The 24th of November, 2021, Wednesday is the Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the Year 2021 of Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: DN 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28
The first reading from the Book of Daniel.
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded that the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem be brought to him, that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of God’s house which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
In the same hour, the fingers of a man’s hand came out and wrote near the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Then the king’s face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?
I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you and that light, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you.”
“But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and dissolve doubts. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
Then Daniel answered before the king, “Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.”
“But have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, or hear, or know; and you have not glorified the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways.
Then the part of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
“This is the writing that was inscribed: ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.’_”
“This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE: God has counted your kingdom, and brought it to an end.
TEKEL: you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
PERES: your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”_”
Responsorial Psalm: DN 3:63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68
Response: “Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
“O you sun and moon, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
R: “Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
“O you stars of heaven, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
R: “Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
“O every shower and dew, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
R: “Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
“O all you winds, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
R: “Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
“O you fire and heat, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
R: “Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
“O you dews and storms of snow, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
R: “Praise and exalt him above all forever!”
Gospel of the Day: LK 21:12-19
From the gospel verse according to Luke.
“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
It will turn out as a testimony for you.
Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.
You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.
And not a hair of your head will perish.”
“By your endurance you will win your lives.”
