1ST READING
Isaiah’s
words are words of consolation to the people exiled in Babylon. Exile
is a terrible price to pay for one’s sins or losing a war. Yet, here we
discover the Israelites in exile. About 150 years later, we will
discover that many of them are reluctant to return to Israel when given
the chance by King Cyrus. Why? They have become accustomed to their
situation and made the best of it, some prospering very well. It is
important that we do not lose the roots of our faith; instead, we should
always return to its heart. This is why Ezra and Nehemiah work so hard
for their return when their time comes.
Isaiah 40:1-11
1 Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. 2 Speak
tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an
end, her guilt is expiated; indeed, she has received from the hand of
the Lord double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! 4 Every
valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad
valley. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together; for the
mouth of the Lord has spoken. 6 A
voice says, “Cry out!” I answer, “What shall I cry out?” “All flesh is
grass, and all their glory like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it. So then, the people is the grass. 8 Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God
stands forever.” 9 Go
up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; cry out at the
top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! 10 Here comes with power the Lord God, who rules by his strong arm; here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. 11 Like
a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.
P S A L M
Psalm 96:1-2, 3, 10, 11-12, 13
R: The Lord our God comes with power.
1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands. 2 Sing to the Lord; bless his name; announce his salvation, day after day. (R) 3 Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. 10 Say among the nations: the Lord is king; he governs
the peoples with equity. (R) 11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; 12 let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice. (R) 13 They
shall exult before the Lord, for he comes; for he comes to rule the
earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his
constancy. (R)
GOSPEL
God
the Father sent Jesus to redeem the sinner, to bring healing to the
sick and to invite us all into a new relationship with Him. We should
never forget that we need Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Self-sufficiency in our faith will not help us. No one, not even the
sinless Mary, can save his or her self. We need the salvation that Jesus
offers us in His death and resurrection.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The day of the Lord is near: Behold, he comes to save us.
Matthew 18:12-14
12 Jesus
said to his disciples: “What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred
sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in
the hills and go in search of the stray? 13 And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. 14 In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be
lost.”
1st READING 2nd READING
think: It is important that we do not lose the roots of our faith; instead, we should always return to its heart.
GOSPEL PSALM
TODAY’S
BLESSING
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ___________________________
____________________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_________
____________________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Daniel 13-14
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