CATHEDRAL CELEBRATION

~150th Anniversary of the Cathedral Parish and 125th Anniversary of the present Church~

2025 has been a year of celebration in the Cathedral Parish. To bring the celebration to a close all are welcome to:

• Holy Mass will be celebrated in Motherwell Cathedral. for the Dedication of the Cathedral on Mon, 15 Dec, 1900

First reading

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a

‘A star shall come out of Jacob.’

In those days: Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping 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 with his eyes uncovered:
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
Like palm groves 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 with his eyes uncovered:
I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel.’

________

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 25(24):4-5b. 6-7. 8-9. ℟6a

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.

Teach me your paths, O Lord.

Remember your compassion, O LORD,
and your merciful love, for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth,
nor my transgressions.
In your merciful love remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.

Teach me your paths, O Lord.

Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he shows the way to sinners.
He guides the humble in right judgement;
to the humble he teaches his way.

Teach me your paths, O Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation

Psalm 85(84):8

Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, O LORD, your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Alleluia.

________

Gospel

Matthew 21:23-27

‘The baptism of John, from where did it come?’

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 one 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, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?’ And they discussed it among themselves, saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “From man”, we are afraid of the crowd, for they 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.’