First Reading

The Book of Isaiah 4: 2-6

It will be splendor for the survivors of Israel.

On that day,
The branch of the Lord will be luster and glory,
and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor
for the survivors of Israel.
He who remains in Zion
and he who is left in Jerusalem
Will be called holy:
every one marked down for life in Jerusalem.
When the Lord washes away
the filth of the daughters of Zion,
And purges Jerusalem's blood from her midst
with a blast of searing judgment,
Then will the Lord create,
over the whole site of Mount Zion
and over her place of assembly,
A smoking cloud by day
and a light of flaming fire by night.
For over all, the Lord's glory will be shelter and protection:
shade from the parching heat of day,
refuge and cover from storm and rain.

The word of the Lord

Psalm

Responsorial Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord

I rejoiced because they said to me,
“ We will go up to the house of the Lord. ”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord.

According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.

Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “ Peace be within you! ”
Because of the house of the Lord, our God,
I will pray for your good.

Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.

Come and save us, Lord our God; let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 8: 5-11

Many will come, from the east and the west, at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.

When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,

“ Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully. ”

He said to him,

“ I will come and cure him. ”

The centurion said in reply,

“ Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes;
and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes;
and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it. ”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,

“ Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven. ”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Diocese of Miarinarivo

Pope Francis has accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the Diocese of Miarinarivo, presented by H.E. Mgr Jean Claude Randrianarisoa. At the same time, the Supreme Pontiff has appointed H.E. Mgr Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina, as Apostolic Admnistrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same Diocese.

Read more ...

Love and Salvation

Christmas is a great joy, because it is the love of God that has come to us, proclaims Fr. Bizimana Innocent, Provincial Superior of the Salesians Don Bosco of Madagascar and Mauritius, presenting his Christmas greetings. Salvation is accomplished, so life is not in danger of disappearing. It is this love and this salvation that we wish to fill our life so that we have peace.

Read more ...

Zatti, our brother

The short film "Zatti, our brother" (Argentina, 2020) focuses on one of the most difficult episodes of his life. We are in Viedma, in 1941: at the age of 60, Zatti is forced to leave the hospital he has attended for decades. His faith and strength are tested.

Read more ...