2Sam 7:4-5a.12-14a.16; Matthew 1

St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings and Antiphons on p 1584 of the Daily Missal

Entrance Antiphon
Behold, a faithful and prudent steward, whom the Lord set over his household.

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-5a.12-14a.16

A reading from the second Book of Samuel

In those days:
The word of the Lord came to Nathan,
“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord:
When your days are fulfilled
and you lie down with your ancestors,
I will raise up your offspring after you,
who shall come forth from your body,
and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name,
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son.
And your house and your kingdom
shall be made sure for ever before me;
your throne shall be established for ever.’”

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:2-3.4-5.27 and 29

Let us pray the Responsorial Psalm

R/. His descendants shall continue forever.

I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your fidelity.
I have declared your mercy is established forever;
your fidelity stands firm as the heavens.

“With my chosen one I have made a covenant;
I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your descendants forever,
and set up your throne through all ages.”

“He will call out to me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock of my salvation.’
I will keep my faithful love for him always;
with him my covenant shall last.” 

R/. His descendants shall continue forever.

Second reading: Romans 4:13.16-18.22

A reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters:

The promise to Abraham and his descendants,
that they should inherit the world,
did not come through the law
but through the righteousness of faith.

That is why all depends on faith,
in order that the promise may rest on grace
and be guaranteed to all his descendants—
not only to the adherents of the law
but also to those who share the faith of Abraham,
for he is the father of us all,
as it is written,
“I have made you the father of many nations”—
in the presence of the God in whom he believed,
who gives life to the dead
and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
In hope he believed against hope,
that he should become the father of many nations;
as he had been told,
“So shall your descendants be.”
That is why his faith
was “reckoned to him as righteousness.”

The Word of the Lord.

Please stand for the Gospel

Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord, ever singing your praise!
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

Gospel: Matthew 1:16.18-21.24a

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary,
of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.
When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph,
before they came together
she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit;
and her husband Joseph,
being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame,
resolved to send her away quietly.
But as he considered this, behold,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not fear to take Mary your wife,
for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit;
she will bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.”

When Joseph woke from sleep,
he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

The Gospel of the Lord