Dear Heavenly Father, as I face this new day, let me be aware of the work You have done for me as I slept. I praise You that Your loving care never slumbers, but has been with me while I was least aware of it. And, that You renew me and the whole world, fresh every day, preparing Your plans for me.
I pray that I may seek Your will this day, Your plan for my life, and carry out Your plan in my every action. I lay my hopes and fears on an altar before You, that Your Holy Spirit may guide my hopes toward the light of Your holiness. And, may quiet my fears with the knowledge of Your infinite peace, in total confidence that Your grace will save me from the evils of this world.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within me all this day. Dispel our darkness and make us a people with one heart and one voice, forever singing Your praise. And, whatever I do in word or deed, may I do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Hili ni neno aliloliona Isaya mwana wa Amozi katika habari za Yuda na Yerusalemu. Na itakuwa katika siku za mwisho, mlima wa nyumba ya Bwana utawekwa imara juu ya milima, nao utainuliwa juu ya vilima; na mataifa yote watauendea makundi makundi. Na mataifa mengi watakwenda na kusema, Njoni, twende juu mlimani kwa Bwana, nyumbani kwa Mungu wa Yakobo, naye atatufundisha njia zake, nasi tutakwenda katika mapito yake maana katika Sayuni itatoka sheria, na neno la Bwana katika Yerusalemu. Naye atafanya hukumu katika mataifa mengi, atawakemea watu wa kabila nyingi; nao watafua panga zao ziwe majembe, na mikuki yao iwe miundu; taifa halitainua upanga juu ya taifa lingine, wala hawatajifunza vita tena kamwe. Enyi wa nyumba ya Israeli, njoni, twende katika nuru ya Bwana.
Wimbo wa Katikati Zab 122:1-4, 8-9
Nalifurahi waliponiambia, Na twende nyumbani kwa Bwana. Miguu yetu imesimama Ndani ya malango yako, Ee Yerusalemu. (K) Nalifurahi waliponiambia, Na twende nyumbani kwa Bwana.
Ee Yerusalemu uliyejengwa Kama mji ulioshikamana, Huko ndiko walikopanda kabila, Kabila za Bwana; (K) Nalifurahi waliponiambia, Na twende nyumbani kwa Bwana.
Kwa ajili ya ndugu zangu na rafiki zangu Niseme sasa, Amani ikae nawe. Kwa ajili ya nyumba ya Bwana, Mungu wetu, Nikutafutie mema. (K) Nalifurahi waliponiambia, Na twende nyumbani kwa Bwana.
Somo la Pili Rum 13:11-14
Ndugu zangu, tukiujua wakati, kwamba saa ya kuamka katika usingizi imekwisha kuwadia; kwa maana sasa wokovu wetu u karibu nasi kuliko tulipoanza kuamini Usiku umeendelea sana, mchana umekaribia, basi na tuyavue matendo ya giza, na kuzivaa silaha za nuru.Kama ilivyohusika na mchana na tuenende kwa adabu; si kwa ulafi na ulevi, si kwa ufisadi na uasherati, si kwa ugomvi na wivu. Bali mvaeni Bwana Yesu Kristo, wala msiuangalie mwili, hata kuwasha tamaa zake.
Shangilio Zab 85:7
Aleluya, aleluya Ee Bwana utuonyesha rehema zako, Utupe na wokovu wako, Aleluya
Somo la Injili Mt 24:37-44
Siku ile, Yesu aliwaambia wanafunzi wake kama vile ilivyokuwa siku za Nuhu, ndivyo kutakavyokuwa kuja kwake Mwana wa Adamu. Kwa kuwa kama vile siku zile zilizokuwa kabla ya Gharika watu walivyokuwa wakila, na kunywa, wakioa na kuolewa, hata siku ile aliyoingia Nuhu katika safina, wasitambue, hata Gharika ikaja, ikawachukua wote, ndivyo kutakavyokuwa kuja kwake Mwana wa Adamu. Wakati ule watu wawili watakuwako kondeni; mmoja atwaliwa, mmoja aachwa; wanawake wawili watakuwa wakisaga; mmoja atwaliwa, mmoja aachwa. Kesheni basi; kwa maana hamjui ni siku ipi atakayokuja Bwana wenu. Lakini fahamuni neno hili; kama mwenye nyumba angaliijua ile zamu mwivi atakayokuja, angalikesha, wala asingaliiacha nyumba yake kuvunjwa. Kwa sababu hiyo ninyi nanyi jiwekeni tayari; kwa kuwa katika saa msiyodhani Mwana wa Adamu yuaja.
The Lord will gather all nations into the eternal peace of the Kingdom of God.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
This is what 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 mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem.
℟. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD.
℟. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David.
℟. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings.
℟. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my brothers and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!” Because of the house of the LORD, our God, I will pray for your good.
℟. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
SECOND READING Rom 13:11-14
Our salvation is nearer.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
ACCLAMATION BEFORE THE GOSPEL cf. Ps 85:8
℟. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation.
℟. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 24:37-44
Stay awake, that you may be prepared!
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:
THRIVING IN HOLINESS 