Category: Daily Readings

Isaiah 58: 7- 10

58:7	Break your bread with the hungry, and lead the destitute and the homeless into your house. When you see someone naked, cover him, and do not despise your own flesh.
58:8	Then your light will break forth like the morning, and your health will improve quickly, and your justice will go before your face, and the glory of the Lord will gather you up.
58:9	Then you will call, and the Lord will heed; you will cry out, and he will say, “Here I am,” if you take away the chains from your midst, and cease to point your finger and to speak what is not beneficial.
58:10	When you pour out your life for the hungry, and you satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will rise up in darkness, and your darkness will be like the midday.

First Corinthians 2: 1- 5

2:1	And so, brothers, when I came to you, announcing to you the testimony of Christ, I did not bring exalted words or lofty wisdom.
2:2	For I did not judge myself to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
2:3	And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and with much trembling.
2:4	And my words and preaching were not the persuasive words of human wisdom, but were a manifestation of the Spirit and of virtue,
2:5	so that your faith would not be based on the wisdom of men, but on the virtue of God.

Matthew 5: 13- 16

5:13	You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, with what will it be salted? It is no longer useful at all, except to be cast out and trampled under by men.
5:14	You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
5:15	And they do not light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that it may shine to all who are in the house.
5:16	So then, let your light shine in the sight of men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father, who is in heaven.

Kings 3: 4- 13

3:4	And so, he went away to Gibeon, so that he might immolate there; for that was the greatest high place. Solomon offered upon that altar, at Gibeon, one thousand victims as holocausts.
3:5	Then the Lord appeared to Solomon, through a dream in the night, saying, “Request whatever you wish, so that I may give it to you.”
3:6	And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to your servant David, my father, because he walked in your sight in truth and justice, and with an upright heart before you. And you have kept your great mercy for him, and you have given him a son sitting upon his throne, just as it is this day.
3:7	And now, O Lord God, you have caused your servant to reign in place of David, my father. But I am a small child, and I am ignorant of my entrance and departure.
3:8	And your servant is in the midst of the people that you have chosen, an immense people, who are not able to be numbered or counted because of their multitude.
3:9	Therefore, give to your servant a teachable heart, so that he may be able to judge your people, and to discern between good and evil. For who will be able to judge this people, your people, who are so many?”
3:10	And the word was pleasing before the Lord, that Solomon had requested this kind of thing.
3:11	And the Lord said to Solomon: “Since you have requested this word, and you have not asked for many days or for wealth for yourself, nor for the lives of your enemies, but instead you have requested for yourself wisdom in order to discern judgment:
3:12	behold, I have done for you according to your words, and I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so much so that there has been no one like you before you, nor anyone who will rise up after you.
3:13	But also the things for which you did not ask, I have given to you, namely wealth and glory, so that no one has been like you among the kings in the all days before.

The Holy Gospel According to Mark 6: 30-34

6:30 And the Apostles, returning to Jesus, reported to him everything that they had done and taught.

6:31 And he said to them, “Go out alone, into a deserted place, and rest for a little while.” For there were so many who were coming and going, that they did not even have time to eat.

6:32 And climbing into a boat, they went away to a deserted place alone.

6:33 And they saw them going away, and many knew about it. And together they ran by foot from all the cities, and they arrived before them.

6:34 And Jesus, going out, saw a great multitude. And he took pity on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.

Sirach    47: 2-11

47:2 And just as fat is separated from meat, so was David separated from the sons of Israel.

47:3 He played with lions, as if with lambs, and he acted similarly with bears, as if they were lambs of the flock, in his youth.

47:4 Did he not kill the giant, and take away the reproach from his people?

47:5 By lifting up his hand, with a stone in a sling, he threw down the boasting of Goliath.

47:6 For he called upon the Almighty Lord, and he swore with his right hand to take away the mighty man of war, and to exalt the horn of his people.

47:7 So he glorified him amid ten thousand, and he praised him with the blessings of the Lord, by offering him a crown of glory.

47:8 For he crushed the enemies on every side, and he eradicated his adversaries, the Philistines, even to this day. He broke their horn, even for all time.

47:9 In all his works, he gave thanks to the Holy One, to the Most High, with words of glory.

47:10 With all his heart, he praised the Lord and he loved God, who made him and who gave him power against his enemies.

47:11 And he appointed singers to stand opposite the altar, and by their voices he provided sweet music.

