Wednesday of the First week of Advent

Book of Isaiah

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Psalms

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for His names's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way."
The disciples said to him, "Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?"
Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" "Seven," they replied, "and a few fish."
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over--seven baskets full.

St. Barbara(Virgin and Martyr (3rd century))

SAINT BARBARA Virgin and Martyr(3rd century) St. Barbara's pagan father, Dioscorus, kept her secluded in a lonely tower while goading her to renounce Jesus. In that forced solitude, St. Barbara gave herself to prayer and study. She was also secretly formed and baptized by a priest. When Dioscorus discovered his daughter's baptism, he was beside himself with rage. He denounced St. Barbara before a civil tribunal: As punishment, St. Barbara was tortured and beheaded. Martyrologies state that Dioscorus acted as St. Barbara's executioner. Some also state that he was killed by a lightning bolt. St. Barbara's prayers likely resulted in conversions and miracles through her intercession.

St. John Damascus(Syrian monk and priest (c. 675-749))

St. John of Damascus Syrian monk and priest(c. 675-749) St. John Damascene has the double honor of being the last of the fathers of the Eastern Church and the greatest of her poets. However, little else is known about his life. The account of John of Jerusalem, two hundred years after the Saint's death, contains both fact and legend. St. John Damascus' ancestors, according to his biographer, remained Christian despite Damascus' fell to Islamic armies. They were employed in judicial offices to administer the Christian subjects. St. John's father freed Christian slaves using his great wealth. St. John was baptized after his birth, likely by Peter II, the bishop of Damascus. As an adult, St. John's character and achievements earned him the Saracens' respect. In time, he was compelled to accept an office of higher trust and dignity than that of his father. As the Iconoclastic controversy became more violent, St. John published the first of three treatises on the veneration due to images. They were probably composed when Leo the Isaurian decreed against images in 730. St. John was ordained before publishing his second treatise. His third treatise expanded upon freedom of expression and basic rights. His treatises were disseminated throughout the Christian world. St. John wrote religious poetry, which is a heritage of the Eastern Church. He also protected the Church's doctrines through apologetics to heretical groups. His three great hymns or canons are on Easter, the Ascension and Saint Thomas' Sunday. His defense of icons and basic rights makehim the Doctor of Christian Art.

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2024 / Catholic Missal of december 2024