18th December
Thursday in the 3rd Week of Advent
What’s on Today
Rosary 0910 | Mass 0930 | Rosary 1900
Tea, Coffee and toast in the hall after 0930 Mass
First reading
Jeremiah 23:5-8
‘I will raise up for David a righteous Branch.’
‘Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.”
‘Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, “As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt”, but “As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.” Then they shall dwell in their own land.’
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Responsorial Psalm
Ps 72(71):1-2. 12-13. 18-19. ℟ cf. 7
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 for ever.
For he shall rescue the needy when they cry,
the poor who have no one to help.
He will have pity on the weak and the needy,
and save the lives of the needy.
In his days shall justice flourish, and great peace for ever.
Blest be the LORD, God of Israel,
who alone works wonders,
ever blest his glorious name.
Let his glory fill the earth.
Amen! Amen!
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Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
O Adonai and Ruler of the House of Israel,
who gave the law to Moses on Sinai;
come and redeem us with outstretched arm.
Alleluia.
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Gospel
Matthew 1:18-24
Jesus was born of Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, son of David.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’
All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel’ —
which means, God with us.
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife.
Prayer for Advent
Jesus, fill my heart with hope. Help me trust that Your promises are true, that Your love is constant, and that the light of Christ is already rising in my life.
Amen