Category: Daily Readings

Reading

Acts    8: 1-8

8:1 Now in those days, there occurred a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles.

8:2 But God-fearing men arranged for Stephen’s funeral, and they made a great mourning over him.

8:3 Then Saul was laying waste to the Church by entering throughout the houses, and dragging away men and women, and committing them to prison.

8:4 Therefore, those who had been dispersed were traveling around, evangelizing the Word of God.

8:5 Now Philip, descending to a city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them.

8:6 And the crowd was listening intently and with one accord to those things which were being said by Philip, and they were watching the signs which he was accomplishing.

8:7 For many of them had unclean spirits, and, crying out with a loud voice, these departed from them.

8:8 And many of the paralytics and the lame were cured.

Gospel

John   6: 35-40

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

6:36 But I say to you, that even though you have seen me, you do not believe.

6:37 All that the Father gives to me shall come to me. And whoever comes to me, I will not cast out.

6:38 For I descended from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

6:39 Yet this is the will of the Father who sent me: that I should lose nothing out of all that he has given to me, but that I should raise them up on the last day.

6:40 So then, this is the will of my Father who sent me: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Reading

The Acts of the Apostles   7: 51-8:1

7:51	Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you ever resist the Holy Spirit. Just as your fathers did, so also do you do.
7:52	Which of the Prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they killed those who foretold the advent of the Just One. And you have now become the betrayers and murderers of him.
7:53	You received the law by the actions of Angels, and yet you have not kept it.”
7:54	Then, upon hearing these things, they were deeply wounded in their hearts, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
7:55	But he, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and gazing intently toward heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.”
7:56	Then they, crying out with a loud voice, blocked their ears and, with one accord, rushed violently toward him.
7:57	And driving him out, beyond the city, they stoned him. And witnesses placed their garments beside the feet of a youth, who was called Saul.
7:58	And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
7:59	Then, having been brought to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his murder.

8:1	Now in those days, there occurred a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to John    6: 30-35

6:30	And so they said to him: “Then what sign will you do, so that we may see it and believe in you? What will you work?
6:31	Our fathers ate manna in the desert, just as it has been written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
6:32	Therefore, Jesus said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
6:33	For the bread of God is he who descends from heaven and gives life to the world.”
6:34	And so they said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
6:35	Then Jesus said to them: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Reading

The Acts of the Apostles    6: 8-15

6:8	Then Stephen, filled with grace and fortitude, wrought great signs and miracles among the people.
6:9	But certain ones, from the synagogue of the so-called Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those who were from Cilicia and Asia rose up and were disputing with Stephen.
6:10	But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
6:11	Then they suborned men who were to claim that they had heard him speaking words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.
6:12	And thus did they stir up the people and the elders and the scribes. And hurrying together, they seized him and brought him to the council.
6:13	And they set up false witnesses, who said: “This man does not cease to speak words against the holy place and the law.
6:14	For we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and will change the traditions, which Moses handed down to us.”
6:15	And all those who were sitting in the council, gazing at him, saw his face, as if it had become the face of an Angel.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to John    6: 22-29

6:22	On the next day, the crowd which was standing across the sea saw that there were no other small boats in that place, except one, and that Jesus had not entered into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had departed alone.
6:23	Yet truly, other boats came over from Tiberias, next to the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks.
6:24	Therefore, when the crowd had seen that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they climbed into the small boats, and they went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
6:25	And when they had found him across the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
6:26	Jesus answered them and said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen signs, but because you have eaten from the bread and were satisfied.
6:27	Do not work for food that perishes, but for that which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him.”
6:28	Therefore, they said to him, “What should we do, so that we may labor in the works of God?”
6:29	Jesus responded and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent.”

Acts 3: 13- 15, 17- 19

3:13	The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus, whom you, indeed, handed over and denied before the face of Pilate, when he was giving judgment to release him.
3:14	Then you denied the Holy and Just One, and petitioned for a murderous man to be given to you.
3:15	Truly, it was the Author of Life whom you put to death, whom God raised from the dead, to whom we are witnesses.

3:17	And now, brothers, I know that you did this through ignorance, just as your leaders also did.
3:18	But in this way God has fulfilled the things that he announced beforehand through the mouth of all the Prophets: that his Christ would suffer.
3:19	Therefore, repent and be converted, so that your sins may be wiped away.

First St. John 2: 1- 5

2:1	My little sons, this I write to you, so that you may not sin. But if anyone has sinned, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just One.
2:2	And he is the propitiation for our sins. And not only for our sins, but also for those of the whole world.
2:3	And we can be sure that we have known him by this: if we observe his commandments.
2:4	Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
2:5	But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the charity of God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him.

