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DANIEL
7:1-3, 15-18
PSALM
149
EPHESIANS
1:11-23
LUKE
6:20-31
COLLECT
Almighty God,
whose people are knit together in one holy Church,
the mystical Body of your Son,
grant us grace to follow your blessed saints
in lives of faith and commitment,
and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared
for those who love you;
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
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A
READING FROM THE BOOK OF DANIEL
In the first year of
King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his
head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: I, Daniel,
saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the
great sea, and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different
from one another. As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within
me, and the visions of my head terrified me. I approached one of
the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he
said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the
matter: "As for these four great beasts, four kings shall
arise out of the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall
receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever - forever and
ever."
DANIEL 7:1-3, 15-18
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PSALM
REFRAIN Sing to the
Lord a new song.
Hallelujah!
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing his praise in the congregation
of the faithful.
Let
Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in
their King. R
Let
them praise his Name in the dance; let them sing praise to him
with timbrel and harp.
For
the Lord takes pleasure in his people and adorns the poor with
victory.
Let
the faithful rejoice in triumph; let them be joyful on their beds.
R
Let
the praises of God be in their throat and a two-edged sword in
their hand;
To
wreak vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples; R
To
bind their kings in chains and their nobles with links of iron;
To
inflict on them the judgement decreed; this is glory for all his
faithful people. Hallelujah! R
PSALM 149
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A
READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS
In Christ we have also
obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the
purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his
counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope
on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you
also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of
the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance
toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward
all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks
for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit
of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with
the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope
to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious
inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable
greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the
working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ
when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand
in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power
and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this
age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under
his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
EPHESIANS 1:11-23
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THE
HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO LUKE
Then Jesus looked up at
his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for
yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will
laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude
you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is
great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the
prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your
consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe
to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their
ancestors did to the false prophets. "But I say to you that
listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone
strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone
who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to
everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods,
do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do
to you."
LUKE 6:20-31
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