Saturday, December 14, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa. 

Feast of Saint John of the Cross. 

First Reading : Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11; Second Reading : Psalm 79[80]:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Gospel : Matthew 17:10-13. [Please share today's Gospel.]

First Reading : Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11;

1 Till like a fire there appeared the prophet whose words were as a flaming furnace. 2 Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; 3 By God's word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. 4 How awesome are you, ELIJAH! Whose glory is equal to yours? 

9 You were taken aloft in a whirlwind, in a chariot with fiery horses. 10 You are destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to reestablish the tribes of Jacob. 11 Blessed is he who shall have seen you before he dies,

Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

God Implored to Rescue His People from Their Calamities.

A Psalm of Asaph.

2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Your power
And come to save us!
3 O God, restore us
And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.

15 Even the shoot which Your right hand has planted,
And on the son whom You have strengthened for Yourself.
16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down;
They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.

18 Then we shall not turn back from You;
Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
19 O Lord God of hosts, restore us;
Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.

Second Reading : Also read Psalm 79


Gospel : Matthew 17:10-13

10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

Focus: “Elijah is coming and will restore all things" (Matthew 17:11)

Fruit: Through His suffering Jesus restored us to God. Every time we suffer let us remember that.