Luke 24: 35- 48

24:35	And they explained the things that were done on the way, and how they had recognized him at the breaking of the bread.
24:36	Then, while they were talking about these things, Jesus stood in their midst, And he said to them: “Peace be with you. It is I. Do not be afraid.”
24:37	Yet truly, they were very disturbed and terrified, supposing that they saw a spirit.
24:38	And he said to them: “Why are you disturbed, and why do these thoughts rise up in your hearts?
24:39	See my hands and feet, that it is I myself. Look and touch. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”
24:40	And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
24:41	Then, while they were still in disbelief and in wonder out of joy, he said, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
24:42	And they offered him a piece of roasted fish and a honeycomb.
24:43	And when he had eaten these in their sight, taking up what was left, he gave it to them.
24:44	And he said to them: “These are the words that I spoke to you when I was still with you, because all things must be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms about me.”
24:45	Then he opened their mind, so that they might understand the Scriptures.
24:46	And he said to them: “For so it is written, and so it was necessary, for the Christ to suffer and to rise up from the dead on the third day,
24:47	and, in his name, for repentance and the remission of sins to be preached, among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
24:48	And you are witnesses of these things.

First Reading

The Acts of the Apostles     6: 1-7

6:1	In those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, there occurred a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were treated with disdain in the daily ministration.
6:2	And so the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: “It is not fair for us to leave behind the Word of God to serve at tables also.
6:3	Therefore, brothers, search among yourselves for seven men of good testimony, filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom, whom we may appoint over this work.
6:4	Yet truly, we will be continually in prayer and in the ministry of the Word.”
6:5	And the plan pleased the entire multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a new arrival from Antioch.
6:6	These they set before the sight of the Apostles, and while praying, they imposed hands on them.
6:7	And the Word of the Lord was increasing, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was multiplied exceedingly. And even a large group of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to John     6: 16-21

6:16	Then, when evening arrived, his disciples descended to the sea.
6:17	And when they had climbed into a boat, they went across the sea to Capernaum. And darkness had now arrived, and Jesus had not returned to them.
6:18	Then the sea was stirred up by a great wind that was blowing.
6:19	And so, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat, and they were afraid.
6:20	But he said to them: “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
6:21	Therefore, they were willing to receive him into the boat. But immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Reading

The Acts of the Apostles    5: 34-42

5:34	But someone in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, rose up and ordered the men to be put outside briefly.
5:35	And he said to them: “Men of Israel, you should be careful in your intentions about these men.
5:36	For before these days, Theudas stepped forward, asserting himself to be someone, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined with him. But he was killed, and all who believed in him were scattered, and they were reduced to nothing.
5:37	After this one, Judas the Galilean stepped forward, in the days of the enrollment, and he turned the people toward himself. But he also perished, and all of them, as many as had joined with him, were dispersed.
5:38	And now therefore, I say to you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or work is of men, it will be broken.
5:39	Yet truly, if it is of God, you will not be able to break it, and perhaps you might be found to have fought against God.” And they agreed with him.
5:40	And calling in the Apostles, having beaten them, they warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them.
5:41	And indeed, they went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer insult on behalf of the name of Jesus.
5:42	And every day, in the temple and among the houses, they did not cease to teach and to evangelize Christ Jesus.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to John    6: 1-15

6:1	After these things, Jesus traveled across the sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
6:2	And a great multitude was following him, for they saw the signs that he was accomplishing toward those who were infirm.
6:3	Therefore, Jesus went onto a mountain, and he sat down there with his disciples.
6:4	Now the Passover, the feast day of the Jews, was near.
6:5	And so, when Jesus had lifted up his eyes and had seen that a very great multitude came to him, he said to Philip, “From where should we buy bread, so that these may eat?”
6:6	But he said this to test him. For he himself knew what he would do.
6:7	Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii of bread would not be sufficient for each of them to receive even a little.”
6:8	One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him:
6:9	“There is a certain boy here, who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are these among so many?”
6:10	Then Jesus said, “Have the men sit down to eat.” Now, there was much grass in that place. And so the men, in number about five thousand, sat down to eat.
6:11	Therefore, Jesus took the bread, and when he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting down to eat; similarly also, from the fish, as much as they wanted.
6:12	Then, when they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments that are left over, lest they be lost.”
6:13	And so they gathered, and they filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which were left over from those who had eaten.
6:14	Therefore, those men, when they had seen that Jesus had accomplished a sign, they said, “Truly, this one is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
6:15	And so, when he realized that they were going to come and take him away and make him king, Jesus fled back to the mountain, by himself alone.

Reading

The Acts of the Apostles    5: 27-33

5:27	And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,
5:28	and said: “We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us.”
5:29	But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: “It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.
5:30	The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a tree.
5:31	It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel.
5:32	And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to him.”
5:33	When they had heard these things, they were deeply wounded, and they were planning to put them to death.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to John    3: 31-36

3:31	He who comes from above, is above everything. He who is from below, is of the earth, and he speaks about the earth. He who comes from heaven is above everything.
3:32	And what he has seen and heard, about this he testifies. And no one accepts his testimony.
3:33	Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified that God is truthful.
3:34	For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God. For God does not give the Spirit by measure.
3:35	The Father loves the Son, and he has given everything into his hand.
3:36	Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. But whoever is unbelieving toward the Son shall not see life; instead the wrath of God remains upon him.”

