Daily Readings for Sunday December 09,2012
Season of Annunciation
Second Sunday of Annunciation
- Num 22:30-35 Balaam gets instructions from the ange
- Is 43:25-44:5 Restoration and protection promesed to Israel
- Col 4:2-6 Pray with gratitude
- Lk 1:26-38 Birth of Jesus is announced
Reading 1, Num 22:30-35 : Balaam gets instructions from the ange
| Numbers 22 |
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| 30 | And the ass said to Balaam, "Am I not your ass, upon which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No." |
| 31 | Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. |
| 32 | And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your ass these three times? Behold, I have come forth to withstand you, because your way is perverse before me; |
| 33 | and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have slain you and let her live." |
| 34 | Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that thou didst stand in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in thy sight, I will go back again." |
| 35 | And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but only the word which I bid you, that shall you speak." So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak. |
Reading 2, Is 43:25-44:5 : Restoration and protection promesed to Israel
| Isaiah 43 |
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| 25 | "I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. |
| 26 | Put me in remembrance, let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right. |
| 27 | Your first father sinned, and your mediators transgressed against me. |
| 28 | Therefore I profaned the princes of the sanctuary, I delivered Jacob to utter destruction and Israel to reviling. |
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Isaiah 44
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| 1 | "But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! |
| 2 | Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshu'run whom I have chosen. |
| 3 | For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring. |
| 4 | They shall spring up like grass amid waters, like willows by flowing streams. |
| 5 | This one will say, `I am the LORD's,' another will call himself by the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, `The LORD's,' and surname himself by the name of Israel." |
Reading 3, Col 4:2-6 : Pray with gratitude
| Colossians 4 |
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| 2 | Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; |
| 3 | and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, |
| 4 | that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak. |
| 5 | Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. |
| 6 | Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one. |
Gospel, Lk 1:26-38 : Birth of Jesus is announced
| Luke 1 |
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| 26 | In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, |
| 27 | to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28 | And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" |
| 29 | But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. |
| 30 | And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. |
| 31 | And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. |
| 32 | He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, |
| 33 | and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." |
| 34 | And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" |
| 35 | And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. |
| 36 | And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. |
| 37 | For with God nothing will be impossible." |
| 38 | And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. |
