First Reading

First Book of Samuel (1 Sm 3: 3b-10, 19)

Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.

Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered,

“Here I am.”

Samuel ran to Eli and said,

“Here I am. You called me.”

“I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.”

So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.

“Here I am,” he said. “You called me.”

But Eli answered,

“I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”

At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said,

“Here I am. You called me.”

Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel,

“Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”

When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before,

“Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel answered,

“Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.

— The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 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

First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 6: 13c-15a, 17-20)

Your bodies are members of Christ.

Brothers and sisters:
The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body;
God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?
But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him.
Avoid immorality.
Every other sin a person commits is outside the body,
but the immoral person sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been purchased at a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body.

— The word of the Lord.

Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.

We have found the Messiah: Jesus Christ, who brings us truth and grace.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John (Jn 1: 35-42)

They saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him.

John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God.”

The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,

“What are you looking for?”

They said to him,

“Rabbi — which translated means Teacher —,
where are you staying?”

He said to them,

“Come, and you will see.”

So they went and saw where Jesus was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,

“We have found the Messiah” — which is translated Christ —.

Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,

“You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas” — which is translated Peter.

— 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.

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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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