March 24, 2011

Gospel, Lk 16:19-31
19
 'There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day.
20
 And at his gate there used to lie a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to fill
himself with what fell from the rich man's table. Even dogs came and licked his sores. 22 Now it happened
that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham's embrace. The rich man also
died and was buried. 23 'In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off
with Lazarus in his embrace. 24 So he cried out, "Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip
of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames." 25 Abraham said, "My son,
remember that during your life you had your fill of good things, just as Lazarus his fill of bad. Now he is
being comforted here while you are in agony. 26 But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has
been fixed, to prevent those who want to cross from our side to yours or from your side to ours." 27 'So he
said, "Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 since I have five brothers, to give
them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too." 29 Abraham said, "They
have Moses and the prophets, let them listen to them." 30 The rich man replied, "Ah no, father Abraham,
but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent." 31 Then Abraham said to him, "If
they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, theywill not be convinced even if someone should
rise from the dead."

March 25, 2011

Gospel, Lk 1:26-38
26
 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin
betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 He went in
and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you.' 29 She was deeply disturbed
by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, 30 but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not
be afraid; you have won God's favour. 31 Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you
must name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give
him thethrone of his ancestor David; 33 he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have
no end.' 34 Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?'
35
 The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most Highwill cover you
with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. 36 And I tell you this too: your
cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in
her sixth month, 37 for nothing is impossible to God.' 38 Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant,
let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her.