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Monday, 15 December 2025
Monday, Third Week of Advent.
Readings and Antiphons on p. 74 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon.
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations; declare it to the distant lands: Behold, our Saviour will come; you need no longer fear.

First Reading: Numbers 24:2-7.15-17a

A reading from the Book of Numbers.

In those days:
Balaam lifted up his eyes
and saw Israel encamping tribe by tribe.
And the Spirit of God came upon him,
and he took up his discourse, and said,
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down, but having his eyes uncovered:
How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
Like valleys that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes that the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be in many waters,
his king shall be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom shall be exalted.
And he took up his discourse, and said,
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down, but having his eyes uncovered:
I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near: 
a star shall come forth out of Jacob,
and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel.”

The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5ab.6 & 7cd.8-9 (R. 4b)

R/. Teach me your paths, O Lord.

O Lord, make me know your ways.
Teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me;
for you are the God of my salvation.

Remember your compassion, O Lord,
and your merciful love,
for they are from of old.
In your merciful love remember me,
because of your goodness, O Lord.

Good and upright is the Lord;
he shows the way to sinners.
He guides the humble in right judgment;
to the humble, he teaches his way.

R/. Teach me your paths, O Lord.
Alleluia, Alleluia
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 21:23-27

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

At that time: 
When Jesus entered the temple, 
the chief priests and the elders of the people 
came up to him as he was teaching, and said, 
“By what authority are you doing these things, 
and who gave you this authority?”

Jesus answered them, 
“I also will ask you a question; 
and if you tell me the answer, 
then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 
The baptism of John, where was it from? 
From heaven or from men?” 

And they argued with one another, 
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, 
‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the multitude; 
for all hold that John was a prophet.” 
So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” 

And he said to them, 
“Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
Communion Antiphon.
Come, O Lord, visit us in peace, that we may rejoice before you with a blameless heart.

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Sunday, 14 December 2025
The Third Sunday of Advent - Cycle A
Antiphons and Readings on p. 68 of the Daily Missal and on p. 29 of the Sunday Missal.

Entrance Antiphon.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.

First Reading: Isaiah 35: 1-6a, 10

A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
    the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the lily it shall blossom abundantly,
    and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
    the majesty of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands,
    and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
   “Be strong, fear not!
Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
    and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain joy and gladness,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:6c-7, 8-9a, 9bc-10 (R. see Isaiah 35:4)

R/. Come, Lord, and save us.

It is the Lord who preserves fidelity for ever, 
who does justice to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry, 
the Lord who sets prisoners free.

It is the Lord who opens the eyes of the blind, 
the Lord who raises up those who are bowed down.
It is the Lord who loves the just,
the Lord who protects the stranger.

The Lord upholds the orphan and the widow,
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
the God of Sion from age to age.

R/. Come, Lord, and save us.

Second Reading:James 5: 7-10

A reading from the Letter of Saint James.

Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. 
Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, 
being patient over it 
until it receives the early and the late rain. 
You also be patient. 
Establish your hearts, 
for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not grumble, brothers and sisters, 
against one another, 
that you may not be judged; 
behold, the Judge is standing at the doors. 
As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, 
take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord.

Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;
he has sent me to preach good news to the poor.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 11: 2-11

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

In those days:
When John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, 
he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 
“Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

And Jesus answered them, 
“Go and tell John what you hear and see: 
the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, 
lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, 
and the dead are raised up, 
and the poor have good news preached to them. 
And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”

As they went away, 
Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: 
“What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? 
A reed shaken by the wind

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Saturday, 13 December 2025
Saturday Second Week of Advent
St Lucy, Virgin & Martyr
Antiphons on page 1900 and Readings on page 66 of the Daily Missal 

Entrance Antiphon
Behold, now she follows the Lamb who was crucified for us, powerful in virginity, modesty her offering, a sacrifice on the altar of chastity.

First Reading: Sirach 48:1-4.9-11b

A reading from the Book of Sirach

In those days:
Then the prophet Elijah arose like a fire,
and his word burned like a torch.
He brought a famine upon them,
and by his zeal he made them few in number.
By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens,
and also three times brought down fire.

How glorious you were, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
And who has the right to boast which you have?

