A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 15:1-12.17-18)

In those days: It happened that the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Elieze of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring; and a slave born in my house will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; your own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look towards heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness. And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a she-goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in two, and laid each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and behold, a dread and great darkness fell upon him. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river of Euphrates.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 105:1-2.5-4.6-7.8-9 (R. 8a)

R/. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Or: Alleluia.

Give thanks to the Lord; proclaim his name.
Make known his deeds among the peoples.
O sing to him, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works ! R.

Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
Turn to the Lord and his strength;
constantly seek his face. R.

R/. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Or: Alleluia.

O children of Abraham, his servant,
O descendants of the Jacob he chose,
he, the Lord, is our God;
his judgements are in all the earth. R.

He remembers his covenant forever:
the promise he ordained for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac. R.

ALLELUIA John 15:4a.5b
Alleluia. Abide in me, and I in you, says the Lord; he who abides in me bears much fruit. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“You will know then by their fruits.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 7:15-20)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

The Lord offers us a quick course in distinguishing between true and false prophets. We need prophets to highlight God’s presence to us; yet prophets of every stripe abound and we require some criteria to test them. The first condition Jesus gives is to look at the person’s lifestyle. The quality of the heart is revealed through the quality of someone’s life. Does the person’s preaching resonate in his or her life? “you will be able to tell by the fruits.” The second test is to examine what the prophet offers: cheap grace, easy religion and shallow spiritual experience, or the demanding avenue of personal conversion and soul-stirring prayer?

Personal Devotional

“So then, our brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to those truths which we taught you, both in our preaching and in our letters”

– Pray that God will break every yoke of anxiety, fear and worries in your life.

– What are the issues causing you sleepless nights? Surrender them to God NOW. Ask him to take control.

– O Lord, turn your glorious face of compassion on all those seeking the fruit of the wombs, that they may be blessed.

Let Us Pray
O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of your presence, your love, and your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to you, we shall see your hand, your purpose, your will through all things. In the name of Jesus. Amen

VIGIL MASS OF THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (Solemnity)

Theme of the Feast: John Prepares the Ways of the Lord. The first reading tells us of a faithful Servant of God, who will be the light of all peoples. There were those who thought that the Baptist has such a light, but John the evangelist clarifies this immediately: “He was not the light, but came to testify to the light”; “the true light, which enlightens everyone” (Jn 1:8-9) is Christ. Only Luke describes the birth of the Baptist, while the other evangelists mention him only at the beginning of the public life of Jesus. Luke does so in order to show that with John a new era has dawned: the time of the promises has ended, there is to be no more waiting, the time has begun for such promises to be fulfilled. God has kept his word.

This Mass is used on the evening of 23 June, either before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Solemnity.

Entrance Antiphon Lk 1:15.14
He will be great in the sight of the Lord and will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb; and many will rejoice at his birth.

Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that your family may walk in the way of salvation and, attentive to what Saint John the Precursor urged, may come safely to the One he foretold, our Lord Jesus Christ. Who lives and reigns with you. . .

FIRST READING
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”
A reading from the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4- 10)

In the days of Josiah: The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPON SORIAL PSALM Ps 71:1-2.3-4a.5-6ab.15ab and 17 (R. 6b)

R/. From my mother’s womb, you have been my help.

In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice, rescue me, free me;
incline your ear to me and save me. R.

Be my rock, my constant refuge,
a mighty stronghold to save me,
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
My God, free me from the hand of the wicked. R.

It is you, O Lord, who are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
On you I have leaned from my birth;
from my mother’s womb, you have been my help. R.

My mouth will tell of your justice,
and all the day long of your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and I proclaim your wonders still. R.

SECOND READING 

“The prophets searched and inquired about this salvation.”

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter (1 Peter 1 :8- 12)

Beloved: Without having seen Jesus Christ, you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls. The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired about this salvation; they inquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA John 1:7; Luke 1:17

Alleluia. He came to bear witness to the light; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“She will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 1 :5-17)

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and 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 make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

The Gospel of the Lord.