The 11th of December, 2023 is Monday in the Second Week of Advent. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2024 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: IS 35:1-10
The first reading from the Book of Isaiah.
The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God.
Strengthen the weak hands, and make the feeble knees firm.
Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong! Don’t be afraid! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.
A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called “The Holy Way”. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools shall not go there.
No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go upon it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there.
Then Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Responsorial Psalm: PS 85:8AB and 9, 10-11, 12-13
Response: He will come and save you.
I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints.
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
R: He will come and save you.
Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven.
R: He will come and save you.
Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps.
R: He will come and save you.
Gospel of the Day: LK 5:17-26
From the gospel verse according to Luke.
On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them.
Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus.
Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus.
Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?
Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, arise, take up your cot, and go to your house.”
Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God.
Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”
Other Celebration
An optional celebration on this day is the Memorial of Saint Damasus I, Pope.