Reading

The Acts of the Apostles    5: 17-26

5:17	Then the high priest and all those who were with him, that is, the heretical sect of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with jealousy.
5:18	And they laid hands on the Apostles, and they placed them in the common prison.
5:19	But in the night, an Angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out, saying,
5:20	“Go and stand in the temple, speaking to the people all these words of life.”
5:21	And when they had heard this, they entered the temple at first light, and they were teaching. Then the high priest, and those who were with him, approached, and they called together the council and all the elders of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the prison to have them brought.
5:22	But when the attendants had arrived, and, upon opening the prison, had not found them, they returned and reported to them,
5:23	saying: “We found the prison certainly locked up with all diligence, and the guards standing before the door. But upon opening it, we found no one within.”
5:24	Then, when the magistrate of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were uncertain about them, as to what should happen.
5:25	But someone arrived and reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you placed in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”
5:26	Then the magistrate, with the attendants, went and brought them without force. For they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to John   3: 16-21

3:16	For 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.
3:17	For 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.
3:18	Whoever 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.
3:19	And this is the judgment: that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness more than light. For their works were evil.
3:20	For everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not go toward the Light, so that his works may not be corrected.
3:21	But whoever acts in truth goes toward the Light, so that his works may be manifested, because they have been accomplished in God.”

Reading

The Acts of the Apostles    4: 32-37

4:32	Then the multitude of believers were of one heart and one soul. Neither did anyone say that any of the things that he possessed were his own, but all things were common to them.
4:33	And with great power, the Apostles were rendering testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. And great grace was in them all.
4:34	And neither was anyone among them in need. For as many as were owners of fields or houses, selling these, were bringing the proceeds of the things that they were selling,
4:35	and were placing it before the feet of the Apostles. Then it was divided to each one, just as he had need.
4:36	Now Joseph, who the Apostles surnamed Barnabas (which is translated as ‘son of consolation’), who was a Levite of Cyprian descent,
4:37	since he had land, he sold it, and he brought the proceeds and placed these at the feet of the Apostles.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to John   3: 7-15

3:7	You should not be amazed that I said to you: You must be born anew.
3:8	The Spirit inspires where he wills. And you hear his voice, but you do not know where he comes from, or where he is going. So it is with all who are born of the Spirit.”
3:9	Nicodemus responded and said to him, “How are these things able to be accomplished?”
3:10	Jesus responded and said to him: “You are a teacher in Israel, and you are ignorant of these things?
3:11	Amen, amen, I say to you, that we speak about what we know, and we testify about what we have seen. But you do not accept our testimony.
3:12	If I have spoken to you about earthly things, and you have not believed, then how will you believe, if I will speak to you about heavenly things?
3:13	And no one has ascended to heaven, except the one who descended from heaven: the Son of man who is in heaven.
3:14	And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so also must the Son of man be lifted up,
3:15	so that whoever believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Reading

Isaiah   7: 10-14, 8:10

7:10	And the Lord spoke further to Ahaz, saying:
7:11	Ask for a sign for yourself from the Lord your God, from the depths below, even to the heights above.
7:12	And Ahaz said, “I will not ask, for I will not tempt the Lord.”
7:13	And he said: “Then listen, O house of David. Is it such a small thing for you to trouble men, that you must also trouble my God?
7:14	For this reason, the Lord himself will grant to you a sign. Behold, a virgin will conceive, and she will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel.

8:10	Undertake a plan, and it will be dissipated! Speak a word, and it will not be done! For God is with us.

Second Reading

Hebrews   10: 4-10

10:4	For it is impossible for sins to be taken away by the blood of oxen and goats.
10:5	For this reason, as Christ enters into the world, he says: “Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have fashioned a body for me.
10:6	Holocausts for sin were not pleasing to you.
10:7	Then I said, ‘Behold, I draw near.’ At the head of the book, it has been written of me that I should do your will, O God.”
10:8	In the above, by saying, “Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin, you did not want, nor are those things pleasing to you, which are offered according to the law;
10:9	then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,’ ” he takes away the first, so that he may establish what follows.
10:10	For by this will, we have been sanctified, through the one time oblation of the body of Jesus Christ.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to Luke    1: 26-38

1:26	Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
1:27	to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
1:28	And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”
1:29	And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be.
1:30	And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God.
1:31	Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.
1:32	He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity.
1:33	And his kingdom shall have no end.”
1:34	Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?”
1:35	And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
1:36	And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren.
1:37	For no word will be impossible with God.”
1:38	Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her.