Readings of the day
Thursday of the Fourth Week of AdventWeekday
Sunday cycle B · Weekday cycle I
Texts from World English Bible (Catholic) (WEB-C); the official lectionary translation in your country may differ.
Mass during the Day
First reading 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
1When the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but God’s ark dwells within curtains.” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.” 4That same night, the LORD’s word came to Nathan, saying, 5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘The LORD says, “Should you build me a house for me to dwell in? 8Now therefore tell my servant David this: ‘The LORD of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel. 9I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth. 10I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not afflict them any more, as at the first, 11and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD tells you that the LORD will make you a house. 12When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 14I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men; 16Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’”Some verses are read only in part; the whole verse is shown.
WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Responsorial Psalm Psalms 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
1A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite. I will sing of the loving kindness of the LORD forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 2I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.” 3“I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant, 4‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah. 26He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!’ 28I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more. My covenant will stand firm with him.WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Psalms 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
Gospel Luke 1:67-79
67His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people; 69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant, 73the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, 74to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. 76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins, 78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us, 79to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Luke 1:67-79
Vigil Mass
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First reading Isaiah 62:1-5
1For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning lamp. 2The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name, which the LORD’s mouth will name. 3You will also be a crown of beauty in the LORD’s hand, and a royal diadem in your God’s hand. 4You will not be called Forsaken any more, nor will your land be called Desolate any more; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, and your land will be married. 5For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Isaiah 62:1-5
Responsorial Psalm Psalms 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29
3“I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant, 4‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah. 15Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, LORD. 16In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted. 26He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!’ 28I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more. My covenant will stand firm with him.WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Psalms 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29
Second reading Acts 13:16-17, 22-25
16Paul stood up, and gesturing with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 17The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it. 22When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23From this man’s offspring, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise, 24before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of repentance to Israel. 25As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Acts 13:16-17, 22-25
Gospel Matthew 1:1-25
1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers. 3Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. 4Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon. 5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse. 6Jesse became the father of King David. David the king became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife. 7Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa. 8Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah. 9Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah. 11Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor. 14Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud. 15Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob. 16Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations. 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.” 22Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.” 24Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.Or: Matthew 1:18-25
WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Matthew 1:1-25
General Roman Calendar. National calendars (for example Epiphany or Ascension on a Sunday) may have other readings.
References: Ordo Lectionum Missae, editio typica altera (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1981). The psalm response is not shown.