讀經一 Reading I
(你親生的兒子要作你的繼承人)
恭讀創世紀恭讀撒慕爾紀下 Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3
有一天，上主在神視中對亞巴郎說：「亞巴郎，你不要怕，我是你的盾牌；我要給你豐厚的報酬。」
亞巴郎說：「我主上主，祢能給我什麼？我一直沒有兒子；繼承我家業的是大馬士革人厄里厄則爾。」 亞巴郎又說：「祢沒有賜給我後裔，因此，只有一個家僕來作我的繼承人。」有上主的話答覆他說：「這人決不會是你的繼承人，而是你親生的兒子要作你的繼承人。」於是上主領他到外面說：「你仰觀天空，數一數星星，你能夠數清嗎？」
隨後對他說：「你的後代也要這樣多。」 亞巴郎相信了上主，上主就以此算為他的正義。 上主照所許的，眷顧了撒辣；上主對撒辣實踐了祂的諾言。撒辣懷了孕，在天主所許的時期，給年老的亞巴郎生了一個兒子。亞巴郎為撒辣給他所生的兒子、起名叫依撒格。
—-上主的聖言
The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying:
“Fear not, Abram!
I am your shield;
I will make your reward very great.”
But Abram said,
“O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be,
if I keep on being childless
and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?”
Abram continued,
“See, you have given me no offspring,
and so one of my servants will be my heir.”
Then the word of the LORD came to him:
“No, that one shall not be your heir;
your own issue shall be your heir.”
The Lord took Abram outside and said,
“Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.
Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.”
Abram put his faith in the LORD,
who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.
The LORD took note of Sarah as he had said he would;
he did for her as he had promised.
Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age,
at the set time that God had stated.
Abraham gave the name Isaac to this son of his
whom Sarah bore him.
答唱詠 Responsorial Psalm
【答】：祂是上主我們的天主，永遠信守祂的盟約。
- 請眾稱謝上主，宣揚祂的聖名，在萬民中宣傳祂的工程。你們要謳歌讚頌祂，傳述祂的奇工妙化。【答】
- 你們要以祂的聖名而自豪，願尋求上主的人滿心喜悅。你們要尋求大能的上主，時常想望瞻仰祂的慈顏【答】
- 天主的僕人亞巴郎的後裔，上主所選雅格的子孫！你們要記念祂的奇事，祂的神蹟和祂的判詞。【答】
- 祂永遠信守祂的盟約，萬世不忘祂的承諾：與亞巴郎所訂的盟約，向依撒格所作的承諾。【答】
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
- Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
- Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! Look to the LORD in his strength; constantly seek his face.
- You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
- He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac.
讀經二 Reading II
(亞巴郎、撒辣及依撒格的信德)
恭讀致希伯來人書 Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19
弟兄們：亞巴郎因為有信德，蒙天主召選時，就聽命往他將要承受為產業的地方去了：他出發時，還不知道要到哪裡去。撒辣因為有信德，她雖然過了生育的年齡，竟然得到了懷孕生子的能力，因為她相信那應許者是信實的。因此從一個人，而且從一個已經失去生育能力的人，竟然生了子孫，如同天上的星星那麼多，又像海岸的沙子，不可勝數。
亞巴郎因為有信德，在受試探的時候，獻上了依撒格；亞巴郎原是那承受了恩許的人，竟然獻上了自己的獨生子：因為天主向他說過:「只有從依撒格生的，才可以稱為你的後裔。」
亞巴郎深信天主有使人從死者中復活的能力，因此，天主又把依撤格還給了他：這是一種預像。
—-上主的聖言
Brothers and sisters:
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
–and Sarah herself was sterile–
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was ready to offer
his only son,
of whom it was said,
“Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.”
He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
福音前歡呼 Alleluia, alleluia.
眾：阿肋路亞。Alleluia, alleluia.
領：天主在古時，曾多次並以多種方式，藉著先知對我們的祖先說過話：但在這末期內，祂藉著自己的兒子對我們說了話。天主立了祂為萬有的繼承者，並藉著祂造成了宇宙。
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
眾：阿肋路亞。Alleluia, alleluia.
福音 Gospel
(孩子漸漸長大，充滿智慧)
恭讀聖路加福音 LK 2:22-40
【長 式】
若瑟和瑪利亞按照梅瑟的法律，到了取潔的日期，便帶著孩子耶穌上耶路撒冷去，把祂獻給上主， 就如上主的法律上記載的：「凡是頭胎的男孩，都應奉獻給上主。」他們也依照上主法律的規定，獻上祭物：就是一對斑鳩或兩隻雛鴿。 那時，在耶路撒冷有一個人，名叫西默盎。這人是虔誠的義人，一向期待著以色列的安慰者來到，而且聖神也在他身上。 他曾蒙聖神啟示：知道自己在去世以前必將看見上主的受傅者–基督。
他在聖神的感動之下進了聖殿；那時耶穌的父母抱著孩子正走進來，要按著法律的慣例為祂行禮。 西默盎就雙手接過祂來，讚美天主說：「上主，現在可照祢的話，放祢的僕人平安去吧！因為我已目睹祢為萬民準備好的救主，就是啟示列邦的光明，以色列子民的光榮。」
孩子的父母聽到關於耶穌所說的這些話，非常驚異。西默盎祝福了他們，並對耶穌的母親瑪利亞說:「聽着，這孩子已經被選定， 祂要使以色列中許多人跌倒並興起，並將成為人反對的目標–你自己的心也將被一把利劍刺透—這樣使許多人心中的意念被揭露出來。」 又有一位女先知安納，是阿協爾支派法努耳的女兒，已經上了年紀。結婚後，和丈夫住了七年，就寡居了，直到八十四歲。 她守齋祈禱，晝夜侍奉天主，沒有離開過聖殿。就在那時候，她也前來稱謝天主，並向所有期待耶路撒冷得救贖的人，講論這孩子的事。
耶穌的父母按着上主的法律辦完了一切，便返回加里肋亞，到了他們的本鎮納匝肋。孩子漸漸長大，強壯起來，充滿智慧，天主的恩寵常在祂身上。
—-基督的福音
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
They took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
—and you yourself a sword will pierce—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.
【短 式 Lk 2:22, 39-40】
若瑟和瑪利亞按照梅瑟的法律，到了取潔的日期，便帶著孩子耶穌上耶路撒冷去，把祂獻給上主。
他們按着上主的法律辦完了一切，便返回加里肋亞，到了他們的本鎮納匝肋。孩子漸漸長大，強壯起來，充滿智慧，天主的恩寵常在祂身上。
—-基督的福音
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
they took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.
