Mass Readings

Liturgical Readings for : Sunday, 22nd December, 2024
Today's Readings
Léachtaí Gaeilge

Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Divine plan was for the saving of the world.
This plan is revealed in Jesus and now made known to all peoples.
Our preparation is to open ourselves to the Lord with wonder and joy.

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of the Prophet Micah 5:1-4
Out of you will be born the one who is to rule over Israel.

The Lord says this:
You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah,
out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel;
his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old.

The Lord is therefore going to abandon them
till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth.
Then the remnant of his brothers will come back to the sons of Israel.
He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord,
with the majesty of the name of his God.
They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power
to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace.

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 79
Response God of hosts, bring us back;
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

1. O shepherd of Israel, hear us shine forth from your cherubim throne.
O Lord, rouse up your might, O Lord, come to our help. Response

2. God of hosts, turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted. Response

3. May your hand be on the man you have chosen, the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again: give us life that we may call upon your name. Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews 10:5-10
Here I am! I am coming to obey your will.

This is what Christ said, on coming into the world: jESUS THE VINE
You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation, prepared a body for me.
You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin;
then I said, just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book,
‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.’

Notice that he says first:
You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is:
the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin,
and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says:
Here I am! I am coming to obey your will.

He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second.
And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation Lk 1: 38
Alleluia, alleluia!
‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ ‘let what you have said be done to me.’
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 1:39-45 Glory to you, O Lord.
Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah.
She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She gave a loud cry and said,
‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?
For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.’

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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For homily resources for this Sunday’s Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/