Verbum Domini

Today is Friday, November 25, 2011
Memorial of Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr

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A Reading from The Book of Daniel (Dn 7: 2-14)
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[2] Daniel said, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. [3] And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. [4] The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand upon two feet like a man; and the mind of a man was given to it. [5] And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side; it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, `Arise, devour much flesh.' [6] After this I looked, and lo, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back; and the beast had four heads; and dominion was given to it. [7] After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrible and dreadful and exceedingly strong; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. [8] I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
[9] As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire. [10] A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. [11] I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. [12] As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
[13] I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. [14] And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

The Word of the Lord

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The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[53] Bless the Lord, mountains and hills, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[54] Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[55] Bless the Lord, you springs, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[56] Bless the Lord, seas and rivers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[57] Bless the Lord, you whales and all creatures that move in the waters, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[58] Bless the Lord, all birds of the air, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[59] Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 29-33)
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[29] And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees; [30] as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. [31] So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. [32] Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place. [33] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The Gospel of the Lord

Today is Thursday, November 24, 2011
Memorial of St. Andrew Dung-Lac, priest and martyr, and companions, and Thanksgiving Day.

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A Reading from The Book of Daniel (Dn 6: 12-28)
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[11] Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. [12] Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the interdict, "O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that any man who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." [13] Then they answered before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no heed to you, O king, or the interdict you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day." [14] Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed, and set his mind to deliver Daniel; and he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. [15] Then these men came by agreement to the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance which the king establishes can be changed." [16] Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!" [17] And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
[18] Then the king went to his palace, and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. [19] Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. [20] When he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish and said to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?" [21] Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live for ever! [22] My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong." [23] Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God. [24] And the king commanded, and those men who had accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions -- they, their children, and their wives; and before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
[25] Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you. [26] I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God, enduring for ever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. [27] He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions."

The Word of the Lord

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The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[46] Bless the Lord, dews and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[47] Bless the Lord, nights and days, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[48] Bless the Lord, light and darkness, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[49] Bless the Lord, ice and cold, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[50] Bless the Lord, frosts and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[51] Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[52] Let the earth bless the Lord; let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 20-28)
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[20] "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. [21] Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it; [22] for these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all that is written. [23] Alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! For great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon this people; [24] they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
[25] "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, [26] men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [27] And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

The Gospel of the Lord

Today is Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Memorial of St. Clement I, pope and martyr, St. Columbian, abbot and missionary, and Blessed  Miguel Augustin Pro, priest, religious, and martyr

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A Reading from The Book of Daniel (Dn 5: 1-6. 13-14. 16-17. 23-28)
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[1] King Belshaz'zar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in front of the thousand. [2] Belshaz'zar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver which Nebuchadnez'zar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. [3] Then they brought in the golden and silver vessels which had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. [4] They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. [5] Immediately the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand; and the king saw the hand as it wrote. [6] Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
[13] Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. [14] I have heard of you that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
[16] But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. [17] Then Daniel answered before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.
[23] but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. [24] "Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. [25] And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. [26] This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; [27] TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; [28] PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

The Word of the Lord

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The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[40] Bless the Lord, sun and moon, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[41] Bless the Lord, stars of heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[42] Bless the Lord, all rain and dew, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[43] Bless the Lord, all winds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[44] Bless the Lord, fire and heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[45] Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 12-19)
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[12] But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. [13] This will be a time for you to bear testimony. [14] Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; [15] for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. [16] You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; [17] you will be hated by all for my name's sake. [18] But not a hair of your head will perish. [19] By your endurance you will gain your lives.

The Gospel of the Lord

Today is Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Memorial of Cecilia, virgin and martyr

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A Reading from The Book of Daniel (Dn 2: 31-45)
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[31] "You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. [32] The head of this image was of fine gold, its breast and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, [33] its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. [34] As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it smote the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces; [35] then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
[36] "This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation. [37] You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, [38] and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the sons of men, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the air, making you rule over them all -- you are the head of gold. [39] After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. [40] And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things; and like iron which crushes, it shall break and crush all these. [41] And as you saw the feet and toes partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the miry clay. [42] And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. [43] As you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. [44] And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever; [45] just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure."

