USCCB Daily Readings

• Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
  • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

  Reading 1 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63

  [From the descendants of Alexander's officers]
  there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes,
  son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome.
  He became king in the year one hundred and thirty seven
  of the kingdom of the Greeks.
  
  In those days there appeared in Israel
  men who were breakers of the law,
  and they seduced many people, saying:
  "Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us;
  since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."
  The proposal was agreeable;
  some from among the people promptly went to the king,
  and he authorized them to introduce the way of living
  of the Gentiles.
  Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem
  according to the Gentile custom.
  They covered over the mark of their circumcision
  and abandoned the holy covenant;
  they allied themselves with the Gentiles
  and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
  
  Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
  each abandoning his particular customs.
  All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,
  and many children of Israel were in favor of his religion;
  they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
  
  On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev,
  in the year one hundred and forty-five,
  the king erected the horrible abomination
  upon the altar of burnt offerings
  and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.
  They also burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.
  Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.
  Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant,
  and whoever observed the law,
  was condemned to death by royal decree.
  But many in Israel were determined
  and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;
  they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food
  or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.
  Terrible affliction was upon Israel.

  Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158

  R. (see 88) Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
  Indignation seizes me because of the wicked
  who forsake your law.
  R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
  Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
  your law I have not forgotten.
  R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
  Redeem me from the oppression of men,
  that I may keep your precepts.
  R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
  I am attacked by malicious persecutors
  who are far from your law.
  R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
  Far from sinners is salvation,
  because they seek not your statutes.
  R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
  I beheld the apostates with loathing,
  because they kept not to your promise.
  R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.

  Alleluia John 8:12

  R. Alleluia, alleluia.
  I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
  whoever follows me will have the light of life.
  R. Alleluia, alleluia.

  Gospel Luke 18:35-43

  As Jesus approached Jericho
  a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
  and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
  They told him,
  "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
  He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
  The people walking in front rebuked him,
  telling him to be silent,
  but he kept calling out all the more,
  "Son of David, have pity on me!"
  Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
  and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
  "What do you want me to do for you?"
  He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
  Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
  He immediately received his sight
  and followed him, giving glory to God.
  When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

  - - -
  

  Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

• Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

  Reading 1 Malachi 3:19-20a

  Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,
   when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,
   and the day that is coming will set them on fire,
   leaving them neither root nor branch,
   says the LORD of hosts.
   But for you who fear my name, there will arise
   the sun of justice with its healing rays.

  Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9

  R. (cf. 9)  The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
  Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
  with the harp and melodious song.
  With trumpets and the sound of the horn
  sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
  R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
  Let the sea and what fills it resound,
  the world and those who dwell in it;
  let the rivers clap their hands,
  the mountains shout with them for joy.
  R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
  Before the LORD, for he comes,
  for he comes to rule the earth,
  he will rule the world with justice
  and the peoples with equity.
  R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
   

  Reading 2 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12

  Brothers and sisters:
  You know how one must imitate us.
  For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
  nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
  On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day
  we worked, so as not to burden any of you.
  Not that we do not have the right.
  Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
  so that you might imitate us.
  In fact, when we were with you,
  we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work,
  neither should that one eat.
  We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a
  disorderly way,
  by not keeping busy but minding the business of others.
  Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly
  and to eat their own food.
   

  Alleluia Luke 21:28

  R. Alleluia, alleluia.
  Stand erect and raise your heads
  because your redemption is at hand.
  R. Alleluia, alleluia.

  Gospel Luke 21:5-19

  While some people were speaking about
  how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
  Jesus said, "All that you see here--
  the days will come when there will not be left
  a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."
  
  Then they asked him,
  "Teacher, when will this happen?
  And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"
  He answered,
  "See that you not be deceived,
  for many will come in my name, saying,
  'I am he,' and 'The time has come.'
  Do not follow them!
  When you hear of wars and insurrections,
  do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
  but it will not immediately be the end."
  Then he said to them,
  "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
  There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
  from place to place;
  and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
  
  "Before all this happens, however,
  they will seize and persecute you,
  they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
  and they will have you led before kings and governors
  because of my name.
  It will lead to your giving testimony.
  Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
  for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
  that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
  You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
  and they will put some of you to death.
  You will be hated by all because of my name,
  but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
  By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
  
   

  - - -
  

  Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

• Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

  Reading I Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9

  When peaceful stillness compassed everything
  and the night in its swift course was half spent,
  Your all-powerful word, from heaven’s royal throne
  bounded, a fierce warrior, into the doomed land,
  bearing the sharp sword of your inexorable decree.
  And as he alighted, he filled every place with death;
  he still reached to heaven, while he stood upon the earth.

  For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew,
  serving its natural laws,
  that your children might be preserved unharmed.
  The cloud overshadowed their camp;
  and out of what had before been water, dry land was seen emerging:
  Out of the Red Sea an unimpeded road,
  and a grassy plain out of the mighty flood.
  Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand,
  after they beheld stupendous wonders.
  For they ranged about like horses,
  and bounded about like lambs,
  praising you, O Lord! their deliverer.

  Responsorial Psalm Psalm 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43

  R.    (5a) Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
  or:
  R.    Alleluia.
  Sing to him, sing his praise,
      proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
  Glory in his holy name;
      rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
  R.    Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
  or:
  R.    Alleluia.
  Then he struck every firstborn throughout their land,
      the first fruits of all their manhood.
  And he led them forth laden with silver and gold,
      with not a weakling among their tribes.
  R.    Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
  or:
  R.    Alleluia.
  For he remembered his holy word
      to his servant Abraham.
  And he led forth his people with joy;
      with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.
  R.    Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
  or:
  R.    Alleluia.

  Alleluia See 2 Thessalonians 2:14

  R. Alleluia, alleluia.
  God has called us through the Gospel,
  to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  R. Alleluia, alleluia.

  Gospel Luke 18:1-8

  Jesus told his disciples a parable
  about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. 
  He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
  who neither feared God nor respected any human being. 
  And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
  ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’
  For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
  ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, 
  because this widow keeps bothering me
  I shall deliver a just decision for her
  lest she finally come and strike me.’” 
  The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. 
  Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
  who call out to him day and night? 
  Will he be slow to answer them? 
  I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. 
  But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

  • Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

  - - -
  

  Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.