The Holy Gospel According to Mark    6: 14-29

6:14	And king Herod heard of it, (for his name had become well-known) and he said: “John the Baptist has risen again from the dead, and because of this, miracles are at work in him.”
6:15	But others were saying, “Because it is Elijah.” Still others were saying, “Because he is a prophet, like one of the prophets.”
6:16	When Herod had heard it, he said, “John whom I beheaded, the same has risen again from the dead.”
6:17	For Herod himself had sent to capture John, and had chained him in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; for he had married her.
6:18	For John was saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
6:19	Now Herodias was devising treachery against him; and she wanted to kill him, but she was unable.
6:20	For Herod was apprehensive of John, knowing him to be a just and holy man, and so he guarded him. And he heard that he was accomplishing many things, and so he listened to him willingly.
6:21	And when an opportune time had arrived, Herod held a feast on his birthday, with the leaders, and the tribunes, and the first rulers of Galilee.
6:22	And when the daughter of the same Herodias had entered, and danced, and pleased Herod, along with those who were at table with him, the king said to the girl, “Request from me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
6:23	And he swore to her, “Anything that you request, I will give to you, even up to half my kingdom.”
6:24	And when she had gone out, she said to her mother, “What shall I request?” But her mother said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
6:25	And immediately, when she had entered with haste to the king, she petitioned him, saying: “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
6:26	And the king was greatly saddened. But because of his oath, and because of those who were sitting with him at table, he was not willing to disappoint her.
6:27	So, having sent an executioner, he instructed that his head be brought on a platter.
6:28	And he beheaded him in prison, and he brought his head on a platter. And he gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it her mother.
6:29	When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and they placed it in a tomb.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Malachi 3: 1- 4

3:1	Behold, I send my angel, and he will prepare the way before my face. And presently the Sovereign, whom you seek, and the angel of testimony, whom you desire, will arrive at his temple. Behold, he approaches, says the Lord of hosts.
3:2	And who will be able to consider the day of his advent, and who will stand firm in order to see him? For he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s herb.
3:3	And he will sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he will purge the sons of Levi, and he will gather them like gold and like silver, and they will offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice.
3:4	And the sacrifice of Judah and of Jerusalem will please the Lord, just as in the days of past generations, and as in the ancient years.

Hebrews 2: 14- 18

2:14	Therefore, because children have a common flesh and blood, he himself also, in like manner, has shared in the same, so that through death, he might destroy him who held the dominion of death, that is, the devil,
2:15	and so that he might free those who, through the fear of death, had been condemned to servitude throughout their entire life.
2:16	For at no time did he take hold of the Angels, but instead he took hold of the offspring of Abraham.
2:17	Therefore, it is fitting for him to be made similar to his brothers in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful High Priest before God, in order that he might bring forgiveness to the offenses of the people.
2:18	For in as much as he himself has suffered and has been tempted, he also is able to assist those who are tempted.

Luke 2: 22- 40

2:22	And after the days of her purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem, in order to present him to the Lord,
2:23	just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “For every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,”
2:24	and in order to offer a sacrifice, according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
2:25	And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and God-fearing, awaiting the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was with him.
2:26	And he had received an answer from the Holy Spirit: that he would not see his own death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
2:27	And he went with the Spirit to the temple. And when the child Jesus was brought in by his parents, in order to act on his behalf according to the custom of the law,
2:28	he also took him up, into his arms, and he blessed God and said:
2:29	“Now you may dismiss your servant in peace, O Lord, according to your word.
2:30	For my eyes have seen your salvation,
2:31	which you have prepared before the face of all peoples:
2:32	the light of revelation to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.”
2:33	And his father and mother were wondering over these things, which were spoken about him.
2:34	And Simeon blessed them, and he said to his mother Mary: “Behold, this one has been set for the ruin and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and as a sign which will be contradicted.
2:35	And a sword will pass through your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
2:36	And there was a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in years, and she had lived with her husband for seven years from her virginity.
2:37	And then she was a widow, even to her eighty-fourth year. And without departing from the temple, she was a servant to fasting and prayer, night and day.
2:38	And entering at the same hour, she confessed to the Lord. And she spoke about him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Israel.
2:39	And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city, Nazareth.
2:40	Now the child grew, and he was strengthened with the fullness of wisdom. And the grace of God was in him.

Zephaniah 2: 3; 3: 12- 13

2:3	Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth; you who have been working are his judgment. Seek the just, seek the meek. So then, in some way, you might be hidden in the day of the fury of the Lord.

3:12	And I will bequeath into your midst a poor and needy people, and they will hope in the name of the Lord.
3:13	The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. For they will pasture and will recline, and there will be no one to strike them with terror.

Corinthians 1: 26- 31

1:26	So take care of your vocation, brothers. For not many are wise according to the flesh, not many are powerful, not many are noble.
1:27	But God has chosen the foolish of the world, so that he may confound the wise. And God has chosen the weak of the world, so that he may confound the strong.
1:28	And God has chosen the ignoble and contemptible of the world, those who are nothing, so that he may reduce to nothing those who are something.
1:29	So then, nothing that is of the flesh should glory in his sight.
1:30	But you are of him in Christ Jesus, who was made by God to be our wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption.
1:31	And so, in the same way, it was written: “Whoever glories, should glory in the Lord.”

