HOLY MASS READINGS FOR DECEMBER 21, 2024

Saturday of  the Third Week of Advent, Year C  (Purple)

LH: Office of the Day, Week III

Mass of the day, Preface II of Advent

FIRST READING
Behold, my beloved comes leaping upon the mountains.
A reading from the Song of Solomon (Song of Solomon 2:8-14)

The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle, or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my dove, my fair one, and come away; for behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs; and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is comely.”

The word of the Lord.

Or the following:

FIRST READING
“The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah (Zephaniah 3:14- 18a)

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgements against you, he has cast out your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you. With gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm33:2-3.11-12.20-21 (R. 1a, 3a)

R/. Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; O sing him a song that is new.

Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp; 
with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs. 
O sing him a song that is new;
Play skilfully, with shouts of joy. R/.

The designs of the Lord stand forever, 
the plans of his heart from age to age.
Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord, 
the people he has chosen as his heritage. R/.

Our soul is waiting for the Lord. 
He is our help and our shield.
In him do our hearts find joy.
We trust in his holy name. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia. 

O Emmanuel, our King and Law giver! Come and save us, O Lord our God. 

Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“Why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 1:39-45)

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

A CALL TO HEAR AND OBEY

Divine Appeal Reflection - 151

Today, consider in Divine Appeal 151: "If mankind do not hear My words, time will come and it will fall in this mire of errors.. "

Jesus’ mission centers on drawing souls into deep communion with Him, a relationship built on attentive listening and faithful obedience. This call is not limited to simply hearing His Word, but to allowing it to deeply transform our hearts and lives. The love of our Adorable Jesus invites us to respond with trust and action, making His truth the foundation of our existence. As we hear and obey His voice, we enter into divine life, aligning our will to His and reflecting His glory to the world (cf. Luke 11:28).

To hear and obey Jesus begins with humility. It requires acknowledging that God’s ways are infinitely higher than our own, calling us to trust in His divine wisdom. Such humility opens our hearts to accept His teachings, even when they challenge our understanding or comfort. The Blessed Virgin Mary offers the perfect model of this virtue in her response to God’s messenger, surrendering completely to His will. Her example reveals the beauty of obedience rooted in trust and love. Following her lead, we are called to submit ourselves to the will of our Adorable Jesus, trusting that His plan is always for our ultimate good and sanctification (cf. Isaiah 55:8-9; Luke 1:38).

Obedience to Jesus also demands profound trust. To live according to His commands is to believe that His love and wisdom surpass all human understanding. True love for Him is demonstrated not only in words but also in action, as we embrace His guidance and align our lives with His divine law. By walking in obedience, we allow our Adorable Jesus to illuminate the path of righteousness, steering us away from the errors that lead to spiritual ruin. Trusting in Him, we find freedom, joy, and salvation, knowing that His commandments are the way to eternal life (cf. John 14:15).

Let us, then, respond to the call of our Adorable Jesus to listen to His words and follow them with obedience. Through the grace of the sacraments, humility, trust, and perseverance, may we accept His truth and live in accordance with His will. By doing this, we will not only experience His blessing of joy and peace, but we will also guide others to the light of His salvific love.

Prayer

Our Adorable Jesus, teach us to hear Your Word with humility and obey it with love. Help us trust in Your wisdom, surrender to Your will, and follow Your path of righteousness. May Your truth transform our hearts and guide us to live faithfully for Your glory.

Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.

DIVINE APPEAL 151

ON THE EUCHARIST:A DIVINE APPEAL

(Revelation to Sr Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist)

VOLUME 1

“As I am exposed, I will pour the treasures of My infinite Mercy into

human souls.”

“My daughter, as I am exposed I will pour the treasures of My 

infinite mercy into human souls. If mankind do not hear My words, 

time will come and it will fall in this mire of errors.

I agonise over souls. Pray more for the consecrated souls. Many

have lost My Life. They have allowed themselves to be dominated

by the devil. Almost all of them abuse Me. What more could I have

suffered for this mankind? I love souls and I am torn into pieces by

them. Pray and atone. It is time to pray.”

“I give My blessing.”

24th May 1988

Copyright © 2015 Bishop Cornelius K. Arap Korir, Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya. All rights reserved. Reproduced from ON THE EUCHARIST: A DIVINE APPEAL, Volume 1 by www.adivineappeal.com

HOLY MASS READINGS FOR DECEMBER 20, 2024

Friday of  the Third Week of Advent, Year C  (Purple)

LH: Office of the Day, Week III

Mass of the day, Preface II of Advent

FIRST READING
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive.”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 7: 10-14)

In those days: The Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! I sit too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God is with us].”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm24:1-2.3-4ab.5-6 (R. see 7c, 10c)

R/. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, 
the world, and all who dwell in it.
It is he who set it on the seas; 
on the rivers he made it firm. R/.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? 
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The clean of hands and pure of heart, 
whose soul is not set on vain things. R/.

Blessings from the Lord shall he receive,
And right reward from the God who saves him. 
Such are the people who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. 

O Key of David! You open the gates of the eternal Kingdom: come and lead us out of the prison where we sit in darkness. 

Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“You will conceive in your womb and bear a son.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 1:26-38)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I know not man?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon, you, and the power of the Most High will over shadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

The Gospel of the Lord.

