FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT – DECEMBER 02, 2018

Saturday, December 01, 2018

First Sunday of Advent

5:00 pm  Novena to Our Lady

5:30 pm  Sunset Mass

First Reading

JEREMIAH 33:14-16

14 "Look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall fulfil the promise of happiness I made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah:

15 In those days and at that time, I shall make an upright Branch grow for David, who will do what is just and upright in the country.

16 In those days Judah will triumph and Israel live in safety. And this is the name the city will be called: Yahweh-is-our-Saving-Justice."

“The Word of the Lord”

PSALMS 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

4 DIRECT me in your ways, Yahweh, and teach me your paths.

5 ENCOURAGE me to walk in your truth and teach me since you are the God who saves me. FOR my hope is in you all day long -- such is your generosity, Yahweh.

8 INTEGRITY and generosity are marks of Yahweh for he brings sinners back to the path.

9 JUDICIOUSLY he guides the humble, instructing the poor in his way.

10 KINDNESS unfailing and constancy mark all Yahweh's paths, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

14 ONLY those who fear Yahweh have his secret and his covenant, for their understanding.

Second Reading

First Thessalonians 3:12--4:2

12 May the Lord increase and enrich your love for each other and for all, so that it matches ours for you.

13 And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

1 Finally, brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus; we instructed you how to live in the way that pleases God, and you are so living; but make more progress still.

2 You are well aware of the instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.

“The Word of the Lord”

Gospel Reading

LUKE 21:25-28, 34-36

25 'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves;

26 men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.'

34 'Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly,

35 like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth.

36 Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man.'

“The Gospel of the Lord”

34TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B) – NOVEMBER 25, 2018

Saturday, November 24, 2018

34th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year B

Solemnity of Our Lord, JESUS CHRIST,

King of the Universe

5:00 pm  Novena to Our Lady

5:30 pm  Sunset Mass in English

First Reading

DANIEL 7:13-14

13 I was gazing into the visions of the night, when I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, as it were a son of man. He came to the One most venerable and was led into his presence.

14 On him was conferred rule, honour and kingship, and all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His rule is an everlasting rule which will never pass away, and his kingship will never come to an end.

“The Word of the Lord”

PSALMS 93:1, 1-2, 5

1 Yahweh is king, robed in majesty, robed is Yahweh and girded with power.

2 The world is indeed set firm, it can never be shaken; your throne is set firm from of old, from all eternity you exist.

5 Your decrees stand firm, unshakeable, holiness is the beauty of your house, Yahweh, for all time to come.

Second Reading

REVELATION 1:5-8

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the highest of earthly kings. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood,

6 and made us a Kingdom of Priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

7 Look, he is coming on the clouds; everyone will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the races of the earth will mourn over him. Indeed this shall be so. Amen.

8 'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

“The Word of the Lord”

Gospel Reading

JOHN 18:33-37

33 So Pilate went back into the Praetorium and called Jesus to him and asked him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'

34 Jesus replied, 'Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others said it to you about me?'

35 Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?'

36 Jesus replied, 'Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. As it is, my kingdom does not belong here.'

37 Pilate said, 'So, then you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'It is you who say that I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.'

“The Gospel of the Lord”

33RD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B) – 18 NOVEMBER, 2018

Saturday, 17 November, 2018

33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year B

5:00 pm  Novena to Our Lady

5:30 pm  Sunset Mass in English

First Reading

DANIEL 12:1-3

1 'At that time Michael will arise -- the great Prince, defender of your people. That will be a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, your own people will be spared -- all those whose names are found written in the Book.

2 'Of those who are sleeping in the Land of Dust, many will awaken, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace.

3 Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightness, as bright as stars for all eternity.

“The Word of the Lord”

PSALMS 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

5 My birthright, my cup is Yahweh; you, you alone, hold my lot secure.

8 I keep Yahweh before me always, for with him at my right hand, nothing can shake me.

9 So my heart rejoices, my soul delights, my body too will rest secure,

10 for you will not abandon me to Sheol, you cannot allow your faithful servant to see the abyss.

11 You will teach me the path of life, unbounded joy in your presence, at your right hand delight for ever.

Second Reading

HEBREWS 10:11-14, 18

11 Every priest stands at his duties every day, offering over and over again the same sacrifices which are quite incapable of taking away sins.

12 He, on the other hand, has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken his seat for ever, at the right hand of God,

13 where he is now waiting till his enemies are made his footstool.

14 By virtue of that one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all who are sanctified.

18 When these have been forgiven, there can be no more sin offerings.

“The Word of the Lord”

Gospel Reading

MARK 13:24-32

24 'But in those days, after that time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,

25 the stars will come falling out of the sky and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

27 And then he will send the angels to gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of the sky.

28 'Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

29 So with you when you see these things happening: know that he is near, right at the gates.

30 In truth I tell you, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place.

31 Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

32 'But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.

