First Reading

Isaiah 2:1-5 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Isaiah

The Lord will gather all nations in eternal peace in the kingdom of God.

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In the days to come

the mountain of the Temple of the Lord

shall tower above the mountains

and be lifted higher than the hills.

All the nations will stream to it,

peoples without number will come to it; and they will say:

‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the Temple of the God of Jacob

that he may teach us his ways

so that we may walk in his paths;

since the Law will go out from Zion,

and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem.’

He will wield authority over the nations

and adjudicate between many peoples;

these will hammer their swords into ploughshares,

their spears into sickles.

Nation will not lift sword against nation,

there will be no more training for war

O House of Jacob, come,

let us walk in the light of the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 2:1-5 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw

concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come

the mountain of the Lord’s house

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be raised above the hills;

all the nations shall stream to it.

Many peoples shall come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the house of the God of Jacob;

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob, come,

let us walk in the light of the Lord!

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 121:1-2, 4-5, 6-9 (JB)

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced when I heard them say:

‘Let us go to God’s house.’

And now our feet are standing

within your gates, O Jerusalem. R.

It is there that the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord.

For Israel’s law it is,

there to praise the Lord’s name.

There were set the thrones of judgement

of the house of David. R.

For the peace of Jerusalem pray:

‘Peace be to your homes!

May peace reign in your walls,

in your palaces, peace!’ R.

For love of my brethren and friends

I say: ‘Peace upon you!’

For love of the house of the Lord

I will ask for your good. R.

Second Reading

Romans 13:11-14 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans

The time has come, our salvation is near.

You know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Romans 13:11-14 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters,

you know what time it is,

how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.

For salvation is nearer to us now

than when we became believers;

the night is far gone, the day is near.

Let us then lay aside the works of darkness

and put on the armour of light;

let us live honourably as in the day,

not in revelling and drunkenness,

not in debauchery and licentiousness,

not in quarrelling and jealousy.

Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Ps 84:8 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Lord, show us your mercy and love,

and grant us your salvation.

Alleluia!

Ps 85:7 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Lord, show us your mercy and love,

and grant us your salvation.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 24:37-44 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Stay awake, you must be ready.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.

‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 24:37-44 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

Jesus spoke to his disciples:

“As the days of Noah were,

so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

For as in those days before the flood

they were eating and drinking,

marrying and giving in marriage,

until the day Noah entered the ark,

and they knew nothing

until the flood came and swept them all away,

so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Then two will be in the field;

one will be taken and one will be left.

Two women will be grinding meal together;

one will be taken and one will be left.

“Keep awake, therefore,

for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

But understand this:

if the owner of the house had known

in what part of the night the thief was coming,

he would have stayed awake

and would not have let his house be broken into.

Therefore you also must be ready,

for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