Scripture Readings
2004
January through May
Taken from Today’s
Missal - Breaking Bread Edition - Oregon Catholic
Press
Epiphany of the Lord
First
Darkness covers the
earth and heavy clouds hand over the people. But the light has come, and the
glory of the Lord shines bright.
Second
In Christ Jesus, Gentile
and Jews are co heirs of the family fortune and co-sharers in the saving
promise. Finally, this mystery of God’s love is revealed by the Spirit to the
holy apostles and prophets.
Gospel reading: Matthew 2, 1-12
The magi from the
east followed the star until it stopped still over the house. They entered,
found the child with Mary, prostrated themselves, and
did him homage and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But because
of Herod, they returned to their home country by another way.
Baptism of the Lord
First
“Comfort,
give comfort to my people.”
Isaiah prophesies that “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people
shall see it.”
Second
Through the grace
of God’s appearance, we have been saved “through the bath of rebirth and
renewal by the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our savior.”
Gospel
When Jesus was
baptized, the heavens opened and a voice said, “You are my beloved Son, with
you I am well pleased.”
Second Sunday in Ordinary
Time
First
As a young man
marries a virgin, so the Lord will marry
Second
There is one Spirit
from whom come many gifts. Each person is given a
different gift to use for the common good. We are all united in the one Spirit
through out individual gifts.
Gospel
Jesus and his
mother were invited to a wedding feast at
Third Sunday in Ordinary
Time
First
Ezra the priest
stood before the people and proclaimed the book of the law. Then he
“interpreted it so that all could understand.” He declared the day holy and
urged the people to rejoice.
Second
The body is one and
has many members, but all members, though many, are
one body. Further, each part of indispensable. So it
is with Christ’s body: we, though many, are one.
Gospel
Returning to
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary
Time
First
“Before I formed
you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to
the nations I appointed you. They will fight against you but not prevail over
you, for I am with you.”
Second
“Love is patient,
love is kind. Love never fails.” To the end there are three things - faith hope
and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Gospel
God sent Elijah to
no other widow than the widow of Zarephath, near
Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time
First
Isaiah received a
call from the Lord. With a burning coal his lips were cleansed and his sin
removed. When the Lord asked for a messenger, Isaiah replied, “Here I am, send
me.”
Second
Paul urged everyone
to remain faithful to the gospel he preached, namely, that Christ died for sin
and rose again. This “feast of the apostles” received the Lord’s blessing.
Gospel
Jesus boarded Simon
Peter’s boat and told him to cast his net for a catch. Simon and his friends
caught enough to fill two boats. When Jesus invited them to become fishers of men,
they left all to follow him.
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary
Time
First
Those who trust in
the things of this life will soon perish, but those who trust in the Lord will
remain strong, bearing fruit even in the worst of seasons.
Second
If we do not
believe that Christ has been raised from the dead, then out faith is worthless.
Gospel
Jesus described the
blessings in store for the meek and lowly who place their trust in the Lord,
but the rich and powerful, he said, will lose everything they have.
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary
Time
First
Saul pursued David
with a large army, but David sent out spies and penetrated Saul’s camp. David
declined to kill Saul but instead took merely his spear and water jar.
Second
Paul compared the
risen Christ with Adam. The first Adam received life, but the risen one gives
life. Adam is an earthly model and Christ is spiritual. As we are like Adam, so
will we be like Christ.
Gospel
Jesus challenged:
“Love your enemies.” Love goes beyond the payment of debt. “Lend expecting
nothing back.” said Jesus. “Stop judging and you will not be judged.”
First Sunday of Lent
First
Moses told the
story of the Israelites. The Lord God led them from bondage to freedom. This
story should always be recalled before offering gifts to God. The people of God
can rejoice over the many good things the Lord has given them.
Second
God’s word is on
your lips and in your heart. If you proclaim with your lips that Jesus is Lord
and believe it in your heart, you will be saved. “Everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved.”
Gospel
Jesus was led by
the Holy Spirit into the desert for forty days. There he are nothing and was
tempted by the devil. Afterwards, the devil left him to await another
opportunity.
Second Sunday of Lent
First
God appeared to
Abram and made a covenant to his faithful servant, promising many descendants
and much land. Abram put faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as
righteousness.
Second
Paul urged the
Philippians to follow his example. “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I
love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord.”
Gospel
Jesus took Peter,
James and John up a mountain to pray. There he was transfigured before their
eyes, A cloud overshadowed them and a voice said, “This is my chosen Son,
listen to him.”
Third Sunday of Lent
First
The Lord appeared
to Moses in a flaming book, telling him he would lead
Second
Just as
Gospel
Jesus told his
followers they need to reform their lives. A tree that bears no fruit will be
cut down and thrown into the fire. The followers of Jesus have been given time
to repent and bear fruit.
Fourth Sunday of Lent
First
God delivered
Second
We are ambassadors
for Christ and ministers of reconciliation to one another. We must all be
reconciled to God so that we might “become the righteousness of God in him.”
Gospel
Jesus told his
followers the parable of the prodigal son. It is never too late to repent, to
be received back by a loving father, and to enjoy his presence forever.
