Friday, December 27, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa. 

Feast of Saint John. 

First Reading : 1 John 1:1-4; Second Reading : Psalm 96[97]:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Gospel : John 20:2-8. [Please share today's Gospel.]

First Reading : 1 John 1:1-4; 

The Word of Life

1 We write to you about the Word of life, which has existed from the very beginning. We have heard it, and we have seen it with our eyes; yes, we have seen it, and our hands have touched it. 2 When this life became visible, we saw it; so we speak of it and tell you about the eternal life which was with the Father and was made known to us. 3 What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We write this in order that our joy may be complete.

Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

God the Supreme Ruler

97 

The Lord is king! Earth, be glad!

    Rejoice, you islands of the seas!

2 

Clouds and darkness surround him;

    he rules with righteousness and justice.

5 

The hills melt like wax before the Lord,

    before the Lord of all the earth.

6 

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

    and all the nations see his glory.

11 

Light shines on the righteous,

    and gladness on the good.

12 

All you that are righteous be glad

    because of what the Lord has done!

Remember what the holy God has done,

    and give thanks to him.

Second Reading : Also read Psalm 96; 

Gospel : John 20:2-8

2 She went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple went to the tomb. 4 The two of them were running, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and saw the linen cloths, but he did not go in. 6 Behind him came Simon Peter, and he went straight into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there 7 and the cloth which had been around Jesus' head. It was not lying with the linen cloths but was rolled up by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed.

Focus: "We write this in order that our joy may be complete." (1 John 1:4)

Fruit: Lord, let every joy You have given us shine forth in our actions and words. 

Thursday, December 26, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa. 

Feast of Saint Stephen. 

First Reading : Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Second Reading : Psalm 30[31]:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17; Gospel : Matthew 10:17-22. [Please share today's Gospel.]

First Reading : Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; 

The Arrest of Stephen

8 Stephen, a man richly blessed by God and full of power, performed great miracles and wonders among the people. 9 But he was opposed by some men who were members of the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), which had Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria. They and other Jews from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia started arguing with Stephen. 10 But the Spirit gave Stephen such wisdom that when he spoke, they could not refute him.

The Stoning of Stephen

54 As the members of the Council listened to Stephen, they became furious and ground their teeth at him in anger. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw God's glory and Jesus standing at the right side of God. 56 “Look!” he said. “I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!” 57 With a loud cry the Council members covered their ears with their hands. Then they all rushed at him at once, 58 threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses left their cloaks in the care of a young man named Saul. 59 They kept on stoning Stephen as he called out to the Lord, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17

3 You are my refuge and defense;
    guide me and lead me as you have promised.
4 Keep me safe from the trap that has been set for me;
    shelter me from danger.

6 You hate those who worship false gods,
    but I trust in you.

8 You have not let my enemies capture me;
    you have given me freedom to go where I wish.

16 Look on your servant with kindness;
    save me in your constant love.
17 I call to you, Lord;
    don't let me be disgraced.
May the wicked be disgraced;
    may they go silently down to the world of the dead.

Second Reading : Also read Psalm 30; 


Gospel : Matthew 10:17-22

17 Watch out, for there will be those who will arrest you and take you to court, and they will whip you in the synagogues. 18 For my sake you will be brought to trial before rulers and kings, to tell the Good News to them and to the Gentiles. 19 When they bring you to trial, do not worry about what you are going to say or how you will say it; when the time comes, you will be given what you will say. 20 For the words you will speak will not be yours; they will come from the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 “People will hand over their own brothers to be put to death, and fathers will do the same to their children; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. 22 Everyone will hate you because of me. But whoever holds out to the end will be saved.

Focus: “No pupil is greater than his teacher" (Matthew 10:24)

Fruit: May our spirit be received as Stephen's was.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa. 

Nativity of the Lord. 

First Reading : for Midnight Mass : Isaiah 9:1-6; for Day Mass : Isaiah 52:7-10; Second Reading : for Midnight Mass : Psalm 95[96]:1-3, 11-13; Titus 2:11-14; for Day Mass : Psalm 97[98]:1-6; Hebrews 1:1-6; Gospel : for Midnight Mass : Luke 2:1-14; for Day Mass : John 1:1-18. [Please share today's Gospel.] [May Christmas bring love, joy and abiding peace!]