You who were taken up by a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with horses of fire;
you who are readyat the appointed time, it is written,
to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury,
to turn the heart of the father to the son,
and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed are those who saw you,
and those who have fallen asleep in your love.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial psalm: Ps 80:2ac and 3b. 15-16a. 18-19 (R. 4)

 R./ O God bring us back;
let your face shine on us, and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hear us,
enthroned on the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse up your might and come to save us.

God of hosts, turn again, we implore;
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the vine your right hands has planted.

May your hand be on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have confirmed as your own.
And we shall never forsake you again;
give us life that we may call upon your name.

R/. O God bring us back;
let your face shine on us, and we shall be saved.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight; all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 17:10-13

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

As they were coming down the mountain,
the disciples asked Jesus,
“Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”

He replied, “Elijah does come,
and he is to restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come,
and they did not know him,
but did to him whatever they pleased.
So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood
that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon
The Lamb who is at the centre of the throne will lead them to the springs of the waters of life.

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Friday, 12 December 2025
Friday Second Week of Advent
Antiphons and readings on page 64 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon
Behold, the Lord will come descending with splendour to visit his people with peace, and he will bestow on them eternal life.

First Reading: Isaiah 48;17-19

A reading from the Book of Isaiah

Thus says the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you to profit,
who leads you in the way you should go.
O that you had listened to my commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;
your offspring would have been like the sand,
and your descendants like its grains;
their name would never be cut off
or destroyed from before me.”

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial psalm: Ps 1:1-2.3.4 and 6 (R. see John 8:12)

R./ He who follows you, Lord,
will have the light of life.

Blessed indeed is the man
who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the path with sinners,
nor abides in the company of scorners,
but whose delight is the law of the Lord,
and who ponders his law day and night.

He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,
that yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper.

Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they, like winnowed chaff,
shall be driven away by the wind.
For the Lord knows the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

R/. He who follows you, Lord,
will have the light of life.

Alleluia, Alleluia. The Lord is coming, run out to meet him;
he is the prince of peace.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

At that time:
Jesus said to the crowds
“To what shall I compare this generation? 
It is like children sitting in the market places
and calling to their playmates,

‘We piped to you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking,
and they say, ‘He has a demon’;
the Son of man came eating and drinking
 and they say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon
We await a saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our mortal bodies, to conform with his glorified body.

Antiphons and readings on page 64 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon
Behold, the Lord will come descending with splendour to visit his people with peace, and he will bestow on them eternal life.

First Reading: Isaiah 48;17-19

A reading from the Book of Isaiah

Thus says the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you to profit,
who leads you in the way you should go.
O that you had listened to my commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;
your offspring would have been like the sand,
and your descendants like its grains;
their name would never be cut off
or destroyed from before me.”

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial psalm: Ps 1:1-2.3.4 and 6 (R. see John 8:12)

R./ He who follows you, Lord,
will have the light of life.

Blessed indeed is the man
who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the path with sinners,
nor abides in the company of scorners,
but whose delight is the law of the Lord,
and who ponders his law day and night.

He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,

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Thursday, 11 December 2025
Thursday Second Week of Advent
Antiphons and Readings on p.62 of Daily Missal 

Entrance Antiphon
You, O Lord, are close, and all your ways are truth. From of old I have known of your decrees, for you are eternal.

First Reading: Isaiah 41:13-20

A reading from the Book of Isaiah

I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I will help you.”

Fear not, you worm Jacob,
you people of Israel!
I will help you, says the Lord;
your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
Behold, I will make of you a threshing sledge,
new, sharp, and having teeth;
you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,
and you shall make the hills like chaff;
you shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them away,
and the tempest shall scatter them.
And you shall rejoice in the Lord;
in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them,
I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
and the dry land springs of water.
I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive;
I will set in the desert the cypress,
the plane and the pine together;
that people may see and know,
may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial psalm: Ps 145:1 and 9.10-11.12-13ab

R/. The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in mercy.

 I will extol you, my God and king,
and bless your name forever and ever.
How good is the Lord to all, 
compassionate to all his creatures.

All your works shall thank you, O Lord, 
and all your faithful ones bless you. 
They shall speak of the glory of your reign, 
and declare your mighty deeds.

They shall make known your might to the children of men, 
and the glorious splendour of your reign. 
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; 
your rule endures for all generations.

R/. The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in mercy.

