READINGS

FIRST READING Jeremiah 33:14-16

I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David
See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I am going to fulfil
the promise I made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah:
‘In those days and at that time,
I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David,
who shall practise honesty and integrity in the land.
In those days Judah shall be saved
and Israel shall dwell in confidence.
And this is the name the city will be called:
The-Lord-our-integrity.’

The Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 24(25):4-5,8-9,10,14

R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

May you be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again
May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another
and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your
hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father
when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.
Finally, brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make
more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life
that God wants, as you learnt from us, and as you are already living it. You have
not forgotten the instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.

The Word of the Lord

Gospel Acclamation Ps84:8

Alleluia, alleluia!
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help.
Alleluia!

Gospel Luke              21:25-28,34-36

That day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars;
on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves;
men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven
will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power
and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your
heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.
‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness
and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap.
For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake,
praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen,
and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.’

The Gospel of the Lord