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June 23 2020 Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36 Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent envoys to Hezekiah with this message: “Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all other countries: they doomed them! Will you, then, be saved?’”Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then...

June 22 2020 Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18 Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, occupied the whole land and attacked Samaria, which he besieged for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, king of Israel the king of Assyria took Samaria, and deported the children of Israel to Assyria, setting them in Halah, at the Habor, a river of Gozan, and the cities of the Medes.This came about because the children of Israel sinned against the LORD, their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt, from...

March 05 2020 Thursday of the First Week in Lent Reading 1 Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25 Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the LORD. She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, for I am taking my life in my hand. As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing...

February 12 2020 Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Kgs 10:1-10 The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame, came to test him with subtle questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very numerous retinue, and with camels bearing spices, a large amount of gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and questioned him on every subject in which she was interested. King Solomon explained everything she asked about, and there remained nothing hidden from him that he could not explain to her.When the queen of Sheba witnessed Solomon’s great wisdom, the...

December 5 2019 Thursday of the First Week of Advent Reading 1 Is 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: "A strong city have we;he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.Open up the gatesto let in a nation that is just,one that keeps faith.A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;in peace, for its trust in you." Trust in the LORD forever!For the LORD is an eternal Rock.He humbles those in high places,and the lofty city he brings down;He tumbles it to the ground,levels it with the dust.It is...

June 27 2019 Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 16:1-12, 15-16 Abram's wife Sarai had borne him no children.She had, however, an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.Sarai said to Abram: "The LORD has kept me from bearing children.Have intercourse, then, with my maid;perhaps I shall have sons through her."Abram heeded Sarai's request.Thus, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan,his wife Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian,and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine.He had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant.When she became aware of her pregnancy,she...

June 26 2019 Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn15:1-12, 17-18 The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram!I am your shield;I will make your reward very great." But Abram said,"O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be,if I keep on being childlessand have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?"Abram continued,"See, you have given me no offspring,and so one of my servants will be my heir."Then the word of the LORD came to him:"No, that one shall not be your heir;your own issue shall be...

June 25 2019 Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 13:2, 5-18 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,so that the land could not support them if they stayed together;their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestockand those of Lot's.(At this time the Canaanites and the Perizziteswere occupying the land.) So Abram said to Lot:"Let there be no strife between you and me,or between your herdsmen and mine, for we...

March 14 2019 Thursday of the First Week in Lent Reading 1 Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25 Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,had recourse to the LORD.She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said:"God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,for I am taking my life in my hand.As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathersthat you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.Now help me, who am...

December 6, 2018 Thursday of the First Week of Advent Reading 1 Is 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: "A strong city have we;he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.Open up the gatesto let in a nation that is just,one that keeps faith.A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;in peace, for its trust in you." Trust in the LORD forever!For the LORD is an eternal Rock.He humbles those in high places,and the lofty city he brings down;He tumbles it to the ground,levels it with the dust.It is...

June 28, 2018 Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr Reading 1 2 Kgs 24:8-17 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign,and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta,daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.He did evil in the sight of the LORD,just as his forebears had done. At that time the officials of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,attacked Jerusalem, and the city came under siege.Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,himself arrived at the citywhile his servants were besieging it.Then Jehoiachin, king of Judah, together with his mother,his ministers, officers, and functionaries,surrendered to the king of Babylon,...

June 27, 2018 Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3 The high priest Hilkiah informed the scribe Shaphan,"I have found the book of the law in the temple of the LORD."Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.Then the scribe Shaphan went to the king and reported,"Your servants have smelted down the metals available in the templeand have consigned them to the master workmenin the temple of the LORD."The scribe Shaphan also informed the kingthat the priest Hilkiah had given him a book,and then read it aloud to the king.When the...

June 26, 2018 Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36 Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent envoys to Hezekiahwith this message: "Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah:'Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive youby saying that Jerusalem will not be handed overto the king of Assyria.You have heard what the kings of Assyria have doneto all other countries: they doomed them! Will you, then, be saved?'" Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it;then he went up to the temple...

June 25, 2018 Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18 Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, occupied the whole landand attacked Samaria, which he besieged for three years.In the ninth year of Hoshea, king of Israelthe king of Assyria took Samaria,and deported the children of Israel to Assyria,setting them in Halah, at the Habor, a river of Gozan,and the cities of the Medes. This came about because the children of Israel sinned against the LORD,their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt,from under the domination of Pharaoh, king of...

December 7, 2017 Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Is 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: "A strong city have we;he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.Open up the gatesto let in a nation that is just,one that keeps faith.A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;in peace, for its trust in you." Trust in the LORD forever!For the LORD is an eternal Rock.He humbles those in high places,and the lofty city he brings down;He tumbles it to the ground,levels it with...

June 28, 2017 Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr Reading 1 Gn 15:1-12, 17-18The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram!I am your shield;I will make your reward very great." But Abram said,"O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be,if I keep on being childlessand have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?"Abram continued,"See, you have given me no offspring,and so one of my servants will be my heir."Then the word of the LORD came to him:"No, that one shall not be your heir;your own issue shall be your...

June 27, 2017 Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 13:2, 5-18Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,so that the land could not support them if they stayed together;their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestockand those of Lot's.(At this time the Canaanites and the Perizziteswere occupying the land.) So Abram said to Lot:"Let there be no strife between you and me,or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are...

June 26, 2017 Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 12:1-9The LORD said to Abram:"Go forth from the land of your kinsfolkand from your father's house to a land that I will show you. "I will make of you a great nation,and I will bless you;I will make your name great,so that you will be a blessing.I will bless those who bless youand curse those who curse you.All the communities of the earthshall find blessing in you." Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him.Abram was seventy-five years old when he...

March 9, 2017 Thursday of the First Week in Lent Reading 1 Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,had recourse to the LORD.She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said:"God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,for I am taking my life in my hand.As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathersthat you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.Now help me, who am alone...

December 1, 2016 Thursday of the First Week in Advent Reading 1 Is 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we;he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.Open up the gatesto let in a nation that is just,one that keeps faith.A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;in peace, for its trust in you.” Trust in the LORD forever!For the LORD is an eternal Rock.He humbles those in high places,and the lofty city he brings down;He tumbles it to the ground,levels it with the dust.It is...