First Reading : for Midnight Mass : Isaiah 9:1-6;

9 There will be no way for them to escape from this time of trouble.

The Future King

The land of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali was once disgraced, but the future will bring honor to this region, from the Mediterranean eastward to the land on the other side of the Jordan, and even to Galilee itself, where the foreigners live.

2 The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light.
They lived in a land of shadows,
    but now light is shining on them.
3 You have given them great joy, Lord;
    you have made them happy.
They rejoice in what you have done,
    as people rejoice when they harvest grain
    or when they divide captured wealth.
4 For you have broken the yoke that burdened them
    and the rod that beat their shoulders.
You have defeated the nation
    that oppressed and exploited your people,
    just as you defeated the army of Midian long ago.
5 The boots of the invading army
    and all their bloodstained clothing
    will be destroyed by fire.
6 A child is born to us!
    A son is given to us!
    And he will be our ruler.
He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,”
    “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,”
    “Prince of Peace.”

Psalm 96:1-3, 11-13

God the Supreme King

96 Sing a new song to the Lord!
    Sing to the Lord, all the world!
2 Sing to the Lord, and praise him!
    Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us.
3 Proclaim his glory to the nations,
    his mighty deeds to all peoples.

11 Be glad, earth and sky!
    Roar, sea, and every creature in you;
12     be glad, fields, and everything in you!
The trees in the woods will shout for joy
13     when the Lord comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the peoples of the world
    with justice and fairness.

For Day Mass : Isaiah 52:7-10; 

7 How wonderful it is to see
    a messenger coming across the mountains,
    bringing good news, the news of peace!
He announces victory and says to Zion,
    “Your God is king!”
8 Those who guard the city are shouting,
    shouting together for joy.
They can see with their own eyes
    the return of the Lord to Zion.

9 Break into shouts of joy,
    you ruins of Jerusalem!
The Lord will rescue his city
    and comfort his people.
10 The Lord will use his holy power;
    he will save his people,
    and all the world will see it.

Psalm 98:1-6

God the Ruler of the World

98 Sing a new song to the Lord;
    he has done wonderful things!
By his own power and holy strength
    he has won the victory.
2 The Lord announced his victory;
    he made his saving power known to the nations.
3 He kept his promise to the people of Israel
    with loyalty and constant love for them.
All people everywhere have seen the victory of our God.

4 Sing for joy to the Lord, all the earth;
    praise him with songs and shouts of joy!
5 Sing praises to the Lord!
    Play music on the harps!
6 Blow trumpets and horns,
    and shout for joy to the Lord, our king.

Second Reading : for Midnight Mass : Also read Psalm 95; 

Titus 2:11-14; 

11 For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people. 12 That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world, 13 as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ will appear. 14 He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

For Day Mass : Also read Psalm 97; 

Hebrews 1:1-6; 

God's Word through His Son

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. 3 He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.

The Greatness of God's Son

4 The Son was made greater than the angels, just as the name that God gave him is greater than theirs. 5 For God never said to any of his angels,

“You are my Son;

    today I have become your Father.”

Nor did God say about any angel,

“I will be his Father,

    and he will be my Son.”

6 But when God was about to send his first-born Son into the world, he said,“All of God's angels must worship him.”

Gospel : 

For Midnight Mass : Luke 2:1-14; 

The Birth of Jesus

2 At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. 3 Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own hometown. 4 Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David. 5 He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant, 6 and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. 7 She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger—there was no room for them to stay in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, 10 but the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord! 12 And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:

14 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”

For Day Mass : John 1:1-18.

The Word of Life

1 In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. 3 Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. 4 The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. 6 God sent his messenger, a man named John, 7 who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light. 9 This was the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people. 10 The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him. 12 Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. 13 They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father. 14 The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son. 15 John spoke about him. He cried out, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘He comes after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born.’” 16 Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. 17 God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Focus: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out." ( John 1:5)

Fruit: What do we need to be able to help Christ be born every day? Like Mary, a total purity of purpose to be one with the Light. 

Tuesday, December 24, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa.

First Reading : 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; Second Reading : Psalm 88[89]:2-5, 27, 29; Gospel : Luke 1:67-79. [Please share today's Gospel.]

