Readings: Saturday, 1st Week Of Advent

First Reading

First Reading: Is 30:19–21, 23 – 26

    Thus says the Lord GOD,
    the Holy One of Israel:
    O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,
    no more will you weep;
    He will be gracious to you when you cry out,
    as soon as he hears he will answer you.
    The Lord will give you the bread you need
    and the water for which you thirst.
    No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
    but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
    While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:
    “This is the way; walk in it,”
    when you would turn to the right or to the left.
    He will give rain for the seed
    that you sow in the ground,
    And the wheat that the soil produces
    will be rich and abundant.
    On that day your flock will be given pasture
    and the lamb will graze in spacious meadows;
    The oxen and the asses that till the ground
    will eat silage tossed to them
    with shovel and pitchfork.
    Upon every high mountain and lofty hill
    there will be streams of running water.
    On the day of the great slaughter,
    when the towers fall,
    The light of the moon will be like that of the sun
    and the light of the sun will be seven times greater
    like the light of seven days.
    On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people,
    he will heal the bruises left by his blows.

Responsorial Psalm

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 147:1–2, 3–4, 5–6

    R./ Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.


    Praise the LORD, for he is good;
    sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
    it is fitting to praise him.
    The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
    the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
    R./ Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

    He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.
    He tells the number of the stars;
    he calls each by name.
    R./ Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

    Great is our LORD and mighty in power:
    to his wisdom there is no limit.
    The LORD sustains the lowly;
    the wicked he casts to the ground.
    R./ Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

Holy Gospel

Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:35-10:1,6-8

Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest."

Then he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.
He said, "Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.

"Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift."