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 Monday, 6 January 2025
Monday after Epiphany
Antiphons on page 149 and Readings on page 165 of the Daily Missal

First Reading: 1 John 3:22 – 4:6

Beloved:

We receive from God whatever we ask, 
because we keep his commandments 
and do what pleases him. 
And this is his commandment, 
that we should believe in the name of his Son 
Jesus Christ and love one another, 
just as he has commanded us. 
All who keep his commandments abide in him, 
and he in them. 
And by this we know that he abides in us, 
by the Spirit which he has given us.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, 
but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; 
for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 
By this you know the Spirit of God: 
every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ 
has come in the flesh is of God, 
and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. 
This is the spirit of antichrist, 
of which you heard that it was coming, 
and now it is in the world already. 
Little children, you are of God, 
and have overcome them; 
for he who is in you is greater 
than he who is in the world. 
They are of the world, 
therefore what they say is of the world, 
and the world listens to them. 
We are of God. 
Whoever knows God listens to us, 
and he who is not of God does not listen to us. 
By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial psalm: Ps 2:7-8.10-11

R./ I will give you the nations as your inheritance.

I will announce the decree of the Lord: 
The Lord said to me,” You are my Son. 
It is I who have begotten you this day. 
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations as your inheritance,
and the ends of the earth as your possession,”

“So now, O kings, understand; 
take warning, rulers of the earth. 
Serve the Lord with fear; 
exult with trembling, pay him your homage.”

R.

Gospel: Matthew 4:12–17, 23-25

At that time:
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, 
he withdrew into Galilee; 
and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, 
in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 
that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
toward the sea, across the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

And he went about all Galilee, 
teaching in their synagogues and 
preaching the gospel of the kingdom 
and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. 
So his fame spread throughout all Syria, 
and they brought him all the sick, 
those afflicted with various diseases and pains, 
demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 
And great crowds followed him from Galilee 
and the Decapolis and Jerusalem 
and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Sunday 5 January 2025
Solemnity - Epiphany of the Lord
Antiphons and Readings on p.146 of Daily Missal and p.69 of Sunday Missal

First Reading: Isaiah 60: 1-6

Responsorial psalm: Ps 72: 1-2. 7-8. 10-11. 12-13 (R.cf. 11)

R/: All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

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.

 The kings of Tarshish and the islands

shall pay him tribute.

The kings of Sheba and Seba

shall bring him gifts.

Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,

all nations shall serve him.

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.

R/: All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

Second reading: Ephesians 3:2-3a. 5-6

Brothers and sisters,
I assume that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace 
that was given to me for you, 
how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, 
which was not made known to the children of men in other generations 
as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 
that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, 
members of the same body, 
and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-12

Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea 
in the days of Herod the king, 
behold, Wise Men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, 
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  
For we have seen his star in the East, 
and have come to worship him.”  

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him; 
and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, 
he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  
They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; 
for so it is written by the prophet: 
‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; 
for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”  

Then Herod summoned the Wise Men secretly 
and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 
and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 
“Go and search diligently for the child, 
and when you have found him bring me word, 
that I too may come and worship him.”  

When they had heard the king they went on their way; 
and behold, the star which they had seen in the East 
went before them, 
till it came to rest over the place where the child was.  
When they saw the star, 
they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 
and going into the house 
they saw the child with Mary his mother, 
and they fell down and worshipped him.  
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, 
gold and frankincense and myrrh.  
And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 
they departed to their own country by another way.

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Saturday 4 January 2025
Weekday of Christmas Time
Antiphons on page 153 and Readings on page 157 of the Daily Missal

Entrance Antiphon: Gal 4:4-5
God sent his Son, born of a woman, so that we might receive adoption as children.

First Reading: 1 John 3: 7-10

A reading from the first letter of Saint John

Little children, let no one deceive you.
 He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous.
 He who commits sin is of the devil;
 for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
 The reason the Son of God appeared
 was to destroy the works of the devil.
 Any one born of God does not commit sin;
 for God’s seed abides in him,
 and he cannot sin because he is born of God.
 By this it may be seen who are the children of God,
 and who are the children of the devil:
 whoever does not do right is not of God,
 nor he who does not love his brother.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial psalm: Psalm 98:1. 7-9ab-cd. (R.3cd)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm 

R./All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

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

Let the sea and all within it thunder;
 the world, and those who dwell in it.
 Let the rivers clap their hands,
 and the hills ring out their joy.
 At the presence of the Lord, for he comes,
 he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with justice,
 and the peoples with fairness.

