Daily Readings for Friday, 22 November 2013

Daily Readings for Friday, 22 November 2013

Book of 2nd book of Maccabees 4:36-37,52-59Judas and his brothers said, “Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.” So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion. Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, that is, the month of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight, they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of holocausts that they had made. On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it, on that very day it was reconsecrated with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals. All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success. For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered holocausts and sacrifices of deliverance and praise. They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields; they repaired the gates and the priests' chambers and furnished them with doors. There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed. Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary every year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.(New American Bible)

1st book of Chronicles 29: David blessed God in full view of the entire congregation:

Blessed are you, God of Israel, our father

    from of old and forever.

To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might,

    the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor;

Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth;

    the kingdom all yours! You’ve raised yourself high over all.

Riches and glory come from you,

    you’re ruler over all;

You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand

    to build up and strengthen all.

And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to you,

    praising your splendid Name.(The Message)

Luke 19: Going into the Temple he began to throw out everyone who had set up shop, selling everything and anything. He said, “It’s written in Scripture,

My house is a house of prayer;

You have turned it into a religious bazaar.”

From then on he taught each day in the Temple. The high priests, religion scholars, and the leaders of the people were trying their best to find a way to get rid of him. But with the people hanging on every word he spoke, they couldn’t come up with anything.(The Message)

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