The Word of the Lord

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The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 57. 58. 59. 60. 61)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[35] "Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[36] Bless the Lord, you heavens, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[37] Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[38] Bless the Lord, all waters above the heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[39] Bless the Lord, all powers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 5-11)
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[5] And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said,
 [6] "As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."
[7] And they asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to take place?" [8] And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. [9] And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once." [10] Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; [11] there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

The Gospel of the Lord

Today is Monday, November 21, 2011
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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A Reading from the Book of Daniel (Dn 1: 1-6. 8-20)
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[1] In the third year of the reign of Jehoi'akim king of Judah, Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. [2] And the Lord gave Jehoi'akim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
[3] Then the king commanded Ash'penaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, [4] youths without blemish, handsome and skilful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to serve in the king's palace, and to teach them the letters and language of the Chalde'ans. [5] The king assigned them a daily portion of the rich food which the king ate, and of the wine which he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. [6] Among these were Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah of the tribe of Judah.
[8] But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's rich food, or with the wine which he drank; therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. [9] And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs; [10] and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear lest my lord the king, who appointed your food and your drink, should see that you were in poorer condition than the youths who are of your own age. So you would endanger my head with the king." [11] Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah; [12] "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. [13] Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's rich food be observed by you, and according to what you see deal with your servants." [14] So he hearkened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. [15] At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's rich food. [16] So the steward took away their rich food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. [17] As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. [18] At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnez'zar. [19] And the king spoke with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah; therefore they stood before the king. [20] And in every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

The Word of the Lord

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The Responsorial Psalm is from the Book of Daniel (Dn 3: 52. 53. 54. 55. 56)
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R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[29] "Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever;
[30] And blessed is thy glorious, holy name and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever;
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[31] Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holy glory and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[32] Blessed art thou, who sittest upon cherubim and lookest upon the deeps, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[33] Blessed art thou upon the throne of thy kingdom and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
[34] Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven and to be sung and glorified for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Lk 21: 1-4)
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[1] He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; [2] and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. [3] And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; [4] for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had."

The Gospel of the Lord

Today is Sunday, November 20, 2011
Solemnity of Christ the King, thirty-fourth and last Sunday in Ordinary Time
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A reading from the Book of Ezekiel (Ez 14: 11-12. 15-17)
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[11] "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.
[12] As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
[15] I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD.
[16] I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over; I will feed them in justice.
[17] "As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, rams and he-goats.

The Word of the Lord

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From Psalm 23: (Ps 23: 1-2. 2-3. 5-6)
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R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want
[1] The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
[2] he makes me lie down in green pastures.
R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me beside still waters;
[3] he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want
[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want
[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
R. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want

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A Reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 15: 20-26. 28)
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[20]But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
[21] For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
[22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
[23] But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
[24] Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
[25] For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
[26] The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
[28] When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.

The Word of the Lord

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A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Matthew (Mt 25: 31- 46)
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[31] "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
[32] Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
[33] and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
[34] Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
[35] for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
[36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
[37] Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
[38] And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
[39] And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'
[40] And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
[41] Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
[42] for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
[43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
[44] Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'
[45] Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'
[46] And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

The Gospel of The Lord

Today is November 19, 2011
Saturday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

