17/03/2019
FIRST READING
God enters into a convenant with the faithful Abraham
A reading from the Book of Genesis Genesis (15:5-12:17 - 18)
In those days: God brought Abram outside and said, "look, to wards heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them," Then he said to him, "So shall your descendents be. "And he believed the Loso; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness. And he said to him, “I am the Loco who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a she-goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in two, and laid each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and behold, a dread and great darkness fell upon him. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 27: 1.7-Sb.8c-9abc. 13-14 (R. la)
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall Ifear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
whom should I dread? R.
O LORD, hear my voice when I call;
have mercy and answer me.
Of you my heart has spoken,
“Seek his face.” R.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face from me.
Dismiss not your servant in anger;
you have been my help. R.
I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong;
be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord! R.