Alleluia, Alleluia. Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the skies rain down the Just One;
let the earth open, that it may bring forth the Saviour.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

At that time:
Jesus said to the crowds,
Truly, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist;
yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven
is greater than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now
the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,
and men of violence take it by force.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John;
and if you are willing to accept it,
he is Elijah who is to come.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

The Gospel of the Lord

Communion Antiphon
Let us live justly and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of the glory of our great God.

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Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Wednesday, Second week of Advent
Antiphons and Readings on p. 60 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon.
The Lord will come and he will not delay. He will illumine what is hidden in darkness and reveal himself to all the nations.

First Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31

A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

To whom will you compare me,
    that I should be like him? 
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high and see:
    who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
    calling them all by name;
by the greatness of his might,
    and because he is strong in power
    not one is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob,
    and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
    and my right is disregarded by my God”?
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary,
    his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10 (R. 1a)

R/. Bless the Lord O my soul.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all within me, his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and never forget all his benefits.

It is the Lord who forgives all your sins,
who heals everyone of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with mercy and compassion.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us according to your sins,
nor repay us according to our faults.

R/. Bless the Lord O my soul.

Alleluia. Alleluia.
Behold, the Lord is coming to save his people; blessed are those who are ready to meet him.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

At that time:
Jesus said, “Come to me, 
all who labour and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest. 
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; 
for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 
and you will find rest for your souls. 
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon.
Behold our Lord will come with power, and will enlighten the eyes of his servants.

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Tuesday, 9 December 2025
Tuesday, Second week of Advent
Antiphons and Readings on p. 58 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon
Behold, the Lord will come, and all his holy ones with him; and on that day there will be a great light.

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned, 
that she has received from the Lord’s handdouble for all her sins.

A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people is grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd,
he will gather the lambs in his arms, 
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1-2.3 & 10ac.11-12a.12b-13 (R. Isaiah 40:9-10)

R/. The Lord our God comes with might.

O sing a new song to the Lord;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
O sing to the Lord; bless his name.
Proclaim his salvation day by day.

Tell among the nations his glory,
and his wonders among all the peoples.
Say to the nations, “The Lord is king.”
He will judge the peoples in fairness.

Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad;
let the sea and all within it thunder praise.
Let the land and all it bears rejoice.

Then will all the trees of the wood shout for joy
at the presence of the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice;
he will govern the peoples with his truth.

R/. The Lord our God comes with might.

Alleluia. Alleluia.
The day of the Lord is near; behold, he shall come to save us.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 18:12-14

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

At that time: 
Jesus said to his disciples, “What do you think? 
If a man has a hundred sheep, 
and one of them has gone astray, 
does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills 
and go in search of the one that went astray? 
And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, 
he rejoices over it 
more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 
So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven 
that one of these little ones should perish.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon.
The Just Judge will bestow a crown of righteousness on those who eagerly await his coming.

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Monday, 8 December 2025
Solemnity The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Antiphons and Readings on p. 1833 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon.
I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bride adorned with her jewels.

First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15.20

A reading from the Book of Genesis.

(After Adam had eaten of the tree,)
the Lord God called to the him, and said, 
“Where are you?” 

And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, 
and I was afraid because I was naked, 
and I hid myself.” 

He said, “Who told you that you were naked? 
Have you eaten of the tree 
of which I commanded you not to eat?” 

The man said, 
“The woman whom you gave to be with me, 
she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 

Then the Lord God said to the woman, 
“What is this that you have done?” 

The woman said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.” 

The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all cattle,
and above all wild animals;
upon your belly, you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your seed and her seed; 
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”

Themancalledhiswife’snameEve
becauseshewasthemotherofallliving.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1.2-3ab.3cd-4 (R. 1ab)

R/. O sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders.

O sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation,
has shown his deliverance to the nations.
He has remembered his merciful love
and his truth for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song,
and sing out your praise.

R/. O sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders.

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6.11-12

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.

BlessedbetheGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist,
whohasblessedusinChrist
witheveryspiritualblessingintheheavenlyplaces,
evenashechoseusinhimbeforethefoundationoftheworld,
thatweshouldbeholyandblamelessbeforehim.
HedestinedusinlovetobehischildrenthroughJesusChrist,
accordingtothepurposeofhiswill,
tothepraiseofhisgloriousgrace
whichhefreelybestowedonusintheBeloved.

Inhim,accordingtothepurpose
ofhimwhoaccomplishesallthings
accordingtothecounselofhiswill,
wewhofirsthopedinChrist
havebeendestinedandappointed
toliveforthepraiseofhisglory.