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A reading from First Maccabees (Ch. 6)
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[1] King Antiochus was going through the upper provinces when he heard that Elymais in Persia was a city famed for its wealth in silver and gold.
[2] Its temple was very rich, containing golden shields, breastplates, and weapons left there by Alexander, the son of Philip, the Macedonian king who first reigned over the Greeks.
[3] So he came and tried to take the city and plunder it, but he could not, because his plan became known to the men of the city
[4] and they withstood him in battle. So he fled and in great grief departed from there to return to Babylon.
[5] Then some one came to him in Persia and reported that the armies which had gone into the land of Judah had been routed;
[6] that Lysias had gone first with a strong force, but had turned and fled before the Jews; that the Jews had grown strong from the arms, supplies, and abundant spoils which they had taken from the armies they had cut down;
[7] that they had torn down the abomination which he had erected upon the altar in Jerusalem; and that they had surrounded the sanctuary with high walls as before, and also Beth-zur, his city.
[8] When the king heard this news, he was astounded and badly shaken. He took to his bed and became sick from grief, because things had not turned out for him as he had planned.
[9] He lay there for many days, because deep grief continually gripped him, and he concluded that he was dying.
[10] So he called all his friends and said to them, “Sleep departs from my eyes and I am downhearted with worry.
[11] I said to myself, `To what distress I have come! And into what a great flood I now am plunged! For I was kind and beloved in my power.’
[12] But now I remember the evils I did in Jerusalem. I seized all her vessels of silver and gold; and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without good reason.
[13] I know that it is because of this that these evils have come upon me; and behold, I am perishing of deep grief in a strange land.”

The Word of the Lord.

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From Psalm 9
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[1] I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all thy wonderful deeds.
[2] I will be glad and exult in thee, I will sing praise to thy name, O Most High.
[3] When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before thee.
[5] Thou hast rebuked the nations, thou hast destroyed the wicked; thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever.
[15] The nations have sunk in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid has their own foot been caught.
[18] For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.

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A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Ch. 20)
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[27] There came to Jesus some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection,
[28] and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother.
[29] Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children;
[30] and the second
[31] and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died.
[32] Afterward the woman also died.
[33] In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”
[34] And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage;
[35] but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,
[36] for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
[37] But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.
[38] Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him.”
[39] And some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.”
[40] For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today is November 18, 2011
Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

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A reading from First Maccabees  (Ch. 4)
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[36] Then said Judas and his brothers, “Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.”
[37] So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion.
[52] Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year,
[53] they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering which they had built.
[54] At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals.
[55] All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them.
[56] So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness; they offered a sacrifice of deliverance and praise.
[57] They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and furnished them with doors.
[58] There was very great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was removed.
[59] Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with gladness and joy for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev.

The Word of the Lord.

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Responsorial Psalm (From 1 Chronicles, Ch. 29)
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[10] “Blessed art thou, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
[11] Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
[12] Both riches and honor come from thee, and thou rulest over all. In thy hand are power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

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A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Ch. 19)
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[45] And Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold,
[46] saying to them, “It is written, `My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.”
[47] And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him;
[48] but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon his words. 

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today is Thursday, November 17, 2011
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, religious

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A reading from First Maccabees (Ch. 2)
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[15] Then the king’s officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them offer sacrifice.
[16] Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathias and his sons were assembled.
[17] Then the king’s officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: “You are a leader, honored and great in this city, and supported by sons and brothers.
[18] Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.”
[19] But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: “Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his fathers,
[20] yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers.
[21] Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances.
[22] We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left.”
[23] When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Modein, according to the king’s command.
[24] When Mattathias saw it, be burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar.
[25] At the same time he killed the king’s officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar.
[26] Thus he burned with zeal for the law, as Phinehas did against Zimri the son of Salu.
[27] Then Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: “Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!”
[28] And he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the city.
[29] Then many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the wilderness to dwell there,

The Word of the Lord.

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From Psalm 50
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[1] The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
[2] Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
[5] “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
[6] The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! [Selah]
[14] Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High;
[15] and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

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A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Ch. 19)
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[41] And when Jesus drew near and saw Jerusalem he wept over it,
[42] saying, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes.
[43] For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side,
[44] and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

The Gospel of the Lord.