DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Lucy, Virgin And Martyr

First Reading:  Isaiah 48:17-19

Thus saith the Lord thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord thy God that teach thee profitable things, that govern thee in the way that thou walkest. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments: thy peace had been as a river, and thy justice as the waves of the sea, And thy seed had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof: his name should not have perished, nor have been destroyed from before my face.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. John 8:12; V. Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R. (H)e that followeth me...shall have the light of life.

V. Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly,

     nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.

     But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

V. And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters

    which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season.

    And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

V. Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the          earth.

    For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 11:16-19

But whereunto shall I esteem this generation to be like? It is like to children sitting in the market place. Who crying to their companions say: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have lamented, and you have not mourned. For John came neither eating nor drinking; and they say: He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say: Behold a man that is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified by her children.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Second Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Is 40:25-31

And to whom have ye likened me, or made me equal, saith the Holy One? Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these things: who bringeth out their host by number, and calleth them all by their names: by the greatness of his might, and strength, and power, not one of them was missing. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel: My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Knowest thou not, or hast thou not heard? the Lord is the everlasting God, who hath created the ends of the earth: he shall not faint, nor labour, neither is there any searching out of his wisdom. It is he that giveth strength to the weary, and increaseth force and might to them that are not. Youths shall faint, and labour, and young men shall fall by infirmity. But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103:1; V. 1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10

R. Bless the Lord, O my soul

V. Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, thou art exceedingly great. Thou hast put on        praise and beauty:

    And art clothed with light as with a garment. Who stretchest out the heaven like a pavilion:

V. Who coverest the higher rooms thereof with water. Who makest the clouds thy chariot:             who walkest upon the wings of the winds.

     Who makest thy angels spirits: and thy ministers a burning fire.

V. The mountains ascend, and the plains descend into the place which thou hast founded for         them.

     Thou sendest forth springs in the vales: between the midst of the hills the waters shall pass.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Second Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Isaiah 40:1-11

Be comforted, be comforted, my people, saith your God. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her: for her evil is come to an end, her iniquity is forgiven: she hath received of the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the wilderness the paths of our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see, that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken. The voice of one, saying: Cry. And I said: What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field. The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen, because the spirit of the Lord hath blown upon it. Indeed the people is grass:  The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen: but the word of our Lord endureth for ever. Get thee up upon a high mountain, thou that bringest good tidings to Sion: lift up thy voice with strength, thou that bringest good tidings to Jerusalem: lift it up, fear not. Say to the cities of Juda: Behold your God:  Behold the Lord God shall come with strength, and his arm shall rule: Behold his reward is with him and his work is before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom, and he himself shall carry them that are with young.

Responsorial Psalm: cf. Isaiah 40:10; V. Psalm 96 (95):1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13

R. Behold the Lord God shall come with strength

V.  Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth.

     Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation from day to day.

V. Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

    Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned. he will judge the people with justice.

V. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fulness        thereof:

    The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful. Then shall all the trees of the          woods rejoice

V. Before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: because he cometh to judge the earth.

    He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with his truth. 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 18:12-14

What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray? And if it so be that he find it:  Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here. 

DR Squared: Second Sunday Of Advent (Year C)

First Reading:  Baruch 5:1-9

Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honour of that everlasting glory which thou hast from God. God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honour. For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under heaven. For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honour of piety. Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance of God. For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to thee exalted with honour as children of the kingdom. For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God. Moreover the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree have overshadowed Israel by the commandment of God. For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 126 (125):3; V. 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7.

R. The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful.

V. When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted.

     Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy.

V. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them.

     The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful.

V. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south.

    They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

V. Going they went and wept, casting their seeds.

     But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.  

Second Reading:  Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11

Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all, with joy; For your communication in the gospel of Christ from the first day until now. Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus. For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and in all understanding:  That you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ, Filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 3:1-6

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina; Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins; As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Ambrose, Bishop And Doctor Of The Church

First Reading:  Ephesians 3:8-12

To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ, And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, who created all things:  That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church, According to the eternal purpose, which he made, in Christ Jesus our Lord:  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Responsorial Psalm:  Ps 89 (88):2; V. 2-3, 4-5, 21-22, 25 and 27

R. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever.

V. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation.

     For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens: thy truth shall be prepared in them.

V.  I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant:

     Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne unto generation and generation.

V. I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed him.

    For my hand shall help him: and my arm shall strengthen him.

V. And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

    He shall cry out to me: Thou art my father: my God, and the support of my salvation. 

Gospel Reading:  John 10:11-16

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep:  And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Friday Of The First Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Isaiah 29-17-24

Is it not yet a very little while, and Libanus shall be turned into charmel, and charmel shall be esteemed as a forest? And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and out of darkness and obscurity the eyes of the blind shall see. And the meek shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For he that did prevail hath failed, the scorner is consumed, and they are all cut off that watched for iniquity:  That made men sin by word, and supplanted him that reproved them in the gate, and declined in vain from the just. Therefore thus saith the Lord to the house of Jacob, he that redeemed Abraham: Jacob shall not now be confounded, neither shall his countenance now be ashamed: But when he shall see his children, the work of my hands in the midst of him sanctifying my name, and they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall glorify the God of Israel:  And they that erred in spirit, shall know understanding, and they that murmured, shall learn the law.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 27 (26):1; V. 1, 4, 13-14

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation

V. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?