Matthew 5: 1- 12

5:1	Then, seeing the crowds, he ascended the mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples drew near to him,
5:2	and opening his mouth, he taught them, saying:
5:3	“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5:4	Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.
5:5	Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled.
5:6	Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.
5:7	Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
5:8	Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
5:9	Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
5:10	Blessed are those who endure persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5:11	Blessed are you when they have slandered you, and persecuted you, and spoken all kinds of evil against you, falsely, for my sake:
5:12	be glad and exult, for your reward in heaven is plentiful. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Second Samuel 12: 1- 7, 10- 17

12:1	Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And when he had come to him, he said to him: “Two men were in one city: one wealthy, and the other poor.
12:2	The wealthy man had very many sheep and oxen.
12:3	But the poor man had nothing at all, except one little sheep, which he had bought and nourished. And she had grown up before him, together with his children, eating from his bread, and drinking from his cup, and sleeping in his bosom. And she was like a daughter to him.
12:4	But when a certain traveler had come to the wealthy man, neglecting to take from his own sheep and oxen, so that he might present a feast for that traveler, who had come to him, he took the sheep of the poor man, and he prepared a meal for the man who had come to him.”
12:5	Then David’s indignation was enraged exceedingly against that man, and he said to Nathan: “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this is a son of death.
12:6	He shall restore the sheep fourfold, because he did this word, and he did not take pity.”
12:7	But Nathan said to David: “You are that man. Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I anointed you as king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul.

12:10	For this reason, the sword shall not withdraw from your house, even perpetually, because you have despised me, and you have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite, so that she may be your wife.’
12:11	And so, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up over you an evil from your own house. And I will take your wives away before your eyes, and I will give them to your neighbor. And he will sleep with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12:12	For you acted secretly. But I will do this word in the sight of all of Israel, and in the sight of the sun.’ ”
12:13	And David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David: “The Lord has also taken away your sin. You shall not die.
12:14	Yet truly, because you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, because of this word, the son who was born to you: dying he shall die.”
12:15	And Nathan returned to his own house. And the Lord struck the little one, whom the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and he was despaired of.
12:16	And David begged the Lord on behalf of the little one. And David fasted strictly, and entering alone, he lay upon the ground.
12:17	Then the elders of his house came, urging him to rise up from the ground. And he was not willing, nor would he eat a meal with them.

Mark 4: 35-40

4:35 And on that day, when evening had arrived, he said to them, “Let us cross over.”

4:36 And dismissing the crowd, they brought him, so that he was in one boat, and other boats were with him.

4:37 And a great wind storm occurred, and the waves broke over the boat, so that the boat was being filled.

4:38 And he was in the stern of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, does it not concern you that we are perishing?”

4:39 And rising up, he rebuked the wind, and he said to the sea: “Silence. Be stilled.” And the wind ceased. And a great tranquility occurred.

4:40 And he said to them: “Why are you afraid? Do you still lack faith?” And they were struck with a great fear. And they said to one another, “Who do you think this is, that both wind and sea obey him?”

The Second book of Samuel   11: 1-4, 5-10, 13-17

11:1	Now it happened that, at the turn of the year, in the time when kings usually go forth to war, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all of Israel, and they laid waste to the sons of Ammon, and they besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.
11:2	While these things were taking place, David happened to arise from his bed after midday, and he walked upon the terrace of the king’s house. And he saw, across from his terrace, a woman washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful.
11:3	Therefore, the king sent and inquired who the woman might be. And it was reported to him that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite.
11:4	And so, David sent messengers, and he took her. And when she had entered to him, he slept with her. And presently, she was purified from her uncleanness.
11:5	And she returned to her house, having conceived an unborn child. And sending, she informed David, and she said, “I have conceived.”
11:6	Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah, the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.
11:7	And Uriah went to David. And David inquired whether Joab was doing well, and about the people, and how the war was being conducted.
11:8	And David said to Uriah, “Go into your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriah departed from the house of the king. And a meal from the king followed after him.
11:9	But Uriah slept before the gate of the king’s house, with the other servants of his lord, and he did not go down to his own house.
11:10	And it was reported to David by some, saying, “Uriah did not go into his house.” And David said to Uriah: “Did you not arrive from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
11:13	And David called him, so that he might eat and drink before him, and he made him inebriated. And departing in the evening, he slept on his bedding, with the servants of his lord, and he did not go down to his own house.
11:14	Therefore, when morning arrived, David wrote a letter to Joab. And he sent it by the hand of Uriah,
11:15	writing in the letter: “Place Uriah opposite the warfare, where the battle is the strongest, and then abandon him, so that, having been wounded, he may die.”
11:16	And so, when Joab was besieging the city, he positioned Uriah in the place where he knew the strongest men to be.
11:17	And the men, departing from the city, made war against Joab. And some of the people among the servants of David fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died.

