FIRST READING
The lamb was slain and by his blood ransomed us from every nation.
A reading from the Book of Revelation Revelation 5 :1 – 10
I, John, saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I wept much that no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth; and he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; and they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 149: 1b-2.3-4.5-6a and 9bc (R. Rv 5: 10)
R. You have made us a kingdom and priests to our God.
Or: Alleluia.
Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker;
let Sion’s children exult in their king. R.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people;
he crowns the poor with salvation. R.
Let the faithful exult in glory,
and rejoice as they take their rest.
Let the praise of God be in their mouths.
This is an honour for all his faithful. R.
ALLELUIA Psalm 95:7d.8a
Alleluia. Today, harden not your hearts, but listen to the voice of the Lord. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Would that you knew the things that make for peace!”
A reading from the holy Gospel to Luke (Luke19:41-44)
At that time: When Jesus drew near and saw the city he wept over it, saying, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Jesus laments that the citizens of Jerusalem did not recognize the time of the mercy of God. They did not realize that the moment of grace and salvation had come. God does not want to lose any of his children. He is insistent and persistent in his call to conversion. We should not miss the moment of God’s visitation so that the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ may not be in vain. The Lord really takes delight in his people, he crowns the poor with salvation.