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Today's Readings
Reading I
Zep 3:14-18a
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and
exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has
removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further
misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear
not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your
midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and
renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one
sings at festivals.
or
Rom 12:9-16
Brothers and sisters: Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold
on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in
affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy
ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and
do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those
who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty
but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation.
Responsorial Psalm
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
R. (6) Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. God
indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my
courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will
draw water at the fountain of salvation. R. Among you is the
great and Holy One of Israel. Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim
his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how
exalted is his name. R. Among you is the great and Holy One of
Israel. Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth. Shout with exultation, O
city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of
Israel! R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Gospel
Lk 1:39-56
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of
Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted
Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped
in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out
in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the
sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped
for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by
the Lord would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in
God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has
done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy
on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength
of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast
down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He
has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent
away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has
remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
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