maronite readings

‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.
There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true.
You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth.
Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.

maronite readings – rosary,team

A woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’
But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation.
The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!
The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

maronite readings – rosary,team

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’
And the disciples asked him, ‘Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’
He replied, ‘Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.’
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

maronite readings – rosary,team

Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came;
and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
Let anyone with ears listen!

maronite readings – rosary,team

John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty saviour for us in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us
that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

maronite readings – rosary,team

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father.
But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’
They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’
Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him.
He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.
Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.
All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

maronite readings – rosary,team

After this Jesus went out and saw a tax-collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’
And he got up, left everything, and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax-collectors and others sitting at the table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?’
Jesus answered, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick;
I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.’

maronite readings – rosary,team