Today, 6th of December, we celebrate
Saint Nicholas
First Reading: Isaiah 45:1,4-6
Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus:
I have taken you by the right hand
to subdue nations before you
and strip kings of their armor,
to open the gateways before you
so that they will be closed no more.
For the sake of Jacob my servant,
of Israel my chosen one,
I have called you by your name
and given you your mission
although you do not know me.
I am Yahweh, and there is no other;
there is no God besides me.
I armed you when you did not know me,
so that, from the rising
to the setting of the sun,
all may know
that there is no one besides me;
I am Yahweh, and there is no other.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96:1,3,4-5,7-8,9-10
R./ Give the Lord glory and honor.
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R./ Give the Lord glory and honor.
For great is the Lord and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the Lord made the heavens.
R./ Give the Lord glory and honor.
Give to the Lord, you families of nations,
give to the Lord glory and praise;
give to the Lord the glory due his name!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts.
R./ Give the Lord glory and honor.
Worship the Lord, in holy attire;
tremble before him, all the earth;
say among the nations:
The Lord is king, he governs the peoples with equity.
R./ Give the Lord glory and honor.
Second Reading: 1st Thessalonians 1:1-5
From Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy to the church of Thesalonica which is in God the Father and in Christ Jesus, the Lord.
May the peace and grace of God be with you.
We give thanks to God at all times for you and remember you in our prayers. We constantly recall before God our Father the work of your faith, the labors of your love and your endurance in waiting for Christ Jesus our Lord.
We remember, brothers and sisters, the circumstances of your being called. The gospel we brought you was such not only in words. Miracles, Holy Spirit and plenty of everything were given to you.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:15-21
The Pharisees went out and took counsel on how they could trap Jesus with his own words. They then sent their disciples with the members of Herod's party for this purpose.
They said to Jesus, "Master, we know that you are an honest man and truly teach God's way; you are not influenced by others nor are you afraid of anyone. Tell us, then, what you think: is it against the Law to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
But Jesus understood their evil intent, and said to them, "Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? Show me the coin with which you pay the taxes."
They showed him a denarius, and Jesus said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose name?" They answered, "Caesar's." Then Jesus replied, "Therefore, return to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."