R./ All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Please stand for the Gospel
 Alleluia, Alleluia. In many and various ways God spoke of old by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.
Alleluia.

Gospel: John 1: 35-42

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples
 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said,
 “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him say this,
 and they followed Jesus.
 Jesus turned, and saw them following,
 and said to them, “What do you seek?”

And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher),
 “where are you staying?”

He said to them, “Come and see”.

They came and saw where he was staying;
 and they stayed with him that day,
 for it was about the tenth hour.

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him,
 was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
 He first found his brother Simon, and said to him
 “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
 He brought him to Jesus.
 Jesus looked at him, and said,
 “So you are Simon the son of John?
 You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).  

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon: John 1:16
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

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Friday, 3 January 2025
 The Most Holy Name of Jesus
Antiphons and Readings on page 1538 of the Daily Missal

Entrance Antiphon.
At the name of Jesus, every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

First Reading: Philippians 2:1-11

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

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, 
 any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, 
 any affection and sympathy, 
 complete my joy by being of the same mind, 
 having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 
 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, 
 but in humility count others better than yourselves. 
 Let each of you look not only to their own interests 
 but also to the interests of others. 
 Have this mind among yourselves, 
 which was in Christ Jesus, 
 who, though he was in the form of God, 
 did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 
 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, 
 being born in the likeness of a man. 
 And being found in human form he humbled himself 
 and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 
 Therefore God has highly exalted him 
 and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 
 in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 
 to the glory of God the Father.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 8:4-9 (R. 2ab)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name through all the earth!

When I see the heavens, the work of your fingers,
 the moon and the stars which you arranged,
 what is man that you should keep him in mind,
 the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him little lower than the angels;
 with glory and honour, you crowned him,
 gave him power over the works of your hands:
 you put all things under his feet.

All of them, sheep and oxen,
 yes, even the cattle of the fields,
 birds of the air, and fish of the sea
 that make their way through the waters.

R/. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name through all the earth!

Please stand for the Gospel.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
That which conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit,
she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 2:21-24

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

And at the end of eight days,
 when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus,
 the name given by the angel
 before he was conceived in the womb. 

And when the time came for their purification 
 according to the law of Moses, 
 they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 
 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, 
 “Every male that opens the womb 
 shall be called holy to the Lord”) 
 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said 
 in the law of the Lord, 
 “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name through all the earth!

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Thursday 2 January, 2025
Sts Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors, Memorial
Antiphons on page 1537 and readings on page 155 of the Daily Missal.

First Reading: 1 John 2: 22-28

A reading from the first Letter of Saint John

Beloved: Who is the liar
 but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?
 This is the antichrist,
 he who denies the Father and the Son.
 Any one who denies the Son does not have the Father.
 He who confesses the Son has the Father also.
 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you.
 If what you heard from the beginning abides in you,
 then you will abide in the Son and in the Father.
 And this is what he has promised us, eternal life.

I write this to you about those who would deceive you;
 but the anointing which you received from him abides in you,
 and you have no need that any one should teach you;
 as his anointing teaches you about everything,
 and is true, and is no lie,
 just as it has taught you, abide in him.

And now, little children, abide in him,
 so that when he appears we may have confidence
 and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial psalm: Psalm 98: 1. 2-3ab. 3cd-4 (R.3cd)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm: 

R./ All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

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./ All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Please stand for the Gospel
 Alleluia, Alleluia.  In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.  Alleluia.

Gospel: John 1: 19-28

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

This is the testimony of John,
 when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem
 to ask him, “Who are you?”

He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed,
 “I am not the Christ.”
 And they asked him, “What then?  Are you Elijah?”
 He said, “I am not”.
 “Are you the prophet?”
 And he answered, “No”.
 They said to him then, “Who are you?
 Let us have an answer for those who sent us.
 What do you say about yourself?”

He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness,
 ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
 as the prophet Isaiah said”.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
 They asked him, “Then why are you baptising,
 if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

John answered them,
 “I baptise with water;
 but among you stands one whom you do not know,
 even he who comes after me,
 the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
 This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan,
 where John was baptising.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Wednesday 1 January 2025
 Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Antiphons and Readings on p.139 of Daily Missal 

First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27

A reading from the Book of Numbers

The Lord said to Moses,
 “Say to Aaron and his sons,
 Thus you shall bless the children of Israel:
 you shall say to them,
 The Lord bless you and keep you:
 The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
 and be gracious to you:
 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
 and give you peace.

