READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16
4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
5 "Go and tell my servant David, `Thus says the LORD:
Would you build me a house to dwell in?
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will
establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men;
16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.'"
Psalms: Psalm 89: 2-5, 27, 29
2 For thy steadfast love was established for ever, thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens.
3 Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my
chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant:
4 `I will establish your descendants for ever, and build
your throne for all generations.'" [Selah]
5 Let the heavens praise thy wonders, O LORD, thy faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
27 And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.
29 I will establish his line for ever and his throne as the
days of the heavens.
Second Reading: Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
13 The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants -- not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all,
17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" -- in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your descendants be."
22 That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness."
Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 or Luke 2:41-51
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the
husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was
born, who is called Christ. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place
in this way. When his mother Mary had
been betrothed to Joseph, before they
came together she was found to be with
child of the Holy Spirit; 19 and her husband Joseph, being a just
man and unwilling to put her to shame,
resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered this, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do
not fear to take Mary your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is of the Holy
Spirit; 21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his
name Jesus, for he will save his people
from their sins." 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as
the angel of the Lord commanded him;
he took his wife,
OR
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the
feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up
according to custom; 43 and when the feast was ended, as they were
returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company they went a
day's journey, and they sought him among their
kinsfolk and acquaintances; 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to
Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting
among the teachers, listening to them and asking
them questions; 47 and all who heard him were amazed at his
understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him they were astonished; and his
mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us
so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for
you anxiously." 49 And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father's
house?" 50 And they did not understand the saying which he
spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all
these things in her heart.
REFLECTIONS FOR THE DAY
Salvation is shown to faith, it is prepared for hope, but it is given only to charity.
Faith points out the way to the land of promise as a pillar of fire, hope feeds us with its manna of sweetness, but charity actually introduces us into the Promised Land.
-- St. Francis De Sales
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