    The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?

V.  One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of          the Lord all the days of my life.

      That I may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple.

V.  I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

     Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, and wait thou for the Lord.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 9:27-31

And as Jesus passed from thence, there followed him two blind men crying out and saying, Have mercy on us, O Son of David. And when he was come to the house, the blind men came to him. And Jesus saith to them, Do you believe, that I can do this unto you? They say to him, Yea, Lord. Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it done unto you. And their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know this. But they going out, spread his fame abroad in all that country.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Thursday Of The First Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Isaiah 26:1-6

In that day shall this canticle be sung the land of Juda. Sion the city of our strength a saviour, a wall and a bulwark shall be set therein. Open ye the gates, and let the just nation, that keepeth the truth, enter in. The old error is passed away: thou wilt keep peace: peace, because we have hoped in thee. You have hoped in the Lord for evermore, in the Lord God mighty for ever. For he shall bring down them that dwell on high, the high city he shall lay low. He shall bring it down even to the ground, he shall pull it down even to the dust. The foot shall tread it down, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 118: ; V. 1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a

R. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

V. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

    It is good to confide in the Lord, rather than to have confidence in man.

    It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in princes.

V. Open ye to me the gates of justice: I will go into them, and give praise to the Lord.

     This is the gate of the Lord, the just shall enter into it.

     I will give glory to thee because thou hast heard me: and art become my salvation.

V. O Lord, save me: O Lord, give good success.

     Blessed be he that cometh in the name Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the         Lord.

     The Lord is God, and he hath shone upon us.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock. And every one that heareth these my words, and doth them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The First Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Isaiah 25:6-10a

And the Lord of hosts shall make unto all people in this mountain, a feast of fat things, a feast of wine, of fat things full of marrow, of wine purified from the lees. And he shall destroy in this mountain the face of the bond with which all people were tied, and the web that he began over all nations. He shall cast death down headlong for ever: and the Lord God shall wipe away tears from every face, and the reproach of his people he shall take away from off the whole earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. And they shall say in that day: Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have patiently waited for him, we shall rejoice and be joyfull in his salvation. For the hand of the Lord shall rest in this mountain: 

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 23 (22):6; V. 1-3a 3b-4, 5, 6

R. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.

V. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:  He hath converted my soul.

V. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake. For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.

V. Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!

V. And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 15:29-37

And when Jesus had passed away from thence, he came nigh the sea of Galilee. And going up into a mountain, he sat there. And there came to him great multitudes, having with them the dumb, the blind, the lame, the maimed, and many others: and they cast them down at his feet, and he healed them:  So that the multitudes marvelled seeing the dumb speak, the lame walk, and the blind see: and they glorified the God of Israel. And Jesus called together his disciples, and said: I have compassion on the multitudes, because they continue with me now three days, and have not what to eat, and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And the disciples say unto him: Whence then should we have so many loaves in the desert, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus said to them: How many loaves have you? But they said: Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down upon the ground. And taking the seven loaves and the fishes, and giving thanks, he brake, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the people. And they did all eat, and had their fill. And they took up seven baskets full, of what remained of the fragments.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Monday Of The First Week In Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaias son of Amos saw, concerning Juda and Jerusalem. And in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all nation shall flow unto it. And many people shall go, and say:  Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths:  for the law shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people:  and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles:  nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 122 (121):1: V. 1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me:  We shall go into the house of the Lord.

V. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me:  We shall go into the house of the Lord.

Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

V. Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together.

For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord:

V. the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David.

V. Pray ye for the thing that are the peace of Jerusalem:  and abundance for those who love thee.

Let peace be in thy strength:  and abundance in thy towers.

V. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, I spoke peace of thee.

Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 8:5-11

And when he had entered into Capharnaum, there came to him a centurion beseeching him, and saying, Lord my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented. And Jesus saith to him:  I will come and heal him. And the centurion making answer, said:  Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I am also a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this Go, and he goeth, and to another, Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. And Jesus hearing this, marvelled, and said to them that followed him:  Amen, I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel. And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Issac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven:

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: First Sunday Of Advent (Year C)

First Reading:  Jerimiah 33:14-16

Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform the good word that I have spoken to the house of Israel, and to the house of Juda. In those days, and at that time, I will make the bud of justice to spring forth unto David, and he shall do judgment and justice in the earth. In those days shall Juda be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell securely: and this is the name that they shall call him, The Lord our just one.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 25(24):1: V. 4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

R.  To thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. 

V. Let all them be confounded that act unjust things without cause. Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths. 

Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour; and on thee have I waited all the day long. 

V. The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way. 

He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his ways. 

V. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to them that seek after his covenant and his testimonies.

The Lord is a firmament to them that fear him: and his covenant shall be made manifest to them.

Second Reading:  1 Thessalonians 3:13-4:2

And may the Lord multiply you, and make you abound in charity towards one another, and towards all men: as we do also towards you, To confirm your hearts without blame, in holiness, before God and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints. Amen. For the rest therefore, brethren, we pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more. For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves; Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved; And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly. For as a snare shall it come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of man.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.