Mass Readings for December 19, 2024

Judges 13:2-7,24-25
Psalms 71:3-6,16-17
Luke 1:5-25

Judges 13:2-7,24-25
(2) There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and childless. (3) Yahweh’s angel appeared to the woman, and said to her, “See now, you are barren and childless; but you shall conceive, and bear a son. (4) Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don’t eat any unclean thing: (5) for, behold, you shall conceive, and give birth to a son. No razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb. He shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (6) Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me, and his face was like the face of the angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he was from, neither did he tell me his name; (7) but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink. Don’t eat any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’” (24) The woman bore a son, and named him Samson. The child grew, and Yahweh blessed him. (25) Yahweh’s Spirit began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Psalms 71:3-6,16-17
(3) Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. (4) Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. (5) For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth. (6) I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise you. (16) I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone. (17) God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.

Luke 1:5-25
(5) There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. (6) They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. (7) But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. (8) Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division, (9) according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. (10) The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. (11) An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. (12) Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. (13) But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. (14) You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth. (15) For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. (16) He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. (17) He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.” (18) Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” (19) The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. (20) Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” (21) The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. (22) When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute. (23) When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. (24) After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying, (25) “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”