First Reading

Book of Isaiah 49: 3, 5-6

I will give you as light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

The LORD said to me:

You are my servant,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.

Now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!

It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

— The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.

Second Reading

The beginning of the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 1: 1-3

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

— The word of the Lord.

Gospel

Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him,
he gave power to become children of God.

Alleluia.

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1: 29-34

Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,

‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’

I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”

John testified further, saying,

“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,

‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

— The Gospel of the Lord.

The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth

At the end of its second General Assembly, held from 15 to 18 October 2024, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace sent a message to government officials at all levels, as well as to all Malagasy and all people of goodwill.

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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.

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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.

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