
    2:5even when we were dead in our sins, has enlivened us together in Christ, by whose grace you have been saved.
    2:6And he has raised us up together, and he has caused us to sit down together in the heavens, in Christ Jesus,
    2:7so that he may display, in the ages soon to arrive, the abundant wealth of his grace, by his goodness toward us in Christ Jesus.
    2:8For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves, for it is a gift of God.
    2:9And this is not of works, so that no one may glory.
    2:10For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works which God has prepared and in which we should walk.

    John 3: 14- 21

    3:14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so also must the Son of man be lifted up,
    3:15so that whoever believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
    3:16For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
    3:17For God did not send his Son into the world, in order to judge the world, but in order that the world may be saved through him.
    3:18Whoever believes in him is not judged. But whoever does not believe is already judged, because he does not believe in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
    3:19And this is the judgment: that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness more than light. For their works were evil.
    3:20For everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not go toward the Light, so that his works may not be corrected.
    3:21But whoever acts in truth goes toward the Light, so that his works may be manifested, because they have been accomplished in God.”
  • March 9, 2024

    Reading

    Hosea:   6:1-6

    6:1In their tribulation, they will arise early to me. Come, let us return to the Lord.
    6:2For he has seized us, and he will heal us. He will strike, and he will cure us.
    6:3He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, and we will live in his sight. We will understand, and we will continue on, so that we may know the Lord. His landing place has been prepared like the first light of morning, and he will come to us like the early and the late rains of the land.
    6:4What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? Your mercy is like the morning mist, and like the dew passing away in the morning.
    6:5Because of this, I have cut them with the prophets, I have slain them with the words of my mouth; and your opinions will depart like the light.
    6:6For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than holocausts.

    Gospel

    The Holy Gospel According to Luke    18: 9-14

    18:9Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable:
    18:10“Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
    18:11Standing, the Pharisee prayed within himself in this way: ‘O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, even as this tax collector chooses to be.
    18:12I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.’
    18:13And the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing to even lift up his eyes to heaven. But he struck his chest, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’
    18:14I say to you, this one descended to his house justified, but not the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”