First Reading : 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; 

Nathan's Message to David

7 King David was settled in his palace, and the Lord kept him safe from all his enemies.2 Then the king said to the prophet Nathan, “Here I am living in a house built of cedar, but God's Covenant Box is kept in a tent!” 3 Nathan answered, “Do whatever you have in mind, because the Lord is with you.” 4 But that night the Lord said to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David that I say to him, ‘You are not the one to build a temple for me to live in. 

8 “So tell my servant David that I, the Lord Almighty, say to him, ‘I took you from looking after sheep in the fields and made you the ruler of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have defeated all your enemies as you advanced. I will make you as famous as the greatest leaders in the world. 10-11 I have chosen a place for my people Israel and have settled them there, where they will live without being oppressed any more. Ever since they entered this land, they have been attacked by violent people, but this will not happen again. I promise to keep you safe from all your enemies and to give you descendants. 12 When you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will make one of your sons king and will keep his kingdom strong. 

14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him as a father punishes his son. 

16 You will always have descendants, and I will make your kingdom last forever. Your dynasty will never end.’”

Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29

A Hymn in Time of National Trouble

2 I know that your love will last for all time,
    that your faithfulness is as permanent as the sky.
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with the man I chose;
    I have promised my servant David,
4 ‘A descendant of yours will always be king;
    I will preserve your dynasty forever.’”

5 The heavens sing of the wonderful things you do;
    the holy ones sing of your faithfulness, Lord.

27 I will make him my first-born son,
    the greatest of all kings.

29 His dynasty will be as permanent as the sky;
    a descendant of his will always be king.

Second Reading : Also read Psalm 88 


Gospel : Luke 1:67-79

Zechariah's Prophecy

67 John's father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke God's message:

68 “Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
    He has come to the help of his people and has set them free.
69 He has provided for us a mighty Savior,
    a descendant of his servant David.
70 He promised through his holy prophets long ago
71     that he would save us from our enemies,
    from the power of all those who hate us.
72 He said he would show mercy to our ancestors
    and remember his sacred covenant.
73-74 With a solemn oath to our ancestor Abraham
    he promised to rescue us from our enemies
    and allow us to serve him without fear,
75 so that we might be holy and righteous before him
    all the days of our life.

76 “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
You will go ahead of the Lord
    to prepare his road for him,
77 to tell his people that they will be saved
    by having their sins forgiven.
78 Our God is merciful and tender.
He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us
79     and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death,
    to guide our steps into the path of peace.”

Focus: “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare His road.." (Luke 1:76) 

Fruit: Let us be generous like Zechariah and Elizabeth, praying that our child might someday "give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death" (Luke 1:79)

Monday, December 23, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa. 

Feast of Saint John of Kanty. 

First Reading : Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; Second Reading : Psalm 24[25]:4-5, 8-10, 14; Gospel : Luke 1:57-66. [Please share today's Gospel.]

First Reading : Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; 

The Purifier

3 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. 2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

23 “But before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, I will send you the prophet Elijah.24 He will bring fathers and children together again; otherwise I would have to come and destroy your country.”

Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14

4 Teach me your ways, O Lord;
    make them known to me.
5 Teach me to live according to your truth,
    for you are my God, who saves me.
    I always trust in you.

8 Because the Lord is righteous and good,
    he teaches sinners the path they should follow.
9 He leads the humble in the right way
    and teaches them his will.
10 With faithfulness and love he leads
    all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.

14 The Lord is the friend of those who obey him
    and he affirms his covenant with them.

Second Reading : Also read Psalm 24; 


Gospel : Luke 1:57-66

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how wonderfully good the Lord had been to her, and they all rejoiced with her. 59 When the baby was a week old, they came to circumcise him, and they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother said, “No! His name is to be John.” 61 They said to her, “But you don't have any relative with that name!” 62 Then they made signs to his father, asking him what name he would like the boy to have. 63 Zechariah asked for a writing pad and wrote, “His name is John.” How surprised they all were! 64 At that moment Zechariah was able to speak again, and he started praising God.65 The neighbors were all filled with fear, and the news about these things spread through all the hill country of Judea. 66 Everyone who heard of it thought about it and asked, “What is this child going to be?” For it was plain that the Lord's power was upon him.

 

Focus: "But his mother said, “No! His name is to be John.” (Luke 1:60)

Fruit: We can emulate both Johns by proclaiming the gospel through service to others.