“The Gospel of the Lord”

32ND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B) – 11 NOVEMBER, 2018

Saturday, 10 November, 2018

32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year B

5:00 pm  Novena to Our Lady

5:30 pm  Sunset Mass in English

First Reading

FIRST KINGS 17:10-16

10 So he went off to Sidon. And when he reached the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Addressing her he said, 'Please bring a little water in a pitcher for me to drink.'

11 She was on her way to fetch it when he called after her. 'Please', he said, 'bring me a scrap of bread in your hand.'

12 'As Yahweh your God lives,' she replied, 'I have no baked bread, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am just gathering a stick or two to go and prepare this for myself and my son to eat, and then we shall die.'

13 But Elijah said to her, 'Do not be afraid, go and do as you have said; but first make a little scone of it for me and bring it to me, and then make some for yourself and for your son.

14 For Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: Jar of meal shall not be spent, jug of oil shall not be emptied, before the day when Yahweh sends rain on the face of the earth.'

15 The woman went and did as Elijah told her and they ate the food, she, himself and her son.

16 The jar of meal was not spent nor the jug of oil emptied, just as Yahweh had foretold through Elijah.

“The Word of the Lord”

PSALMS 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

7 gives justice to the oppressed, gives food to the hungry; Yahweh sets prisoners free.

8 Yahweh gives sight to the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down.

9 Yahweh protects the stranger, he sustains the orphan and the widow. Yahweh loves the upright,but he frustrates the wicked.

10 Yahweh reigns for ever, your God, Zion, from age to age.

Second Reading

HEBREWS 9:24-28

24 It is not as though Christ had entered a man-made sanctuary which was merely a model of the real one; he entered heaven itself, so that he now appears in the presence of God on our behalf.

25 And he does not have to offer himself again and again, as the high priest goes into the sanctuary year after year with the blood that is not his own,

26 or else he would have had to suffer over and over again since the world began. As it is, he has made his appearance once and for all, at the end of the last age, to do away with sin by sacrificing himself.

27 Since human beings die only once, after which comes judgement,

28 so Christ too, having offered himself only once to bear the sin of many, will manifest himself a second time, sin being no more, to those who are waiting for him, to bring them salvation.

“The Word of the Lord”

Gospel Reading

MARK 12:38-44

38 In his teaching he said, 'Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted respectfully in the market squares,

39 to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets;

40 these are the men who devour the property of widows and for show offer long prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.'

41 He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal.

42 A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny.

43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, 'In truth I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury;

44 for they have all put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.'

“The Gospel of the Lord”

31ST SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B) – 04 NOVEMBER, 2018

Saturday, 03 November, 2018

31st Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year B

5:00 pm  Novena to Our Lady

5:30 pm  Sunset Mass in English

First Reading

DUETERONOMY 6:2-6

2 And hence, if, throughout your lives, you fear Yahweh your God and keep all his laws and commandments, which I am laying down for you today, you will live long, you and your child and your grandchild.

3 Listen then, Israel, keep and observe what will make you prosperous and numerous, as Yahweh, God of your ancestors, has promised you, in giving you a country flowing with milk and honey.

4 'Listen, Israel: Yahweh our God is the one, the only Yahweh.

5 You must love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength.

6 Let the words I enjoin on you today stay in your heart.

“The Word of the Lord’

PSALMS 18:2-3, 3-4, 47,

2 Yahweh is my rock and my fortress, my deliverer is my God. I take refuge in him, my rock, my shield, my saving strength, my stronghold, my place of refuge.

3 I call to Yahweh who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my foes.

4 With Death's breakers closing in on me, Belial's torrents ready to swallow me,

47 the God who gives me vengeance, and subjects whole peoples to me,

Second Reading

HEBREWS 7:23-28

23 Further, the former priests were many in number, because death put an end to each one of them;

24 but this one, because he remains for ever, has a perpetual priesthood.

25 It follows, then, that his power to save those who come to God through him is absolute, since he lives for ever to intercede for them.

26 Such is the high priest that met our need, holy, innocent and uncontaminated, set apart from sinners, and raised up above the heavens;

27 he has no need to offer sacrifices every day, as the high priests do, first for their own sins and only then for those of the people; this he did once and for all by offering himself.

28 The Law appoints high priests who are men subject to weakness; but the promise on oath, which came after the Law, appointed the Son who is made perfect for ever.

“The Word of the Lord’

Gospel, Mark 12:28-34

28 One of the scribes who had listened to them debating appreciated that Jesus had given a good answer and put a further question to him, 'Which is the first of all the commandments?'

29 Jesus replied, 'This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one, only Lord,

30 and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.

31 The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.'

32 The scribe said to him, 'Well spoken, Master; what you have said is true, that he is one and there is no other.

33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice.'

34 Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' And after that no one dared to question him any more.

“The Gospel of the Lord”