The 21st of December, 2020 is Monday in the Fourth Week of Advent. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the Year 2021 of Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: SG 2:8-14 or ZEP 3:14-18A
The first reading from the Song of Solomon.
The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.
My beloved is like a roe or a young deer. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
My beloved spoke, and said to me, “Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
For behold, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens her green figs. The vines are in blossom. They give out their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.”
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountainside, let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.
or first reading from the Book of Zephaniah.
Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem.
Yahweh has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you. You will not be afraid of evil anymore.
In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let your hands be weak.”
Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
I will remove those who grieve about the appointed feasts from you.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
Response: Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous! Sing to him a new song.
Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings.
Sing to him a new song. Play skillfully with a shout of joy!
R: Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous! Sing to him a new song.
The counsel of Yahweh stands fast forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R: Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous! Sing to him a new song.
Our soul has waited for Yahweh. He is our help and our shield.
For our heart rejoices in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
R: Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous! Sing to him a new song.
Gospel of the Day: LK 1:39-45
From the gospel verse according to Luke.
Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”
Other Celebration
An optional celebration on this day is the Commemoration of Saint Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church.
