DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION
Thursday - Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (November 21)
Who are my brothers and sisters?
GOSPEL
Matthew 12:46-50 (Alternate Reading: Luke 19:41-44)
46 While he was still speaking to the people, 47 behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother."
The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: My mother through faith, by Gregory the Great (540-604 AD)
"If someone can become the brother of the Lord by coming to faith, we must ask how one can become also his mother. We must realize that the one who is Christ's brother and sister by believing becomes his mother by preaching. It is as though one brings forth the Lord and infuses him in the hearts of one's listeners. And that person becomes his mother if through one's voice the love of the Lord is generated in the mind of his neighbor.
(excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 3.2)
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FIRST READING
Zechariah 2:14-17 (Alternate Reading: 1 Maccabees 2:15-29)
14 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the LORD. 15 And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 16 And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem." 17 Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55 (Alternate Psalm: PSALM 50:1-2,5-6, 14-15)
Response: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Or
Response: O blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
R. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Or
R. O blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.
"For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me,
holy is his Name."
R. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Or
R. O blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.
"He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit."
R. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Or
R. O blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.
"He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty."
R. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Or
R. O blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.
"He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever."
R. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Or
R. O blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.