THE CRY OF JESUS IN A DESOLATE WORLD

Divine Appeal Reflection - 150

Today, consider in Divine Appeal 150:  "I am thirsting for the souls of mankind. The world is desolated because of the iniquitous evil with exaggerated freedom and without scruples. "

Our Adorable Jesus laments the destruction of the world , where pervasive evil spreads unchecked , leaving humanity in confusion and despair. This wilderness is rooted in a widespread rejection of God's law and a rapidly growing moral relativism that denies the existence of absolute truth. When society rejects God's commands , it opens the door to chaos and the normalization of sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that true freedom lies in obedience to God , but many people mistake freedom for the ability to act without restraint (cf. CCC 1733). This distorted view of freedom leads to spiritual blindness , where a person does not recognize sin for what it truly is-a violation of God's love. Jesus laments this spiritual poverty, thirsting for souls to return to Him as the source of truth and life.

The desolation becomes even more apparent in the normalization of sin, a reality that wounds the heart of our Adorable Jesus. Today, society standards celebrate or justify many sins rather than viewing them as transgressions of the will of God. Isaiah forewarned of this moral inversion, saying, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" (cf. Isaiah 5:20). This inversion of morality is evident in the dissolution of the family, the defilement of marriage, and the disrespect for the sanctity of life. These assaults on the basic principles of human dignity demonstrate how selfishness triumphs over selfless love. St. John Paul II warned against the "culture of death," in which convenience and individual preference take priority over human life and moral principles (cf. Evangelium Vitae). Our Adorable Jesus longs for us to turn away from these erroneous beliefs and embrace the truth of His Gospel, which restores dignity and peace to souls and society.

Exaggerated freedom has further deepened the desolation by promoting a false sense of autonomy that disregards God and moral accountability. This counterfeit freedom fosters self-centeredness, encouraging individuals to pursue their passions and desires without concern for their eternal destiny. St. Paul reminds us that true freedom is not a license for sin but a call to live in loving service to God and others (cf. Galatians 5:13). When humanity misuses freedom in this way, it leads to enslavement by sin rather than liberation. Our Adorable Jesus, who desires nothing more than our holiness and eternal happiness, grieves over the souls trapped in this cycle of self-destruction. He continues to call out to us, offering His mercy and grace to those who turn back to Him with contrite hearts.

We are called to respond to this desolation as followers of Jesus by serving as conduits for His love and light. Our Adorable Jesus longs for us to embrace this task with bravery and faith, proclaiming the gospel and leading moral lives as a testament to the truth. Acts of evangelization, prayer, and reparation are necessary to combat the darkness of sin. On his homily on April 18, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI exhorted the faithful to reject the "dictatorship of relativism" by establishing their foundation on Christ's truth. We can start to mend the world's wounds and reunite souls with Jesus by doing this. Let us answer His cry by recommitting ourselves to the mission of love and truth, offering Him the consolation of our faithfulness amidst the desolation of this age.

Prayer

O our Adorable Jesus, we offer You our hearts in reparation for the desolation caused by sin. In this desolate world, may our prayers and sacrifices bring lost souls back to You. Grant us courage to proclaim Your truth, resist evil, and live faithfully, that we may quench Your longing for the salvation of mankind.

Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.

DIVINE APPEAL 150

ON THE EUCHARIST:A DIVINE APPEAL

(Revelation to Sr Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist)

VOLUME 1

“I have nowhere to lay My head.”

“Listen carefully and write all down. Pray and hold mankind in your 

heart. My Eternal Father’s justice will be inexorable. I am in search 

of souls to exhort souls. I am thirsting for the souls of mankind. The

world is desolated because of the iniquitous evil with exaggerated

freedom and without scruples. The devil instigates souls, they do not

believe. What a pain to Me!

I pour My tears of blood over humanity’s ignominy. In the Sacrament

of My Love I am profaned, denied and so much blasphemed. I

have nowhere to lay My Head. I tell you pray a great deal and do

penance.”

“I bless you.”

2.00 a.m., 

24th May 1988

Copyright © 2015 Bishop Cornelius K. Arap Korir, Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya. All rights reserved. Reproduced from ON THE EUCHARIST: A DIVINE APPEAL, Volume 1 by www.adivineappeal.com

HOLY MASS READINGS FOR DECEMBER 19, 2024

Thursday of  the Third Week of Advent, Year C  (Purple)

LH: Office of the Day, Week III

Mass of the day, Preface II of Advent

FIRST READING
The birth of Samson is announced by an angel.
A reading from the Book of Judges (Judges 13:2-7.24-25a)

In those days: There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have no children; but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore beware, and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his countenance was like the countenance of the angel of God, very terrible; I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name; but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son; so then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.”’ And the woman bore a son, and called his name Samson; and the boy grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm 71:3-4a.5-6ab: 16- 17 (R. see 8a)

R/. My mouth is filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Be my rock, my constant refuge,
a mighty stronghold to save me,
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
My God, free me from the hand of the wicked. R/. 

It is you, O Lord, who are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
On you I have leaned from my birth;
from my mother’s womb, you have been my help. R/.

I will come with praise of your might, O Lord;
I will call to mind your justice, yours, O LORD, alone.
O God, you have taught me from my youth, 
and I proclaim your wonders still. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia. 

Root of Jesse, who stand as a sign to the nations! Come and deliver us: delay no longer. 

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

The birth of John the Baptist is announced by Gabriel.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 1:5-25)

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, “Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”

The Gospel of the Lord.