The Holy Gospel According to Mark   4: 26-34

4:26	And he said: “The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man were to cast seed on the land.
4:27	And he sleeps and he arises, night and day. And the seed germinates and grows, though he does not know it.
4:28	For the earth bears fruit readily: first the plant, then the ear, next the full grain in the ear.
4:29	And when the fruit has been produced, immediately he sends out the sickle, because the harvest has arrived.”
4:30	And he said: “To what should we compare the kingdom of God? Or to what parable should we compare it?
4:31	It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it has been sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds which are in the earth.
4:32	And when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the plants, and it produces great branches, so much so that the birds of the air are able to live under its shadow.”
4:33	And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to hear.
4:34	But he did not speak to them without a parable. Yet separately, he explained all things to his disciples.

Samuel    7: 4-17

7:4 Therefore, the sons of Israel took away the Baals and Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord alone.

7:5 And Samuel said, “Gather all of Israel at Mizpah, so that I may pray for you to the Lord.”

7:6 And they convened at Mizpah. And they drew water, and they poured it out in the sight of the Lord. And on that day they fasted, and in that place they said, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.

7:7 And the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah. And the princes of the Philistines ascended against Israel. And when the sons of Israel had heard this, they were afraid before the face of the Philistines.

7:8 And they said to Samuel, “May you not cease to cry out to the Lord our God on our behalf, so that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

7:9 Then Samuel took one suckling lamb, and he offered it whole, as a holocaust to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord heeded him.

7:10 Then it happened that, while Samuel was offering the holocaust, the Philistines began the battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great crash, on that day, over the Philistines, and he terrified them, and they were cut down before the face of Israel.

7:11 And the men of Israel, departing from Mizpah, pursued the Philistines, and they struck them down as far as the place which was below Bethcar.

7:12 Then Samuel took a single stone, and he placed it between Mizpah and Shen. And he called the name of this place: The Stone of Assistance. And he said, “For in this place the Lord gave assistance to us.”

7:13 And the Philistines were humbled, and they no longer drew near, so that they might enter into the borders of Israel. And so, the hand of the Lord was over the Philistines during all the days of Samuel.

7:14 And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron as far as Gath, with their borders. And he freed Israel from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

7:15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

7:16 And he went each year, traveling around to Bethel, and to Gilgal, and to Mizpah, and he judged Israel in the above-stated places.

7:17 And he returned to Ramah. For his house was there, and he judged Israel there. And then he built an altar to the Lord there.

Mark 4: 1- 20

4:1 And again, he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered to him, so much so that, climbing into a boat, he was seated on the sea. And the entire crowd was on the land along the sea.

4:2 And he taught them many things in parables, and he said to them, in his doctrine:

4:3 “Listen. Behold, the sower went out to sow.

4:4 And while he was sowing, some fell along the way, and the birds of the air came and ate it.

4:5 Yet truly, others fell upon stony ground, where it did not have much soil. And it rose up quickly, because it had no depth of soil.

4:6 And when the sun was risen, it was scorched. And because it had no root, it withered away.

4:7 And some fell among thorns. And the thorns grew up and suffocated it, and it did not produce fruit.

4:8 And some fell on good soil. And it brought forth fruit that grew up, and increased, and yielded: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred.”

4:9 And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”

4:10 And when he was alone, the twelve, who were with him, questioned him about the parable.

4:11 And he said to them: “To you, it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those who are outside, everything is presented in parables:

4:12 ‘so that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they may be converted, and their sins would be forgiven them.’ ”

4:13 And he said to them: “Do you not understand this parable? And so, how will you understand all the parables?

4:14 He who sows, sows the word.

4:15 Now there are those who are along the way, where the word is sown. And when they have heard it, Satan quickly comes and takes away the word, which was sown in their hearts.

4:16 And similarly, there are those who were sown upon stony ground. These, when they have heard the word, immediately accept it with gladness.

4:17 But they have no root in themselves, and so they are for a limited time. And when next tribulation and persecution arises because of the word, they quickly fall away.

4:18 And there are others who are sown among thorns. These are those who hear the word,

4:19 but worldly tasks, and the deception of riches, and desires about other things enter in and suffocate the word, and it is effectively without fruit.

4:20 And there are those who are sown upon good soil, who hear the word and accept it; and these bear fruit: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred.”