“So shall they put my name upon the children of Israel,
 and I will bless them.”

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial psalm: Psalm 67:2-3.5.6. and 8 (R. 2a)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. O God, be gracious and bless us.

O God, be gracious and bless us
 and let your face shed its light upon us. 
 So will your ways be known upon earth 
 and all nations learn your salvation.

Let the nations be glad and shout for joy, 
 with uprightness you rule the peoples; 
 you guide the nations on earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; 
 let all the peoples praise you. 
 May God still give us his blessing 
 that all the ends of the earth may revere him.

R/. O God, be gracious and bless us.

Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians

Brothers and Sisters:
 When the time had fully come,
 God sent forth his Son,
 born of woman, born under the law,
 to redeem those who were under the law,
 so that we might receive adoption as children.
 And because you are sons and daughters,
 God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
 crying, “Abba! Father!”
 So through God you are no longer a slave but a son or daughter,
 and if a son or daughter then an heir.

The word of the Lord.

Please stand for the Gospel
 Alleluia, Alleluia. In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son. Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

At that time:
 The shepherds went with haste to Bethlehem,
  and found Mary and Joseph,
 and the baby lying in a manger.
 And when they saw it they made known the saying
 which had been told them concerning this child;
 and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
 But Mary kept all these things,
 pondering them in her heart.
 And the shepherds returned,
 glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen,
 as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days,
 when he was circumcised,
 he was called Jesus,
 the name given by the angel
 before he was conceived in the womb.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Tuesday, 31 December 2024
The Seventh Day within the Octave of Christmas.
 Readings and Antiphons on p. 136 of the Daily Missal.

First Reading: 1 John 2:18-21

Children, it is the last hour;
 and as you have heard that antichrist is coming,
 so now many antichrists have come;
 therefore we know that it is the last hour.
 They went out from us, but they were not of us;
 for if they had been of us,
 they would have continued with us;
 but they went out,
 that it might be plain that they all are not of us.
 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know.
I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, 
 but because you know it, 
 and know that no lie is of the truth.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1-2.11.12.13 (R. 11a)

R/. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.

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.

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/. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.

Gospel: John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word
 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God;
 all things were made through him,
 and without him was not anything made that was made.
 In him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
 The light shines in the darkness,
 and the darkness has not overcome it. 

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
 He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light,
 that all might believe through him.
 He was not the light
 but came to bear witness to the light. 

The true light that enlightens every person
 was coming into the world.
 He was in the world, and the world was made through him,
 yet the world knew him not.
 He came to his own home,
 and his own people received him not.
 But to all who received him, who believed in his name,
 he gave power to become children of God;
 who were born, not of blood
 nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of mankind,
 but of God. 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 
 full of grace and truth; 
 we have beheld his glory, 
 glory as of the only Son from the Father. 

(John bore witness to him, and cried, 
 “This was he of whom I said, 
 ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, 
 for he was before me.’”) 

And from his fulness have we all received, 
 grace upon grace. 
 For the law was given through Moses; 
 grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 
 No one has ever seen God; 
 the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, 
 he has made him known.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Monday, 30 December 2024
The Sixth Day within the Octave of Christmas.
 Antiphons and Readings on p. 134 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon
When a profound silence covered all things, and night was in the middle of its course, your all-powerful Word, O Lord, bounded from heaven’s royal throne.

First Reading: 1 John 2:12-17

A reading from the First Letter of Saint John.

I am writing to you, little children,
 because your sins are forgiven for his sake.
 I am writing to you, parents,
 because you know him who is from the beginning.
 I am writing to you, young people,
 because you have overcome the evil one.
 I write to you, children because you know the Father.
 I write to you, parents
 because you know him who is from the beginning.
 I write to you, young people because you are strong,
 and the word of God abides in you,
 and you have overcome the evil one. 

Do not love the world or the things in the world. 
 If anyone loves the world, 
 love for the Father is not in him. 
 For all that is in the world, 
 the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life 
 is not of the Father but is of the world. 
 And the world passes away, and the lust of it; 
 but he who does the will of God abides forever.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:7-8a.8b-9.10 (R. 11a)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.

Give the Lord, you families of peoples,
 give the Lord glory and power;
 give the Lord the glory of his name.

Bring an offering and enter his courts;
 worship the Lord in holy splendour.
 O tremble before him, all the earth.

Say to the nations, “The Lord is king.”
 The world he made firm in its place;
 he will judge the peoples in fairness.

R/. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.

