June 24, 2014

Reading

Isaiah   49: 1-6

49:1 Pay attention, you islands, and listen closely, you far away peoples. The Lord has called me from the womb; from the womb of my mother, he has been mindful of my name.
49:2 And he has appointed my mouth as a sharp sword. In the shadow of his hand, he has protected me. And he has appointed me as an elect arrow. In his quiver, he has hidden me.
49:3 And he has said to me: “You are my servant, Israel. For in you, I will glory.”
49:4 And I said: “I have labored toward emptiness. I have consumed my strength without purpose and in vain. Therefore, my judgment is with the Lord, and my work is with my God.”
49:5 And now, says the Lord, who formed me from the womb as his servant, so that I may bring back Jacob to him, for Israel will not be gathered together, but I have been glorified in the eyes of the Lord and my God has become my strength,
49:6 and so he has said: “It is a small thing that you should be my servant so as to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and so as to convert the dregs of Israel. Behold, I have offered you as a light for the Gentiles, so that you may be my salvation, even to the furthest regions of the earth.”

Second Reading

The Acts of Apostles   13: 22-26

13:22 And having removed him, he raised up for them king David. And offering testimony about him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to my own heart, who will accomplish all that I will.’
13:23 From his offspring, according to the Promise, God has brought Jesus the Savior to Israel.
13:24 John was preaching, before the face of his advent, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
13:25 Then, when John completed his course, he was saying: ‘I am not the one you consider me to be. For behold, one arrives after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.’
13:26 Noble brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, it is to you the Word of this salvation has been sent.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to Luke  1: 57-66, 80

1:57Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son.

1:58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her.

1:59And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah.

1:60And in response, his mother said: “Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.”

1:61And they said to her, “But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”

1:62Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called.

1:63And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

1:64Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God.

1:65And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea.

1:66And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: “What do you think this boy will be?” And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

1:80And the child grew, and he was strengthened in spirit. And he was in the wilderness, until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

 


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