Today, 4th of December, we celebrate
Saint John Damascene
First Reading: Rom 4:13.16-18
Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law that the promise was made to
Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith. For this
reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the
promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those
who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of
Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, I have
made you father of many nations. He is our father in the sight
of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and
calls into being what does not exist. He believed, hoping against
hope, that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 105:6-7,8-9,42-43
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations—
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
For he remembered his holy word
to his servant Abraham.
And he led forth his people with joy;
with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Gospel Reading: Luke 12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But the one who denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
"There will be pardon for the one who criticizes the Son of Man, but there will be no pardon for the one who slanders the Holy Spirit.
"When you are brought before the synagogues, governors and rulers, don't worry about how you will defend yourself or what to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you have to say."