Memorial of St. Nicholas, Bishop

December 6, 2018



First Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6

1In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. 2Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in.3Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.4Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. 5For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust.6The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.”


Psalm: Ps. 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

1O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever! 8It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 20This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.21I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation. 25Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success! 26Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD. 27The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!


Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

21“Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 24“Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”

Reflection for the day: “Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from God.”-Ecclesiasticus 11:13

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