Please stand for the Gospel.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
A hallowed day has shone upon us; come, O nations, and adore the Lord; for today a great light has come down to earth.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 2: 36-40

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke

At that time: 
 There was a prophetess, Anna, 
 the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; 
 she was of a great age, 
 having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, 
 and as a widow, till she was eighty-four. 
 She did not depart from the temple, 
 worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day. 
 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God 
 and spoke of him to all 
 who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 

And when they had performed everything 
 according to the law of the Lord, 
 they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 
 And the child grew and became strong, 
 filled with wisdom; 
 and the favour of God was upon him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon.
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

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Sunday, 29 December 2024
Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Cycle C
 Antiphons on p. 124 and Readings on p. 129 of the Daily Missal, and p.792 of Sunday Missal

First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:20-22.24-28

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 84:2-3.5-6.9-10.11 (R. 5a)

R/. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

How lovely is your dwelling place,
 O Lord of hosts.
 My soul is longing and yearning
 for the courts of the Lord.
 My heart and my flesh cry out
 to the living God.

Blessed are they who dwell in your house,
 forever singing your praise.
 Blessed the people whose strength is in you,
 whose heart is set on pilgrim ways.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
 give ear, O God of Jacob.
 Turn your eyes, O God, our shield;
 look on the face of your anointed.

One day within your courts
 is better than a thousand elsewhere.
 The threshold of the house of God
 I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked.

Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-2.21-24

Beloved: 

See what love the Father has given us,
 that we should be called children of God,
 and so we are.
 The reason why the world does not know us
 is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
 it does not yet appear what we shall be,
 but we know that when he appears we shall be like him,
 for we shall see him as he is. 

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, 
 we have confidence before God; 
 and we receive from him whatever we ask 
 because we keep his commandments 
 and do what pleases him. 
 And this is his commandment, 
 that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ 
 and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 
 All who keep his commandments abide in him, 
 and he in them. 
 And by this, we know that he abides in us, 
 by the Spirit which he has given us.

Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

The parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem every year 
 at the feast of the Passover. 
 And when he was twelve years old, 
 they went up according to custom; 
 and when the feast was ended, 
 as they were returning, 
 the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. 
 His parents did not know it, 
 but supposing him to be in the company 
 they went a day’s journey, 
 and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; 
 and when they did not find him, 
 they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. 
 After three days they found him in the temple, 
 sitting among the teachers, 
 listening to them and asking them questions; 
 and all who heard him were amazed 
 at his understanding and his answers. 

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.” 

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?” 

And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.
 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. 

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, 
 and in favour with God and mankind.

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Saturday, 28 December 2024
The Feast of the Holy Innocents - Martyrs
 Antiphons and Readings on p. 1845 of the Daily Missal.

First Reading: 1 John 1:5-2:2

A reading from the First Letter of Saint John.

Brothers and sisters:
 This is the message we have heard from Jesus Christ
 and proclaim to you,
 that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness,
 we lie and do not live according to the truth;
 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,
 we have fellowship with one another,
 and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
 and the truth is not in us.
 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just,
 and will forgive our sins
 and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar,
 and his word is not in us. 

My little children, 
 I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; 
 but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, 
 Jesus Christ the righteous; 
 and he is the expiation for our sins, 
 and not for ours only 
 but also for the sins of the whole world.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 124:2-3.4-5.7b-8 (R. 7ab)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. Our life, like a bird, has escaped
 from the snare of the fowler.

“If the Lord had not been on our side
 when people rose against us,
 then would they have swallowed us alive
 when their anger was kindled.”

“Then would the waters have engulfed us,
 the torrent gone over us;
 over our head would have swept
 the raging waters.”

Indeed, the snare has been broken,
 and we have escaped.
 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
 who made heaven and earth.

R/. Our life, like a bird, has escaped
 from the snare of the fowler.

Please stand for the Gospel

Alleluia, Alleluia
We praise you, O God; we acclaim you as the Lord;
 the white-robed army of martyrs sings your praise.
 Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

When the Wise Men had departed, behold, 
 an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 
 “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, 
 and remain there till I tell you; 
 for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 

And he rose and took the child and his mother by night,
 and departed to Egypt,
 and remained there until the death of Herod.
 This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet,
 “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” 

Then Herod,
 when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,
 was in a furious rage,
 and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem
 and in all that region who were two years old or under,
 according to the time
 which he had ascertained from the wise men.
 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
“A voice was heard in Ramah, 
 wailing and loud lamentation, 
 Rachel weeping for her children; 
 she refused to be consoled 
 because they were no more.”

The Gospel of the Lord.