Fifth Sunday of Lent
First
Isaiah recounted
how the Lord crushed the enemies of
Second
Paul told the
Philippians how much he had forfeited in order to arrive at resurrection from
the dead. Paul’s entire attention was on the finish line as he ran towards the
prize: life in Christ Jesus.
Gospel
Pharisees brought
to Jesus a woman caught in adultery. They hoped he would condemn her to death
by stoning, but Jesus said simply: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” No one dared. Jesus
forgave the woman and told her to avoid sin.
Palm Sunday Of The Lord
Gospel
Jesus sent his
disciples to get a donkey. When they did, he mounted it and rode into
First
The servant of the
Lord God was rebuffed but did not turn back; he was beaten and spat upon. The
suffering one knew the Lord God was with him.
Second
Christ was in the
form of God but did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped at. He
emptied himself, took the form of a slave and was obedient unto death.
Therefore God exalted him and all proclaim him Lord.
The Passion Of The
Lord: Luke
Holy Thursday
First
The Lord instructed
Moses and Aaron regarding the Passover meal. They were to eat roasted lamb,
unleavened bread and bitter herbs and to sprinkle blood of the lamb on the
doorpost as a sign that those inside obeyed God’s command.
Second
Paul recounted the
tradition of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus said, “This is my body that is for you.
This cup is the new covenant I my blood. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Gospel
Jesus called his
disciples together for the Passover Supper. During the meal, Jesus rose, tied a
towel around himself, and washed the disciples foot.
He said, “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you
ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Good Friday
Celebration of The Lord’s Passion
First
Isaiah foretold the
Messiah’s suffering by describing those of the servant who died and was raised
up to take away the sins of many.
Second
Jesus is the great
high priest, servant of all, source of salvation. Though he was God’s son, he
learned obedience through suffering. He was heard because of his reverence.
Gospel
The Passion Of The Lord
The message of the liturgy in proclaiming
the passion narratives in full is to enable the assembly to see vividly the
love of Christ for each person, despite their sins, love that even death could
not vanquish. The crimes during the Passion of Christ cannot be attributed
indiscriminately to all Jews of that time, nor to Jews
today. The Jewish people should not be referred to as through rejected or
cursed, as if the view followed from Scripture. The church ever keeps in mind
that Jesus, his mother Mary and the Apostles all were Jewish. As the Church has
always held, Christ freely suffered his passion and
death because of the sins of all, that all might be saved.
Bishops Committee for
Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
Easter Vigil
First
God created the
world and saw how good it was. God looked at everything and found it very good.
Second
Abraham offered his
only son Isaac as a sacrifice to God, and it wa credited tp him as a
justice.
Third
Fourth
I, your maker, the
Lord of hosts, will establish you in justice, far from fear where no harm can
come near you.
Fifth
“All you who are thirsty, come to the water! I will renew with you the
everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.
Sixth
“All who cling to
God’s law will live. “Blessed are we, O Israel, for what pleases God is known
to us.”
Seventh
The Lord will pour
clean water over the people and give them a new heart.
Epistle: Romans 6:3-11
Christ’s death is
death to sin once and for all, and his life is life for God. We are dead to sin
and living for God in Christ.
Gospel
When the women came
to the tomb they found the stone rolled back. “Two men in dazzling garments”
appeared and asked them why they were looking for the one who had been raised.
The women returned to the apostles and told them everything.
Easter Sunday
Resurrection Of The Lord
First
Peter preached
about Jesus’ baptism, the anointing with the Holy Spirit, works of kindness and
healing and his crucifixion and resurrection from the dead. All who believe in
him are forgiven.
Second
Think about what is
above. When Christ appears, then you shall appear with him in glory.
Gospel
Mary Magdalene and
the disciples went to the tomb and found it empty. They did not yet understand that Jesus would
rise from the dead.
Second Sunday of Easter
Divine Mercy Sunday
First
Through the work of
the apostles, many signs and wonders took place among the people. People in
great numbers became believers, and many sick people were cured.
Second
The author of
Revelations had a vision of seven gold lampstands.
Among the lampstands was one like a son of man
dressed in a robe, with a gold sash around his chest.
Gospel
One of the Twelve,
Thomas, was absent when the risen Lord first appeared to the others. Later,
when Thomas was with them, Jesus came and said, “Bring your hand and put it
into my side and believe.” Thomas cried, “My Lord and my God.”
Third Sunday of Easter
First
The high priest
interrogated the apostles and ordered them not to speak again about Jesus. The
apostles left filled with joy for having been found worthy of ill-treatment for
Christ.
Second
The author of
Revelations had a vision and heard the voices of countless angels who
surrounded the heavenly throne. They cried, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
To the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever.”
Gospel
Peter and the disciples
fished all night but caught nothing. Jesus appeared to them, telling them to
cast their nets again, and immediately the nets were filled with fish. After
they ate, Jesus told Simon Peter, “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.”
Fourth
Sunday of Easter
First
Paul and Barnabas
traveled to
Second
The author of
Revelations had a vision of a large crowd of people from every nation and race,
dressed in white robes and holding palm branches, standing before the Lamb.
Gospel
“My sheep hear my
voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life. No one can
take them out of my hand. My Father is greater than all. The Father and I are
one.”