The Word of the Lord.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

At that time:
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

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Sunday, 7 December 2025
The Second Sunday of Advent. - Cycle A
Antiphons and Readings on p. 48 of the Daily Missal and on p. 25 of the Sunday Missal.

Entrance Antiphon.
O people of Zion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart.

First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10

A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

On that day:
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the spirit of counsel and might,
    the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
    or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
    and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist,
    and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
    and the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
and the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
    and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall feed;
    their young shall lie down together;
    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp,
    and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.
They shall not hurt or destroyin all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.

In that day the root of Jesse shall stand 
as an ensign to the peoples; 
him shall the nations seek, 
and his dwellings shall be glorious.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm:Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17(R. see 7)

R/. In his days shall justice flourish, and great peace for ever.

O God, give your judgement to the king, 
to a king’s son your justice, 
that he may judge your people in justice,
and your poor in right judgement.

In his days shall justice flourish,
and great peace till the moon is no more.
He shall rule from sea to sea,
from the River to the bounds of the earth.

For he shall save the needy when they cry,
the poor, and those who are helpless.
He will have pity on the weak and the needy, 
and save the lives of the needy.

May his name endure for ever, 
his name continue like the sun.
Every tribe shall be blest in him, 
all nations shall call him blessed.

R/. In his days shall justice flourish, and great peace for ever.

Second Reading:Romans 15:4-9

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.

Brothers and sisters: 

Whatever was written in former days 
was written for our instruction, 
that by steadfastness 
and by the encouragement of the scriptures 
we might have hope.
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement 
grant you to live in such harmony with one another, 
in accord with Christ Jesus, 
that together you may with one voice 
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, 
for the glory of God. 
For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised 
to show God’s truthfulness, 
in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
and in order that the Gentiles mig

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Saturday, 6 December 2025
Saturday of the First Week of Advent
St Nicholas, Bishop
Antiphons on p. 1918 and Readings on p. 45 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon.
The Lord chose him for himself as high priest, and opening his treasure house, made him rich in all good things.

First Reading: Isaiah 30:19-21.23-26

A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: 

Yes, O people in Zion who dwell at Jerusalem; 
you shall weep no more. 
He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; 
when he hears it, he will answer you. 
And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity 
and the water of affliction, 
yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, 
but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 
“This is the way, walk in it,” 
when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

And he will give rain
for the seed with which you sow the ground,
and grain, the produce of the ground,
which will be rich and plenteous.
In that day your flock will be given pasture;
and the lamb will graze in open fields; 
and the oxen and the donkeys that till the ground 
will eat salted food, 
which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. 
And upon every lofty mountain and every high hill, 
there will be brooks running with water, 
in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 

Moreover, the light of the moon 
will be as the light of the sun, 
and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, 
as the light of seven days, 
in the day when the Lord binds up the hurt of his people 
and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 147:1-2.3-4.5-6 (R. Isaiah 30:18)

R/. Blessed are all those who wait for the Lord.

How good to sing psalms to our God;
how pleasant to chant fitting praise!
The Lord builds up Jerusalem
and brings back Israel’s exiles;

He heals the broken-hearted;
he binds up all their wounds.
He counts out the number of the stars;
he calls each one by its name.

Our Lord is great and almighty;
his wisdom can never be measured.
The Lord lifts up the lowly;
he casts down the wicked to the ground.

R/. Blessed are all those who wait for the Lord.

Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our ruler,
the Lord is our king: he will save us.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10.:1.5a.6-8

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

At that time: 
Jesus went about all the cities and villages, 
teaching in their synagogues 
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
andhealingeverydiseaseandeveryinfirmity.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, 
because they there harassed and helpless, 
like sheep without a shepherd. 
Then he said to his disciples, 
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; 
pray therefore the Lord of the harvest 
to send out labourers into his harvest.” 

Andhecalledtohimhistwelvedisciples
andgavethemauthorityoveruncleanspirits,
tocastthemout,
andtohealeverydiseaseandeveryinfirmity.

ThesetwelveJesussentout,chargingthem,
“GotothelostsheepofthehouseofIsrael.
Andpreachasyougo,saying,
‘Thekingdomofheavenisathand.’
Healthesick,raisethedead,
cleanselepers,castoutdemons.
Youreceivedwithoutpay,givewithoutpay.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon.
The Good Shepherd has laid down his life for his sheep.