December 20, 2015

First Reading

Micah 5: 1- 4

5:1 Now you will be devastated, you daughter of a robber. They have placed a blockade against us, with a rod they will strike the jaw of the judge of Israel.
5:2 And you, Bethlehem Ephrata, are a little one among the thousands of Judah. From you will go forth he who shall be the ruler in Israel, and his landing place has been set from the beginning, from the days of eternity.
5:3 Because of this, he will provide for them, even until the time in which she who bears him gives birth. And the remnant of his brothers will be converted to the sons of Israel.
5:4 And he will stand firm and feed on the strength of the Lord, according to the sublime name of the Lord his God. And they will be converted, for now he will be magnified, even to the ends of the earth.

Second Reading

Hebrews 10: 5- 10

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

Gospel

Luke    1: 39- 45

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.”